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A Guide to the Records at the Indiana University Archives

Finding aid prepared by Rachel Edgren

Summary Information

Repository
Indiana University Archives
1320 East Tenth Street
Herman B Wells Library E460
Bloomington, IN 47405-7000
Phone: 812-855-1127
Email: archives@indiana.edu
http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives

Creator
Women in Communications, inc. Delta Chapter (Indiana University)

Title
Women in Communications, Delta Chapter records,1913-1990,bulk 1940-1960

Collection No.
C454

Extent
3 cubic feet (3 boxes)

Language
Materials are in English

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.

Access Restrictions

Records relating to scholarship nominations and student grades are restricted.

Administrative History

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.

Arrangement

Collection is organized into three series: Scrapbooks, Administrative files, and Event files.

Scope and Content Note

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.

• Indexing Terms

• The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in IUCAT, the IU Libraries' online catalog. Materials about related topics, persons or places can be found by searching the catalog using these terms.

• • Names
  • 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.
  • Indiana University --Societies, etc.
  • Indiana University, Bloomington --Societies, etc.
  • Theta Sigma Phi. Delta Chapter (Indiana University).
• • Topics
  • Journalism --Indiana --Bloomington --Societies, etc.
  • Greek letter societies --Indiana --History.
  • Women college students --Indiana --Bloomington.

Separated Material

No material separated other than photographs.

Related Material

Additional records such as newsletters, annual reports, bulletins, and publications may be accessed in the Archives of Institutional Memory

Related photographs may be available in the University Archives Photographs Database

Administrative Information

Container List

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