Inventory of the Omicron Delta Kappa, Rho Circle Chapter (Duke University) records, 1926-1971
[top]Descriptive Summary
Repository
University Archives, Duke
University
Creator
Omicron Delta Kappa. Rho Circle Chapter (Duke University).
Title
Omicron Delta Kappa, Rho Circle Chapter (Duke University) records, 1926-1971
Language of Material
Material in English
Extent
4.25 Linear Feet
4250 Items
Abstract
4250 Items
Contains the records of the Rho Circle chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa, established at Duke University in 1926.
Types of materials include bylaws, certificates of membership, correspondence, financial records, history, manuals, membership lists, minutes, newsletters, reports, programs, and photographs. Major topics include governance of a leadership fraternity, member selection, honor societies at Duke University, Duke-Navy relations during World War II, leadership, and Omicron Delta Kappa. Materials are present from 1926 to 1971, however the bulk of materials are from 1926 to 1963.
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Administrative Information
Access RestrictionsPatrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
In off-site storage; 24 hours advance notice is required for use.
In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended, Duke University permits students to inspect their education records and limits the disclosure of personally identifiable information from education records.
Copyright Notice
Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Omicron Delta Kappa, Rho Circle Chapter (Duke University) records, University Archives, Duke University.
Provenance
The Omicron Delta Kappa, Rho Circle chapter records were received by the University Archives as a
transfer in 1974, 1991, 1997.
Processing Information
Processed by Sarah A. Nerney , 1999
Updated by Emily Glenn, January 2003
Encoded by Sherrie Bowser, January 2008
Accessions A74-79, A91-69, A97-73 were merged into one collection, described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and our local Style Guide.
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
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Historical Note
Omicron Delta Kappa was founded at Washington and Lee University in 1914 as a campus leadership honor society. It soon expanded to other colleges and the Rho Circle chapter was established at Duke University in 1926. Omicron Delta Kappa admitted juniors and seniors as well as faculty members and honorary members both alumni and non-alumni on the basis of character, scholarship, distinguished achievement, and consecration to a great purpose. The five categories of campus life that were emphasized were scholarship, athletics, social and religious activities, publications, and the arts. Election to membership was considered one of the top honors that could be conferred at Duke University. The focus of the Rho Circle chapter was service to the university and community through the cooperation of all campus leaders. The first president of the Rho Circle chapter was Marshall I. Pickens, later head of the Duke Endowment.
The Rho Circle chapter maintained a good relationship with other national officers through correspondence of well-connected faculty and administrators, such as Frank C. Brown. Omicron Delta Kappa became inactive in the late 1960s or early 1970s as a result of general student opposition to the "elitism" of special leadership distinctions. There were also disputes within the national organization about scholarship standards and the fraternity's refusal to admit women. Although correspondence continued between William J. Griffith, the longtime secretary of the Duke University chapter, and the national officers, the society has never been reactivated at Duke.
[top]Collection Overview
These records were produced by Omicron Delta Kappa in the course of their activities as a campus leadership honor society from 1926 to 1971. The bulk of the material consists of correspondence, information on membership elections, minutes, and information on national and provincial conventions. Physical types of materials include by-laws, certificates of membership, correspondence, financial records, history, initiation ritual, manuals, membership lists and cards, membership selection point system, minutes, newsletters, reports both from the Rho Circle and from national and provincial conventions, programs, and photographs.
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Subject Headings
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
- Brown, Frank C. (Frank Clyde).
- Duke University--Societies, etc.
- Duke University--Students--Societies, etc.
- Greek letter societies--North Carolina--Durham.
- Initiations (into trades, societies, etc.)
- Omicron Delta Kappa--History.
- World War, 1939-1945--North Carolina--Durham--Education and the war.
Related Material
Photograph Collection
University Archives, Duke University.
Interfraternity Council Records.
University Archives, Duke University.
William J. Griffith III papers
University Archives, Duke University.
Detailed Description of Collection
General history and establishment, 1926-1962
7 Folders
The History and Membership folder contains pages that originally were bound together as a book, dating from 1926-1933. Financial records show the income and expenditures, although some of this information is also contained in the minutes. The folder titled "Point System," which details the system by which students earned recognition by the society, although there is some indication in the minutes that the student body in general was not aware of this system of points. Unclaimed certificates are membership certificates never collected by members for various reasons, and show what the certificates looked like over the years.
Box 1
History and Membership, 1926-1933 RESTRICTED
Bylaws, 1931, 1962, undated
Initiation rituals, undated
Point system, 1932, undated
Financial records, 1931-1950
Certificates (unclaimed), 1933-1955
Report of the Rho Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, 1933-1959, undated
Correspondence, 1930-1971
15 Folders
Correspondence is divided into three sections: general chapter correspondence, the banquet of 1950, and that of faculty and Rho Circle chapter member Frank C. Brown. The correspondence addresses general chapter business, chapter development, and the initiation banquet of 1950. Contains one restricted folder.
Box 1
1930-1935
1936-1938
1939-1940
1941-1945
1946-1950 RESTRICTED
1951-1953
1954-1955
1956-1959
1960-1963
1964
Box 2
1965-1971, undated
Banquet, 1950
Office of Frank C. Brown, 1926-1933
Office of Frank C. Brown, 1934-1939, undated
Office of Frank C. Brown, 1934-1939, undated, photographs
Membership, 1932-1963
25 Folders
Contains letters of invitation to membership, responses, and general member lists.
Box 2
Membership elections, 1932
Membership elections, 1933
Membership elections, 1934
Membership elections, 1935
Membership elections, 1936
Membership elections, 1937
Membership elections, 1938
Membership elections, 1939
Membership elections, 1940
Membership elections, 1941
Membership elections, 1942
Membership elections, 1943
Membership elections, 1944-1946
Membership elections, 1947
Membership elections, 1948
Membership elections, 1949
Box 3
Membership elections, 1950
Membership elections, 1951-1955
Membership elections, 1956-1961
Membership elections, 1962-1968
Membership elections, honorary, 1932-1934
Membership elections, honorary, 1955-1963
Membership elections, honorary recommendations, 1952
Membership lists, 1945-1962, undated
Membership updates for "The Circle", 1938
Minutes, 1931-1963
5 Folders
The minutes detail the interests and activities of members from about 1931 to 1963. The minutes from 1930-1931 are contained in the "History and Membership" folder in Series 1. Some topics covered in the minutes are fraternity rushing, social standards, school spirit, membership elections, national and provincial business, student government activities, honor system and cheating, politics on campus, the Beta Omega Sigma sophomore honor society, Duke-Navy relations during World War II, and campus activities and events. The material related to Duke-Navy student relations is located throughout the 1942-1945 minutes. The January 10, 1942 minutes contain an itemized fraternity plan of wartime economy. The 1942 minutes contain a proposed constitution for an inter-honorary fraternity council.
Box 3
1931-1938
1938-1942
1942-1946
1946-1955
1961-1963
National and Provincial Conventions, 1930-1961
5 Folders
Contains information on conventions such as announcements, programs, and reports are contained in the "National and Provincial Conventions" folders.
Box 4
Notes and minutes, 1950-1954, undated
Notes and minutes, 1930-1949
Notes and minutes, 1947, 1949
Invitations and programs, 1930-1961
Convention at Duke University, 1933
Printed materials, 1927-1970
3 Folders
Contains printed materials produced by the Rho Circle chapter and Omicron Delta Kappa headquarters.
Box 4
Newsletter, "The Circle", 1927-1970
Newsletter of the General Council of Omicron Delta Kappa, 1955-1961, undated
Omicron Delta Kappa manuals, 1947, 1968-1970
