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

RS 22/11/2/33
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity
Iowa Gamma Chapter (Iowa State University)

Records, 1903-[ongoing]


Descriptive summary

creator:

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, Iowa Gamma Chapter (Iowa State University)
title:

Records
dates:

1903-[ongoing]
extent:

39.2 linear feet (5 document boxes, 22 oversized boxes, and two oversized objects)
collection number:

RS 22/11/2/33
repository:

University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access:

Open for research
publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, Iowa Gamma Chapter Records, RS 22/11/2/33, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Historical note

In 1903, when Iowa State President Albert Boynton Storms lifted the ban on fraternities and sororities, twelve students formed a local fraternity known as the Dragon Society. Members met in homes around Ames until construction began on a chapter house at 2717 West Street, near the West Gate. In 1905, the Dragons Society petitioned the national fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity for a charter. SAE was originally founded in 1856 at the University of Alabama by Noble Leslie DeVotie, and is the largest fraternity in the United States. Though some in the national organization wondered if a "cow college" such as Iowa State would be suitable for a chapter of SAE, the charter was approved and on June 5, 1905, the Dragon Society subsequently became the Iowa Gamma chapter of SAE.

In 1927, Brother Lewis B. Maytag, who earned a BS in Engineering from Iowa State College (University) (1910), and the President of the Maytag Corporation in Newton, Iowa, offered a $6,000 challenge grant for Iowa Gamma to build a new chapter house. The alumni met Maytag's offer and, in the summer of 1928, construction began on a new house at 140 Lynn Avenue. Completed in the winter of 1929, at a total cost of nearly $45,000, the students of Iowa State called the stately new house, the "Maytag Mansion." The house originally housed twenty-eight men, a cook, and a housemother, but following the Second World War, when student enrollment skyrocketed, the house held nearly fifty men. Membership continued to grow throughout the 1950s and 1950s, and to manage the increase, an addition to the house was added in 1968. The house was completely renovated in 1997 following a capital campaign to raise $750,000.

Iowa Gamma was well known on campus for its creative parties and events, including the Paddy Murphy Party. Held every three years, the Paddy Murphy Party was a phony funeral for an alumni requesting he be buried on the front lawn. The most well known tale, however, occurred in 1949, when pledges euthanized an old horse in the living room as a pledge prank. Though the chapter was placed on probation, the prank immediately made local and national news, and continues to be a house legend.

In 1998, following several attempts to curb underage alcohol use and allegations of misconduct, Iowa Gamma became the first fraternities at Iowa State University to become an alcohol-free chapter. The transition to a dry house was a difficult one for members, but the decision earned the men of Iowa Gamma recognition for their leadership in alcohol-free housing.

 

Collection description

This collection (1903-[ongoing]) includes the scrapbooks of Iowa Gamma from the 1905 until the 1990s, as well as loose photographs from the 1900s until the 2000s. In addition to photographs, scrapbooks also contain dance cards, news clippings, wedding invitations, ticket stubs from sporting and fraternity events, and correspondence from members and the national chapter. One scrapbook was put together by the Little Sisters of Minerva, a women's organization associated with SAE, and another consists of journalistic photographs of a "Train Party" in 1953. Also included in the collection are two copies of the original 1905 petition from the Dragon Society to Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, the membership scrolls, minute books, rush manuals, and documents related to the administration of Iowa Gamma between 1905 and 2004. Two leather folders that held the membership scrolls are located in the artifact collection.

 

Organization

This collection is organized chronologically.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

Photographs: members and alumni (1 b&w 4x6, 1 b&w 8x10)

1900-1910

5

8

Membership Scroll

1903-1927

5

10

Original petition from the Dragon Society to Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity (2 copies)

1904

1

2

Installation Banquet Program

1905

27

OVR

Iowa Gamma Installation Song Sheets (requires conservation)

1905

5

3

Iowa Gamma Chapter meeting minutes

1905-1906

1

3

Photographs: Iowa Gamma chapter house at 2717 West Street (3 b&w 3x5, 1 b&w 8x10)

1905-1927

6

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook (brittle)

1905-1927

27

OVR

Membership Scroll

1905-1949

5

1

Housing and loan agreements for Chapter House between W.R. Lambert and Iowa Gamma

