Phi Eta Sigma, Washington State University Chapter, Records, 1947-1980
Table of Contents
- Overview of the Collection
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Historical Note
- Content Description
- Use of the Collection
- Administrative Information
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Detailed Description of the Collection
- Association of College Honoraries booklet., 1951
- Correspondence., 1948-1954
- Initiation Banquet programs., 1949-1961
- Initiation Certificate samples. Missing 1955, 1964, 1969., 1951-1980
- Membership documents. Most undated., circa 1950-1959
- Minutes book., 1948-1958
- National Conference materials., 1949-1970
- Photographs., 1949 March
- Scrapbook album., 1947-1956
- Names and Subjects
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Phi Eta Sigma. Washington State University Chapter
- Title
- Phi Eta Sigma, Washington State University Chapter, Records
- Dates
- 1947-1980 (inclusive)19471980
- Quantity
- 1.5 Linear feet of shelf space, (1 Box)
- Collection Number
- Cage 509 (collection)
- Summary
- Records of the Washington State University chapter of Phi Eta Sigma beginning with its founding in 1948.
- Repository
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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
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This collection is open and available for research use.
- Languages
- English
Historical Note
Phi Eta Sigma is a national honorary based on male freshman scholarship, founded at the University of Illinois on March 22, 1923. The Washington State College chapter held its first initiation ceremony on April 21, 1948, for a class of 20. The local chapter was started by Eugene W. Dils, associate dean of Men, Sidney G. Hacker, professor in Mathematics and subsequent club advisor, and Willard W. Blaesser, WSC dean of Men.
At the national meeting in late fall of 1974, the national honorary decided to remove all references and requirement pertaining to sex, and WSU admitted its first female members in spring 1975.
The WSU chapter appears to have gone inactive in the early 1980s, was brought back again from the late 1990s at least through 2008, and is again inactive in 2025.
Content Description
The collection consists of a large scrapbook, as well as documents, photographs, and publications dating from just before the 1948 creation of the WSU (then WSC) chapter of Phi Eta Sigma, up though 1980.
Included are a set of initiation certificates, just one per year (minus three missing years), including 1980 certificates for Alpha Lambda Delta, another freshman scholastic honorary (initially a freshman scholastic honorary for women). Though the groups are separate, they appear to have been managed cooperatively at that time.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Use
Copyright restrictions may apply.
Preferred Citation
[Item description]
Phi Eta Sigma, Washington State University Chapter, Records, 1947-1980 (Cage 509)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Administrative Information
Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject. The final item, a scrapbook, is oversized, and is stored flat below the other folders.
Acquisition Information
This collection was transferred to the Washington State University Libraries by Dixie Brennan of the WSU Office of Academic Standing/Curricular Advisory Program on July 28, 1988, where it was retained as MS 1988-33.
Processing Note
University Archivist Mark O’English processed this collection in March of 2025.
The collection has been given the abandoned collection identifier of Cage 509, which had once been a set of Association for Women Veterinarian Records, 1962-1982. That set of records was incorporated into Cage 648 during the 1999 processing of those materials.
Separated Materials
The collection had included approximately 300 membership cards from 1976 to 1980, which were discarded during processing for privacy reasons, and approximately 300 8.5” x 11” initiation certificates from 1951 to 1980, most of which were discarded for bulk, with one from each year retained as examples. Due to poor condition, the scrapbook was dismantled during processing, with covers and empty pages discarded.
Related Materials
WSU MASC holds the Alpha Lambda Delta, Washington State University Chapter, Records, 1966-1969 (Cage 4490), a small set of papers from the WSU chapter of another freshman scholastic honorary, at that time solely for women.
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Description: Association of College Honoraries booklet.Dates: 1951Container: File 1, Sleeve 1
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Description: Correspondence.Dates: 1948-1954Container: File 1, Sleeve 2
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Description: Initiation Banquet programs.Dates: 1949-1961Container: File 1, Sleeve 3
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Description: Initiation Certificate samples. Missing 1955, 1964, 1969.Dates: 1951-1980Container: File 1, Sleeve 4
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Description: Membership documents. Most undated.Dates: circa 1950-1959Container: File 1, Sleeve 5
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Description: Minutes book.Dates: 1948-1958Container: File 1, Sleeve 6
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Description: National Conference materials.Dates: 1949-1970Container: File 1, Sleeve 7
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Description: Photographs.Dates: 1949 MarchContainer: File 1, Sleeve 8
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Description: Scrapbook album.Dates: 1947-1956Container: File 1, Sleeve 9
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- College students -- Washington (State) -- Pullman -- History
- Greek letter societies -- Washington (State) -- Pullman -- Records and correspondence
Corporate Names
- Alpha Lambda Delta. Washington State University Chapter
- Phi Eta Sigma. State College of Washington Chapter -- Records and correspondence
- Phi Eta Sigma. Washington State University Chapter -- Records and correspondence
- Washington State University -- Students -- History
Other Creators
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Corporate Names
