Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections

Table of Contents

Summary Information

Historical Note

Scope and Content

Arrangement

Administrative Information

Controlled Access Headings

Collection Inventory

Membership

Correspondence

Convention Records

Banquet/Initiation Information

Awards

Symposia

Elections

Financial Information

Publications

Publicity

Meeting Information

"History of Phi Kappa Phi"

Oversized - Drawer

Electronic Resources

Summary Information

Repository

Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections

Creator

Phi Kappa Phi. Michigan State College Chapter.

Creator

Phi Kappa Phi. Michigan State University Chapter.

Title

Phi Kappa Phi records

ID

UA.12.2.12

Date [bulk]

Bulk, 1930-1979

Date [inclusive]

1927-2016

Extent

3.0 Cubic feet

Language

English

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Historical Note

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 at the University of Maine at Orono, originally called the Lambda Sigma Eta Society. About a year later, the name was changed to the Morrill Society, in honor of Justin Morrill, the man who sponsored the Congressional Act which provided for land grant colleges. In 1900, it became a national society with charter chapters at the University of Maine, at Orono, the University of Tennessee, and Pennsylvania State College (now Pennsylvania State University). The society again changed its name, this time to Phi Kappa Phi, the first letters of the words of the motto: Philosphia Kratei Photon (Let the love of learning rule mankind.) Chapter 041 was installed at Michigan State in 1924. Although the administrators were not enthusiastic about fraternities and other institutions which emphasized social elitism, the climate was fast becoming right for the establishment of a scholastic honorary on campus. Many of the educators who came to Michigan State were already members of Phi Kappa Phi, and felt that there should be a chapter on campus. As a result of this interest, a chapter was finally formed here in 1927. The Michigan State University Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi has been very active in the promotion of academic excellence, both at the university and in the academic community at large. To help promote this ideal, the society has participated in service projects in each of these spheres. The projects include the installation of a display case in the lobby of the main library which lists the honorary societies at Michigan State University, and the sponsorship of a symposium, "Energy and Life," to which the general public was invited. Phi Kappa Phi is composed of juniors and seniors with exceptionally high grade point averages. Faculty members can also be elected by their peers. Each year, the society holds a banquet, at which the new members are initiated and several freshman and sophomores are honored for academic excellence. Phi Kappa Phi also distinguishes members of the community at large with honorary memberships or special citations. The society also sponsors fellowship awards for graduate students. Publications include a newsletter, on both a national and local scale, and a journal published by the national office.

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Scope and Content

Included in the collection are correspondence, and membership information, such as membership, initiate, and officer lists. The bulk of this material is from the 1960s and 1970s. Records from national (1968-1980), and regional (1969-1979) conventions, symposia sponsored by Phi Kappa Phi (1970s), and national and regional publications are included in the collection. Programs, ceremony guides, and seating information for the annual Phi Kappa Phi Banquet and Initiation (1927-1995), as well as election and financial information are also contained in the collection. The administrative duties of Phi Kappa Phi are represented, including meeting minutes (1955-1980), meeting agendas (1950s-1970s, undated), committee assignments and descriptions (1950s-1980s, undated), constitution and bylaws (1961-1981, undated), and conference notes (1968-1981, undated). The remainder of the collection consists of research for, and copies of the book The History of the Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi Chapter 041: Michigan State University 1927-1982. As its name implies, the book is a history of the Michigan State chapter of the society with lists of its members from 1927 to 1982.

The Electronic Resources include correspondence in the form of e-mail memos, and attachments.

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Arrangement

Organized into 14 series: 1. Membership; 2. Correspondence; 3. Convention Records; 4. Banquet/Initiation Information; 5. Awards; 6. Symposia; 7. Elections; 8. Financial Information; 9. Publications; 10. Publicity; 11. Meeting Information; 12. History of Phi Kappa Phi; 13. Oversized - Drawer; 14. Electronic Resources.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections

Conrad Hall
888 Wilson Road, Room 101
East Lansing , MI, 48824
517-355-2330
archives@msu.edu

Revision Description

  March 2017

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Legal Status note

Copyright: Michigan State University. Property Rights: Michigan State University.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

• Energy and Life.
• Michigan State College. Societies, etc..
• Michigan State University. Societies, etc..
• Phi Kappa Phi. Michigan State College Chapter.
• Phi Kappa Phi. Michigan State University Chapter.

Genre(s)

• Brochures
• By-laws
• Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
• Constitutions
• Correspondence
• Electronic mail messages
• Memorandums
• Minutes (Records)
• Newsletters
• Programs (Publications)
• Reports

Personal Name(s)

• De Benko, Eugene

Subject(s)

