Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Women in Communications, inc. Delta Chapter (Indiana University)
- Abstract:
- The Woman's Press Club established the Delta Chapter of Theta Sigma Phi at Indiana University in 1913 as a professional sorority for women in journalism. Early on, their aim was to "unite women engaged in or planning to engage in journalism; work to set and achieve definite standards in journalism and letters; and inspire members to greater individual effort." In 1972, the group changed its name to Women in Communications. The collection consists of scrapbooks, event files, newspaper articles, awards, meeting minutes, and other administrative files.
- Extent:
- 3 cubic feet (3 boxes)
- Language:
- Materials are in English
- Preferred citation:
[Item], Women in Communications, Delta Chapter records, Collection C454, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.
Background
- Biographical / Historical:
In 1909, nine students at the University of Washington started Theta Sigma Phi as a journalistic sorority for women. It soon became a national organization with chapters at many universities with the Delta Chapter at Indiana University established on March 14, 1913. Their mission was to "unite women engaged in or planning to engage in journalism; work to set and achieve definite standards in journalism and letters; and inspire members to greater individual effort." Over time, the group also began to push the advancement of women in communication careers.
Over the years, this group hosted banquets and other activities, and played a large part in journalistic activities at I.U. Two major events were the annual Matrix table and Razzes. Once combined in one event, they were separated in 1935. The Matrix table became the more formal banquet with guest speakers, usually prominent women in journalistic or communication careers. Speakers included Antoinette Donnelly, known as Doris Blake, beauty writer for the Chicago Tribune; Zona Gale, author, playwright, and journalist for the New York World; Margaret Tuttle, novelist and scenario writer; Genevieve Forbes Herrick, who was commissioned by the Chicago Tribune to expose the treatment of immigrants; Margaret Ayer Barnes, winner of the 1931 Pulitzer prize as author of "Years of Grace"; Victoria Sackville-West, prominent English novelist & poet; Margaret Weymouth Jackson, Indiana novelist and short story writer. The Razzes, on the other hand, were more informal, themed parties aimed at both honoring members and poking fun at them. Different themes included Jail Cell (1929); Cleanliness (1941); This Manless World (1943); "Feed 'em a good meal; then slaughter 'em" (1947); Circus (1949); Mother Goose Rhymes (1950); Shakespeare (1951); Alice in Wonderland (1952); Little Orphan Antics (1953); The Farce on the Cutting Room Floor (1954).
In 1972, the group changed its name to Women in Communications and while it is unknown precisely when the group ceased to exist on campus, materials from this collection date through 1990.
- Scope and Content:
The Women in Communications records span 1913-1990 and are organized into three series: Administrative files, Event files and Scrapbooks.
Arranged alphabetically and then chronologically by subject, the Administrative files series spans the period 1913-1990. The items include constitutions and bylaws, meeting minutes, annual reports as well as membership and pledge information.
The Event files series contains material from 1925-1972. The files include scripts, related correspondence, tickets and invitations from the group's conventions, journalism banquets, and other programs.
Arranged chronologically, the Scrapbooks series contains books and binders full of all sorts of material from 1944-1983, including event photographs, newspaper clippings about the group, chapter awards, event flyers, chapter correspondence, and Razz programs, invitations, and tickets.
- Acquisition information:
- Accession numbers: 2006/111
- Appraisal information:
Blank pages and duplicates were weeded from the collection.
- Custodial history:
Transferred to the IU Archives in October 2006. There was no active chapter of the organization at the time of accession.
- Processing information:
Processed by Rachel Edgren.
Completed in 2012.
- Arrangement:
Collection is organized into three series: Scrapbooks, Administrative files, and Event files.
Indexed Terms
- Subjects:
- Journalism --Indiana --Bloomington --Societies, etc.
Greek letter societies --Indiana --History.
Women college students --Indiana --Bloomington. - Names:
- Theta Sigma Phi. Delta Chapter (Indiana University)
Indiana University, Bloomington -- Societies, etc.
Indiana University -- Societies, etc
Women in Communications, inc. Delta Chapter (Indiana University) -- Archives
Women in Communications, inc. Delta Chapter (Indiana University) -- Records and correspondence
Women in Communications, inc. Delta Chapter (Indiana University) -- History -- Sources
Theta Sigma Phi. Delta Chapter (Indiana University) -- Archives
Theta Sigma Phi. Delta Chapter (Indiana University) -- Records and correspondence
Theta Sigma Phi. Delta Chapter (Indiana University) -- History -- Sources
Access
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
Records relating to scholarship nominations and student grades are restricted.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
The donor(s) of this collection have not transferred their copyrights for the materials to the Trustees of Indiana University. For more information, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.
The Indiana University Archives respects the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim any copyrights for non-university records, materials in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift. Responsibility for the determination of the copyright status of these materials rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials. Researchers are responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights holders for any reuse of these materials that extends beyond fair use or other statutory limitations.
Digital reproductions of archival materials from the Indiana University Archives are made available for noncommercial educational and research purposes only. If you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized materials and have questions about its inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University Archivist.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
[Item], Women in Communications, Delta Chapter records, Collection C454, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
-
Herman B Wells Library E4601320 East Tenth StreetBloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, United States
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- CONTACT:
-
812-855-1127archives@indiana.edu