1906, 1914

1

4

Photographs: group photos (1 b&w 6x9, 13 b&w 8x10)

1906-1947

1

5

Iowa Gamma Association Certificates

1907-1909

1

6

Photographs: national leaders and alumni (2 b&w 4x6, 3 b&w 8x10)

1910

5

4

Iowa Gamma Chapter meeting minutes

1910-1912

1

7

Iowa Gamma Association Certificates

1911-1914

8

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook (brittle)

1918-1927

5

5

Iowa Gamma Chapter meeting minutes

1923-1926

5

9

Newsletters: "The Wheeze" and "The Iowa Gamma Forum"

1923-2005

1

8

News clippings about SAE and Iowa Gamma

1924-2005

1

9

Lease agreement between Farmhouse Fraternity and SAE

1927

1

10

Pamphlet: "A New Home for Iowa Gamma of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, a Statement by the Executive Committee to the Alumni of the Chapter" (photocopy)

1927

9

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook

1927-1928

10

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook

1928-1929

5

14

Town Property Lease for 140 Lynn Avenue

1929

5

13

Sales receipts for original house furnishings

1929-1930

1

11

Photographs: Iowa Gamma chapter house at 140 Lynn Avenue (5 b&w 3x5, 1 color 3x5, 2 b&w 8x10, 1 color 8x10)

1929-1980

1

12

Programs from National SAE Convention

1930, 1939

1

13

Photographs: candid photos (23 b&w 2x3, 13 b&w 3x5, 5 b&w 4x6, 3 b&w 5x7, and 1 8x10)

1930-1939

1

14

Wedding announcement for Chester D. Lee

1931

27

OVR

Insurance documents for chapter house at 140 Lynn Avenue

1932

12

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook

1934-1935

1

15

Iowa Gamma Dance Programs

1935

12

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook

1935-1936

11

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook

1936-1937

13

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook

1937-1938

1

16

Rushing manual

1938

14

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook

1938-1939

5

2

Intramural letter from Phi Delta Theta Fraternity

1939

5

6

Iowa State College Football Schedule

1939

15

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook

1940

1

18

Composite photograph of graduating seniors (1 b&w 8x10)

1940

1

17

Photographs: candid photos (18 b&w 2x3, 26 b&w 3x5, 10 b&w 5x7, 1 b&w 8x10)

1940-1949

1

19

Publication: "Manual for Officers of Chapters Collegiate of Sigma Alpha Epsilon," by Lauren Foreman

1941

1

20

Summer address list for members of Iowa Gamma

1941

16

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook

1941-1942

5

15

Dance Cards belonging to Don Smith

1949-1951

1

22

Photographs: candid photos (41 b&w 2x3, 13 b&w 5x7, 3 b&w 8x10)

1950-1959

1

23

Photographs: negatives for candid photos (11 b&w negatives, 2 color negatives)

1950-1959

27

OVR

Membership Scroll

1950-1963

17

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook

1953

17

OVR

Train Party Album

1953

2

1

Publication: "The SAE Record," featuring stories about Iowa Gamma

1953, 2004

2

2

Publication: "The SAE Wheeze"

1954

18

OVR

Scrapbook (brittle pages require conservation)

1954

2

3

Telegrams

1955-1956

2

4

Publication: "The Gamma Ray," Iowa Gamma recruitment booklets

1956, 1958

5

12

Plans for a minute gear sleeve

1957

 

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook

1957-1958

18

OVR

Pledge Scrapbook of Kenneth Penaluna

1957-1958

18

OVR

Pledge Scrapbook

1957-1958

18

OVR

Pledge Scrapbook

1957-1958

19

OVR

Pledge Scrapbook of Ben King

1957-1958

2

5

Publications: Iowa Gamma recruitment booklets

1959-1962

27

OVR

Chapter composite photographs (photocopies)

1959-1969

2

6

Photographs: candid photos (25 b&w 2x3, 8 b&w 3x5, 5 b&w 4x6, 7 b&w 5x7, 4 b&w 8x10, 18 color 3x5)

1960-1969

2

7

Publications: Iowa Gamma recruitment booklets

1963-1964

 

