Panhellenic Council Records, 1922-2015

Predominant Dates: 1926-1993

The Panhellenic Council Records document the origins, administration, and activities of sororities at Oregon State University. The Panhellenic Council, established in 1917 at OSU, is the governing body for a portion of the sororities at OSU, responsible for creating rules and oversight that is outside of the institution's range.

A number of the Rush Handbooks from the 1930s-1990s have been digitized and are available via Oregon Digital. Additionally, a microfilm reel has been digitized and the resulting digital files are available upon patron request.

Creators

ID: RG 056

Extent: 3.0 cubic feet

More Extent Information

Scope and Content Notes

Biographical / Historical Notes

The Panhellenic Council, established in 1917 at OSU [Oregon Agricultural College at the time], is the governing body for a portion of the sororities at OSU, responsible for creating rules and oversight that is outside of the institution's range. The sororities within the purview of the Panhellenic Council mirror those of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), founded in 1902. The NPC provides guidelines and resources for its members, twenty-six national and international women's sororities, and serves as a national voice on contemporary issues of sorority life. Composed of representatives from the sorority chapters on the Oregon State University campus, Panhellenic is the governing body of the sorority chapters and is responsible for providing support to the chapters and facilitating cooperativeness between the sororities and with the University.

The first sorority associated with the National Panhellenic Conference formed at Oregon Agricultural College was Alpha Chi Omega in 1915. Pi Beta Phi, Chi Omega, and Kappa Alpha Theta were established in 1917. The formation of these three additional sororities led to the need for an oversight body. At OSU, the name of the Council has evolved. It was called the Panhellenic Association of the Oregon Agricultural College as early as 1922, Oregon State College Panhellenic in 1937, and Oregon State University Panhellenic Association or Council from 1995 onward.

The purpose of the Panhellenic Council within OSU is to maintain the standards of the sororities, ensure academic achievement and scholarship, maintain good relations with the University, and set rules for the sororities, such as related to rushing, pledging, disaffiliation, and member count for each house. It is able to do this through four different areas: legislation, administration, advisory authority, and judicial authority. Panhellenic also follows rules set by the University and by the National Panhellenic Conference.

The Panhellenic Council does not encompass all sororities such as those under the purview of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (Divine Nine) or the Multicultural Greek Council. The National Panhellenic Conference, of which the Panhellenic Council is under, is responsible for 26 national and international sororities, seventeen of which have been chartered at OSU.

The seventeen OSU chartered chapters within the Panhellenic Council include: Alpha Chi Omega, 1915-Current; Alpha Delta Pi, 1926-1996; Alpha Gamma Delta, 1921-Current; Alpha Omicron Pi, 1926-1992 and 2014-Current; Alpha Phi, 1947-Current; Alpha Xi Delta, 1919-1964 and 1979-2005; Chi Omega, 1917-Current; Delta Delta Delta, 1918-Current; Delta Gamma, 1946-Current; Delta Zeta, 1919-1977; Gamma Phi Beta, 1918-1997; Kappa Alpha Theta, 1917-Current; Kappa Delta, 1926-1982 and 1987-Current; Kappa Kappa Gamma, 1924-Current; Pi Beta Phi, 1917-2006; Sigma Kappa, 1918-Current; Zeta Tau Alpha, 1923-1970.

Author: Jozie Billings

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Statement on Description:

We acknowledge that materials in SCARC collections and the language that describes them may be harmful. We are actively working to address our descriptive practices; for more information please see our SCARC Anti-Racist Actions Statement online.

Some materials in this collection use derogatory language to describe activities hosted by sororities. We acknowledge the ableism and racism represented by this language and the harm it may cause our users. Providing access to these historical materials does not endorse any attitudes or behavior depicted therein.

[Date of acknowledgement: February 2024]

Arrangement

Preferred Citation: Panhellenic Council Records (RG 056), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Languages of Materials

English

Other

Container List

Series 1: Minutes, 1958-2011 Add to Shelf

Series 1 consists of Panhellenic Council meeting minutes. The Council met in different sorority houses each month; the host sorority is listed at the top of the minutes. Each set of minutes describes who called the meeting to order, who did introductions, a summary of the officer’s reports, new business, and old business. The 1958-1960 minutes were digitized from a microfilm reel and are organized in reverse chronological order.

This series contains one digital file (14 MB) from the digitized microfilm reel that is available upon patron request.

