In the earliest years of The Farmer’s High School of Pennsylvania, literary clubs were the only organized form of extracurricular activity. Over the decades that followed, the number of student organizations exponentially grew to help students across the commonwealth find community based on their interests, with more than 1,000 recognized student organizations today. Those interested in joining a student organization can learn more at the Involvement Fair today (Aug. 23) from 1 to 5 p.m. on the HUB-Robeson Center Lawn at University Park, or can browse organizations by campus on the Penn State Student Affairs website.
Campus Life
From the archives: Getting involved
The Penn State Juggling Club, pictured here in 1985, is one of thousands of student organizations to have been active at Penn State since the University's founding. Those interested in joining a student organization this academic year can learn more at the Involvement Fair from 1 to 5 p.m. today (Aug. 23) on the HUB-Robeson Lawn at the University Park campus, or on the Penn State Student Affairs website. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
In the 1860s, there were limited formal extracurricular activities. Every member of the all-male student body was involved in one of the only two student organizations at The Farmers High School of Pennsylvania — the Washington Agricultural Literary Society or the Cresson Literary Society, which met Friday nights for debates, orations and musical entertainment. One of those meetings is pictured here. In the late 19th century, the rise of fraternities, organized athletics and other clubs gradually diverted interest from literary societies, leading them to disband in 1895, according to the Eberly Family Special Collections Library. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
According to the 1955 anniversary edition of La Vie, formality was the keynote for members of QVT, a Latin letter group organized in 1884 (pictured here). QVT later became Penn State's first fraternity. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
The Cosmopolitan Club in 1915. According to La Vie, "The Cosmopolitan Club of the Pennsylvania State College was founded in 1910 by a group of American and foreign students. The main object of the organization is 'to promote a better understanding of the political, economic and literary phases of different countries.'" Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
The Orpheus Club in 1922. According to La Vie, the club was founded with the purpose of promoting interest in music among the women's student body. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
The 1938 ski team Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
Androcles in 1964. According to La Vie, "Androcles was founded on the Penn State campus in 1950 and honors outstanding men in the fields of dramatics, forensics, student government, athletics and publications." Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
The Penn State Thespian Society in 1975. The society, which was founded in 1897, continues today as one of the oldest student organizations at the University. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
The International Dancers in 1984. In its sixth year with 25 student members, the International Dancers, through performance, ethnically represent and perpetrate folk arts of dance and song, according to the 1984 La Vie. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
Colloquy in 1985. According to La Vie that year, "Colloquy, the lecture programming organization at Penn State, continued to present stimulating and entertaining speaking events throughout the academic year. This organization has been an active, University-funded club since the 1960s." Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
The Penn State Juggling Club in 1985. According to La Vie, "Balls, rings and devil sticks were just a few of the items that members of the Penn State Juggling Club used to perform their stunts. Just a few years old, the club began to promote juggling in the State College area." Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
The Singing Lions perform outside Beaver Stadium in 1989. The Singing Lions is a performance ensemble that has been part of the University Park campus for 40 years. It was originally founded under the School of Music as the "Penn State Pop Choir" and is now a student-run organization, according to the Singing Lions website. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
The Swinging Lions in 2000. In this picture, members of the swing dancing club perfect a dip. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
The United Soul Ensemble step team in 2004. From La Vie: "As they groove to the music, the United Soul Ensemble's step team prepares for an exhilarating performance. The step team added another dimension to the choir's performances, giving visual appeal to their full sound." Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
The Caribbean Student Association in 2005. From La Vie: "Wearing vivid color costumes and headgear, the Caribbean Student Association poses for a picture before the 2004 Homecoming parade." Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
Lion Ambassadors at the Student Involvement Fair in 2014. Known for their trademark backwards walk and signature jackets, Lion Ambassadors have been offering tours of Penn State's campus to prospective and accepted students since 1982, according to the organization's website. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons
In the 1860s, there were limited formal extracurricular activities. Every member of the all-male student body was involved in one of the only two student organizations at The Farmers High School of Pennsylvania — the Washington Agricultural Literary Society or the Cresson Literary Society, which met Friday nights for debates, orations and musical entertainment. One of those meetings is pictured here. In the late 19th century, the rise of fraternities, organized athletics and other clubs gradually diverted interest from literary societies, leading them to disband in 1895, according to the Eberly Family Special Collections Library. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
According to the 1955 anniversary edition of La Vie, formality was the keynote for members of QVT, a Latin letter group organized in 1884 (pictured here). QVT later became Penn State's first fraternity. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
The Cosmopolitan Club in 1915. According to La Vie, "The Cosmopolitan Club of the Pennsylvania State College was founded in 1910 by a group of American and foreign students. The main object of the organization is 'to promote a better understanding of the political, economic and literary phases of different countries.'" Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
The Orpheus Club in 1922. According to La Vie, the club was founded with the purpose of promoting interest in music among the women's student body. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
The 1938 ski team Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
Androcles in 1964. According to La Vie, "Androcles was founded on the Penn State campus in 1950 and honors outstanding men in the fields of dramatics, forensics, student government, athletics and publications." Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
The Penn State Thespian Society in 1975. The society, which was founded in 1897, continues today as one of the oldest student organizations at the University. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
The International Dancers in 1984. In its sixth year with 25 student members, the International Dancers, through performance, ethnically represent and perpetrate folk arts of dance and song, according to the 1984 La Vie. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
Colloquy in 1985. According to La Vie that year, "Colloquy, the lecture programming organization at Penn State, continued to present stimulating and entertaining speaking events throughout the academic year. This organization has been an active, University-funded club since the 1960s." Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
The Penn State Juggling Club in 1985. According to La Vie, "Balls, rings and devil sticks were just a few of the items that members of the Penn State Juggling Club used to perform their stunts. Just a few years old, the club began to promote juggling in the State College area." Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
The Singing Lions perform outside Beaver Stadium in 1989. The Singing Lions is a performance ensemble that has been part of the University Park campus for 40 years. It was originally founded under the School of Music as the "Penn State Pop Choir" and is now a student-run organization, according to the Singing Lions website. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
The Swinging Lions in 2000. In this picture, members of the swing dancing club perfect a dip. Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
The United Soul Ensemble step team in 2004. From La Vie: "As they groove to the music, the United Soul Ensemble's step team prepares for an exhilarating performance. The step team added another dimension to the choir's performances, giving visual appeal to their full sound." Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
The Caribbean Student Association in 2005. From La Vie: "Wearing vivid color costumes and headgear, the Caribbean Student Association poses for a picture before the 2004 Homecoming parade." Credit: Penn State University Archives / Penn State. Creative Commons
Lion Ambassadors at the Student Involvement Fair in 2014. Known for their trademark backwards walk and signature jackets, Lion Ambassadors have been offering tours of Penn State's campus to prospective and accepted students since 1982, according to the organization's website. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons
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