Intercollegiate Debate Seminary, Student Life
Records
Title: Intercollegiate
Debate Seminary, Student Life Records
Creator: Intercollegiate Debate Seminary
Dates: 1871-1941
Quantity: 2 boxes (1.0 linear
feet)
Collection Number: RG 45-02-00
Language: English
Restrictions: None
Access and Use: For information on access or copyright, please see our guidelines
or email archives@unl.edu.
Historical Records Statement: Please see our statement on historical records and materials.
Preferred Citation: Intercollegiate Debate Seminary, Student Life Records (RG 45-02-00). Archives
& Special Collections, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries.
Background Note:
In 1904, due to increased recognition of student debating activities at the
University of Nebraska, the University's Board of Regents officially established the
University Debating Board as a corollary to the University Athletic Board. Debating
rivaled athletics in the widespread public enthusiasm it generated and served as an
invaluable civic connection between the University and its constituents.
Professor Miller M. Fogg, who supervised the debate program from 1901-1926,
established a four-year course that rejected mere oratorical skills in favor of
subject mastery and the application of intellectual inquiry, scientific
investigation, and issues of civic interest. Fogg reorganized intercollegiate debate
into an innovative "squad" system to which sixteen members were elected each season
through an open competition. In addition to training, squad members compiled study
materials on designated topics for the intercollegiate debate season and created
study guides for the University-sponsored Nebraska State High School Debating
League. Debate squad members received academic credit for their participation.
Women were among the most visible and successful collegiate debaters in the early
years. However, in 1904, the University Debating Board excluded women from debate
squads. In 1941, women were re-admitted to the University's program after it moved
from the Department of English curriculum to the newly developed Department of
Speech.
The highpoint of the Intercollegiate Debate Seminary occurred in between World War I
and World War II. In October of 1927, the Cambridge University debating team came to
Nebraska to debate the compatibility of contemporary business ethics and morality.
Local press covered the highly anticipated debate, which was attended by over 700
spectators.
Interclass debate and debates between student debating clubs, associations, and
fraternal organizations increased in popularity with the success of the
Intercollegiate Debate Seminary squads in national and international competition.
Student interest in the Seminary led to the development of formal but less rigorous
inter-class and inter-club debates open to the general student participation through
a variety of student debate clubs and organizations, as well as through the
University curriculum.
Scope and Content:
Materials in the collection include records of the University Debating Board.
Intercollegiate Debate Seminary materials include program descriptions, annual
newsletters and bulletins, debate schedules and announcements, photographs, and
newspaper clippings. From 1922 to 1931, the annual newsletter of Debate Seminary was
published as a bulletin by the University of Nebraska Department of Extension. Early
program descriptions from 1902-1913 include texts of orations, pictures, and
biographical information on orators. Most of the newsletters include a review of the
previous year's debates and plans for debates the following year, along with
announcements and biographical information on orators. The membership lists from
1895-1945 and summary of debates from 1895-1945 are photocopies from Donald O.
Olson's master's thesis, Debating at the University of
Nebraska.
The reports on the shipping subsidy question were completed by members of the
Intercollegiate Debate Seminary or as a part of a class titled "Rhetoric 22." The
reports include results of their studies on the following question: "Resolved, That the United States Should Adopt a Policy of
Shipping Subsidies."
The Debate Program scrapbook includes newspaper clippings and items such as
memberships lists, a list of men who debated at Nebraska between 1931-1941, and a
program for a debate between Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. These items are also
represented elsewhere in the collection.
Subjects:
Fogg, Miller M
Debates and debating
University of Nebraska (Lincoln campus) --
History
Intercollegiate Debate Seminary
Debates and debating
Orators
University of Nebraska (Lincoln campus)
Container List:
Box 1. Folder 1. Program descriptions, 1902-1905, 1902-1913
Box 1. Folder 2. Annual newsletters, 1911-1913
Box 1. Folder 3. Annual newsletters, 1914-1917
Box 1. Folder 4. Annual newsletters, 1918-1919
Box 1. Folder 5. Annual newsletters, 1914-1917
Box 1. Folder 6. Annual newsletters, 1922-1923
Box 1. Folder 7. Annual bulletins, 1924-1931
Box 1. Folder 8. Summary of debates, 1895-1945
Box 1. Folder 9. Membership list, 1902-1905
Box 1. Folder 10. High school representation, 1902-1931
Box 1. Folder 11. Debate schedules, 1930-1941
Box 1. Folder 12. Debate announcements, 1907-1919
Box 1. Folder 13. Debate announcements, 1920-1931
Box 1. Folder 14. Reports, Shipping Subsidies, 1911
Box 1. Folder 15. Reunion program, 1923, June 2
Box 2. Folder 1. Newspaper clippings, 1910-1940
Box 2. Folder 2. Newspaper clippings 1902-1905
Box 2. Folder 3. Photographs, 1904-1910
Box 2. Folder 4. Photographs, 1911-1921
Box 2. Folder 5. Photographs, 1922-1931
Box 2. Folder 6. Photographs, 1902-1905
Box 2. Folder 7. Scrapbooks (3), 1902-1941 (see also oversize materials)
Related Materials: UNL Archives & Special Collections files on Intercollegiate-Debate Seminary
alumni Emory R. Buckner, University Debating Association (RG 45/01), and Nebraska
State High School Debating League (RG 45/03). A detailed description of selected
aspects of the student debate at the University of Nebraska can be found in the
following master's thesis, Debating at the University of
Nebraska, by Donald O. Olson. University of Wisconsin, 1947 (PN 4189,N2
047 1947x). |