Describing Archives: A Content Standard

NTE2cg321.xml Guide to the Rho Epsilon Radio Fraternity, Alpha Chapter Records 1924-2012 Rho Epsilon Radio Fraternity, Alpha Chapter Records Finding aid prepared by Roberta Stokes Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections © 2026 Finding aid encoded by Suzanne James-Bacon. 2026 Finding aid written in English. English. Finding aid based on DACS 2nd Edition ( Describing Archives: A Content Standard). Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections Cage 321 Rho Epsilon (Radio fraternity). Alpha Chapter (Washington State University) Rho Epsilon Radio Fraternity, Alpha Chapter Records 1924-2012 2.5 Linear feet of shelf space 6 Boxes Correspondence, records and documents, and technical materials relating to the Rho Epsilon Radio Fraternity's Alpha Chapter at Washington State University (previously the State College of Washington). Collection materials are in English

The first amateur radio group in the United States was organized in 1910 on the State College of Washington (now Washington State University) campus. In December 1911, this organization, the WSC Radio Club, founded Rho Epsilon as a national radio fraternity and became Alpha Chapter of that group. Although Rho Epsilon was incorporated in 1925, other chapters were not formed until the late 1930s, with the University of Washington's Beta Chapter receiving its charter in 1936. The remaining five chapters: Gamma, University of Idaho; Delta, University of Virginia; Epsilon, Illinois Institute of Technology; Zeta, Montana State College; and Eta, Tri-State College (Indiana), were established shortly after Beta Chapter, and all seven chapters continued in operation until the onset of World War II.

In December 1947 Homer J. Dana, one of the early members of the radio fraternity on the WSU campus and a research engineer, called a meeting for all those interested in reactivating Alpha Chapter. Alpha Chapter succeeded in regrouping late in 1948 and at that time corresponded with the other six chapters with the intention of reestablishing the national organization. Letters were exchanged on this topic, new groups wrote asking for information about Rho Epsilon, but the reactivation of the national fraternity did not take place.

The present location and even the existence of the national fraternity records is in doubt. Soon after the University of Washington's chapter was chartered, members of Beta Chapter were elected national fraternity officers and subsequently requested that all national records and materials be transferred from Pullman to the Seattle area. Apparently this transfer took place, for after the war the president of the reactivated Alpha Chapter wrote to Beta Chapter asking that these records be returned to Pullman. He was informed that Beta Chapter was defunct and that the records were no longer available.

According to the fraternity's constitution, the purpose of Rho Epsilon is "to encourage experimental radio activity among American college students; to foster orderly operation of radio stations; and to endeavor to obtain legislative protection for radio as an experimental science. Secondarily, to establish branches in American educational institutions under suitable conditions."

As of 2018, the Alpha Chapter of Rho Epsilon remains an active student organization on the Washington State University campus, despite closing for a few years in the mid 2010s.

Correspondence, records and documents, and technical materials relating to the Rho Epsilon Radio Fraternity's Alpha Chapter at Washington State University (previously the State College of Washington).

The first nine series contain: Correspondence (Series 1), Documents (Series 2), Licensing Records (Series 3), Financial Records (Series 4), Minutes (Series 5), Membership (Series 6), Logs (Series 7), Technical Materials (Series 8), and Other Records (Series 9).

Series 10 consists of later donation which consists of early materials from the founding of the club, circa 1924, to circa 1976. This series is divided into Correspondence, Organizational Documents, Membership, Minutes, Technical Materials, and Other Items.

The final series, Series 11, consists of approximately 1700 QSL cards, covering all 50 states and over 60 foreign nations, and ranging in date from the early 1920s to the 2010s (with the bulk 1940s-1970s).

The records are arranged in eleven series. Where possible, the first nine series have been arranged chronologically within each series. The tenth series is divided into six topical subseries, each in chronological order whenever possible. The eleventh series is arranged alphabetically by place of origin, with US states preceding the other countries.

This collection is open and available for research use.

[Item description]

Rho Epsilon Radio Fraternity, Alpha Chapter Records, 1924-2012 (Cage 321)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

The records of Rho Epsilon Radio Fraternity, Alpha Chapter, were deposited in the Washington State University Library in two installments, on April 4, 1976 and June 3, 1976 by Rick Maricle.

An addition was donated to Washington State University Library in June, 1977 (77-21) and February, 1978 (77-21a).

Another addition was donated to the WSU Libraries' MASC in April 2018, retained as UA2018-02.

The first two accessions were arranged and described by Roberta Stokes in August 1976. The next two accessions were arranged and described by Catherine Feher in 1978. The final accession was incorporated by University Archivist Mark O'English in 2018.