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook

1968-1969

2

8

Publications: Iowa Gamma recruitment booklets

1968-1976

27

OVR

Little Sisters of Minerva composite photographs (5 items, including one color photographs)

1969, 1975-1976, 1991

2

9

Photographs: candid photos (1 color 3x5, 3 b&w 5x7, 2 b&w 8x10)

1970-1979

2

10

Publication: "Fraternities and Sororities at Iowa State"

1976

22

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook (magnetic album requires conservation)

1976

23

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook (magnetic album requires conservation)

1976-1977

23

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook (magnetic album requires conservation)

1978-1979

2

11

Photographs: group photos (18 color 8x10)

1979-1983

5

17

Program and Song Sheet from 75th Anniversary Celebration

1980

2

12

Photographs: candid photos (16 color 3x5, 6 color 4x6)

1980-1989

25

OVR

Scrapbook for 50th Anniversary of Chester "Chick" Lee

1984

27

OVR

Chapter composite photographs (15 items, includes 4 color photographs)

1984-1989, 2001-2005

2

13

Program for Game Dinner

1988

3

2

Photographs: candid photos (18 color 4x6)

1990

3

3

Photographs: candid photos (28 color 3x5)

1991

3

4

Photographs: candid photos (51 color 3x5, 22 color 4x6)

1993

3

5

Campaign for Iowa Gamma

1994

3

6

Photographs: candid photos (52 color 3x5, 36 color 4x6)

1994

3

7

Photographs: group photos (6 b&w 3x5, 6 color 8x10)

1994, 2001-2003

3

9

Photographs: candid photos (18 color 3x5, 1 color 4x6)

1995

3

10

Photographs: candid photos and remodeling shots (63 color 3x5, 6 color 4x6)

1996

3

11

Photographs: candid photos (101 color 3x5)

1997

4

1

Photographs: candid photos (26 color 3x5, 46 color 4x6)

1997

4

2

Photographs: candid photos (20 color 4x6)

1998

4

3

Photographs: candid photos (13 color 4x6)

1999

4

4

Photographs: candid photos (1 b&w 3x5, 1 color 3x5, 11 color 4x6)

2000

4

5

Photographs: candid photos (42 color 4x6)

2001

4

6

Photographs: candid photos (20 color 4x6)

2002

4

7

Photographs: candid photos (4 color 4x6)

2003

5

11

Photographs: Alumni reunions (4 color 9x11 images)

2003-2004

4

8

Photographs: candid photos (8 color 4x6)

2004

4

9

Correspondence

2004, n.d.

4

10

Iowa Gamma Centennial Celebration

2005

5

18

DVD: "A Tradition of Excellence: The Centennial Campaign for Iowa Gamma" (2 copies)

2005

7

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook (brittle)

ca. 1910-1920

11

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook (wood covers)

ca. 1930s

11

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook

ca. 1930s

5

16

VHS Video: 8mm Footage of SAE house, SAE parties, Mrs. Penquite (housemother), 1949 VEISHEA parade, SAEs playing football, baseball, and volleyball, beauty contest, and a wedding

ca. 1950

1

21

Publication: "Introducing Sigma Alpha Epsilon," a recruitment booklet published by the national chapter

ca. 1950s

20

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook by Little Sisters of Minerva (requires conservation)

ca. 1960s

21

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook by Little Sisters of Minerva (requires conservation)

ca. 1970s

24

OVR

Scrapbook (magnetic album requires conservation)

ca. 1980s

3

1

Photographs: candid photos (6 color 3x5, 6 color 4x6, 6 b&w 5x7, 3 color negatives)

ca. 1990-1999

26

OVR

Chapter Scrapbook

ca. 1990s

3

8

Photographs: candid photos (78 color 4x6)

ca. 1995-1999

4

11

Sheet music

n.d.

4

12

"History of Iowa Gamma" and pledge quiz

n.d.

4

13

Photographs: candid photos (69 b&w 3x5, 3 color 3x5)

n.d.

5

7

Little Sisters of Minerva meeting minutes

n.d.

17

OVR

Caricature of Chester "Chick" Lee by Merlyn Jones

n.d.

 

Artifact

Leather folders for mystic scrolls (accession number 2004-011)

n.d.