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Purdue University Fraternities and Sororities collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 159

Scope and Contents

The Purdue University Fraternities and Sororities collection documents the history and activities of the fraternities and sororities at Purdue. Contained in the collection are numerous fraternity and sorority newsletters and magazines. There are some records provided by the Dean of Students Office in 1995 and include correspondence and financial information sheets. Among the other material in the collection are petitions for membership, constitutions and by-laws, membership directories and other historical information.

The general information includes rush rules from 1937 – circa 2000s, Interfraternity and Panhellenic rush booklets, the constitution of the Interfraternity Council from 1967, telephone directories from the early 2000s, issues of the Purdue University Greek Publication, "The Greekvine," and several sorority recruitment guides.

Types of materials include: brochures, clippings, correspondence, directories, guidebooks, historical documents, magazines, newsletters, pamphlets, photographs of members, programs from various activities, film reels, and records.

Dates

  • Creation: 1885 - 2008
  • Other: Majority of material found within 1995 - 2005

Language of Materials

Collection material is in English.

Access Information

Collection is open for research.

Copyright and Use Information

Copyright held by Purdue University.

Historical Information

In 1875 Sigma Chi became the first fraternity chapter at Purdue University. Most growth in chapters and membership occurred between 1905 and 1960, and the community continues to grow today.

Purdue University is home to one of the largest fraternity and sorority communities in the country. The Interfraternity Council governs 41 traditional men's fraternities at Purdue. The Multicultural Greek Council governs 11 multicultural fraternities and sororities. The National Pan-Hellenic Council governs nine historically African-American fraternities and sororities at Purdue. The Panhellenic Association governs 20 traditional women's fraternities and sororities.

Several of Purdue's most distinguished graduates are members of fraternities and sororities.

Extent

2.362 Cubic Feet (Six letter-size full-width manuscript boxes and one letter-size half-width manuscript box)

Arrangement

The collection consists of six series. Items are arranged chronologically within each sub-series and file.

  1. Fraternity and Sorority Historical Information, Magazines, and Miscellaneous Material
  2. General Fraternity and Sorority Information
  3. Scrapbooks and Ledger with minutes
  4. Purdue University Interfraternity Council reports
  5. Fraternity Rush Rules, Calendars and New Member Information Guides
  6. Purdue Panhellenic Rush Rules, Brochures, Recruitment Guides, Newsletters and Miscellaneous Clippings

Technical Access Information

Film reels found within the collection may not be accessible until migrated to a viewable format. Contact Purdue Archives and Special Collections if interested in accessing these materials.

Acquisition Information

Source and date of acquisition are unknown. Addition 03 transferred by Andy Robison from the Department of Physics on July 6, 2023.

Processing Information

All materials have been housed in polyester sleeves, acid-free folders, and acid-free boxes. The fraternities and sororities appear in alphabetical order, with the general information boxed by itself. For the most part, the material is arranged by type of material and then chronological order. Newspaper clippings have been copied on acid-free paper and originals discarded. Addition 03 added to the collection in October 2023.

Subject

Title
Purdue University Fraternities and Sororities collection
Status
Under Review
Author
Mary A. Sego and Sara Pettinger
Date
2023-10-31
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English
Edition statement
Third edition. Collection description first completed 2015-12-12.

Repository Details

Part of the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
504 Mitch Daniels Boulevard
West Lafayette Indiana 47907 United States
765-494-2839