University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
MG 430
Sigma
Lambda Alpha Honorary
Sigma Lambda Alpha Honorary Records
1972-2007
1977-1991
3.0 cubic feet
Records of the Sigma Lambda Alpha (Honor Society,
Landscape Architecture), including its constitution and bylaws and correspondence
with chapters of several universities.
This collection is in English.
Historical Note
The idea of the honor society, which is exclusively devoted to students in landscape
architecture, was developed in 1976 by CELA president, Professor R.E. Toth. The
honor society of Sigma Lambda Alpha was later established by the Executive Board and
officers of the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture Incorporated (CELA)
in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 24, 1977.
CELA president, Professor Michael R. Hodges at Michigan State University, asked
William H. Snyder of the University of Idaho to be the society’s first executive
secretary and to start a task force to form the honor society. The honor society was
furthered by the desire to continue a precedent set by the earlier but short-lived
local honor society of landscape architecture, urban planning, and allied arts, Beta
Alpha Sigma at Michigan State University in the 1960s. The society was incorporated
as a not-for-profit organization in the state of Michigan on April 11, 1989. As of
2011, there are 55 collegiate chapters that have received charters, as well as the
Alpha Founders Chapter for distinguished and founding members.
Sigma Lambda Alpha is a specialized national honor society that promotes, recognizes
and rewards scholarly leadership and character as well as provides professional
education and preparation for the career of landscape architecture. The motto of
Sigma Lambda Alpha has been, “scholar, architect of the land, embraces the whole of
nature and art” and also, “fit mankind to the earth and the earth to mankind.”
Membership is open to persons who have demonstrated achievement in the profession of
landscape architecture in association with a program or unit of a school, department
or college of a university. Sigma Lambda Alpha has the distinction to be the only
national honor society in North America that exclusively recognizes scholarship in
landscape architecture.
The records of the Sigma Lambda Alpha Honorary span the years 1977 to 2007, with the
bulk of the material covering the years 1977 to 1991.
Included in the records are original and subsequent by-laws and constitutions; CELA
annual conference material; collegiate chapter petitions; drawings of emblems;
drawings and artwork, printing masters; certificates; letterhead stationary;
correspondence to distinguished members; national correspondence between chapters
and headquarters; bank statements; receipts and invoices.
Most of the records were in labeled file folders when received; original folder
headings were maintained as much as possible. However, records that had no apparent
grouping were refoldered, organized and integrated into existing folders. Records
within each file folder are arranged in chronological order.
Box 1 contains records of Sigma Lambda Alpha’s constitution and bylaws, meeting
minutes, pamphlets, handbooks, distinguished membership lists, CELA annual
conference material and letter correspondence. Box 2 follows with more
correspondence and financial information including bank statements, mutual fund
statements, invoices and order forms. In addition to boxes 1-2, there are two
document case boxes (boxes 3-4), which contain individual university chapter
correspondence arranged alphabetically by the university’s name. Last, an oversize
box (box 5) contains print masters and Sigma Lambda Alpha artwork, photographs,
etc.
The collection is open to the public. Researchers must use the collection in
accordance with the policies of the University of Idaho Special Collections and
Archives.
Sigma Lambda Alpha Honorary Records, MG 430. Special Collections and Archives,
University of Idaho Library, Moscow, Idaho.
The records of the Sigma Lambda Alpha Honorary were transferred to the University of
Idaho Library by William H. Snyder in 2000 and 2002 and by John C. Billing in 2002
and 2008.
Jenny Johnson processed the records in July-August 2008.
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.
Sigma Lambda Alpha
(Honor society)--archives
Landscape architecture
Colleges and
Universities
Moscow
Student
Life
1
1
Archive Information
undated
1
2
Copyright
1977-1979
1
3
Early History and Preliminary
Development
1977
1
4-5
Bylaws and Constitution
1980-1990
1
6
Sample Invitation for Membership
Letters
1978-1981
1
7
Initiation Procedures
1981
1
8
Enrollment Forms
1985-1986
1
9
Club Fact Sheet, Enrollment Numbers, Officer
list, etc.
