Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

RS 20/1/4
Epsilon Sigma Phi

Alpha Mu Chapter (Iowa)
Records, 1928-[ongoing]

Descriptive summary

creator:	Epsilon Sigma Phi. Alpha Mu Chapter (Iowa)
title:	Records
dates:	1928-[ongoing]
extent:	4.83 linear feet (11 document boxes and 1 half-document box)
collection number:	RS 20/1/4
repository:	University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

Administrative information

access:	Open for research
publication rights:	Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:	Epsilon Sigma Phi, Alpha Mu Chapter (Iowa) Records, RS 20/1/4, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

Historical note

As a Land-Grant University, Iowa State University has been a leader in the Extension movement. As a major function of Land-Grant Universities, Extension allows these universities an opportunity to share their knowledge and expertise with the general public for the greater good.

Iowa State's first president, Adonijah Welch, began teaching short courses during the winter of 1869. The federal government passed the Hatch Act (1887) establishing Agricultural Experiment Stations at Land Grant Colleges, which Iowa State soon took advantage of and implemented. This prompted increased research in agriculture which became a recognized function of a Land Grant University. In 1903, farm demonstrations were introduced in Sioux County, Iowa. The Smith-Lever Act of 1914 provided mutual cooperation between the United States Department of Agriculture and Land Grant Colleges in conducting agricultural extension work. This act cemented the role Extension would have at Iowa State University.

Epsilon Sigma Phi is a national honor society for Extension Service workers. The organization's goals are to maintain high professional standards, preserve traditions, foster professional relationships, and sustain morale and prestige of the Extension Service. The fraternity officially formed in Bozeman, Montana, in 1927.

The Iowa chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi was established in October 1928 at an Extension workers dinner held in Ames, Iowa. The members voted to name the chapter the "Perry G. Holden Chapter," in honor of the first Director of Extension (1906-1912) in Iowa. However, the national organization decided that the Iowa chapter would be named the Alpha Mu Chapter. Chapter activities include holding annual meetings and recognizing its members with various awards.

Collection description

The collection (1928-[ongoing]) contains the records of the Alpha Mu Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi. The documents consist of membership information, annual meeting reports, correspondence, award information, presidents' files, handbooks and committee reports. The collection also includes the articles of incorporation and bylaws, "Extension Worker's Creed," and histories of the national and local organization.

Organization

The collection is organized into three series:

Series 1, Subject Files, 1929-[ongoing] (alphabetical)
Series 2, Administrative Records, 1928-[ongoing] (chronological)
Series 3, Membership Records, 1928-[ongoing] (chronological)

Description of series

Series 1	Subject files	1929-[ongoing]
extent:	0.5 linear ft.
description:	This series contains general information about the Alpha Mu Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi. The files include articles of incorporation and bylaws, awards information, certificates, histories of the national and local organization, and general information about the national Epsilon Sigma Alpha organization. This series is listed in alphabetical order.

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
1	1	Articles of incorporation and bylaws	1957-1998, n.d.
7	5	Bid packet to host 1999 national meeting in Cedar Rapids, Iowa	1997
1	2	Certificate of recognition awards	1971-1996, n.d.
1	3	Certificate of affection awards	1985
9	3-4	Chapter handbook	1994
1	4	Constitution and bylaws	1957
1	5	"Extension Worker's Creed"	n.d.
1	6	History – "50 Year History of Alpha Mu Chapter, Epsilon Sigma Phi"	1978
1	7	History – Epsilon Sigma Phi	1970
1	8	History – Extension	1977
1	9	Information for chapter secretaries	1931
6	11	Initiation ceremony documents	1984
1	10	Initiatory ceremony	n.d.
1	11	Insignia	n.d.
1	12	Length of service awards	1970, 1985
2	10	National Epsilon Sigma Phi certificate of recognition to Alpha Mu Chapter	1971-1985
3	1-6	National Epsilon Sigma Phi yearbooks	1929-1960
3	7	Officers roster, 1928-1986	1986
3	8	R. K. Bliss extension citation (R.K. Bliss was Director of Extension [1914-1946] in Iowa)	1971-1979

Description of series

Series 2	Administrative records	1928-[ongoing]
extent:	3.1 linear ft.
description:	This series contains correspondence, meeting minutes, membership information, reports, and presidents' files. See Series 3, Membership Records for more material related to membership. Some files also contain annual meeting reports of the Iowa State University Extension Association (ISUEA). This series is listed in chronological order.