Digital File 01: Minutes, 1958-1960 Add to Shelf: Extent: 14 MB
Box-Folder 1.01: Minutes, 1969-1975 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.02: Minutes, 1976-1982 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.03: Minutes, 1983-1992 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.04: Minutes, 1995 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.05: Minutes, 2005-2011 Add to Shelf

Series 2: Constitutions, 1922-2007 Add to Shelf

Series 2 contains booklets and packets of OSU’s Panhellenic Council Constitution, as well as By-Laws and Rush Rules. Versions of these exist in years ranging from 1922 to 2007.

This series contains one digital file (1.8 MB), the 1957 constitution, from the digitized microfilm reel that is available upon patron request.

Box-Folder 1.06: Constitutions, 1922-1937 Add to Shelf
Digital File 02: Constitution, 1957 Add to Shelf: Extent: 1.8 MB
Box-Folder 1.07: Constitution/Bylaws/Rush Rules, 1972 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.08: Constitutions/Bylaws/Rush Rules, 1995-2007 Add to Shelf

Series 3: Publications, 1924-2014 Add to Shelf

Series 3 consists of publications, primarily of Rush Handbooks, both in loose volumes and in bound editions, along with informational brochures and newsletters. The handbooks describe what Panhellenic is and what value it could bring to a young woman’s life. They also discuss how to decide which sorority to join, what the financial cost will be, how to plan for joining, and what “Rush Rules” are. The last section of many booklets includes a photo of the sorority house with pertinent information about it, such as location, president, colors, and a short history of the house. In some, they include rent costs. There are also two posters promoting Rush. The 1957 handbook was digitized from a microfilm reel; it contains the Rush Chairman Handbook and the Counselor's and Delegate Handbook.

A number of the Rush Handbooks from the 1930s-1990s have been digitized and are available via Oregon Digital.

This series contains one digital file (3.6 MB) from the digitized microfilm reel that is available upon patron request.

Box-Folder 1.09: Informational Brochures, 1993-2003 Add to Shelf: Of note is a brochure on Sigma Lamba Delta, a sorority founded at OSU in 2003 that is not a part of Panhellenic.
Box-Folder 1.10: Newsletters, 1978-1979 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.11: Rush Handbooks, 1926-1949 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.12: Rush Handbooks, 1949-1958 Add to Shelf
Digital File 03: Rush Handbooks, 1957 Add to Shelf: Extent: 3.6 MB
Box-Folder 1.13: Rush Handbooks, 1960-1969 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.14: Rush Handbooks, 1970-1979 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.15: Rush Handbooks, 1980-1989 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.16: Rush Handbooks, 1990-1996 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.17: Rush Handbook, 2010 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.18: Rush Counselor Handbook, 2014 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.19: Rush Handbooks Bound, 1924-1968 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.20: Rush Handbooks Bound, 1968-1970 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.21: Rush Handbooks Bound, 1971-1986 Add to Shelf
Map-Folder 1: Posters, 1981 Add to Shelf: Two posters promoting sorority rush; one is dated 1981 and the other is undated.
Box-Folder 3.03: Panhellenic Life, 2008 Add to Shelf: A 4-page news sheet published in Winter 2008.

Series 4: Organizational Records, 1958-2015 Add to Shelf

Series 4 includes newspaper clippings from the 1970s and some from the mid-2000s. Additionally, there is general Panhellenic Council information such as materials about the Panhellenic Conference from 1958-1971, information on the budget, as well as "Strategic Planning." There is also a variety of information on Rush including Rush programs, activities, and statistics.

This series contains three digital files (11.5 MB) from the digitized microfilm reel that is available upon patron request.

Digital File 04: Correspondence, 1958-1960 Add to Shelf: Extent: 4.3 MB
Box-Folder 2.01: Newspaper Clippings, 1972-1973 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.02: Newspaper Clippings, 1970-1974 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.03: Newspaper Clippings, 1974-1978 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.04: Newspaper Clippings, 2009 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.05: General Panhellenic Information, 1958-1973 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.06: Panhellenic Conference, 1963 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.07: OSU Sorority GPA Information, 2002-2003 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.08: Policy Correspondence, 1972-2006 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.09: Rush Programs and Activities, 1972-1973 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.10: Rush Statistics, 1984-2011 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.11: Rush Schedule, 2004-2005 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.12: OSU Panhellenic Budget, 2010-2012 Add to Shelf
Digital File 05: Spring Retreat, 1958-1959 Add to Shelf: Extent: 4 MB
Box-Folder 2.13: Strategic Plan, 2015 Add to Shelf
Digital File 06: Ephemera, 1958-1960 Add to Shelf: Materials include guest rules, a list of sororities for fall term 1958 with enrollment numbers, information for Panhellenic Counselors, a 1958 spring retreat program, spring 1959 rush rules, a document from the Dean of Women’s Office recording the high school GPA of women entering as freshmen, and a cost sheet for Oregon State College sororities.; Extent: 3.2 MB

