Did you know that LCHS once had fraternal organizations similar to college fraternities and sororities?

Harkening back to a time when high schools had more in common with colleges, the clubs were known as ‘literary societies,’ and they existed for several years after the school’s founding. The literary societies were extremely active in community life; they played intramural sports against each other at school field days, and they often organized student debates, plays, and concerts for public enjoyment, with proceeds benefitting the school.

The literary societies fostered a sense of healthy competition for LCHS students, and gave some organization and order to school extracurricular activities, but over time they were replaced by the school clubs that we know today.

This image from an issue of the Lawrence ‘Union’ is over a century old, and it shows one of the earliest literary societies at LCHS, the Athenian.

Photo credit: The Lawrence ‘Democrat.’