ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA CHAPTER OF SIGMA XI RECORDS

COLLECTION: OGL#625

DATES: 1920-1986

SIZE: 1.5 linear feet

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: The University of North Dakota Sigma Xi Records were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection on May 1, 1981 (Acc.#81-745). The material was transferred from the Dr. Bernt L. Wills Papers. Additional material was added at a later date.

ACCESS: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.

HISTORICAL SKETCH

The International Society of the Sigma Xi was founded in 1886 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The 33rd branch of the organization was chartered at the University of North Dakota in 1920. This research honorary drew its prospective members from instructors, students, and professionals in the sciences, mostly in the fields of biology, biochemistry, chemistry, anatomy, engineering, geology, medicine, psychology and physics. As the organization's motto "Companions in Zealous Research" alludes, both full and associate members strove "to encourage original investigation in science, pure and applied." The most visible representation of this postulation came with the annual granting of two research awards, one to recognize faculty members and one to recognize graduate students. Additionally, the association actively recruited guest lecturers for campus presentations through the society's "National Lectureship Series" and provided demonstrations of UND scientific facilities for local high school students.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The University of North Dakota Chapter of Sigma Xi Records consists of historical material, including the chapter's by-laws and an undated essay entitled "History of the North Dakota Chapter." Also included is membership information from 1920-1986, minutes of meetings dating from 1920-1976, correspondence from 1926-1936, and nominations for the chapter's Faculty Research Award, 1975-1979. Newspaper clippings from 1933 and a transcript of an interview with Dr. George Abbott round out the material from the local chapter. Several publications from the National Sigma Xi are also included.

BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY

Box 1
Folder
Historical Materials

  1. Sigma Xi: History, Constitution and By-Laws: 1936
  2. By-Laws of the North Dakota Chapter of Sigma Xi: 1926
  3. "History of the North Dakota Chapter": undated

Membership

  1. Membership Diploma for Otto Sandvik (1920) and Mansell Richards (1921)
  2. Membership Lists: 1921-1928
  3. Requests for Membership: 1928, 1931
  4. Nomination and Election Forms: 1932
  5. Nomination and Election Forms: 1933
  6. Nomination and Election Forms: 1934
  7. Nomination Forms: 1935
  8. Nomination Forms: 1936
  9. Membership Dues: 1930-1934
  10. Membership Certificates: 1956-1980
  11. Membership Roster: 1972-1973
  12. Membership Roster: 1974-1975
  13. Membership Roster: 1977-1978
  14. Membership Roster: 1979-1980
  15. Nomination Forms: 1981
  16. Membership Roster: 1981-1982
  17. Nomination Forms: 1982
  18. Nomination Forms: 1983
  19. Membership Roster: 1983-1984
  20. Nomination Forms: 1984
  21. Nomination Forms: 1985
  22. Nomination Forms: 1986
  23. Membership Roster: undated

Meeting Minutes

  1. Meeting Minutes Ledger: 1920-1932
  2. Meeting Minutes: 1931-1934
  3. Meeting Minutes Ledger: 1952-1976

Correspondence

  1. General Correspondence: 1926-1936
  2. General Correspondence: undated

Box 2
Folder
Awards

  1. Faculty Award Nominations: 1971-1975
  2. Faculty Award Nominations: 1976-1977
  3. Faculty Award Nominations: 1978-1979

Miscellaneous

  1. Newspaper Clippings: 1933
  2. Transcript of Interview with Dr. George Abbott: May 1967

National Sigma Xi Materials

  1. Sigma Xi Quarterly: 1938-1940
  2. Proceedings of the 81st Annual Meeting: 1980
  3. Proceedings of the 84th Annual Meeting: 1983
  4. Proceedings of the 85th Annual Meeting: 1984
  5. Sigma Xi Handbook: circa 1986

SEPARATIONS RECORD

Two slides were separated and added to the Orin G. Libby Photograph Collection.

 OGL#625-1  Growth chart of Sigma Xi
 OGL#625-2  Origin of the name
 Original Donation  First Addition: 1921-1988

Return to: Faculty Organizations

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