Series 5: Awards and Applications, 1967-2011 Add to Shelf

Series 5 is predominately made up of Nancy Vanderpool Award Applications from the years 2007-2010. Vanderpool served as the Assistant Dean of Students at Oregon State University from 1979-1998; during her tenure, she supported the Panhellenic system. The Nancy Vanderpool Award for Panhellenic Council Chapter of the Year is awarded to the chapter that scores the highest on the Relationship Statement of the previous year. The Relationship Statement serves as a way to showcase what the chapter accomplishes within the year, including but not limited to workshops, service events, and philanthropic activities.

These applications are often in the form of a scrapbook and have multiple parts: first, they briefly describe their sorority's history and their founding values; they then may go on to describe new member education and programming, scholarship, leadership, philanthropy and community service, chapter management, honors and awards, and campus and community involvement. Most of the award applications have pictures scattered throughout. While these serve as award applications, they also serve as a kind of yearbook, snapshotting what the sorority did that year. The available records do not describe who won each year. There is also a folder of certificates awarded to Oregon State University Panhellenic groups; the honors and awards that the council has received from various groups include the Panhellenic Conference, Western Regional Greek Conference, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Extent: 91 photographic prints

Box-Folder 2.14: Certificates and List of Plaques, 1967-2011 Add to Shelf: The physical plaques were removed from the collection.
Box-Folder 2.15: Vanderpool Award Application - Alpha Phi, 2008 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.16: Vanderpool Award Application - Delta Gamma, 2008 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.17: Vanderpool Award Application - Kappa Kappa Gama, 2008-2009 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.18: Vanderpool Award Application - Delta Delta Delta, 2009 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.19: Vanderpool Award Application - Kappa Delta, 2009-2010 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.20: Vanderpool Award Application - Alpha Chi Omega, 2010 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.21: Vanderpool Award Application - Kappa Kappa Gamma, 2010 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.22: Vanderpool Award Application - Alpha Chi Omega, 2009 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.23: Vanderpool Award Application - Alpha Kappa, circa 2009 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.24: Vanderpool Award Application - Delta Delta Delta, 2010 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.25: Vanderpool Award Application - Alpha Phi, 2010 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.26: Vanderpool Award Application - Chi Omega, 2009 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.27: Vanderpool Award Application - Chi Omega, 2010 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.28: Vanderpool Award Application - Alpha Phi, 2009 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.29: Vanderpool Award Application - Sigma Kappa, 2007-2008 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.30: Vanderpool Award Application - Alpha Gamma Delta, 2008 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.31: Vanderpool Award Application - Alpha Gamma Delta, 2009 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.32: Vanderpool Award Application - Chi Omega, 2008 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.33: Vanderpool Award Application - Kappa Alpha Theta, 2007 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.34: Vanderpool Award Application - Kappa Alpha Theta, 2010 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.35: Vanderpool Award Application - Delta Gamma, 2009 Add to Shelf
Box-Item 3.01: Vanderpool Award Application - Alpha Gamma Delta, 2010 Add to Shelf: 13 photos
Box-Folder 3.02: Vanderpool Award Application - Delta Gamma, 2010 Add to Shelf: 25

Series 6: Scrapbooks, 1962-1990 Add to Shelf

Series 6 consists of four unbound scrapbooks and one bound scrapbook created by the executive council members of the Panhellenic Council. These scrapbooks contain photographs, original artwork, newspaper clippings, correspondence, invitations, and textual documents. The scrapbooks document philanthropy, social activities, events, and publications about the sorority chapters.

