Amphoterothen Society (University of North Carolina (1793-1962))

The Amphoterothen Society was founded at the University of North Carolina in the 1912-1913 academic year as a student organization to promote extemporaneous speaking. The Society was inactive from 1947 to 1952. In 1959, the Society was reorganized by the Forensic Council as an honorary society to recognize thirteen students who exemplify the virtues of leadership, oratory, and service.

From the description of Records of the Amphoterothen Society, 1913-1917; 1940-1945; 1953-1962 [manuscript]. WorldCat record id: 26978141

The Amphoterothen Society was founded at the University of North Carolina in the 1912-1913 academic year as a student organization to promote extemporaneous speaking. The society was inactive from 1947 to 1952. In 1959, the society was reorganized by the Forensic Council as an honorary society to recognize thirteen students who exemplify the virtues of leadership, oratory, and service. A more complete history of the society is reproduced below; the date of this history is unknown.

The Amphoterothen Society

This organization originated on the initiative of Dr. Joseph Gregoire de Roulhac Hamilton. He had been a member of an organization at the University of the South called Chelidon, meaning in Greek a swallow, hence soaring in the air, or Oratory, which had impressed him as being quite worthwhile. During the academic year 1912-1913, he and three outstanding seniors, Walter Stokes, Claude Edward Teague, Sr., and Archibald Manning Wiggins conceived the plan of starting a comparable organization here devoted to the training of extemporaneous speaking. It was begun soon after and the name Amphoterothen (meaning in Greek from both sides ) was adopted. No records of the meetings were preserved until a minutes book was begun in the Fall of 1913.

The number of members decided upon was thirteen to be chosen from the junior and senior classes. One of these was to be designated as the leader for each meeting, the lead rotating alphabetically. After the meeting had been called to order, the leader was to announce the subject for discussion, none of the other twelve member having been informed previously of the topic. After a three-minute period of silence, the members were to be called upon in alphabetical order, and each must speak three minutes on the topic announced.

At the beginning of the existence of Amphoterothen, the meetings were held weekly at 4:44 p.m. in the history room in the north entrance of the Old West building. Dean McKee was, for many years, the leader of this organization. The organization had a continuous existence until it became inactive in 1947. The Amphoterothen is the second oldest honorary on the campus.

The Forensic Council of the university realized the continued need on campus for recognition of those who excel in forensic activity. Therefore, having obtained the approval for new initiates and a new basic law from alumni members, the awakened society proceeded to reorganize in 1959. The present day purpose of the Amphoterothen Society is to recognize the virtues of leadership, oratory, and service and to honor each year the thirteen outstanding men on our campus who exemplify these virtues.

From the guide to the Amphoterothen Society of the University of North Carolina Records, 1913-1917, 1940-1962, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. University Archives.)