The Federal Adelphi Society, founded in 1797, was an organization of holders of college degrees, members of the learned professions, and seniors and juniors of the College, which held public disputations and continued to meet until 1835, having been supplanted by the branch of Phi Beta Kappa established at Brown University in 1830.
There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
The Federal Adelphi Society records, MS-1Q-F1, Brown University Archives.
Consists of correspondence, receipts, records of books purchased, a committee report, and a record book of the Brown University Federal Adelphi. The record book (1797-1833) contains the Petition for an act of incorporation to the State of R.I.; Institutions [Constitution] of the Federal Aldelphi; and minutes of meetings. The society maintained a library which is described in the Institutions of the Federal Adelphi. There are membership certificates (1797) engraved on velum by William Hamlin of Providence
The papers are arranged in two series:
The acquisition information for this collection is unavailable.
Signatures include: Benjamin Allen (n.d.); Paul Allen (n.d., 1804, 1809); Amos Maine Atwell (n.d., 1803, 1804, 1808); John Bailey (1808); Sumner Barton (n.d.); Samuel W. Bridgham (1806); Sylvester Fuller Bucklin (n.d.); Tristam Burges (n.d.); Thomas Burgess (n.d., 1808); Thomas Carlile (n.d., 1806); Lucius Cary (1803); Thomas Cook (1817); Philip Crapo (n.d., 1803, 1805, 1808); Walter Raleigh Danforth (n.d., 1808, 1809); Israel Day (1808, 1809); Stephen W. Eddy (n.d., 1808, 1809); Ferdinand Ellis (n.d.); James Ellis (1806); Elisha Fisk (n.d.); John Holroyd (1803, 1805) George Jackson (1808); John McKie (n.d., 1804, 1808); Dutee J. Pearce (1808); Nathaniel Searle (1803); John Burgess Snow (1808, 1809); Jonathan Thayer (n.d.); William Randall Theus (n.d.); Daniel Thomas (n.d.); Daniel Turner (n.d.); John Whipple (n.d.); Jabez Whitaker (1803, 1804); Henry Wheaton (n.d., 1808); William Wilkinson (n.d.)
Signatures of: Jasper Adams (1815); Benjamin F. Allen (1817); Armand Auboyneau (1808); Isaac Bailey (1810); William Bates (1809); Nicholas Brown (1811); Henry F. Clark (1809); Joseph Clarke (1815); Joshua Dean (1809); Samuel Dexter (1806); Pardon B. Farrington (1817); Philip Manchester Fiske (1808); Benjamin Ives Gilman (1812); Simon Ray Greene (1809); Jacob Hill (1810); Hezekiah Holmes (1809); John Holroyd (1803, 1805, 1806); Warren Lovering (1817); Jonathan Thayer (1806); Daniel Thomas (1806); Charles Turner (1815); Thomas Williams (1809)
Letter declining oratorial responsiblities
List of books purchased by counselors of Federal Adelphi
Four cover papers describing contents (now dispersed)
Order to pay three dollars to counselors of Adelphi to buy books.
"Received of John Witherspoon for the Political Adelphi Society two dollars for Independent Gazeteer..." Signed Carter and Wilkinson
Order for payment $3.50, signed by Benjamin Allen
Signed by J. Sabin and J. Witherspoon
Order for payment of five dollars, signed by James Ervin
Signed by Samuel Ervin
Order for payment of six shllings, signed by James Ervin
Order for payment of two dollars, signed by Conrade Webb
Order for payment of fifty cents, signed by Conrade Webb
Order for payment of four dollars, signed by Conrade Webb
Order for payment of one dollar, signed by Conrade Webb
Order for payment of 4/6, signed by James Ervin, Pres.
Statement declaring the name of the Impartialist for the society's first periodical publication, signed by Jeremiah Howell, Tristam Burges, Elisha Fisk
Declining honor of oration
Signed by Samuel Williams
For printing Allen's oration
Declining honor of oration
Declining honor of oration
Declining honor of oration
Signed by Paul Allen, John Holroyd, Nathaniel Searle, Lucius Cary, Philip Crapo, Amos Maine Atwell
Declining honor of oration
Response on hearing the Society has awarded hima gold medal for best dissertation
Requesting Society to deliver gold medal to Dr. Bullard of Boston
Letter accepting oratorial duties in lieu of Wheaton.
Declines oratorial duties due to poor health.
Signed by John Hammond, Thomas Cook, James Olney
Signed by James Olney, Thomas Cooke,G. Hammond, W. Goddard
Will not be able to answer his appointment before the society.
Signed by Thomas Cook, Henry Alexander, William Danforth
Requesting information regarding posing of questions in discussion
Signed by Thomas Cook, G. Hammond, Henry Alexander, William Danforth
Letter sent with printed copy of the biography of James Manning
Regrets he is unable to attend literary anniversary.
Signed by Andrew Dexter, Abdrew Dexter, Jr., John Milton Mann, John Padelford, Seth Padelford, Samuel Bridgham, Philip Crapo, Nathaniel Searle, Jr.
Includes minutes and order of business