The Lyceum records

The Lyceum was formed by two rival literary groups at Augustana College, the Adelphic and Phrenokosmian societies, in order to create a lecture and concert series. The first recorded minutes of the Board of the Lyceum of Augustana College and Theological Seminary date from 1892, but there is evidence that the group existed as early as 1890. The Lyceum published two literary annuals: Balder, from 1890 to 1892, and Lyceum Annual, from 1892 to 1894. These periodicals included "contest orations plus other valuable material composed by members," as stated in the 1891-1892 Augustana College catalog. Half of the articles in the annual were in Swedish and the other half in English. In 1892, 4,000 copies of the annual were printed.

The purpose of the Lyceum was to promote the literary and oratorical interests of its members. In the beginning, a free concert and lecture series was presented during the academic years in the chapel for members of the institution as well as local citizens. In addition to public lectures and concerts, the Lyceum also presented a program at the closing exercises for the fall and spring semesters, organized debates between the Adelphic and Phrenokosmian societies, and held oratorical contests for its members. During its existence, the Lyceum brought many notable speakers and performers to campus. These events not only offered cultural and academic enrichment but were also social highlights of the year.

In 1902, the Lyceum submitted a petition to Augustana College president Gustav Andreen for permission to start a college paper. With the approval of Andreen and the faculty, the Augustana Observer was created.

The Lyceum's slate of programs was directed by a student manager under the supervision of the Board of Control of Student Activities. By 1931, the Adelphic and Phrenokosmian societies had lapsed, so the management of the Lyceum was taken over by the Board of Student Activities. At the end of the fall term 1931, the Lyceum was replaced by the Augustana Lecture Series.