University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dialectic and Philanthropic Joint Senate.

The Dialectic Society and the Philanthropic Society, founded as separate societies in 1795, were the first student organizations at the University of North Carolina. Until the 1860s they supplemented the disciplinary responsibilities of the Board of Trustees and the faculty, and until the late 19th century they exercised many of the functions of present-day student government. In addition, throughout their history the societies have provided training in oratory, debating, and the essay style of composition.

Throughout most of the university's history, membership in the societies was voluntary; and new members were admitted by a vote of the old members. Until the 20th century, almost the entire student body belonged to one of the two societies. Generally, though not exclusively, students from the eastern portion of the state joined the Philanthropic Society and those from the western portion joined the Dialectic Society. This practice seems to have grown out of the early sectional rivalry between east and west.

The societies disbanded when the university closed during Reconstruction. After the university's reopening in 1875, they reorganized and flourished. In 1885 a resolution of the Board of Trustees required all enrolled students ( except medical, law, and students taking postgraduate or special courses, and such as may be specially excused by the faculty ) to belong to one of the societies. This action resulted from the urging of University President Kemp P. Battle and the faculty, who wanted to foster the societies' disciplinary function. By 1895, however, the university had dropped this membership requirement; the course catalog published in that year states that although membership in the societies is entirely optional, yet it is earnestly recommended by the faculty.

The end of compulsory membership, the gradual loss of their disciplinary function to the new Student Council, changing student interests, and the multiplication of campus organizations competing for student attention were all factors that caused the two societies to decline in vitality and membership during the early decades of the 20th century. In 1919 the Philanthropic Society reorganized itself according to the plan of the General Assembly of North Carolina and became the Philanthropic Assembly. In 1924 the Dialectic Society reorganized as the Dialectic Senate. The disruptive effects of World War II, however, hastened the decline. The Philanthropic Assembly discontinued meetings in 1943, and the Dialectic Senate barely survived the war period. In the decade following the war both societies witnessed a rejuvenation. However, by the mid-1950s they were again in decline.

In May 1959, the Senate and the Assembly began to meet as the Dialectic and Philanthropic Joint Senate. Even this expedient was not fully successful in ensuring growth. By 1970 active membership in the Joint Senate had been reduced to one, Stanley Greenberg. Greenberg was able to persuade 13 of his fellow students to join the Senate. Among these new members was George Blackburn, who as president of the Joint Senate, mounted a concerted rebuilding program. Under Blackburn's leadership and that of his successors, particularly Roger Kirkman, membership increased through a program of publicity and special activities. In 1974 the Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies Foundation, Inc., was established to ensure preservation of the societies' literary, historical, and artistic properties. By the late 1970s membership had risen to a healthy level, and the foundation began a restoration program for the societies' portrait collection.

From the guide to the Dialectic and Philanthropic Joint Senate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records, 1836-2004, (bulk 1959-2004), (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. University Archives.)