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Fraternities and Sororities Photograph Collection, 1915-1989

Overview of the Collection

Title
Fraternities and Sororities Photograph Collection
Dates
1915-1989 (inclusive)
1920-1962 (bulk)
Quantity
0.05 cubic foot, including 51 photographs, (1 box)
Collection Number
P 034
Summary
The Fraternities and Sororities Photograph Collection documents activities and events sponsored by Greek organizations at Oregon State University as well as various fraternity and sorority houses. Most of the Greek organizations at Oregon State University were established between 1910 and 1930 with over 40 chapters active today.
Repository
Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

Most of the Greek organizations at Oregon State University were established between 1910 and 1930 with over 40 chapters active today. The Oregon State University Interfraternity Council is an organization formed to represent all male housed fraternities associated with the University. The council is still active today. The Oregon State University campus Panhellenic is the governing body of the sorority chapters and is responsible for providing support to the chapters. The organization was formed in 1917 and initially called the Women’s Interfraternity Council. It was renamed in 1919.

The following information provides historical background for fraternities and sororities that are represented in this collection: Delta Delta Delta sorority, Theta Mu Chapter, was established at OAC in 1918 and is one of 138 collegiate chapters in the United States. The Alpha Delta Chapter of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority was chartered in 1919 and became inactive at the University in 2006. Alpha Rho, the OSU Chapter of the Alpha Omicron Pi national sorority, was chartered in 1926 and is one of approximately 200 chapters in the U.S. The Chi Chapter of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority is not presently active at Oregon State, but will be recolonized in or after Fall 2015. The Alpha Chi Omega sorority, Chi Chapter, was charted in 1915 and is one of more than 130 collegiate chapters nationwide. The Upsilon Chapter of Sigma Kappa was chartered in 1918 and was housed in Waldo Hall before moving to its current location in the 1930s. The Oregon Alpha Chapter of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity was founded in 1918 by Dr. U.G. Dubach, Dean of Students at Oregon Agricultural College. The Tau Delta Chapter of the Sigma Nu fraternity was originally founded as the Oneonta Club in 1920. In 1931, the fraternity became the Epsilon Delta Chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity. The Oregon Beta Chapter of the Pi Beta Phi sorority is no longer active at the University. Kappa Kappa Gamma, Gamma Mu Chapter, was chartered in 1919 and is one of 140 collegiate chapters in the United States. One of 35 national collegiate chapters, Acacia fraternity was founded at OAC in 1924.

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Content Description

The Fraternities and Sororities Photograph Collection consists of images pertaining to Oregon State University's Greek organizations. Included are several images of Greek houses including Delta Delta Delta, Alpha Xi, Si Delta Mu, Alpha Rho, Gamma Phi Beta, Gamma Iota, Alpha Chi Omega and Sigma Kappa. The collection also includes photographs of fraternity members participating in community outreach, alumni, Interfraternity Council, dances, and philanthropy events.

The collection includes portrait photographs of Oregon State College president, A.L. Strand, and Dean of Men, Dan Poling. Harriet Moore (the first University Archivist) is depicted as a student during the mid-1920s.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

Fraternities and Sororities Photograph Collection (P 034), Oregon State University Special Collections & Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The Fraternities and Sororities Photograph Collection has been arranged in one series: I. Fraternities and Sororities Photographs, 1915-1989.

Acquisition Information

The photographs were acquired by the Archives in the mid-1960s with more materials added through the 1970s and 1980s.

Related Materials

SCARC's holdings include a number of collections produced by organizations within the Greek community at OSU, including the Greek Life Office Records (RG 223), Gamma Phi Beta Sorority Photographs (P 277), Alpha Chi Omega Chi Chapter Minutes, Interfraternity Council Records (RG 088), and Panhellenic Council Records (RG 056). Many collections include photographs of fraternity and sorority houses, including Harriet's Collection and the Smith-Western Company Photographs of Oregon State College (P 164). The Living Groups Index (MSS LivingGrps) provides information on the charter dates and locations for fraternities, sororities, cooperatives, and other housing clubs for Oregon State University students.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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Subject Terms

  • Greek letter societies--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • Student activities--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • Student housing--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • Women--Education (Higher)--Oregon--Corvallis.

Personal Names

  • Moore, Harriet L. Forest.
  • Poling, Dan Williams.
  • Strand, A. L. (August Leroy), 1894-

Form or Genre Terms

  • Film negatives.
  • Photographic postcards.
  • Photographic prints.

Finding aid prepared by Megan Guerre.
2014

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

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