Our History

The existence of debate at Swarthmore (and at many 19th-century American institutions) is rooted in the tradition of American collegiate literary societies. These, in a way, were precursors to fraternities. These societies were previously centers of social life, but not as we think of it today. Societies like these held weekly debates, established libraries of their own, and developed their own original pieces of spoken word, essays, publications, and more. 

The first of these societies to be established was the Eunomian Literary Society (then the Eurodelphian) in 1871. It was dedicated to developing the debating skills of its members and cultivating "fellowship and good feeling." They operated their own library, complete with their own subscriptions and publications. Some freshmen, angered that they had to wait until sophomore year to join the Eumonians, formed their own society, the Delphic Society in 1873...essentially a carbon copy of the Eumonian society. They remained rivals for the length of both societies' existence.

It is also important to acknowledge that even though Swarthmore College has been co-educational since its establishment, the Delphic and the Eunomian literary societies barred women from being admitted into their ranks. The Somerville Literary Society, established in 1871 by members of the women's baseball team, functioned similarly to the Delphic and Eunomian societies. They had their own debating team, had their own fellowships and aid program, space, and more. 

Through these three literary societies the Peaslee Debate Society claims its lineage — over the time of their existence, these three societies frequently held debates, lectures, and more. They debated against each other and developed and maintained a tradition of discourse and debate at Swarthmore that perserveres to this day.

Over the years, the three literary societies held numerous debates between each other on campus. Between the late 1800's and the early 1900s, there seemed to be several unified debate teams organized  by the public speaking department that competed with other schools in leagues such as the Intercollegiate Debate League of Pennsylvania, competing with the likes of Dickinson College and the Zelosophic Society of the University of Pennsylvania, among others. That Swarthmore team appeared to be informally named the "Swarthmore College Debate Committee." 

In 1901, Alice Paul, soon to become one of the most legendary suffragette activists of all time, became a freshman at Swarthmore College. She was a member of the Somerville Literary Society, appeared to be a member of a women's debating union, and was an esteemed member of student government. She graduated with a degree in Biology in 1905.

In 1904, Amos Jenkins Peaslee II, of Clarksboro, NJ, became a freshman at Swarthmore College. He was a member of the Eumonian Literary Society, and was a member of several unified college debating teams. He was a member of the Halcyon, an athlete, and more. He also happened to skip a year of college, graduating in 1907 with a degree in Philosophy.

During this time, the Delphic Society and the Eumonian Society maintained their fierce but friendly rivalry. Eventually, however, the two set aside their rivalry to join forces and form the Athenaeum, finally forming a major unified literary society.

No matter how immortal anything may seems, all things must die. Even literary societies. The Athenaeum folded in 1918. The Somerville Society had essentially become an ad hoc alumnae association that slowly died out, at least outliving the Athenaeum. 

There is not much that we could find during this period of time.

No matter how immortal anything may seems, all things must die. Even literary societies The Athenaeum folded in 1918. The Somerville Society had essentially become an ad hoc alumnae association that slowly died out, at least outliving the Athenaeum. 

No matter how immortal anything may seems, all things must die. Even literary societies The Athenaeum folded in 1918. The Somerville Society had essentially become an ad hoc alumnae association that slowly died out, at least outliving the Athenaeum. 

No matter how immortal anything may seems, all things must die. Even literary societies The Athenaeum folded in 1918. The Somerville Society had essentially become an ad hoc alumnae association that slowly died out, at least outliving the Athenaeum.