A very short summary of the Thencanic meeting, an uncommon report from Charles Camp. Unfitting with his previous behavior, Camp urgently calls for order in the Society. Transcription included.
Camp, Charles Wadsworth, 1879-1936The first critic's report by future Thencanic Secretary Benjamin Messler shows the author's love for writing by surpassing in length every known prior report. Messler remains respectful but spares no one in the Society from his criticisms, listing problems with behavior, describing rhetorical and oratorical mistakes, and begging the Society's pardon for his remarks. Transcription included.
Thencanic Society (Model School (Trenton, N.J.))The Thencanic's meeting of April 22 occurred the day after Spain severed diplomatic relations with the United States, and between that meeting and the writing of this report, the U.S. declared war on Spain (April 25). So this report emerged from an atmosphere of nationalism, jingoism, and adolescent masculinity, as Ernest Van Dyke's "good and patriotic" oration reveals. Katzenbach also reveals that the Society has inducted Rear Admiral William T. Sampson (soon to direct the U.S. fleet at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba in July) and former U.S. Ambassador to Spain Steward Woodford as honorary members of the Thencanic. Transcription included.
Katzenbach, Welling S. (Welling Sickle), 1884-1913A report signed only as "Critic," perhaps due to the harsh words it has for the Thencanic Society. Though brief, it shows that the problems of teenage boys continue to affect the Society's operations. The anonymous Critic caps off his report with a flourish that leads into a doodled illustration of a man in a top hat. Transcription included.
unknownFollowing the turbulent meeting of April 29, the Thencanic critic reports on the May 6 meeting. Though there was some improvement in behavior, the lack of a quorum meant that no real business could be carried out. Transcription included.
Thencanic Society (Model School (Trenton, N.J.))A brief report in a messy hand, probably by Benjamin Messler (although the signature is almost undecipherable). The critic offers praise and a remark about the ever-turbulent Mr. Camp. Transcription included.
Messler, Benjamin E. (Benjamin Edmund), 1882-1952A detailed report from the critic, with individual notes for many of the Thencanic members. Suspicions of gas leaks, loud audience members, and distractions from homework appear to have made this meeting rather memorable. Not every student mentioned could be identified. Transcription included.
Bodine, Joseph L. (Joseph Lamb), 1883-1950This report offers a brief summary of the events at the Thencanic's 16th anniversary celebrations. The Society's members and Normal/Model School staff made remarks (two staff members remain unidentified), and everyone enjoyed refreshments. Transcription included.
Thencanic Society (Model School (Trenton, N.J.))This critic's report offers only a hint of insight into the meeting itself, but the doodled caricatures throughout are the highlight. The faces unfortunately do not have names, but likely represent other students and staff at the Model School. Transcription included.
Britton, John K. (John Kirby), 1883-1962Persifor Spilsbury (brother of Raymond) offers his commentary on the state of the Thencanic Society meeting. After serious remarks on the turbulent behavior, he gives praise to the students who participated in the debate. One student remains unidentified. Transcription included.
Spilsbury, Persifor G. (Persifor Gybbon), 1882-1959