Preliminary Guide to the Rho Epsilon Radio Fraternity, Alpha Chapter Photographs and Papers, 1979-1999; 2015 (UA2017-15)

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Rho Epsilon (Radio fraternity). Alpha Chapter (Washington State University) -- Records and correspondence Rho Epsilon (Radio fraternity). Alpha Chapter (State College of Washington) -- Records and correspondence Washington State University -- Societies, etc. State College of Washington -- Societies, etc. Amateur radio stations Radio -- Washington (State) -- Pullman -- Societies, etc. Greek letter societies -- Records and correspondence Media and Communication Washington (State) Colleges and Universities Series 1: Correspondence 1 1 1924-1926 5 items 1 2 1933-1937 18 items 1 3 1938 26 items 1 4 1939 14 items 1 5 1940-1941 14 items 1 6 1947-1948 51 items 1 7 1949 28 items 1 8 1950-1951 1953-1954. 16 items 1 9 1959-1966 33 items 1 10 1973 6 items 1 11 correspondence from WSU administration and student organizations. undated 9 items Series 2: Documents 1 12 Articles of incorporation, constitution and by-laws, related legal papers for Rho Epsilon; constitution and revisions for Alpha Chapter 1925-ca 1974 14 items Series 3: Licensing Records 1 13 Correspondence, federal regulations and guidelines, applications for amateur radio station license filed with Federal Communications Commission and similar agencies 1924-1974 50 items Series 4: Financial Records 1 14 Tax returns and related correspondence 1934-1965 50 items 1 15 Invoices, receipts, shipping orders, bank statements (2 only), dues receipts (October 1937-November 1939) 1928-1964 100 items Series 5: Minutes 2 16 January 1924-October 1931 1 volume 2 17 January 1925-February 1925 1933-1934 October 1936-January 1937 (for Minutes of October 15, 1940, February 23, 1948, December 7, 1948, see stapled minutes beginning with April 1949) August 1949-October 1949 1961-1962 October 1963-1965. 100 items 2 18 1966-1967 1 items 2 19 1974-1975 3 items 2 20 Undated 1 volume Series 6: Membership 2 21 Pledge and initiation ceremonies, oath of pledgeship, lists of pledges, initiates, charter and other members, fraternity certificates. Undated 38 items Series 7: Logs 2 22 February 1922-April 1928 1 volume 2 23 February 1926-April 1938 (only 7 entries before 1935) 1 volume 2 24 October 1931-August 1932 1 volume August 1932-September 1932 bound with Minutes 1924-1931, pages 115-120. 2 25 November 1932-January 1935 1 volume 2 26 April 1938-November 1939 1 volume 2 27 November 1939-December 1941 1 volume 2 28 May 1948-January 1949 1 volume 2 29 January 1949-November 1949 1 volume 2 30 November 1949-November 1953 1 volume 3 31 November 1953-May 1958 1 volume 3 32 November 1960-December 1962 1 volume 3 33 January 1963-February 1965 1 volume 3 34 February 1965-May 1970 100 items 3 35 May 1970-December 1971 100 items Series 8: Technical Materials 3 36 Technical drawings and information relating to local equipment and facilities. 31 items 3 37 Technical manuals and call book. 5 items 3 38 Advertising brochures for radio materials. 8 items Series 9: other Records 3 39 Rho Epsilon information sheets, flyers for Alpha Chapter meetings and functions; and "Proposal for Relocation and Improvement of Rho Epsilon Amateur Radio Club Station. 8 items 3 40 Newspaper clippings concerning hams in general, WSU and Pullman hams. 5 items 3 41 Miscellaneous papers, award certificate, photographs of early members. 7 items Series 10: Additional Records 1924-1976 4 1 Correspondence 1938-1976 63 items 4 2 Organizational Documents 1911-1975 5 items 4 3 Membership 1937-1976 50 items 4 4 Minutes 1925-1976 12 items 4 5 Financial 1936-1976 12 items 4 6 Newspaper Clippings 1976-1976 8 items 4 7 Proposals and Statement of Purpose 1975-1976 3 items 4 8 Technical Materials 1928-1976 50 items 4 9 Photographs 1975-1976 6 items 4 10 WSU/WSC QSL Cards and Format of WSU QSL Card. 5 items 4 11 Radiogram Record Forms from 1964 Alaska Earthquake and Radiogram Form. 200 items 4 12 Field Day 1976 8 items 4 13 Programs, Sign-Up Sheets, Announcements and Other Papers circa 1960-1976 6 items Series 11: QSL Cards 5 United States, Alabama to Pennsylvania circa 1925-circa 2012 850 items 6 United States, Rhode Island to Wyoming; Antarctica to Yugoslavia circa 1925-circa 2012 850 items