Phi Beta Kappa Records, 1907-1994
Collection Overview
Title: Phi Beta Kappa Records, 1907-1994
ID: OGLMC434
Primary Creator: Phi Beta Kappa (1913-)
Extent: 6.25 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 00/00/1977. More info below under Accruals.
Subjects: University of North Dakota - Organizations, University of North Dakota - Student Organizations
Languages: English
Abstract
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The bulk of the Phi Beta Kappa Collection are membership, financial, correspondence, Triennial Council, and publication records. Membership records, 1914-1993, include letters of invitation into the organization and letters of acceptance from selected students. There is also correspondence dealing with the spring and fall elections when new members are chosen. Membership lists include the names of potential members, accepted members, and grade point averages. Also included are newspaper clippings of new members, order forms for Phi Beta Kappa keys, membership receipts, membership file cards, and, in some cases, actual membership certificates.
The financial records, 1914-1986, include treasurer reports, which list the chapter's financial condition annually from 1914 to 1967. The financial records, 1914-1965, contain, for the most part, receipts for registration fees and Phi Kappa Key receipts. The financial records from 1966 to 1986 contain a far greater number of receipts, including bank statements, deposit slips, and limited tax information.
The correspondence files, 1907-1992, include correspondence dealing with the formation of the chapter, university correspondence, and correspondence from the national office; also included is correspondence with the chapter secretary, the majority of which is with the national office.
The Triennial Council Records include correspondence relating to selection of delegates, location of meetings, financial considerations, and delegate's manuals.
Phi Beta Kappa publications include the Phi Beta Kappa Key (Chester Fritz Library holds hard bound volumes of the Key, 1910-1931), the Phi Beta Kappa Bulletin, which documents meetings of the organization on a national level, and the Key Reporter, the national newsletter.
Collection Historical Note
Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest Greek letter society in the United States, was founded December 5, 1776, at the College of William and Mary. The intent of its founders was to have an organization that discussed the concerns of a fledgling nation and promoted a congenial brotherhood of select young men.
Phi Beta Kappa was initially a secret society requiring an oath. However, in the first four years of its existence, the cloak of secrecy was abandoned. During those four years the organization elected fifty male members. In 1780, the College of William and Mary was forced to close down due to the invading British Army. After this event, Phi Beta Kappa began to file chapters at other universities. It was not until 1875 that individual chapters allowed female members. In 1883, when Phi Beta Kappa became a national organization, all chapters were open to women.
The charter of Phi Beta Kappa at the University of North Dakota was granted in 1913. In the spring of 1914, the chapter was officially installed. Phi Beta Kappa promotes academic achievement and potential members must demonstrate high academic ability and meet stringent grade point requirements. In addition to seeking members, Phi Beta Kappa launched such intellectual mediums as the Visiting Scholars Program, in which it sought to broaden the knowledge of all university students.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Accruals: Additional materials were donated by Ellen Erickson, UND Office of the Provost, in May 2000 (2000-2453) and July 2000 (2000-2473).
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Method: Donation; the original acquisition records are unavailable (77-454).
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Phi Beta Kappa Records. OGLMC 434, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in December 2014.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[All]
- Box 1
- Ledger 1: Letters from former members written to celebrate the chapter’s 25th Anniversary, 1939
- The letters are arranged alphabetically by correspondent and often include very detailed biographical information.
