Scholia Club.

Biographical / Historical Notes

In January 1904, at the home of Albert Will Angier, a group of men interested in education and educational issues organized to form a Scholia Club in San Diego. The term “scholia” indicates a scholastic purpose. Those present were Albert Will Angier, John Crippen, Frank Thompson, P.E. Davidson, and W.F. Bliss. Harley Chandler was not present, but telephoned regarding actions at the meeting. An Executive Committee was formed to include Chandler, Angier, Davidson, and Percey .E. Davidson, who was made Factotum of the Club, a position holding similar duties to that of a president. A few weeks later, a special meeting was held to elect three non-teachers to membership. Roy Campbell, secretary of YMCA, Dr. R.F. Burnham, M.D., a physician and brother-in-law of George Marston, and attorney Adelbert H. Sweet were elected at the special meeting. The Club took pride in its mixed membership of teachers and non-teachers. The first regular meeting was held at the Delmonico restaurant on February 6, 1904. On March 18, 1904, the third regular meeting welcomed Professor Snedden of Stanford University who made the address of the evening.

The first draft of the Club’s constitution was presented on February 6, 1904 and numerous revisions were made until July 13, 1939. Will Angier had prepared the redrafted constitution. The objects of the Scholia Club were “to promote among its membership ‘socialbility’ and good fellowship, to engage in the study of the problems and conditions touching the theory and practice of school keeping and publish results of each study, to develop a code of professional ethics and to promote this in the teaching profession, and to advance general interests in the teaching profession and lend its influence in legitimate ways to deserving educational causes.”

Twenty members were limited to the roster, of which included three ballot-elected Executive Committee members. A “Chronicler” was elected and out of the three Executive Committee Members, a Factotum was elected. These members held office for one year until a successor was chosen. In order to gain membership into the Club, one was presented to the Executive Committee, and if no one objected, the rest of the members decided entry by a secret ballot. Membership dues for the year were collected at the first meeting and for many years, it was $12.

“Customs” of the club included holding eight regular meetings at an eating place from October to May, many of which took place at the University Club, and reading of a 30 to 40 minute paper after a short business meeting which followed dinner. Topics for discussion, often resulting in a heated debate, were typically chosen by the speaker who suffered severe criticism by the rest of the group. In earlier days, the speaker was dubbed the “victim” and membership was divided into “Sheep” and “Goats” during “the era of unlimited locking of the horns.” In more recent years greater club courtesy was accorded.

From the guide to the Scholia Club Records, 1904-2009, (San Diego History Center Document Collection)