Cosmopolitan Club- Denison before DISA (Chessman) (subject file) | Archives and Special Collections Catalog

Information on the existence and organization of international students at Denison before DISA (Denison International Students Association) was formed in 1969.  The Cosmopolitan Club and the Denison Commons Club both organized at Denison in the early 1900's. Informal organization of the Cosmopolitan Club is found as far back as 1915, with a formal charter of 1921. The Cosmopolitan Club's motto was "Above All Nations is Humanity" and membership was open to all students.  In a similar way, the Commons Club originated as an organization to meet the needs of non-fraternity men on campus in February, 1917.  Its chief purpose was the "furthering of democracy and good fellowship among the students of Denison."  The Inter-Community Council was created in the early 1960's to promote student exchange and the full-time enrollment of black and foreign students.

This information appears to have been compiled by Wallace Chessman, University Historian Emeritus, for articles he wrote.  Handwritten lists of international students along with pages copied from the Adytum of the above mentioned groups are included.  Also in the files are copies of two Chessman articles published in the Denisonian and a five page summary of the international groups on campus that preceded DISA.