Inventory of the Pi Beta Phi, North Carolina Beta Chapter (Duke University) Records,
1929-1988
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Descriptive Summary
Repository
University Archives, Duke
University
Creator
Pi Beta Phi. North Carolina Beta Chapter (Duke University).
Title
Pi Beta Phi, North Carolina Beta Chapter (Duke University) Records, 1929-1988
Language of Material
Material in English
Extent
9.8 Linear Feet
3000 Items
Abstract
Contains materials relating to the establishment, governance, philanthropy, and campus activities of the North Carolina Beta chapter of Pi Beta Phi fraternity for women at Duke University from 1929-1988. The bulk of material is from 1974-1977 and 1983-1988.
Types of materials include manuals, rosters, minutes, photographs, scrapbooks, reports, creative writing, and published materials. Major topics include student life at Duke University, establishing a fraternal organization, pledging, initiation, community service activities, social activities, songs, general governance, leadership, philanthropy, and public relations.
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Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Patrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
Portions of these materials are restricted by donor request.
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], Pi Beta Phi, North Carolina Beta Chapter (Duke University) Records, University Archives, Duke University.
Provenance
The Pi Beta Phi, North Carolina Beta Chapter (Duke University) Records were received by the University Archives as a
transfer in 1980-1990.
Processing Information
Processed by Emily Glenn, December 2002
Updated by Jessica Wood, February 2007
Encoded by Sherrie Bowser, December 2007
Accessions 80--18, 80--70, 84-76, 85--132, 85--142, 86--11, 86--33, A90-35 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
From: http://www.pibetaphi.org/ and Petition of Mu Lambda Chapter of Duke University to Pi Beta Phi Fraternity
Pi Beta Phi Fraternity was founded at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois, on April 28, 1867 as a social group for women college students. The fraternity was first known as I.C. Sorosis. The founding chapter disbanded because Monmouth College banned secret societies, and other chapters chose to adopt the new name of Pi Beta Phi in 1888. Pi Beta Phi was the first national secret college society of women to be modeled after the Greek-letter fraternities of men. During a time when few women were admitted to colleges and universities, Pi Beta Phi created a feeling of unity among pioneering women. Some of the symbols of Pi Beta Phi are the golden arrow badge, the carnation, arrowhead pledge pin, and angels. Fraternity history indicates that songs about Pi Beta Phi angels became popular in the late 1930s and early 1940s, and that skits depicting Pi Beta Phis as angels were often used in rush. The colors of the Fraternity are wine and silver blue.
The national fraternity supports various philanthropies including Arrowmont (an arts and crafts school), Links to Literacy (promoting lifelong literacy), and Arrow in the Arctic (supporting northern Canadian public libraries). Pi Beta Phi is part of the National Panhellenic Conference.
Mu Lambda Sorority was organized at Duke University on April 22, 1929 by a group of seven women for the purpose of strengthening their bonds of friendship. Mu Lambda pledged three women in fall 1929, and added four more pledges in spring 1930. During the months following the organization of Mu Lambda, its members made a detailed study of the most outstanding sororities which were not on the Duke campus. These sororities sent representatives to interview Mu Lambda. Mu Lambda, advised by Dean Alice Mary Baldwin, decided that Pi Beta Phi was the most desirable sorority. From then on, Mu Lambda attempted to live up to Pi Beta Phi ideals.
Around 1930-1931, to assist with their petition with Pi Beta Phi, six Pi Beta Phis of Durham (alumnae of other schools) organized themselves as an advisory council for Mu Lambda. In 1933, Mu Lambda was accepted into Pi Beta Phi and became the North Carolina Beta chapter. The chapter has been active on Duke campus since 1933 and is governed by the Panhellenic Association at Duke University. Some of their service activities included building a Habitat for Humanity house, serving meals in rest homes, and reading to school children.
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Collection Overview
Contains photographs, general orientation materials, guidelines, yearbooks, meeting minutes, scrapbooks, Book of Pledges' Signatures and published materials relating to the North Carolina Beta chapter of Pi Beta Phi fraternity for women. By request of the donor, minutes are restricted to current Pi Beta Phi, North Carolina Beta chapter members. Users must obtain written permission from the North Carolina Beta chapter President to view the minutes.
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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.
- Duke University--History.
- Duke University--Societies, etc.
- Duke University--Students--Societies, etc.
- Greek letter societies.
- Greek letter societies--North Carolina--Durham.
- Initiations (into trades, societies, etc.)
- Pi Beta Phi. North Carolina Beta Chapter (Duke University).
- Women college students--North Carolina--Societies and clubs.
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Related Material
Fraternities and Sororities collection.
University Archives, Duke University
Duke University. Interfraternity Council. Records.
University Archives, Duke University
Duke University. Panhellenic Council records.
University Archives, Duke University
Photograph Collection
University Archives, Duke University
Downhower, Laura. Spring Sorority Rush: a Booklet for First-year Women about Rush and Sororities at Duke. 1989.
University Archives, Duke University.
