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The Laurean and Eutaxian societies were student literary groups at the University of Oregon. The Laurean society was a men's student group founded during the first year of the University, 1876. The Eutaxian Society was a women's student literary society and was organized in 1877.
The Laurean and Eutaxian Corporation was organized with a state charter in 1877 to further the literary interests of the societies of the University. In 1877, the University did not yet have its own library. That same year the Laurean and Eutaxian societies purchased the book collection held by the Eugene Library Association and moved it to the UO campus, thereby establishing the nucleus for the future UO campus libraries.
Sources: UO Catalogue, 1914-1915; The University of Oregon, 1882-1942, by Henry D. Sheldon.
The collection contains meeting minutes, treasurer's and cash books, roll call, secretary's book, correspondence, a scrapbook, and volumes of the joint publication, The Reflector.
The Laurean Society records consist of nine volumes containing handwritten and typed meeting minutes, treasurer's and cash books, and correspondence from 1878-1902.
The Eutaxian Society records consist of five volumes of handwritten and typed meeting minutes, roll call, secretary's book, and a scrapbook from 1889-1909.
Also included are volumes 1-4 of the Laurean and Eutaxian societies' joint publication, The Reflector, 1891-1894.