Transcription of Minutes of the Athenaeum of the American Asylum (Hartford, CT) covering the period from Feb 27th, 1862 until Mar 25, 1865.

This book was re-purposed by Sarah (Sadie) Greene as a photo album, pasting the images directly over the original text. The book started life as a plain ruled book of paper about 7.5 x 9.5" in size. Covers were cardboard. I'd guess the book was about 1" thick originally, but it is now swollen with photos and the spine is completely gone. It is bound with a white shoelace. Some of the minutes are only readible by peeking under the edges of photos and other scrap book items. Of course some of the text is very light, and other sections are in a hand that is difficult to read. I'd guess well in excess of 100 sheets (200+ pages) overall. While the minutes are only written on the righthand sides, Sadie's scrapbook items cover both sides.

The sense I get of the group is that was an elite student-run society that met very frequently and had strict rules of attendance and procedure. They had a meeting room and their own subscriptions to periodicals which they used to investigate controversial topics of current interest (Generals of the Civil War, the future of the freed slaves) or general philosophy. These investigations became topics for frequent debates and essays. Faculty were allowed to join as honorary members, and members who graduated were recognized as senior members. Probationary members were charged twentyfive cents upon election to that status and another twentyfive cents when they became regular members, typically several weeks later.

There is mention in the minutes of a plan to create a members' photo album or, alternatively, to frame and hang pictures of the members in their meeting room. I'm not sure anything came of this.

For a hearing person like me, it's remarkable to think that these debates were conducted in signs. It also implies in part how Samuel developed his skills of writing and oratory.

The first page is inscribed "Minutes" in a calligraphic style. The next eight pages have been razored out, but from writing left in the margins, I can say that they covered minutes of the first 7 meetings.

The first untouched page gives the minutes of an extra meeting held April 7, 1862. They were:

"The President and Mr. Tousley being absent, the members present proceeded to elect Mr. Moore temporary President and to consider the design of the seal submitted by Mr. Moore. It was finally adopted after some modifications. Adjourned."

Following, on the same page, are minutes of the...

"8th Meeting, April 11th, 1862. All Present. No business of importance being presented, Mr. Hotchkiss delivered his Essay which treated of "Money and Coinage." At the conclusion, the members proceeded to a general discussion of…" (At this point the narrative breaks to the next page, where it is covered by a photo of Bessie Greene and two friends, taken in 1894.)

The above should give you a sense for what the text is like throughout. From this point on, I'll confine myself to a list of names mentioned in the text, events bearing on the group whose minutes these are, and text directly referring to Samuel Thomas Greene.

Mr. Henry Winter Syle proposed Mr. D. E. Bartlett be elected honorary member. Mr. Scammell and Mr. Draper are recorded as taking positions in a debate. Mr. Crossett was rejected for membership.

June 13th, 1862, elections were held with Mr. Draper named President, Mr. Syle Secretary, Mr. Scammell Librarian (after declining twice). Mr. Tousley was excused from reading his essay because of instructor duties at the Asylum. Mr. Henry M. Fairman proposed for membership.

In October 1862 Mr. Fairman and Mr. Martin debated Mr. Moore and Mr. John B. Hotchkiss on the topic: "It would be better to colonize the freed slaves in Mexico than to return them to their native country."

Nov 14, 1862 elections, Mr Storrs was elected an honorary member. Mr. DeWitt Tousley, President; Harry H. Moore, Secretary; and William E. Martin, Librarian. A Mr. Turner mentioned in same minutes.

Mr. Dean. Mr. Albert J. Hasty. Mr. Allen. Mr. Crossett nominated (again) for honorary membership but motion tabled. Mr. Hugh McElroy. Mr. Ayres. Rev. Mr. Turner (honorary member, Resolutions of thanks upon his leaving service as Principal at the Asylum June 20, 1863).

"Roll Call of the A. A. A." (Athenaeum of the American Asylum) Sept 20, 1863: President Henry Winter Syle of Washington, D.C., Secretary Albert J. Hasty of Winslow, Maine, Librarian Hugh McElroy of W. Providence, RI, Members Henry M. Fairman of Hartford, CT, Prof. DeWitt Tousley of the Asylum, William E. Martin of Randolph, ME, John B. Hotchkiss of Seymour, CT.

Mr. Stone (Principal) and Allen (Steward) of the Asylum.

52nd Meeting, Oct 3, 1863. Mr. Greene's application for membership was presented and approved on probation. Honorary membership conferred on Rev. Collins Stone.

54th Meeting, Oct 17, 1863. Mr. William L. Bird and Mr. Greene admitted to regular membership. Mr. Parkinson and Mr. Tuck admitted to membership.

62nd Meeting, Dec 12, 1863. Mr. Greene elected Librarian by a majority of 3.