- Folder 1: Phi Beta Kappa Bulletin, 1962, 1965, 1977
- Folder 2: Key Reporter, 1936
- Folder 3: Key Reporter, 1936-1942
- Folder 4: Key Reporter, 1943-1954, 1977
- Folder 5: Letterhead and Blank Certificates, undated
- Folder 6: Phi Beta Kappa Plaque, 1955
- Item 1: Phi Beta Kappa Key of Alma Honett, 1914
- Mary Alma Honett graduated from UND in 1909 with a B.A. degree from the Teacher's College
- Item 2: Charter Membership Cards
- Cards are located in a box labeled 1A inside box 1
- Item 3: Foundation Membership Cards
- Cards are located in a box labeled 1A inside box 1
- Item 4: Honorary Membership Cards
- Cards are located in a box labeled 1A inside box 1
- Item 5: Membership Cards, 1914-1956
- Cards are located in a box labeled 1A inside box 1
- Item 6: Membership Cards, 1957-1986
- Cards are located in a box labeled 1B inside box 1
- Item 7: Alumni Cards, A-B
- Cards are located in a box labeled 1B inside box 1
- Item 8: Alumni Cards, C-M
- Cards are located in a box labeled 1C inside box 1
- Item 9: Alumni Cards, Mc-Z
- Cards are located in a box labeled 1D inside box 1
- Ledger 1: Letters from former members written to celebrate the chapter’s 25th Anniversary, 1939
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Constitution and By-Laws, Undated
- Folder 2: Constitution and By-Laws, Undated
- Folder 3: Correspondence Concerning Constitution and By-Laws, 1937-1938, 1951, 1983, 1992
- Folder 4: Chapter Laws and Practices, 1933
- Folder 5: Members requesting UND Chapter, 1913
- Folder 6: Foundation Members, 1914
- Folder 7: Membership Lists, 1914-1939, Undated
- Folder 8: Membership, 1914-1916
- Folder 9: Membership, 1917-1918
- Folder 10: Membership, 1920-1922
- Folder 11: Membership, 1923-1924
- Folder 12: Membership, 1925-1927
- Folder 13: Membership Receipts, 1917-1920, 1922, 1924-1928
- Folder 14: Membership, 1928-1936
- Folder 15: Membership, 1937-1939
- Folder 16: Membership, 1940-1941
- Folder 17: Membership, 1942-1944
- Folder 18: Membership, 1945-1948
- Folder 19: Membership, 1949-1950
- Folder 20: Membership, 1951-1952
- Folder 21: Membership, 1953-1954
- Folder 22: Membership, 1955-1957
- Folder 23: Membership, 1958-1960
- Folder 24: Membership, 1961-1963
- Folder 25: Membership, 1964-1966
- Folder 26: Membership, 1966-1968
- Folder 27: Membership Address Changes, 1968
- Folder 28: Membership, 1973-1979
- Folder 1: Constitution and By-Laws, Undated
- Box 3
- Folder 1: Membership, 1980-1981
- Folder 2: Membership, 1982
- Folder 3: Membership, 1983
- Folder 4: Membership, 1984-1987
- Folder 5: Membership, 1988-1990
- Folder 6: Membership, 1991-1993
- Folder 7: Hand Books for New Members, 1938, 1982-1991
- Folder 8: Officers, 1914-1993
- Folder 9: Manual for Chapter Officers, 1959
- Folder 10: Minutes, 1929-1943
- Folder 11: Minutes, 1944-1956
- Folder 12: Minutes, 1957-1970
- Folder 13: Minutes, 1971-1981
- Folder 14: Minutes, 1982-1992
- Folder 15: Correspondence, (Hardbound Volume) 1907-1915; 1914 Membership Photo in Volume
- Folder 16: Correspondence Prior to Chapter Formation, 1908-1914
- Folder 17: Chapter Secretary, 1923-1946
- Folder 18: Chapter Secretary, 1947-1954
- Folder 19: Chapter Secretary, 1955-1959
- Folder 20: Chapter Secretary, 1961-1964, 1966-1968
- Folder 21: General Correspondence, 1914-1921, 1925-1929
- Folder 22: General Correspondence, 1936-1939
- Folder 23: General Correspondence, 1940-1942
- Folder 24: General Correspondence, 1943-1946, 1950-1956, 1958, 1960-1967, 1983, 1990
- Folder 25: Correspondence Concerning Twenty-fifth Anniversary of Phi Beta Kappa, 1938-1939
- Folder 26: Correspondence Concerning Preservation of Phi Beta Kappa, 1938-1940
