Mercer Lake Literary and Debating Society record book

Collection

Identifier: Coll 1093

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of a composition book that was used as the record book for the Mercer Lake Literary and Debating Society, a club in Mercer, Oregon. The bulk of the book's entries consist of the society's minutes for meetings from May 1915 to May 1916. These minutes were written by the society's secretary, a position that changed hands several times. Toward the back of the book is a roll call (misspelled as "roal call") listing members with notations about whether they had paid dues; the society's constitution, which also includes a list of members; and the society's by-laws. There are also several scattered pages with entries made by the society's treasurer in 1916. There are four additional pages in the book with writing on them: Two of them bear a poem and Latin phrase written in pencil, which may or may not be related to the society's activities; and two have financial information for the account of E. C. Wiltse in 1931 and 1932. Wiltse's name does not appear in the lists of society members.

Dates

Creation: 1915-1932
Creation: Majority of material found within 1915-1916

Creator

Mercer Lake Literary and Debating Society (Mercer, Or.) (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Historical Note

Mercer was a village with a post office near Mercer Lake in Lane County, Oregon, about 5 miles north of Florence. The lake was named after U.S. government surveyor George Mercer, who surveyed the area in 1879. The post office was established in 1904 and operated until 1933.

Source: Entries for Mercer and Mercer Lake in "Oregon Geographic Names," edited by Lewis L. McArthur, seventh edition, 2003, page 636.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder in shared box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Record book of the Mercer Lake Literary and Debating Society of Mercer, Oregon. The book includes the society's minutes, constitution, and bylaws. It also contains some other writings, including the finances of E. C. Wiltse. Mercer was a village by Mercer Lake in Lane County, Oregon, which had a post office that operated from 1904 to 1933.