Women in Communications, Inc. Records

Women in Communications, Inc. Records, 1925-1992

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Women in Communications, Inc.
Title: Women in Communications, Inc. Records
Dates: 1925-1992 (inclusive)
19251992
Quantity: 9 containers., (4 linear feet of shelf space.)
Collection Number: Cage 626
Summary: Includes annual reports, financial reports, national convention materials, correspondence, newsclippings and local business records.
Repository: Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research use.
Languages: English
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Theta Sigma Phi was a professional society for women in journalism started in 1909 by Georgina McDougall. The Alpha Zeta chapter affiliated with Washington State College was established in 1925, replacing the Scribbler's Club, a local group that also encouraged high standards in journalism for women. In 1972 the name of Theta Sigma Phi was changed to Women in Communications, Inc. (WICI) and at the same time the organization began accepting men into its membership. During the 1970s the organization languished, but in the early 1980s it was reactivated under the leadership of Professor Barbara Hanford.

Networking has been a major goal of the organization since its inception. Annual "Matrix Table" banquets that have brought in nationally recognized women in communications as speakers is one way Theta Sigma Phi and WICI have achieved this. Regional and national conferences have also been held regularly, and WSU students were frequent attendants at the regional meetings. In this way Women in Communications, Inc. has worked to establish links between students and professionals in the field.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The records consist of annual reports, financial reports, national convention materials, correspondence, and business reports related to annual banquets and fund raisers. Newsclippings and photographs are found throughout the records.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]. Cage 626, Women in Communications, Inc. Records . Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is organized into two series: Theta Sigma Phi and Women In Communications, Inc. The Theta Sigma Phi series covers the period 1925 to 1971, and contains business records, correspondence, newsclippings, and miscellaneous historic materials. The Women in Communication, Inc. series spans 1972 to 1992, and contains records, correspondence, and published materials related to both local activities as well as regional and national meetings.

The original chronological order of the collection has been preserved.

Acquisition Information

The records of the Washington State University chapter of Women in Communications, Inc. were donated to the Libraries by the Department of Communications at Washington State University in 1994.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series 1: Theta Sigma PhiReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	1	Alpha Zeta Chapter Organization and Historic Materials	1925-1932
		Business Records and Correspondence
Box	Folder
1	2		1947-1948
1	3		1948-1949
1	4		1949-1950
1	5		1950-1951
1	6		1951-1952
1	7		1952-1953
Box	Folder
1	8	Secretary's Record	1952-1963
		Business Records and Correspondence
Box	Folder
1	9		1953-1954
1	10		1954-1955
Box	Folder
1	11	"Extras" Annual Variety Show	1954-1969
		Business Records and Correspondence
Box	Folder
1	12		1955-1956
1	13		1956-1957
Box	Folder
2	14	Newsclippings	1956-1957
2	15	Business Records, Correspondence, Newsclippings	1957-1958
2	16	Woman of Achievement Awards	1958-1965
2	17	Board of Control, Minutes, Agendas, Miscellaneous Records	1960-1963
2	18	Finances	1960-1969
2	19	Matrix Table Banquet	1961-1967
2	20	Matrix: The Magazine for Women in Journalism and Communications	1961-1968
2	21	Membership	1966-1971
2	22	National Meeting, Agenda and Keynote Speech	1967
2	23	Bylaws	1969; 1972

Series 2: Women In Communications, Inc.Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
3	24	Activities	1970-1979
3	25	Finances	1971-1973
3	26	Correspondence	1971-1977
3	27	Membership	1971-1977
3	28	National Newsletters	1972-1976
3	29	Annual National Meeting	1973
4	30	Advisor's Papers	1973-1974
4	31	Newsletters, Regional	1973-1976
4	32	Graduate Correspondence	1973-1977
4	33	Membership	1973-1979
4	34	Regional Conference	1974
4	35	Bylaws	1974-1975
4	36	Grants, Fellowships, Production Study	1974-1976
4	37	Matrix Table Banquet	1974-1982
4	38	National Reports	1974-1977
5	39	Career Guidelines	1974-1982
5	40	Leadership Bulletins	1974-1985
5	41	Historical Information	1976-1977
5	42	Miscellaneous National Headquarters Materials	c.1980
5	43	National and Regional Conferences and Communications	1980-1985
5	44	Business Records	1981-1982
5	45	Chapter Reactivation	1981-1982
6	46	Membership	1981-1982
6	47	The Professional Communicator	1981-1982
6	48	Bylaws and Annual Reports	1981-1984
6	49	Newsletters, Minutes, and Miscellanea	1981-1985
6	50	Activities	1981-1987
6	51	Historical Summary	1982
6	52	Regional Conference	1982
6	53	Minutes	1982-1983
6	54	Membership	1982-1985
7	55	Flyers and Brochures	1982-1985
7	56	Finances	1982-1986
7	57	Charlotte Friel Memorial Lecture	1982-1988
7	58	Miscellaneous Publications	1983-1988
7	59	Regional Conference and Miscellanea	1983-1985
		General Records
Box	Folder
7	60		1985-1986
8	61		1986-1987
8	62		1988-1989
8	63	Finances	1989-1990
		General Records
Box	Folder
8	64		1989-1990
8	65		1990-1991
8	66		1991-1992
Box
9		Over-sized Scrapbook, Notebooks, and Miscellanea

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Journalism, College--Societies, etc.
Women in communication--Societies, etc.
Women in journalism--Societies, etc.

Corporate Names

Scribbler's Club. WaPS.
Theta Sigma Phi. WaPS.
Women in Communications, inc.
Women in Communications, inc. Washington State University Chapter--Archives (creator)
Women in Communications, inc. Washington State University Chapter--Records and correspondence

Occupations

Women journalists--Societies, etc.

Archives West Finding Aid

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