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Fraternities and Sororities Photograph Collection, 1915-1989

By Finding aid prepared by Megan Guerre.

Collection Overview

Title: Fraternities and Sororities Photograph Collection, 1915-1989

Predominant Dates: 1920-1962

ID: P 034

Extent: 0.05 cubic feet. More info below.

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

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

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.

Images from this collection have been digitized and are available in Oregon Digital.

Scope and Content Notes

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.

Images from this collection have been digitized and are available in Oregon Digital.

Biographical / Historical Notes

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.

Administrative Information

More Extent Information: 51 photographs; 1 box

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

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

Related Materials: The Special Collections and Archives Research Center 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 (MSS AlphaChiOmega), Interfraternity Council Records (RG 088), and Panhellenic Council Records (RG 056). Many collections include photographs of fraternity and sorority houses, including Harriet's Photograph Collection (P HC) 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.

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

People, Places, and Topics

Greek letter societies--Oregon--Corvallis.
Moore, Harriet L. Forest
Poling, Dan Williams
Strand, A. L. (August Leroy), 1894-
Student activities--Oregon--Corvallis.
Student housing--Oregon--Corvallis.
University History
Women--Education (Higher)--Oregon--Corvallis.

Forms of Material

Film negatives.
Photographic postcards.
Photographic prints.


Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Fraternities and Sororities Photographs, 1915-1989
Box-Folder 1.1: Photographs
Item P034:01: Delta Psi Kappa honorary stunt, 1923
Individuals pictured: unidentified, Lenore Preston, Vida McKern, Ruth Hjertas, Ruth Thayer, Harriet Moore, Alice Strong, Cathryn Barhyte, unidentified, Lois Fendall, Pauline Thompson, and Marie Tonseth. Image is available online.
Extent: 2 prints

Item P034:02-P034:03: Delta Delta Delta house, 1921-1922
Images are available online: 2, 3.
Extent: 5 prints

Item P034:04: Alpha Xi Delta house, circa 1920
Extent: 3 prints

Item P034:05: Si. Delta Mu house, 1921-1922
Extent: postcard print

Item P034:06: Alpha Rho house, 1921-1922
Extent: 2 postcard prints

Item P034:07: Gamma Phi Beta house, circa 1920
Item P034:08: Gamma Iota house, circa 1920
Extent: postcard print

Item P034:09: Alpha Chi Omega house, circa 1920
Extent: 2 prints

Item P034:10: Sigma Kappa, circa 1920
Item P034:11: Beaver Club, 1915-1916
Members of the Beaver Club on the steps of their house with a dog. Became Phi Gamma Delta in 1921. Image is available online.
Item P034:12: Interfraternity Council Officers, 1957
Individuals pictured include: President Vernon Cook, Vice President James Folston, and Secretary-Treasurer Stanley Hong.
Extent: 3 mounted portrait prints

Item P034:13: Four boys doing yard work at the Presbyterian-Congregational Church during Interfraternity "Help Week"
Extent: 2 prints

Item P034:14: Boys doing yard work in front of the Good Samaritan Hospital for Interfraternity "Help Week"
Extent: 2 prints

Item P034:15: A fraternity costume dance featured in the Interfraternity Council rush booklet, 1956
Item P034:16: Portraits, 1957
Individuals pictured: A.L. Strand, Dan Poling, Vernon Cook, Stanley Hong, and James Folston.
Item P034:17: Aerial view of Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California, 1957
Extent: 2 prints

Item P034:18: Portraits, 1957
Portraits of Dan Poling and A.L. Strand.
Extent: 2 mounted prints

Item P034:19: Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity members
Item P034:20: Sigma Phi Epsilon 40th Anniversary, 1958
Five alumni pictured. Image is available online.
Item P034:23: Sigma Nu alumni, circa 1942
Item P034:24: Sigma Nu alumni
Item P034:25: Pi Beta Phi rush, circa 1970
Item P034:26: Sigma Kappa, circa 1985
Item P034:27: IFC Sing, Delta Gamma and Theta Chi, circa 1970
Item P034:28: Delta Delta Delta, circa 1970
Item P034:29: Kappa Kappa Gamma, circa 1985
Extent: 2 prints

Item P034:30: Acacia Fraternity members in an old Model T, circa 1962
Inscription on back reads: "When spring term rolls around, a ride on the old Model T is lots of fun," from Introducing Oregon State Fraternities, 1962. Image is available online.
Extent: print and 4x5 negative

Item P034:31: Sorority big sisters, 1981
Reproduced from Sorority Rush Handbook, page 13.
Extent: 4x5 copy negative

Item P034:32: Pi Beta Phi, 1982
Reproduced from Sorority Rush Handbook, page 4.
Extent: 4x5 copy negative

Item P034:33: Kappa Kappa Gamma, 1989
Reproduced from Sorority Rush Handbook page 8.
Extent: 4x5 copy negative


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