Extent: 5 scrapbooks including 100 photographic prints

Box-Item 4.01: Panhellenic, 1965-1969 Add to Shelf: This scrapbook contains yearly events from the school years starting in 1965-1966 and ending with 1969-1970. Of note are Santagrams, newspaper clippings of initiates, newspaper clippings from service projects, the annual Junior Panhellenic Dessert, and the executive council members of Panhellenic.; Extent: 13 photographic prints
Box-Folder 4.02: Panhellenic, 1962-1963 Add to Shelf: This scrapbook contains a page from the Beaver Greek newspaper and newspaper clippings from an unidentified newspaper pertaining to Rush. Also represented are workshops, banquets, and events with the Interfraternity Council, along with photographs of these same events and a letter to incoming freshmen. Of note, a newspaper clipping within the scrapbook uses the phrase "slave auction" in both the headline and article text to describe an activity as part of an annual pledge auction.; Extent: 6 photographic prints
Box-Folder 4.03: Panhellenic, 1977 Add to Shelf: This scrapbook contains materials representing six topics: about the sororities, scholarship, philanthropy, activities, social events, and publications. The first topic, "about the sororities," contains newspaper clippings about events and opinion pieces on the sororities. Of note, it contains one newspaper clipping about the chartering celebration dinner for Delta Sigma Theta, a historically Black sorority. "Scholarship" contains newspaper clippings about scholarships received and given by the Panhellenic sororities. 'Philanthropy" contains newspaper clippings, correspondence, and textual documents regarding fundraisers, banquets, donations, and the impact of the philanthropy of Panhellenic sororities. Of note are the newspaper clippings, correspondence, and notes about Cindy Toombs, a then junior at Oregon State and a possible member of a sorority who suffered burn injuries in a traffic accident. The Panhellenic Council and Interfraternity Council contributed to her recovery fund. "Activities" contains newspaper clippings and correspondence on Panhellenic activities attended by sorority members. "Social Events" contains newspaper clippings and documentation related to events such as All Greek Spaghetti Feed, Valentine Dance, Greek Week, and Moms and Dads Weekends. "Publications" contains newspaper clippings, newsletters, correspondence, and handbooks produced by Panhellenic or related organizations about and for Panhellenic. Of note, a newspaper clipping within the scrapbook uses the r-word in the headline but then uses the term "mentally-handicapped" in the article text to describe children who attended an Easter holiday party hosted by two sororities.; Extent: 1 photographic print
Box-Folder 4.04: Panhellenic, 1981-1982 Add to Shelf: This scrapbook contains a page on pinnings (a ritualistic ceremony where a fraternity member gives his fraternity pin to someone that he is in a romantic relationship with, often someone in a sorority, with the intent for it to be precursor to engagement), Rush week, Panhellenic Council Advisor Nancy Vanderpool, and meeting minutes from a council meeting on January 1, 1981.; Extent: 1 photographic print
Box-Folder 4.05: Panhellenic, 1989-1990 Add to Shelf: This scrapbook contains pages on council members and the Panhellenic Council sororities. Each council member and each sororitiy are represented in a dedicated page. The specific sororites included are Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Phi, Alpha Xi Delta, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Pi Beta Phi, and Sigma Kappa.; Extent: 79 photographic prints

Series 7: Photographs, 1973-2011 Add to Shelf

Series 7 is comprised of photographs depicting Panhellenic Council members as well as members of the sororities the council oversees in group photos, individual photos, and photos from events. The series contains a composite of individual portrait photographs of the Panhellenic Council Officers and Members for 2010-2011, present in both its original form and in smaller, photographic print copy.

Extent: 5 photographic prints

Box-Folder 2.36: Photographs, 1973-2003 Add to Shelf: Contains 1 photo of four people associated with the Sigma Lambda Delta sorority in 2003, the year the sorority was founded at OSU; 2 photos taken at the Beaver Open House Greek Information Booth in 1973; and 1 photo from the Summer Orientation-Advising Program (SOAP) sessions joint booth with the Intrafraternity Council in 1972. Extent: 4 prints
Map-Folder 1: Composite of individual portrait photographs of the Panhellenic Council Officers and Members for 2010-2011, 2010 Add to Shelf: This composite of portraits is an oversized item.
Box-Folder 4.06: Officers and Members of Panhellenic Council for 2010-2011, 2010 Add to Shelf: A photographic print of the composite of officers and members. Original housed in the oversize map-folder.

People, Places, and Topics

Forms of Material

Related Materials

IFC Sing Winners, 1960s. Alpha Chi Omega Sorority was the Inter-fraternity Council Sing winner.

Information and Credits