These four letter all came to the Thencanic Society by its supervisor, Professor Oliver Mordorf. The first (1893) thanks the Society for electing Mordorf honorary member. In the last three letters (1897-1899), Mordorf apologizes each year for being unable to attend the Society's anniversary celebrations. Transcriptions included.
Mordorf, Oliver C., 1860-1924Trenton journalist/historian and former Thencanic President Francis B. Lee writes three letters to the Society, one for each of its anniversaries from 1897 to 1899. While Lee was unable to make the first two events, he states his intentions to be present at the third. Transcriptions included.
Lee, Francis B. (Francis Bazley), 1869-1914Welling S. Katzenbach, who seems to have recently graduated from the Model School, congratulates the Thencanic Society on the election of new officers. He offers his opinions on the selected students, and offers some reflections on the debating society at the post-secondary institution he was attending at this time. Transcription included.
Katzenbach, Welling S. (Welling Sickle), 1884-1913A 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.))Benjamin Messler, a recent alumnus of the Model School, extends his gratitude to the Thencanic Society for electing him an Honorary Member. He name-drops several notable military and political figures of the time who have also received this honor: the U.S. Navy commanders Charles Sigsbee, W. S. Schley, and George Dewey, all heroes of the Spanish-American War, as well as the Qing Dynasty statesman Li Hongzhang. For an unknown reason, the text of this letter is identical to the one sent by R. Earle Anderson on the same date (see related materials). Transcription included.
Messler, Benjamin E. (Benjamin Edmund), 1882-1952Charles C. Hewitt, at this point a student at Lehigh University, writes the Thencanic Society thanking them for electing him an honorary member. He also discusses the "Forum," Lehigh's debating society, and how it compares to the Thencanic. Finally, he gives the current membership several items of advice, from never refusing a challenge from the Normal Debating Society to avoiding a "swelled head." Transcription included.
Hewitt, Charles C. (Charles Conrad), Sr., 1881-1976Robert V. Whitehead, the first President of the Thencanic Society, thanks the current membership for electing him an honorary member. Ahead of the Society's 17th anniversary celebrations, he also offers his warm feelings and best wishes toward the group. Transcription included.
Whitehead, Robert V. (Robert Van Cleve), 1865-1937R. Earle Anderson, a recent alumnus of the Model School, extends his gratitude to the Thencanic Society for electing him an Honorary Member. He name-drops several notable military and political figures of the time who have also received this honor: the U.S. Navy commanders Charles Sigsbee, W. S. Schley, and George Dewey, all heroes of the Spanish-American War, as well as the Qing Dynasty statesman Li Hongzhang. For an unknown reason, the text of this letter is identical to the one sent by Benjamin Messler on the same date (see related materials). Transcription included.
Anderson, R. Earle (Robert Earle), 1881-1967Johnathan Wishwood, Secretary for the Lipton Tea company, thanks the Thencanic on behalf of Sir Thomas Lipton for making the company founder an honorary member of the Society. No transcription, as the document is typed.