• Greek letter societies
• Greek letter societies -- Michigan -- East Lansing

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Collection Inventory

Membership
Membership Lists
			Box	Folder
1927-1951			1032	1
1952-1953			1032	2
1955-1956			1032	3
1956-1957			1032	4
1957-1958			1032	5
1958-1959			1032	6
1959-1960			1032	7
1960-1962			1032	8
1962-1963			1032	9
1963-1964			1032	10
1964-1965			1032	11
1966			1032	12
1967			1032	13
1968			1032	14
1969			1032	15
1970			1032	16
1971			1032	17
1972			1032	18
undated			1032	19
			Box	Folder
Officer Lists 1927-1982			1032	20
Initiates
			Box	Folder
1958			1032	21
1959			1032	22
1960			1032	23
1964			1032	24
1966			1032	25
1968			1032	26
1969			1032	27
			Box	Folder
Miscellaneous 1956 - 1972, undated			1032	28
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Correspondence
			Box	Folder
1920s			1032	29
1930s			1032	30
1940s			1032	31
1950s			1032	32
1960			1032	33
1961			1032	34
1962			1032	35
1963			1032	36
1964			1032	37
1965			1032	38
1966			1032	39
1967			1032	40
January-June 1968			1032	41
July December 1968			1032	42
January-February 1969			1032	43
March-July 1969			1032	44
August-December 1969			1032	45
January-March 1970			1032	46
April-December 1970			1032	47
January-March 1971			1032	48
April-December 1971			1032	49
1972			1032	50
1973			1032	51
January-February 11, 1974			1032	52
February 12-March 26, 1974			1032	53
March 27-December 1974			1032	54
1975			1032	55
1976			1032	56
1977			1032	57
1978			1032	58
January-March 1979			1032	59
April-December 1979			1032	60
January-May 15, 1980			1032	61
May 16-December 1980			1032	62
1981			1032	63
undated			1032	64
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Convention Records
National
			Box	Folder
1968			1037	1
1971			1037	2
1974			1037	3
1977			1037	4
1980			1037	5
undated			1037	6
Regional
			Box	Folder
1969			1037	7
1979			1037	8
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Banquet/Initiation Information
			Box	Folder
Seating Information 1959-1969			1037	9
Schedule 1964 - 1979, undated			1037	10
Ceremony Guide 1959 - 1978, undated			1037	11
Programs
			Box	Folder
1920s			1037	12
1930s			1037	13
1940s			1037	14
1950s			1037	15
1960s			1037	16
1970s			1037	17
1980s-1990s, 2008			1037	18
			Box	Folder
Other honoraria 1973			1037	19
Citations undated			1037	20
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Awards
			Box	Folder
Sophomores 1964 -1978, undated			1037	21
Freshmen 1970, 1978, undated			1037	22
Fellowship Applications 1967, undated			1037	23
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Symposia
			Box	Folder
"Energy and Life" Papers 1974			1037	24
Newspaper Articles 1974			1037	25
Notes 1974			1037	26
Guest List 1974			1037	27
Miscellaneous 1974			1037	28
Quest for Excellence 1975			1037	29
Building a Humane Economy 1976			1037	30
Miscellaneous 1973, undated			1037	31
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Elections
			Box	Folder
Local (MSU) 1966-1974			1037	32
Local Undergrad 1968-1976			1037	33
National 1974			1037	34
Miscellaneous 1963-1974			1037	35
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Financial Information
			Box	Folder
Tax Forms 1966 - 1972, undated			1037	36
Bank Deposits 1969-1970			1037	37
Expense Accounts 1964 - 1979, undated			1037	38
Price Lists and Order Forms 1963 - 1978, undated			1037	39
Treasurers' Reports 1927 - 1981, undated			1037	40
Miscellaneous 1969 - 1975, undated			1037	41
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Publications
Newsletter
			Box	Folder
National 1969-1978			1037	42
MSU 1969-1986  (Bulk, 1969-1981)			1037	43
MSU Notes 1969 - 1981, undated			1037	44
Phi Kappa Phi Journal
			Box	Folder
1964			1037	45
1967			1037	46
1968			1037	47
1975			1037	48
1976			1037	49
1977			1037	50
1978			1037	51
1979			1037	52
1985			1037	53
1970			1037	54
undated			1037	55
			Box	Folder
Pamphlets and brochures (MSU) 1966, undated			1037	56
Pamphlets and brochures (Other) undated			1037	57
Triennial Convention			1037	58
Pamphlets and brochures 1971			1037	59
Other honoraria 1968-1976			1037	59
Miscellaneous 1955-1980			1037	60
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Publicity
			Box	Folder
Newspaper clippings 1960 - 1980, undated			1037	61
Display Case 1976			1037	62
Mailing Lists 1969, 1972, undated			1037	63
Miscellaneous 1968 - 1980, undated			1037	64
General Information 1969 - 1974, undated			1037	65
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Meeting Information
Minutes
			Box	Folder
1955			1038	1
1956			1038	2
1957			1038	3
1958			1038	4
1959			1038	5
1960			1038	6
1964			1038	7
1965			1038	8
1966			1038	9
1967			1038	10
1968			1038	11
1969			1038	12
1970			1038	13
1971			1038	14
1972			1038	15
1973			1038	16
1974			1038	17
1975			1038	18
1976			1038	19
1977			1038	20
1978			1038	21
1979			1038	22
1980			1038	23
Agendas
			Box	Folder
1950s			1038	24
1960s			1038	25
1970s			1038	26
undated			1038	27
Committee Assignment and Description
			Box	Folder
1950s			1038	28
1960s			1038	29
1970s			1038	30
1980s			1038	31
undated			1038	32
			Box	Folder
Constitution of National Office 1969			1038	33
Constitution of MSU 1971			1038	34
Constitutional Amendments, National 1971			1038	35
National By Laws 1980, undated			1038	36
MSU By Laws 1969-1981			1038	37
MSU By Laws Revisions 1972, 1977			1038	38
Miscellaneous 1958 - 1977, undated			1038	39
Conference Notes 1968 - 1981, undated			1038	40
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"History of Phi Kappa Phi"
Research
			Box	Folder
1928-1981			1038	41
1955-1980			1038	42
undated			1038	43-44
			Box	Folder
Final Version (3 copies) 1982			1038	45
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Oversized - Drawer
				Drawer
Charter certificate 1927				Oversized
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Electronic Resources
Deans, Directors, and Chairs Memos 2009-2014
Fellowship and award memos 2009-2013
Scholarship memos 2014
Scholarship memo 2016
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