Sororities at Duke: a Booklet to Tell You the Whys and Hows of Rushing. 1953-1968 [serial].
University Archives, Duke University.
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Detailed Description of Collection
Chapter administration, 1932-1982
Contains chapter organization history, membership lists, minutes, and a guide for chapter historians. By request of the donor, minutes are restricted to current Pi Beta Phi, North Carolina Beta chapter members. Users must obtain written permission from the North Carolina Beta chapter President to view the minutes. Ordered by alphabetically by folder title. The Petition of Mu Lambda Chapter of Duke University to Pi Beta Phi Fraternity contains profiles of each member, recommendations, and general history of Mu Lambda's petition to join Pi Beta Phi. Ordered alphabetically by folder title.
Box 1
Folder 1
Chapter Historian's manual, 1980
Folder 2
"Officers Who Serve", ca 1982
Folder 3
Membership Directory, 1978-1982
Folder 4
Minutes, January 17, 1980-September 22, 1982 RESTRICTED
Folder 5
Petition of Mu Lambda Chapter of Duke University to Pi Beta Phi fraternity (ca 1932)
Chapter social and philanthropy activities, 1973-1983
Chapter social and philanthropy activities, ca 1973-1983
Contains creative works, photographs, pledge materials, award for philanthropy, and a guest book from the 50th reunion in 1983. Ordered alphabetically by folder title.
Box 1
Folder 6
Photographs, ca 1973-1978
Folder 7
Pledge materials (songs, mission statements, brief histories), ca 1980
Folder 8
President's Award, Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation, ca 1982
Folder 9
Reunion guest book, 1983
Folder 10
"Themes" (member projects), n.d.
History of North Carolina Beta Chapter of Pi Beta Phi (yearbooks) 1929-1988
Contains yearbooks documenting the social, academic, personal, and philanthropic activities of the North Carolina Beta chapter. The types of materials included in the yearbooks are: photographs, miscellaneous notes, clippings, souvenirs, official statements, creative works, personal narratives, chapter evaluations, and some correspondence. Pages are numbered and in original order. Most yearbooks were bound with string. Two covers were included. Ordered by date.
Box 1
Folder 11
1929-1938
Folder 12
1958-1959 Pledge Class
Folder 13
September 1971-January 1972
Folder 14
February 1972-May 1972
Folder 15
September 1974-December 1974
Folder 16
September 1974-December 1974, cover
Folder 17
January 1975-June 1975, pages 1-40
Folder 18
January 1975-June 1975, pages 41-69
Folder 19
January 1975-June 1975, pages 70-101
Folder 20
September 1975-December 1975, Pages 1-30
Folder 21
September 1975-December 1975, Pages 31-40
Folder 22
January 1976-June 1976
Folder 23
September 1976-December 1976, cover
Folder 24
September 1976-December 1976, pages 1-34
Folder 25
September 1976-December 1976, pages 35-48
Folder 26
January 1977-April 1977, pages 1-28
Folder 27
January 1977-April 1977, pages 29-44
Folder 28
1983-1984, pages 1-20
Folder 29
1983-1984, pages 21-40
Folder 30
1983-1984, pages 41-60
Folder 31
1983-1984, pages 61-69
Box 2
Folder 32
1984-1985, pages 1-27
Folder 33
1984-1985, pages 28-60
Folder 34
1984-1985, pages 61-74
Folder 35
1984-1985, cover
Folder 36
1985-1986, pages 1-40
Folder 37
1985-1986, pages 41-82
Folder 38
1985-1986, pages 83-99
Folder 39
1986-1987, pages 1-42
Folder 40
1986-1987, pages 43-86
Folder 41
1986-1987, "Senior Farewell Presents: The Graduate"
Folder 42
Fall 1987
Folder 43
1987, Pledges '87, pages 1-30
Folder 44
1987, Pledges '87, pages 31-53
Folder 45
Spring 1988
Folder 46
Fall 1988, pages 1-35
Folder 47
Spring 1988, pages 36-66
The Arrow 1980-1986
The Arrow, published by Pi Beta Phi headquarters, is the fraternity's national public relations and communications tool. The magazine is mailed to alumnae and collegiate members, Greek advisers, university administrators and officers of other international Greek organizations. Ordered by date.
Box 2
Folder 48
Spring 1980-Summer 1981
Folder 49
Winter 1981-Fall 1984
Folder 50
Fall 1985-Spring 1986
Oversized Materials 1933-1985
Box 3
Scrapbook, 1967
Scrapbook, 1978-1979
The Arrow, 1974-1981
Records, 1984-1985
Box 4
North Carolina Beta, Book of Pledges' Signatures, 1933-1978
History of the Beta Chapter by Anne Boyd, With Correspondence, 1935
The Arrow, 1980, 1984
History of North Carolina Beta Chapter of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity, 1982- 1983
Recording Secretary Book, 1968-1974
Recording Secretary Book, 1974-1978
Box 5
Pledge Book with Wooden Cover, 1954-1955
Box 6
Scrapbook, 1984
