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Phi Kappa Phi Records, 1952-1986

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Phi Kappa Phi
Title
Phi Kappa Phi Records
Dates
1952-1986 (inclusive)
Quantity
2 cubic feet
Collection Number
MG007 (collection)
Summary
Correspondence, bylaws, minutes of meetings, membership lists, banquet programs, financial records, handbooks, newsletters, and journals.
Repository
University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
University of Idaho Library
875 Perimeter Drive
MS 2350
Moscow, ID
83844-2350
Telephone: 2088850845
libspec@uidaho.edu
Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Biographical Note

The National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi was established at the University of Maine, Orono, in 1897; it was incorporated May 17, 1972. It is unique among such organizations in that it recognizes outstanding scholastic attainments in all divisions of the university rather than restricting its membership to scholars in a specific area.

The University of Idaho chapter was established in May 1960. Although the idea of establishing a local chapter was first considered in 1952, it was not until 1958 that Donald Marshall, Associate Dean of Agriculture, approached several faculty members, including President Donald Theophilus, and gathered the information necessary to petition the national organization. There were twenty charter faculty members, with forty eight undergraduates and six graduate students initiated at the first meeting.

Students are chosen for membership in the society on the basis of both scholarship and character. No more than 10 percent of the senior class together with a smaller number of juniors and graduate students may be considered. Faculty members are selected on the basis of outstanding academic Records or significant accomplishments in their professional fields.

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Content Description

The Records of Phi Kappa Phi span the years 1952 to 1986, with the bulk of the material covering the years 1960 to 1979. The papers include correspondence, national and local constitutions and by-laws, minutes of meetings, membership lists, banquet programs, financial records, society handbooks, newsletters, and journals.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The material in this record group was in two separate filing systems when received. The earlier material appeared to be in no discernible order, while the later material was in a straight alphabetical arrangement. Material in both sections was combined and sorted by type, thereby forming six series. Folders in each series were arranged chronologically.

The first series contains correspondence, both within the local chapter and with the national office. The "Chapter Officer Communications" folder contains a numbered newsletter of that name sent from the national office to local chapters.

The organizational features include the petition for establishing a local chapter, constitutions and by-laws, and minutes of local meetings. The third series, "Membership and Initiation," contains eligibility lists, membership lists--both computer generated from the national office and typed lists compiled by the local chapter, the membership signature book, procedures for initiation, lists of initiates, and programs and tickets for the initiation banquets.

The financial materials include the treasurer's account book, financial reports, and checkbooks. The fifth series includes brochures about the society, blank order forms and certificates, several applications for a national fellowship, and photographs taken at the 1974 banquet. The final series contains several editions of the national society's handbook, copies of its newsletter, and the Phi Kappa Phi Journal.

Computer generated membership lists were sent out frequently during the year; during processing it was decided to retain only one list per year, all others were discarded. Also discarded were bank statements, deposit slips, monthly lists of dues paid, and duplicate copies of printed material. In all the records were reduced by one cubic foot.

Acquisition Information

The Records of the University of Idaho chapter of the National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi were donated to the University Library in December 1988.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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Subject Terms

  • Greek letter societies--Idaho--Moscow--Records and correspondence

Corporate Names

  • Phi Kappa Phi. University of Idaho Chapter.

Finding aid prepared by Judith Nielsen
1989

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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