- Folder 27: General Report for Committee of Qualifications, Rough Draft, 1939
- Folder 28: General Report for Committee of Qualifications, Rough Draft, 1939
- Folder 29: General Report for Committee of Qualifications, Final Draft, 1939
- Folder 1: Membership, 1980-1981
- Box 4
- Folder 1: Annual Report, 1937-1967, 1981-1983, 1985
- Folder 2: Treasurer’s Report, 1914-1967
- Folder 3: Financial, 1914-1916
- Folder 4: Financial, 1917-1919
- Folder 5: Financial, 1920-1922
- Folder 6: Financial, 1923-1929
- Folder 7: Financial, 1936-1942
- Folder 8: Financial, Registration Fees and Key Receipts, 1943-1947
- Folder 9: Financial, Registration Fees and Key Receipts, 1948-1953
- Folder 10: Financial, Registration Fees and Key Receipts, 1954-1958
- Folder 11: Financial, Registration Fees and Key Receipts, 1959-1960
- Folder 12: Financial, Registration Fees and Key Receipts, 1961-1962
- Folder 13: Financial, Registration Fees and Key Receipts, 1963-1965
- Folder 14: Financial, 1966-1971
- Folder 15: Financial, 1980-1983
- Folder 16: Financial, 1984-1986
- Folder 17: Rituals, Undated
- Folder 18: Programs, Various Dates
- Folder 19: Recommendations For New Chapters, 1916, 1919, 1923-1925
- Folder 20: Recommendations For New Chapters, 1926-1928, 1930, 1937-1938, 1940-1941
- Folder 21: Recommendations For New Chapters, 1952-1953, 1958, 1961-1962, 1964-1965, 1968, 1992
- Folder 22: Chapter Bulletin, 1935-1937
- Folder 23: Visiting Scholars Program, 1955-1960
- Folder 24: Visiting Scholars Program, 1961-1963
- Folder 25: Visiting Scholars Program, 1964-1966
- Folder 26: Visiting Scholars Program, 1967-1968
- Folder 27: Visiting Scholars Program, 1982-1986
- Folder 28: Senate Elections, 1938-1939, 1954, 1959-1961
- Folder 29: Senate Elections, 1988-1993
- Folder 30: Triennial Councils, 1949-1961
- Folder 31: Triennial Councils, 1964-1967, 1982
- Folder 32: Triennial Council Delegate’s Manual, 1946
- Folder 1: Annual Report, 1937-1967, 1981-1983, 1985
- Box 5
- Folder 1: Triennial Council Delegate’s Manual, 1949
- Folder 2: Triennial Council Delegate’s Manual, 1952
- Folder 3: Triennial Council Delegate’s Manual, 1955
- Folder 4: Triennial Council Delegate’s Manual, 1958
- Folder 5: Triennial Council Delegate’s Manual, 1961
- Folder 6: Triennial Council Delegate’s Manual, 1964
- Folder 7: Triennial Council Delegate’s Manual, 1967
- Folder 8: Triennial Council Delegate’s Manual, 1973
- Folder 9: Triennial Council Delegate’s Manual, 1985
- Folder 10: Triennial Council Delegate’s Manual, 1988
- Folder 11: Triennial Council Delegate’s Manual, 1991
- Folder 12: Triennial Council Delegate’s Manual, 1994
- Folder 13: Delegate’s Manual 18th Triennial Council, Triennial Council Pamphlet
- Folder 14: Report of Committee on the Role of Phi Beta Kappa, 1972
- Folder 15: Wartime Policy of Phi Beta Kappa, 1943
- Folder 16: National Dinner, 1940
- Folder 17: Phi Beta Kappa Fund - UND, 1932
- Folder 18: Phi Beta Kappa Annals, 1934
- Folder 19: The Spirit of Phi Beta Kappa (pamphlet), 1926
- Folder 20: Phi Beta Kappa Associates, 1940
- Folder 21: Annual Lectures of American Association of Science and Phi Beta Kappa, 1936-1940
- Folder 22: Miscellaneous Chapter Addresses, Various Dates
- Folder 23: Chapter Pamphlets From Other Universities, Various Dates
- Folder 24: Chapter Pamphlets From Other Universities, Various Dates
- Folder 25: Phi Beta Kappa Bulletins, 1938-1959
- Folder 26: Visiting Scholar Program posters, 1990-1997
- Folder 27: Membership Certificate for Margaret A. Beede, 16 June 1917
- Folder 1: Triennial Council Delegate’s Manual, 1949
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[All]