Phi Alpha Literary Society
| Phi Alpha Literary Society | |
|---|---|
| ΦΑ | |
 |
|
| Founded | September 25, 1845 |
| Type | Literary Society |
| Motto | Onward and Upward |
| Colors | Blue and White |
| Mascot | Sylvester (Sly) the Squirrel |
| Nickname | Phis |
| Slogan | Lovers of Truth |
| Headquarters |
Lower Beecher Hall, Jacksonville, Illinois United States |
Phi Alpha (ΦΑ) is a men's Literary Society founded in 1845 at Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois. It conducts Business Meetings, Literary Productions, and other activities in Beecher Hall, the oldest college building in the state of Illinois.
"On Thursday evening, September 25, 1845, seven students from Illinois College gathered in a small room on the third floor of the old dormitory and made a momentous and historic decision. In order to unite a group of men whose ideas and principles were similar enough as to desire a common bond of fellowship, a new society was to be organized. Five days later the Immortal Seven drew up and adopted the constitution that proved to be the birth certificate of Phi Alpha Literary Society."
The seven founders of Phi Alpha who are called the Immortal Seven are:
An eighth man associated with this founding was:
The founders formed this society in the room of Greenbury Ridgely Henry in the northeast corner of the third floor of the old dormitory. "Henry was chosen temporary chairman, while Baldwin, Jayne, and Wright were appointed a committee to prepare a constitution."
Phi Alpha has a notable connection with Abraham Lincoln. In the early years it was customary for the society to sponsor lectures throughout the school year, and the profits were used to expand the society's library. Dr. William Jayne, a founder of the society, was "a neighbor, political and social friend of Abraham Lincoln from 1836 until the latter's death in 1865" and was largely responsible for bringing Lincoln to town. As a result, Lincoln came to Jacksonville, Illinois and delivered a speech entitled "Discoveries and Inventions" on February 11, 1859.William Herndon, Lincoln's law partner and biographer, claimed the lecture was written to raise money after an expensive failed campaign for US Senate against Stephen A. Douglas in 1858. According to one contemporary account the lecture was "received with repeated and hearty bursts of applause", and another added that "the lecturer drew largely from his fund of spicy anecdotes and the lecture proved highly entertaining". Despite the apparently high entertainment value of Lincoln's lecture, attendance was low and Phi Alpha couldn't bring in much money selling tickets. Dr. Jayne chronicled what happened next in an address delivered to the Grand Army Hall and Memorial Association on February 12, 1900: "Mr. Lincoln, with a kind smile, said to the president of the society, 'I have not made much money for you to-night.' In reply the president said, 'When we pay for the rent of the hall, music and advertising and your compensation, there will not be much left to buy books with for the library.' 'Well, boys, be hopeful; pay me my railroad fare and 50 cents for my supper at the hotel and we are square.'"
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