MS-31
BETA SIGMA PHI SORORITY COLLECTION
INTRODUCTION
The collection of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority was accessioned into the Flesh Public Library Archives on November 19, 1987.
The collection fills two Hollinger boxes and thirty-five individual file folders.
The collection covers the years 1936 to 1972.
There are no restrictions on the use of this collection and the literary copyright has been deeded to the public.
SCOPE AND CONTENTS
The Beta Sigma Phi Sorority Collection is divided into eight series: Minutes of meetings, Membership, Correspondence, Programs, Charitable Activities, Scrapbook, Financial, and Miscellaneous.
SERIES I –MINUTES OF MEETINGS: covers meetings of the Exemplar Chapter from October, 1946 to May 1964, and of the Piqua City Council from August, 1949 to May, 1961.
SERIES II –MEMBERSHIP: covers the constitution of the Piqua City Council as well as lists of members and meeting attendance. Permits to transfer to other chapters and to the Exemplar Chapter are contained herein. Information from headquarters pertaining to the meetings are also here. Memorials to the founder and chapter advisor are found in this category.
SERIES III –CORRESPONDENCE: covers letters written and received from March, 1936 to Frbruary, 1972.
SERIES IV –PROGRAMS: covers yearly programs and Founder’s Day programs.
SERIES V –CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES: covers contributions from the chapter to local individuals and organizations and various fund raising programs.
SERIES VI –SCRAPBOOK: covers copies of newspaper clippings from the years 1947 to 1967.
SERIES VII –FINANCIAL: covers reports, contracts, tax receipts, cancelled checks, bank books, and treasurer’s records.
SERIES VIII –MISCELLANEOUS: covers chapter achievement comparison sheets, some souvenirs and numerous pamphlets from headquarters.
HISTORY
Beta Sigma Phi, an international organization, was founded on April 30, 1931 by Walter W. Ross of Kansas City, Missouri.
A Piqua chapter was organized in March, 1936, with the following charter members: Lucille Carey, Willette F. Swayze, Mary F. Walling, Rosemary D. Amann, Virginia Collins, Elinor May Gattshall, Margaret J. Henke, Marjorie Porcher, Olga Teleler, Hazel Harshbarger, Margaret Decker Buecker, with Mary Quirk as sponsor.
In July of 1938 a Lambda Chapter was formed consisting of the same membership. Another chapter was known as the Nu Psi Mu for younger members. The Lambda Chapter progressed to Exemplar on October 30, 1946, as degrees were earned.
Representatives from the three chapters formed a City Council branch. The memberships in Beta Sigma Psi expanded with the years and many and varied charitable undertakings were executed very successfully by the members. The major project over the years was the concern of the illness of one of its members, Betty Compston, who suffered from multiple sclerosis for half a century. Many other citizens of Piqua benefitted from the gererosity of this group.
Today (1992) Beta Sigma Psi is still an active organization with two chapters in Piqua.
CONTAINER LISTING
SERIES I –MINUTES OF MEETINGS
BOX 1
FILE 1. Exemplar Chapter Minutes –October 30, 1946-June 11, 1947
- Exemplar Chapter Minutes –September 10, 1947-August 25, 1948
- Exemplar Chapter Minutes –September 8, 1948-July 14, 1949
- Exemplar Chapter Minutes –September 14, 1949-June 14, 1950
- Exemplar Chapter Minutes –September 13, 1950-May 9, 1951
- Exemplar Chapter Minutes –May 23, 1951-March 25, 1953
- Exemplar Chapter Minutes –April 8, 1953-February 26, 1958
- Exemplar Chapter Minutes –March 12, 1958-July 13, 1960
- Exemplar Chapter Minutes –September 14, 1960-July 25, 1962
- Exemplar Chapter Minutes –September 12, 1962-May 27, 1964
- Piqua City Council Minutes –August 26, 1949-December 12, 1960
- Piqua City Council Minutes –January 9, 1951-November, 1952
- Piqua City Council Minutes –January 21, 1953-December, 1954
- Piqua City Council Minutes –February, 1955-May, 1961
SERIES II –MEMBERSHIP
- Constitution for the Beta Sigma Phi City Council
- Member listings and attendance
- Membership –Permits to transfer –confer Exemplar degree
- Meeting Information
- Memorials
SERIES III –CORRESPONDENCE
- Correspondence –March, 1936-December, 1949
- Correspondence –January, 1950-February, 1972
SERIES IV –PROGRAMS
Box 2
File 1. Yearly Program booklets
- Founder’s Day programs
SERIES V –CHARITABLE ACTIVIES
3. Contributions to organizations and individuals
4. Promotions
5. Betty Compston Fund
SERIES VI –SCRAPBOOK
6. Scrapbook
SERIES VII –FINANCIAL
7. Financial Reports
8. Contracts –tax receipts
9. Beta Sigma Phi cancelled checks, bank books, receipts of parties, 1946-1961
10.City Council bank books, cancelled checks, treasurer’s book, 1949-1961
SERIES VIII –MISCELLANEOUS
11. Chapter’s yardstick comparison -1947-1955
12. Miscellaneous
13. Pamphlets from headquarters