1854
The Iduna Lyceum (Ladies' Literary Society) was organized
The evidence
“Three other libraries belong to the literary societies. The oldest of these latter is the Iduna Lyceum, which was organized by the lady students in 1854. The gentlemen sustain two large societies, the Orophilian and Philomathean, which have been in operation about eighteen years.”
1879-history-of-rock-county/12-rock-county-ch06-politics-war-record.md, PDF p. 488
Butterfield, C. W., et al. The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879. Cornell University Library via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/cu31924028871585.
Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources
On the printed page (PDF p. 488) · open the whole page “There are three literary societies connected with the college which hold sessions weekly and public sessions once or twice during the year. The Iduna Lyceum, for ladies, organized in 1854 as the Ladies' Literary Society, reorganized in 1869 with the present name ; the Philomathean Society, for men, organized some time prior to 1858 as the Adelphic, reorganized in 1861 with the present name ; and the Orophilan. also for men, organized some time prior to 1858. The Christian Association dates its beginning in the spring of 1855.”
1908-brown-rock-county/15-colleges.md, Vol. 1, PDF p. 351 / book p. 322
Brown, William Fiske, editor. Rock County, Wisconsin: A New History of Its Cities, Villages, Towns, Citizens and Varied Interests, from the Earliest Times, Up to Date. Chicago: C. F. Cooper & Co., 1908. 2 vols. archive.org/details/rockcountywiscon01brow, archive.org/details/rockcountywiscon02brow.
Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources
On the printed page (Vol. 1, PDF p. 351 / book p. 322) · open the whole page