1978-1988
1
10
SLA Annual Meeting Minutes
1982-1987
1
11
Annual Meeting of Association of College Honor
Societies
1983-1989
1
12
Annual Meeting Info. of Association of College
Honor Societies
1986
1
13
Annual Interim Reports
1984-1992
1
14
Scholarships and Awards
1979-1990
1
15
Petition Chapter Forms
1986
1
16
Honorary Membership
1980
1
17
Honorary Speeches
1979-1980
1
18
Pamphlets, Handbooks, Newsletters
1977-1995
1
19
Club Certificates, Articles,
Pamphlets
1980-2000
1
20
Newsletter Articles
1978
1
21
Non-Club Posters, Certificate
Examples
1983-1987
1
22
Letterhead, Stationary, Address
Sheets
undated
1
23
Official Key Pin, Publications
1977-1986
1
24
Ornamental
1978-1980
1
25
Distinguished Members
undated
1
26
Distinguished Members List
1979-1989
1
27-29
Distinguished Members
Correspondence
1979-1992
1
30
Beta Members
1972-1987
1
31
Donald W. Girouard Correspondence
1982-1983
1
32
Gerald L. Smith Correspondence
1982-1985
1
33
Land Magazine Correspondence
1981-1982
1
34
Governors Correspondence
1980-1987
1
35
Association of College Honor Societies
Correspondence
1981-1992
1
36-45
Letter Correspondence
1981-1992
2
1
Correspondence, Handbook
1996-1997
2
2-3
Correspondence
2000-2002
2
4
Correspondence, ACHS Handbook
2002-2003
2
5-7
Correspondence, Business
2003-2006
2
8
Correspondence, Articles
2006-2007
2
9
J.O. Pollack Invoices and
Correspondence
1979
2
10
Herf Jones Correspondence
1979-1982
2
11
Jewelry Order Forms
1979-1987
2
12
Jewelry Order Correspondence
1978-1988
2
13
IRS, Exemption, Tax Negotiation
1983-1988
2
14
Financial Papers and Invoices
1979-1981
2
15-22
Receipts, Checks, Bank Statements
1981-1986
2
23
Mutual of Omaha Funds,
Correspondence
1981-1987
2
24
Financial Information,
Scholarships
1995-1996
2
25
Membership Statistics, Tax Info.
1997-1998
2
26
Chapter Statistics, Membership stats.,
etc.
1998-1999
2
27
Financial, Correspondence, etc.
1999-2000
3
1
Arizona State University
1987-1991
3
2
Auburn University
1985-1991
3
3
Ball State University (TAU)
1978-1986
3
4
California Polytechnic State University (San
Luis Obispo)
1978-1985
3
5
California Polytechnic State University
(Pomona)
1979-1985
3
6
Iowa State University
1983
3
7
Kansas State University
1983-1985
3
8
Louisiana State University
1978-1987
3
9
Michigan State University
1977-1985
3
10
Morgan State University
(Baltimore)
1982-1987
3
11
New York State College of agriculture and Life
Sciences
1981-1986
3
12
Ohio State University
1979-1983
3
13
Oklahoma State University
1984-1987
3
14
Pennsylvania State University
1979-1987
3
15
Purdue University
1979-1987
3
16
Rutgers University
1981-1986
4
1
State University of New York
1979-1987
4
2
Texas A and M University
1978-1987
4
3
Texas Tech University
1979-1985
4
4
University of Arizona
1978-1984
4
5
University of California, Davis
1980-1987
4
6
University of Florida
1980-1987
4
7
University of Georgia
1980-1987
4
8
University Guelph, Itami
undated
4
9
University of Idaho
1984-1990
4
10
University of Illinois
1982-1987
4
11
University of Kentucky
1982
4
12
University of Minnesota
1979-1986
4
13
University of Texas
1987
4
14
University of Virginia
1979-1980
4
15
University of Washington
1979-1981
4
16
University of Wisconsin
1980-1987
4
17
Utah State University
1979-1987
4
18
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University
1982-1987
4
19
Washington State University
1980-1987
4
20
West Virginia University
1983-1987
5
Print masters, SLA artwork, photographs,
etc.
undated