4th Extra Meeting Dec 16, 1863. "Mr. Greene moved to have the next meeting after Christmas omitted unless the weather were unfavorable & Mr. Syle advocated the motion." (Passed unanimously.) Also, the group resolved to next debate the question "Are European nations justified in subduing Asiatic nations?" Taking the affirmative were Messrs. Greene and McElroy, and the negative Messrs. Hasty and Martin.

64th Meeting, Jan 2, 1864. "Mr. Greene moved to admit Mr. Middleton." Mr. Greene also opposed a motion to spend $10 on subscriptions to daily papers because they were readily available; some of the money being better spent on a weekly. Motion tabled.

65th Meeting, Jan 9, 1864. "Mr. Greene accused Mr. Hasty of keeping a paper for a longer time than the rules permitted."

67th Meeting, Jan 23, 1864. "Mr Greene moved that the Society should obtain from 10 to 15 dollars from the Directors for the purpose of subscribing to some papers; it was unanimously passed. Mr. Greene moved that the Post be succeeded by the Independent. The Scientific American, Harper's Magazine, and the Portland Transcript to remain; which was adopted without opposition." (There is mention of a reading room where members could avail themselves of these papers and others.)

70th Meeting, Feb 13, 1864. Resolved that the best debaters be chosen to present a debate in the Chapel on the occasion of the Society's 2nd anniversary, Feb 27, 1864. Messrs. Middleton and Martin chosen leaders and Messrs. Greene and Hasty assistants. "A purple ribbon, embroidered with a hand in the shape of the letter A of the manual alphabet, and a serpent with its tail in its mouth was on motion of Mr. Syle made the badge of each member of the Society instead of a red ribbon."

71st Meeting, Feb 20, 1864. "Mr. Greene moved that the meetings be closed with prayer; it was adopted unanimously."

72nd Meeting, Mar 5, 1864. Prof. Laurent LeClerc nominated for honorary membership. Seconded by Mr. Greene.

83rd Meeting, May 21, 1864. "The Secretary, having twice failed to say 'Mr. President,' he was on motion of Mr. Greene punished by handing each member a glass of water."

87th Meeting, Sep 24, 1864. "Greene was next elected permanent Treasurer. Mr. Greene moved to change the Constitution so as to allow the president to be a member of the council under certain circumstances, to take effect for a period of three months. Passed. Mr. Tuck's subject, 'Is McClellan a copperhead or not,' was chosen for the next debate. Mr. Greene took the affirmative & Mr. Tuck the negative side. Mr. Greene moved to purchase paper when possible, to write down all the essays on. Passed."

88th Meeting, Oct 1, 1864. "Mr. Greene then took the floor in the debate. Mr. Tuck followed and one of his arguments being proved wrong by the President, he used improper language to the President and was rebuked. Mr. Greene delivered his essay on the progress of navigation."

90th Meeting, Oct 15, 1864. "Mr. Greene's subject was chosen for the next debate. It was 'Which has the most opportunities for finding out person's characters, the lawyer, doctor, or clergyman?' Mr. Greene chose the lawyer and Mr. Bird the doctor. Mr. Tuck forgot to say 'Mr. President' and was rebuked."

92nd Meeting, Oct 29, 1864. "Is it best to have a deaf mute and a deaf mute marry or to have a deaf mute and a person who hears and can speak marry? Mr. Parkinson took the side of the deaf mute and speaking person & Mr. Greene took the opposite side."

I've skipped some routine mentions of Mr. Greene. I gather that the Society was in dire straights for funds and declining membership.

96th Meeting, Dec 3, 1864. Mr. Greene nominates Robert Duncan Livinstone for membership. Also a Mr. Houghton. Mention of Mr. Pray and a Mr. Fisher.

98th Meeting, Dec 17, 1864. Mr. Greene elected President by a majority of 1.

3rd Anniversay Meeting, Mar 11, 1865. "The President gave his oration on Education. Resolved, that teaching deaf mutes by spelling with the fingers is better than by teaching them with the aid of signs, the affirmative being Messrs. Bird and Houghton, the negative being Messrs. Parkinson and Livingstone, had been chosen as the subject of debate. After the debate, the affirmative was declared to be a little stronger than the negative. Mr. Clerc gave an address about the manual alphabet & about the meaning of the word 'Athenaeum."

104th Meeting, Mar 25, 1865. Mr. Bird elected President, Mr. Greene elected Secretary. Mr. Greene also made chairman of the Council.

And there ends the business of the Athenaeum in this book. The next couple of pages contain a poem titled "Love Me Now" in Sarah's handwriting. The poem ends with the initials E. C. M., I assume belonging to the poem's author.

I assume that Samuel continued the minutes in a second volume. Either that or the Athenaeum Society folded at about this time. I assume it must have folded at some time during Sam's tenure as Secretary, otherwise he would have passed this volume on to his successor. Perhaps some further records exist at the school.