Milligan College, like most other colleges and universities of the time, had literary societies, clubs focused on readings and recitations. Despite Josephus Hopwood’s history of having helped combine literary societies at Abingdon, during this time, all literary societies at Milligan during this time were for one gender only. This did not mean that they did not mix in other ways, such as by giving performances, however. The Annual of 1880-1881 states, “Some of the most entertaining programmes we have ever had at the institution has been by the young ladies of the Tibiserian ranks,” the Tibiserian Society being one of these societies for women.