Special Collections: Guide to the Epsilon Sigma Phi Chi Chapter Records

Collection title: Epsilon Sigma Phi Chi Chapter Records
Collection number: MS 1463
Dates of collection: 1928-1999
Size of collection: 1 box

History

Epsilon Sigma Phi is a national extension fraternity whose purpose is to “maintain the standards and ideals, preserve the traditions, uphold the morale of the Cooperative Extension Service and to develop the spirit of fraternity among the members,” as outlined in its constitution. It seeks to foster standards of excellence in the Extension system and to develop the Extension profession. Its membership consists of people who have served five or more years in cooperative extension work of the land grant colleges and the United States Department of Agriculture.

The Chi Chapter is the Maine chapter of the national organization. Established in Orono, Maine, on February 2, 1928, charter members were Leon Stephen Merrill, Arthur Lowell Deering, Clarence Albert Day, Maurice Daniel Jones, Albert Kinsman Gardner, Charles Edward Crossland and Norman Sylvester Donahue.

Scope and Content Note

The collection contains the records of the Chi Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi at the University of Maine. It includes the constitution and bylaws, handbooks, membership information, secretary’s notebooks, 1974-1977, and files of officers in the 1970s and 1980s.

Of particular interest is the Book of Annals, an unpublished history of the Chi Chapter. It includes biographical information and photographs of charter members, especially Arthur L. Deering, director of extension service and dean of the College of Agriculture at the university. It also contains information about elected members from 1930 through the 1950s.

Contents of Box

Box 1

Folder

1 Constitution and by-laws, Chi Chapter, 1973

2 Suggestions for revisions in by-laws, 1986

3 Information for Chapter Secretaries, 1929, 1931

4 Officers’ Handbook, 1985

5 Initiation items: creed, pledge, ceremonies

6 Membership roll, 1928-1957

7-8 Book of Annals, Vol. I

9-10 Book of Annals, Vol. II

11 Additional material for Book of Annals

12 Secretary’s notebook, prior to 1962

13 Correspondence, 1962-1963

14 Secretary’s notebook, 1974-1975

15 Secretary’s notebook, 1976-1977

16 Secretary’s materials, 1970s

17 Minutes, memos, etc., 1965-1976

18 Epsilon Sigma Phi file of O. Lewis Wyman, 1970s-1980s

19 Epsilon Sigma Phi file of Arthur Gall, treasurer, 1970s-1980s

20 Scholarship fund information

21 Information from national office, 1970s

22 Articles of incorporation and by-laws, Nov. 1970

23 Epsilon Sigma Phi/Northeast Regional Leadership Workshop, 1999

Finding Aids for selected manuscript collections in the Special Collections Department at Fogler Library are accessible online in URSUS, in a browsable Guide to Manuscript Collections. Please contact Special Collections at spc@umit.maine.edu or (207) 581-1686 for further information.

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Special Collections Staff: spc@umit.maine.edu | Revised: 01/15/2013