Collection of Phi Beta Kappa, Eta of Minnesota Chapter, 1955-Ongoing.GACA Collection 329

 

Collection of Phi Beta Kappa, Eta of Minnesota Chapter, 1955-Ongoing.  GACA Collection 329.  2 Records Center Cartons and 1 oversize folder.


ABSTRACT:
The Phi Beta Kappa (PBK), Eta of Minnesota Chapter collection consists of records, correspondence, and informational material about the national organization and the Gustavus Adolphus College chapter.  Materials regarding the process of PBK chapter installation, and course and student eligibility are included.  PBK is a prestigious national honor society in which only a small fraction of colleges in the United States are included.  Less than ten percent of graduating seniors with liberal arts majors at Gustavus receive this honor.


HISTORICAL NOTE:
Gustavus Adolphus College faculty members struggled to obtain a Phi Beta Kappa Charter for thirty years.  They were not successful until they applied at the 33rd Triennial Council Meeting in 1982.  Edward and Patty Lindell, Robert E. Karsten, and Rhoda Lund advocated for the attempts to obtain a chapter during the late 1970s and early 1980s.  The Committee of Five (Dr. Gerhard Alexis, Dr. Rodney Davis, Dr. Bernard Erling, Dr. Clair McRostie and Academic Dean Albert G. Swanson) was the driving force to ensure all requirements were met in order to become a chapter of PBK.  The honor society evaluates schools with great scrutiny, and the Gustavus chapter (Eta of Minnesota) was finally installed on April 7th, 1983.


*Some material taken from the Gustavus Phi Beta Kappa webpage.  https://gustavus.edu/phibetakappa/ (accessed 29 January 2013)


SCOPE AND CONTENT:
The PBK collection is divided into seven series: Administrative, Correspondence, Lectures and Events, Miscellaneous, Pre-Chapter Material, Requirements, and United Chapters.

  • Administrative, 1978-Ongoing consists of meeting agendas, memos, and minutes.  It also includes financial records and member information.

  • Correspondence, general, 1982-Ongoing holds correspondence concerning national and local chapter PBK activities.

  • Lectures and Events, 1982- Ongoing contains programs, schedules, and literature regarding the Visiting Scholar program and other events hosted by PBK.

  • Miscellaneous, 1981-Ongoing includes a cartoon, a history of PBK, newsletters, articles, and recommended reading for students.

  • Pre-Chapter Material, 1955-85 consists of correspondence, reports, and informational material concerning the establishment of a PBK chapter at Gustavus.

  • Requirements, 1983-Ongoing contains lists of appropriate classes and other requirements for students in order for them to become eligible for PBK membership.

  • United Chapters, 1975- Ongoing holds material relevant for all PBK chapters such as Triennial Council information, handbooks, constitutions, and chapter lists.


RESTRICTIONS:
There are no restrictions on the use of this collection for research purposes. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the College Archives, the Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library, and Gustavus Adolphus College.


COLLECTION CITATION:
Collection of Phi Beta Kappa, Eta of Minnesota Chapter, 1955-Ongoing.  GACA Collection 329.  Gustavus Adolphus College Archives, St. Peter, Minnesota.


ACQUISITION:
Davis, R. and Helen Baumgartner transferred this collection during 2002.


PROCESSED BY:
Lacie Micek, student worker, processed this collection and developed the finding aid during January 2013.


SUBJECT HEADINGS:
Phi Beta Kappa.
Phi Beta Kappa.  Eta of Minnesota (Gustavus Adolphus College).
Gustavus Adolphus College--Student organizations.
Students -- Minnesota -- St. Peter -- Gustavus Adolphus College -- Awards.
Academic decorations of honor -- Minnesota -- St. Peter.
Academic achievement -- United States.



