Table of Contents
A Finding Aid for the Records of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle [1880-1889]
Part of the Local Organizations Collection at the Plainfield Public Library
Finding aid prepared and encoded by Anna Henderson.
Overview of the Collection |
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| Repository: | Plainfield Public Library, Local History Department, 800 Park Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060 |
| Creator: | Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. |
| Title: | Papers of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. |
| Dates: | 1880-1889 |
| Quantity: | 1 file folder |
| Abstract: | Bishop Vincent founded the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC) on August 10, 1878, four years after the founding of the Chautauqua Institution. At its inception, the CLSC was basically a four-year course of required reading. The original aims of the CLSC were to promote habits of reading and study in nature, art, science, and in secular and sacred literature, and to encourage individual study, thus opening the college world to persons unable to attend higher institutions of learning. Over 8,400 people enrolled the first year, of which 1,718 successfully completed the reading course, the required examinations and received their diplomas on the first CLSC Recognition Day in 1882. Now the CLSC is the oldest continuous book club in America and has remained a leader in adult education. This collection includes the original guidelines for the organization, membership receipts, an award ribbon, and a newspaper article on the society. |
| Language: | The records are in English. |
Biographical Note
Bishop John Heyl Vincent founded the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC) on August 10, 1878, four years after the founding of the Chautauqua Institution. The Plainfield branch was headquartered at the corner of Park Avenue and North Street in a structure built solely for this purpose.
At its inception, the CLSC was basically a four-year course of required reading. The original aims of the CLSC were to promote habits of reading and study in nature, art, science, and in secular and sacred literature, and to encourage individual study, thus opening the college world to persons unable to attend higher institutions of learning. Over 8,400 people enrolled the first year, of which 1,718 successfully completed the reading course, the required examinations and received their diplomas on the first CLSC Recognition Day in 1882.
Now the CLSC is the oldest continuous book club in America and has remained a leader in adult education. It has enrolled at least a half-million readers and at one time sponsored 10,000 reading circles throughout the country. The CLSC was also one of the earliest to introduce learning by correspondence. Its book selections are offered today with continuing education emphases. The CLSC collection includes the original guidelines for the organization, membership receipts, an award ribbon, and a newspaper article on the society.
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Scope and Contents
Bishop Vincent founded the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC) on August 10, 1878, four years after the founding of the Chautauqua Institution. At its inception, the CLSC was basically a four-year course of required reading. The original aims of the CLSC were to promote habits of reading and study in nature, art, science, and in secular and sacred literature, and to encourage individual study, thus opening the college world to persons unable to attend higher institutions of learning. The CLSC is now the oldest continuous book club in America and has remained a leader in adult education. This collection includes the original guidelines for the organization, membership receipts, an award ribbon, and a newspaper article on the society.
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Arrangement
The "Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle" collection is arranged into one series:
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Restrictions
Restrictions on Access
The “Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle” collection is available for research.
Access is restricted to materials prepared by the Local History department staff. All materials must be viewed in the Plainfield Room and may not be removed to another area of the library without permission of the Library Director or designee. Materials must be handled carefully and kept in order. Materials must not be leaned upon, altered, folded, ripped, or traced upon. Marks may not be added or erased from materials. Materials must be returned directly to Local History department staff and inspected before the researcher leaves the Plainfield Room.
Restrictions on Use
One photocopy may be made (by Plainfield Public Library staff) of each document for the purpose of research; official Local History departmental reproduction fees may apply. Permission to publish must be obtained by the Plainfield Public Library Board of Trustees as delegated to the Library Director. Permission to publish does not constitute a copyright clearance. The researcher is responsible for further copyright restrictions. The Plainfield Public Library is not responsible for the misuse of copyrighted material.
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Index Terms
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Organizations:
Places:
Subjects:
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Physical Charateristics or Technical Requirements
This collection consists of paper documents, which do not require any additional technology for access.
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Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Identification of item; Date (if noted); “Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle” collection, Box and Folder Number; Local History Department, Plainfield Public Library, Plainfield, New Jersey.
Acquisition Information
Unknown.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Anna Henderson in February 2008. The finding aid was written by Anna Henderson in February 2008. Finding aid content follows the guidelines suggested by Describing Archives: A Content Standard.
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Detailed Description of the Collection
| Series 1: CLSC Items, 1880-1889 | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 5 | 4 | CLSC materials, 1880-1889 | |||||||||