The Hermethenean was a short-lived monthly literary magazine published by the Club of the Incogniti, one of Washington College’s (now Trinity College) first secret societies. Reported to be the first undergraduate publication in the United States, the first and only volume of the literary magazine appeared in six issues between October 1833 and March 1834. At thirty-two pages per issue, the magazine was a notable success for its literary merits, with an impressive range of works of fiction, opinion, poetry, and more. While the first issue is entirely comprised of student work, later issues in the volume did include contributions from members of the community. An editor’s note concluding the sixth issue announced forthcoming work and patronage from prominent poet Lydia Sigourney. Unfortunately, the magazine’s run did not extend beyond this sixth and final issue, and the prospectus drawn up for future publication was never fulfilled.

Trinity College in the Twentieth Century (2000) by Peter and Anne Knapp, p. 18.

History of Trinity College (1967) by Glenn Weaver, p. 57.

The Trinity Tablet, 1868-07.

Washington College. The Hermethenean. Joseph Hurlbut, 1834.