GACA Collection 329

Box

Folder

Administrative, 1978-Ongoing

Agendas, memos, and minutes, 1982-87

1

1

Agendas, memos, and minutes, 1987-92

1

2

Agendas, memos, and minutes, 1992-2002 and undated

1

3

Annual reports, 1982-2001

1

4

Budget calculations, undated

1

5

Budgets, 1987-2000

1

6

Charter, 7 April 1983

Map Case

--

Chapter member lists, 1978-2001, 2013, and undated

1

7

Expense ledgers, 1989-2001 and undated

1

8

Expense policy, 1991

1

9

Finances, correspondence, 1986-2002 and undated

1

10

Guidelines, members in course, undated

1

11

Information for chapter secretaries, 1982-94 and undated

1

12

Master list of Phi Beta Kappa graduates, 1983-2001

1

13

Proposed material, undated

1

14

Recommendations and nominees, 1982-97

1

15

Report of the committee on resolutions, undated

1

16

Statistics, undated

1

17

Correspondence, general, 1982-Ongoing

Awards, correspondence, 1984-95 and undated

1

18

Correspondence for all chapters, 1983-98

1

19

Endowments, correspondence, 1984-92

1

20

Miscellaneous correspondence, 1982-2001

1

21

New members, correspondence, 1983-2001

1

22

Lectures and Events, 1982-Ongoing

Associates Lectureship, 1982-2000

1

23

Lecture, “End of Athens,” 2000

1

24

Program, Silver Anniversary, 2008

1

25

Programs, Installation, Initiation, and Induction, 1983-2012

1

26

Programs, Phi Beta Kappa lectures and events, 1983-2000

1

27

Speakers, correspondence, 1983-2000 and undated

1

28

Visiting Scholar lists, undated

1

29

Visiting Scholar program instructions, undated

1

30

Visiting Scholar program, 1982-90

1

31

Visiting Scholar program, 1990-96

1

32

Visiting Scholar program, 1996-2002

1

33

Miscellaneous, 1981-Ongoing

Cartoon, “Key to the City,” undated

1

34

History of Phi Beta Kappa, undated

1

35

News articles, 1986-96 and undated

1

36

Newsletters, miscellaneous, 1985-97

1

37

Newsletter, “The Key Reporter,” 1981-95

1

38

Newsletter, “The Key Reporter,” 1995-2001

1

39

Recommended reading, 1993-95 and undated

1

40

Pre-Chapter Material, 1955-85

Chapter initiation materials, undated

1

41

Comparisons of Gustavus with colleges recognized by Phi Beta Kappa, 1973-77

1

42

Department publication lists, 1980-81 and undated

1

43

Information from Gustavus for application to Phi Beta Kappa, 1964-81

1

44

General report, 1980

1

45

Manual for chapter officers, undated

1

46

Member and faculty lists, 1964-81 and undated

1

47

Model chapter constitutions and bylaws, 1973-83 and undated

1

48

Pre-chapter finances, 1980-81 and undated

1

49

Pre-chapter correspondence, 1955-85 and undated

1

50

Preliminary information requested of applying institutions, 1955-79 and undated

2

1

Preliminary reports of the committee on Phi Beta Kappa, undated

2

2

Preparation of the General Report, 1980 and undated

2

3

Site visit schedules, 1980

2

4

Requirements, 1983-Ongoing

Course Eligibility, rationale, 1985 and undated

2

5

Course Eligibility, syllabi, 1992-93

2

6

Course and student eligibility, correspondence, 1983-96 and undated

2

7

Definitions of requirements, 1984-92 and undated

2

8

Liberal course lists, 1983-97 and undated

2

9

Student eligibility, 1985-89 and undated

2

10

United Chapters, 1975-Ongoing

Activities, United Chapters, undated

2

11

Ceremony Planning Instructions, undated

2

12

Handbooks and manuals, 1979-2002

2

13

Information for all chapters, 1995-97 and undated

2

14

Initiation Invitations, 1987-88

2

15

Initiation photograph, 1990

2

16

Membership keys and certificates, 1975-92 and undated

2

17

National Constitutions and Bylaws, 1979-95

2

18

Phi Beta Kappa Council, agendas, 1994-97 and undated

2

19

Phi Beta Kappa Council, delegates, 1991-98 and undated

2

20

School lists, united chapters, 1985 and undated

2

21

Triennial Council Meeting, bulletins, 1983-91

2

22

Triennial Council Meeting, bulletins, 1994-2003

2

23

Triennial Council Meeting, delegates manual, 1985-91

2

24

Triennial Council Meeting, delegates manual, 1994-2000

2

25

Triennial Council Meeting, events, 1982-1991

2

26

Triennial Council Meeting, membership statistics, 1982-97

2

27