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
7	14	Secretary's minutes	1928-1938
3	9	Report of activities	1934
3	10	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1935
3	11	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1936
3	12	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1937
3	13	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1938
3	14	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1939
3	15	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1940
3	16	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1941
4	1	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1942
4	2	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1943
4	3	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1944
4	4	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1945
4	5	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1946
4	6	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1947
4	7	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1948
4	8	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1949
4	9	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1950
4	10	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1951
4	11	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1952
4	12	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1953
4	13	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1954
4	14	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1955
4	15	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1956
4	16	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1957
5	1	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1958
5	2	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1959
5	3	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1960
5	4	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1961
5	5	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1962
5	6	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1963
5	7	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1964
5	8	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1965
5	9	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1966
5	10	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1967
5	11	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1968
5	12	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1969
5	13	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1970
5	14	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1971
5	15	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, and reports	1972
5	16	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, reports, and ISUEA annual meeting	1973
5	17	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, reports, and ISUEA annual meeting	1974
6	1	Correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, reports, and ISUEA annual meeting	1975
6	2	Newsletter and ISUEA annual meeting	1976
6	3	ISUEA annual meeting	1977
6	4	Annual report, meeting minutes, newsletter, and ISUEA annual meeting	1978
6	5	Annual report, correspondence, and ISUEA annual meeting	1979
6	6	Annual report, meeting minutes, correspondence, and ISUEA annual meeting	1980
6	7	Annual report	1981
6	8	Report of the Special Committee to Explore the Use of Monies in the Savings Account	1981
6	9	ISUEA annual meeting	1982
6	10	ISUEA annual meeting	1983
6	12	ISUEA annual meeting	1984
6	13	ISUEA annual meeting	1985
6	14	ISUEA annual meeting	1986
6	15	ISUEA annual meeting	1987
6	16	Membership lists, committee reports, and ISUEA annual meeting	1988
6	17	Meeting minutes, reports, and ISUEA annual meeting	1989
6	18	Membership lists, reports, and ISUEA annual meeting	1990
6	19	Meeting minutes, reports, and ISUEA annual meeting	1991
8	1-3	President's records (Donna Andrusyk)	1991-1992
6	20	Correspondence, membership, meeting minutes, reports, and ISUEA annual meeting	1992
8	4-5	President's records (Ronald C. Sanson)	1992-1993
6	21	Correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, and ISUEA annual meeting	1993
8	6	President's records – national meeting delegate's folder	1993
8	7	President's records – regional officers' workshop	1993
9	1-2	President's records (Jim Johnson)	1993-1994
9	5	President's records – leadership development seminar	1994
9	6	President's records – national meeting delegate's folder	1994
9	7	President's records – regional officers' workshop	1994
7	1	Reports	1994
10	2	President's records – national meeting delegate's folder	1995
9	8	President's records (Peggy Haafke)	1995
10	1	President's records (Peggy Haafke)	1995
7	2	Reports and handouts	1995
10	3	President's records (Marilyn Schnittjer)	1995-1996
7	3	Meeting minutes and reports	1996
10	4	President's records – national meeting delegate's folder	1996
10	5	President's records – regional officers' workshop	1996
7	4	Correspondence, job descriptions, meeting minutes, and newsletter	1997
10	6	President's records – regional officers' workshop	1997
10	7-8	Working notebook	1997-1998
11	1	Working notebook	1997-1998
7	6	Membership, meeting minutes, and reports	1998
7	7	President's records – regional officers' workshop	1998
7	8-10	Records notebook	1998-2002
7	11	Meeting minutes and reports	1999
7	12	Correspondence and reports	2000
7	13	Financial statement	2001
11	11	Meeting minutes, newsletter, programs, and reports	2002
11	12	Meeting minutes, programs, and reports	2003
11	13	Meeting minutes, programs, and reports	2004
11	14	Reports and handouts	2005
11	15	Reports and agendas	2006
12	1	National meeting and state chapter report	2007
12	2	Listing of officers, 1992-2008	2008
12	3	Meeting minutes, agendas, and handouts	2008
12	5	President's records – national meeting delegate's folder	2008

Description of series

Series 3	Membership records	1928-[ongoing]
extent:	1.0 linear ft.
description:	This series contains membership information including lists of active, life, retired, and deceased members. Also see Series 2, Administrative Records for additional membership information. This series is listed in chronological order.

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
1	13	Membership – charter members	1928
2	7-8	Membership – retired members	1928-1963
1	16-18	Membership – information sheets on members	1953-1963
1	15	Membership – inactive members	1961-1965
2	3-4	Membership – lists	1968-1984, n.d.
1	14	Membership – deceased members	1968-1985
2	5-6	Membership – resigned members	1970-1985
2	1-2	Membership – life members	1971-1985
1	19	Membership – initiates	1975-1982
11	2	Membership – lists and correspondence	1988
11	3	Membership – lists and correspondence	1989
11	4	Membership – lists	1990
11	5	Membership – lists	1991
11	6	Membership – lists	1992
11	7	Membership – lists	1997
11	8	Membership – lists	1998
11	9	Membership – lists	2001
12	4	Membership – lists	2008
11	10	Listing of members, 1930-1987	n.d.
2	9	Membership pledge and certificates	n.d.