Eta Kappa Nu Beta Chapter records

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: UA 152

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Eta Kappa Nu Beta Chapter records (1894-2014) document more than a century of student life and activities of the honor society of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University. The collection consists of annual reports, meeting minutes, photographs, photo slides and negatives, as well as video cassettes. Of particular interest might be the sub-series of graduating class composites, which frequently identifies the graduating students. Printed photographs of the graduating classes exists from 1894 to 1957 and various 3x5 and 8 x10 negatives exist until 1982. The graphic materials in this collection capture many social events, including banquets, officer inductions, Halloween parties, Turkey Day, sports activities and student gatherings for more than three decades. Whereas the majority of individuals in the photographs, slides, and negatives are unidentified, some of the materials identify officers, students, and faculty, particularly from the years 1979 to mid-1990s. Some of the identified faculty members in the collection include Mark Lundstrom, Anthony Maciejewski, John Chiasson, Leslie Kolodziejski, José Fortes, Clarence Coates, Bernd Hoeffliner, Thomas Casavant, Owen Mitchell, Steven Bass, Vejko Milutinovic, Walter Weeks, David Garrod, Robert Mitchell, and Jorge Auñon. Former Purdue President Arthur Hansen and popcorn tycoon Orville Redenbachers are also sparsely featured in the collection. The collection may be useful for researchers interested in student and campus life (particularly from the 1970s to 1990s) as well as national honor society administrative and social activities. Types of materials: printed materials, photographs and photo CDs, floppy disks, slides, negatives, ledgers, transparencies, composites, storage master reel, etc.

Dates

1894 - 2014
Majority of material found within 1978 - 1999
Other: Records transferred: 3/29/2016

Creator

Eta Kappa Nu. Beta Chapter (Organization)

Access Information

The collection is open for research.

Copyright and Use Information

Historical Information

Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) is an Honor Society for students in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Founded in 1904 at the University of Illinois, the Beta Chapter at Purdue was formed in 1905. After initial administrative hurdles, the chapter became active in 1913 and has since been continually recognized as one of the best HKN chapters, as they have been awarded many chapter awards from the National Society. Eta Kappa Nu currently has thirteen committees, including outreach, accounting, news, and awards committees. It defines its purpose as creating better professionals and improving the standards of the profession. HKN Beta is best known at Purdue for the member staffed HKN Student Lounge. The chapter is actively involved in community service, runs a student lab space, and organizes recruiting and networking events. In 2017 Purdue’s chapter hosted the Eta Kappa Nu Student Leadership Conference. Additionally, the chapter organizes banquets, picnics, and sports activities for its students throughout the semester.

Source: Eta Kappa Nu website: https://engineering.purdue.edu/hkn/

Extent

7.2 Cubic Feet (5 cubic foot boxes, 2 large and two small shoe boxes, and two 2 flat boxes. )

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The records are organized into three series:

Records, 1913-2014 (3 cubic feet). This series contains but is not limited to annual reports, meeting minutes, by-laws, constitutions, newsletters, survival guides, clippings, correspondence regarding the Plasma Light Sculpture, officer descriptions, faculty lists, magazine, awards and certificates. Due to the extensive nature of the documents, HKN Records of the Secretary and Annual Reports have been arranged in separate sub-series. Materials in the series are arranged topically and chronologically.
Visuals, 1894-2006 (2.8 cubic feet). This series consists of black-and-white photographs, color photographs, graduating class composites, slides, transparencies, negatives, and photo CDs. Highlights include the complete series of graduating class composites from 1894 to 1957 and slides documenting Barney the dino as pledge. Materials in the series are arranged chronologically and by format.
Digital Media, 1983-1997 (1.4 cubic foot). This series consists of a master reel, floppy disks, CDs and VHS video cassettes capturing social events such as banquets and picnics in the late 1980s and 1990s as well as 12 homework set solutions for the class EE 266.

Technical Access Information

Contains electronic records that may need to be reformatted. Please contact Karnes Archives and Special Collections before requesting digital material.

Acquisition Information

This collection was transferred from the chapter by President Dennis Ogbe.

Related Materials

MSP 41, Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi charter, Karnes Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.

MSP 16, Indiana Engineering Society records, Karnes Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.

MSA 37, Orville Redenbacher papers, Karnes Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.

Processing Information

Whenever possible, original order of the materials has been retained. All materials have been housed in polyester sleeves, acid-free folders, and acid-free boxes. All newsprint has been photocopied and some clippings have been preserved for display purposes, with photocopies made available for research. Photographs have been removed from photo albums for preservation purposes. Photographs have been grouped in original order whenever possible.