Belles Lettres

The 63-strong senior class graduates, with Mildred Conklin as its valedictorian. Conklin, Edna Moyer, Edith Hornbough, Martlia Morrette, Albert Greene, and Edgar Lawrence are tapped to join Phi Beta Kappa, the national honors fraternity. The Dickinson Dramatic Club performs Afred Noyes' "Sherwood." Student Senate and Belles Lettres elect new officers. Rushing rules are changed, with fall fraternity pushed back to after Thanksgiving break.

Belles Lettres Literary Society wins annual debate against Union Philosophical Literary Society.  The Ben Greet Players present "The Taming of the Shrew" and "Twelfth Night", hosted by the Civic Club.  Suggestions for ways to revise the cap scrap are requested by the Senate.

The class of '86 plans to erect a fountain near Old West and the new scientific building.  The Belles Lettres Sophomore Contest is held. 

The Athletic Association selects members for the baseball team.  The Union Philosophical Society Sophomore Contest is held.  The Union Philosophical Society purchases new books for their collection.  The Belles Lettres Society begins a revision of their constitution.  Alumni hold a reunion in Philadelphia.  The seniors go on their Class Ride.  Dickinson's baseball team plays Hagerstown in the first match of the season. 

The annual school catalogue is released, with numerous printer mistakes.  The Union Philosophical Society alters its constitution.  The Phi Psi's hold their annual reception.  Construction continues for the gymnasium.  The Belles Lettres Society plans its annual Sophomore Contest.  The Freshman play a chosen baseball team from the entire college population and lose to them, 28 to 16.  The Microcosm is not to be printed this year. 

Students are critical of the revival meetings occurring amongst the townsfolk of Carlisle.  The Belles Lettres Society holds its 98th anniversary.  Four freshman form the Beta Sigma Chi Society for the purpose of studying literary culture.  The Belles Lettres and Union Philosophical Societies decide to both hold sophomore contests.  The Dickinson College Athletic Association is formed. 

Results of baseball games against Ursinus and Washington and Jefferson. Glee Club performs ar Irving College. Final round of the oratorical contest held. Several students and professors to spend the summer abroad. Annual Track trophies presented. Literary section features poetry contest with student contributions. Female students learn more about women's suffrage.

Chi Phi Fraternity forms a lawn tennis club.  A pickup game of baseball is played between Dickinsonians and residents of Carlisle, with the college students winning 25 to 1.  The faculty holds a stag dance at the house of Professor Little.  The baseball team loses to Franklin and Marshall 14 to 11, wins against Harrisburg's professional team 18 to 9, loses to Chambersburg 18 to 5, and then loses to Harrisburg 12 to 1.  The Belles Lettres Society holds their Sophomore Contest. 

Students are criticized for cutting recitations and chapel.  Tensions rise when a student is dismissed from the college, prompting an investigation and almost pushing the class year of which the student was a part to withdraw from the college.  The Belles Lettres Sophomore Contest is to be held.  The Union Philosophical Society decides not to have a sophomore contest this year.  The senior class holds Class Day, a

The need for fire escapes is discussed.  The Belles Lettres Society holds their anniversary.  The Alumni Association holds a reunion.

The Dickinson Alumni Association of Philadelphia holds a reunion.  The Union Philosophical Society decides not to hold an anniversary.  The Belles Lettres Society holds a debate on whether women should "be allowed to practice the learned professions."

Belles Lettres Society wins Inter-society debate against the Union Philosophical Society. Capt. James Gordon Steese (Class of 1902) spoke to Dickinson students about his experiences during the construction of the Panama Canal. Judge Charles Boone Staples (Class of 1874) also delivered a lecture in which he argued that women should have the right to vote.

Belles Lettres Society celebrates the 130th anniversary of its founding. The first of the series of Life Work meetings of the college YMCA are conducted.

Belles Lettres Society and the Union Philosophical Society elect officers. A dramatic club forms.

There is agitation over the question of whether to admit female students to the literary societies. Charles Sewell Weech, '93, dies. Sigma Alpha Epsilon opens a chapter at Dickinson.

The graduating class of Cooper Township High School visits campus. William Baumgarten, newly-hired professor of Bible Studies, tours campus and meets faculty. The recently-formed Women's Athletic Association publishes its bylaws. Belles Lettres elects new officers.

Belles Lettres celebrates its 135-year anniversary. The visitation of a Dutch art lecturer and expert is announced. The previous weekend's All-College Banquet is deemed a success.

Professor H.M. Stephens '92 passes away after a short bout with a serious illness; Professor Edward Mutch is hired to fill the position left vacant by his death. Belles Lettres wins the annual Inter-Society Debate. The All-College banquet is scheduled for February 22, its admission price set at fifty cents. Sorority rushing begins.

An extensive piece is written on the merits of Dickinson's missionary program in China, for which the school is raising money. Belles Lettres and the Union Philosophical Society hold their annual Inter-Society Debate, the topic of which is "Should the U.S. Government enact a rigid Japanese exclusion law?" The examination schedule is posted, as the debate over the merit of the honor system persists.

The three-day dramatic festival put on by the Devereux Players is a huge success. Plays performed include "Her Husband's Wife," "The Boor," "Ghosts," and scenes from "Twelfth Night" and "The School for Scandal." Plans to organize a gym team are announced. Belles Lettres elects new officers. 82 freshman men pledge the College's nine fraternities.

Belles Lettres, Union Philosophical Society, and the Glee Club all hold their first meetings. Statistics on the 1919-1920 academic year are released, with about 15% of enrolled students dropping out or withdrawing for various reasons. The current student body of 443 is the largest in Dickinson history by more than 50 students.

Incorporators of the Law School meet. Highlights of Commencement Week. Mr. Crowder wins Walkley Senior Oratorical Prize. Belles Lettres Society and UPS hold their annual general meetings. Account of Class Day. Mr. M. P. Sellers and Mr. C. A. Terhune win the freshman oratorical contest. Freshmen hold the annual burlesque. Professor Muchmore resigns as physical instructor; Professor Willard G. Lake replaces him. Beta Theta Pi celebrates its 20th anniversary. Chi Phi holds annual banquet. Phi Kappa Psi holds annual symposium. Sigma Chi holds annual banquet.

Professor Rittenhouse resigns. Mr. McAllister wins the Union Philosophical Society's annual oratorical contest. President Reed moves his residence from East College to the new presidential mansion. Union Philosophical Society elects officers. Field Day is held. Turpin, '90, represents Dickinson at the Intercollegiate Athletic Association's field sports competition. A new fraternity, Alpha Zeta Pi, forms. Mr. Hynson wins the Belles Lettres Society's annual sophomore oratorical contest.

Glee Club takes performance tour. Belles Lettres Society and Union Philosophical Society hold a debate on tariffs. Senior Class takes a Ride. YMCA elects officers. A bowling tournament is held. YMCA holds joint meeting with the Carlisle YMCA and the Indian School YMCA.

Belles Lettres Society elects officers. Athletic Association creates a committee to increase membership. Field Day is reinstated. Dickinson sends representatives to the District YMCA Convention. Emory Hall is prepared to house a new Law School.