Classical Association
- Membership of the Classical Association & Upcoming Events
- Recent Events
- History of the Classical Association
Membership of the Classical Association
If you wish to belong to the Classical Association in 2007, please send the application form with $5.00 (no charge for students) to A/Prof H. Baltussen, Hughes 717, University of Adelaide, S.A. 5005.
Recent Events
On Monday 24 August, the Classical Association SA, University of Adelaide presented the 2nd CASA lecture 2009.This was the inaugural Henry Darnley Naylor Memorial Lecture, and we were delighted that Associate Professor Peter Davies (Emeritus, University of Tasmania, Visiting Research Fellow at Adelaide) got the series underway with his paper: 'Censorship: Ovid and free speech in Augustine's Rome'
Background to the Lecture Series:
The Henry Darnley Naylor Memorial Lecture series has been created after the Centenary celebrations of CASA in 2008 with a view to honouring its founder, Prof Henry Darnley Naylor (1872 - 1945). He migrated from the UK to Melbourne in 1895, and held a teaching position at the university there before coming to Adelaide in 1907. He became the fifth Hughes Professor in Classics and was one of the most distinguished of the eight incumbents from 1874 to 1992. The founder of the Classical Association, he held the Hughes Chair until 1927, when he retired early to promote the work of the League of Nations.
Please see the Classical Association website for information about how to join, and for details of recent lectures.
- The most recent meeting was held on Monday 25 May, the first meeting of the association in 2009. We were delighted that Tim Hart, of Rostrevor College, accepted our invitation to speak and he provided a stimulating talk entitled: "A genius for war? How 'Great' was Alexander?"
- Previous to this meeting, on Monday 27 October 2008, we had the 4th and final lecture of the association's centenary year. The speaker was Dr Ronald Newbold, who spoke on the subject of "The Fall of the Roman Empire: when and why." (See below for blurb)
- The previous meeting of the Classical Association (Semester 2, 2008) was held on Monday 11 August. The speaker was Dr Vicki Jennings on the subject 'Jokes, joke books and jokers from the ancient world'. (See below for blurb)
"The Fall of the Roman Empire: when and why." | 'Jokes, joke books and jokers from the ancient world'. |
A recently published book is entitled "Are We (i.e the USA) Rome?" The why and when of the fall of Rome has always fascinated people, often people anxious to draw some moral that can be applied to the present. Was it "bad luck", an unfortunate combination of factors that crippled an organism that was very much alive and punching its weight? Or was it because Rome had truly become lazy, flabby, complacent, even, gasp, decadent? All cannot be revealed in 50 minutes but hopefully a little light can be shed on a subject that everyone seems to have an opinion on. |
History of the Classical Association
The Founder Of The Classical Association, Henry Darnley Naylor
Born in 1872 in England, the fifth Hughes professor in Classics was one of the most distinguished of the eight incumbents from 1874 to 1992. He migrated to Melbourne in 1895 and held a teaching position at the university there before coming to Adelaide in 1907. He held the Hughes chair until 1927, when he retired early to promote the work of the League of Nations.
Horrified by the carnage of 1914-18, he was determined to prevent another world war. He died in 1945. An impressive man.
Minutes of the very first meeting of the Classical Association
THE CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION
In response to an invitation from Professor Naylor the following were present of Friday 20th March 1908.
| Mrs Dorsch | Rev. J. A. Fitzgerald |
| Miss Cowperthwaite | Rev C. J. Graebner |
| Miss Lance | Mr A. C. Fraser |
| Miss Clark | Mr D. M. Coghill |
| Miss Jacob | Mr W. R. Bayly |
| Miss Williams | Mr A. J. Brooks |
| Miss Langman | Mr J. E. Langley |
| Miss Poole | Mr B. P. Wait |
| Mr D. H. Hollidge | |
| Mr G. A. McMillan |
Reports received from Miss Holder, D. G. Byard, Brother Brendan, G. J. Hills.
Professor Naylor presided.
It was resolved that a Classical Association be founded.
The following officers were elected:
| Patron | - The Chancellor of the University of Adelaide |
| President | - Professor H. Darnley Naylor |
| Vice-Presidents | - Professor Henderson, Professor Mitchell |
| Hon. Sec. | - G. A. McMillan |
| Hon. Treas. | - D. H. Hollidge |
| Committee | - Miss Jacob, Miss Cowperthwaite, J. E. Langley |
| Resolved | - That the first meeting of the Association be held on Friday 10th April. |
| & | That the Resident Treasurer and Secretary draft the rules of the Association. |
| The topics suggested for discussion at the next meeting were: | |
| Pronunciation | |
| Accents | |
| Text books |
The Second Meeting
On the 10 th April, the rules of the association i.e. the constitution, were presented and adopted. The objectives included improving the practice of teaching the Classics and advertising new discoveries. Membership subscription was to be two shillings and six pence.
A letter from the Chief Justice of SA (Sir Samuel Way, who was also the university Chancellor) was read out by the president (Professor Darnley Naylor) consenting to become the association's patron. Professors Henderson and Mitchell (later Vice-Chancellor and Chancellor of the university and after whom the Mitchell building was named) became Vice-Presidents.
The topics for discussion foreshadowed at the first meeting were duly discussed. Should there be prescribed authors forthe public examinations in Greek and Latin? Most present felt there should.
As for the pronunciation of Greek and Latin, the guidelines of the Classical Association of Great Britain were considered suitable.
(What they decided about Greek accents is not recorded)
At the third meeting on 19th June, when 26 members were present, there was firstly a discussion on whether Ancient History should be offered as a separate exam subject or as an option under British history. The membersfavoured independence and separation.
Then followed a lecture on So-called Distributive Adjectives, the Gerund and the Gerundive.
The first financial statement in the minute book occurs after the last meeting in 1908. Income for the year was 1 pound 16 shillings and 2 pence. Expenditure was 1 pound 16 shillings and 3 pence. The society was in the red by 1 penny.
By 1915 the situation was much healthier. Income for the year was 5 pounds 5 shillings, and after expenditure, 2 pounds 6 shillings and 7 pence remained in the account.
