Identifier

UA 35.10

Dates

1909-2006

Extent

8.25 linear feet (8 records center boxes, 1 oversize box) photographs

Abstract

Phi Upsilon Omicron is a Family and Consumer Sciences Honor Society which stresses professional works and service to the campus and community. The collection is composed of material collected by the Phi Upsilon Omicron Phi Chapters at South Dakota State University. Included are correspondence, minutes, newsletters, annual reports, scrapbooks, member lists, financial information, publications, clippings, meeting minutes and agendas, and photographs.

Historical Note

In 1933, the students at South Dakota State College started the groundwork to apply to be chartered in Phi Upsilon Omicron, the Home Economics Honor Society. They were encouraged by Dean Edith Pierson and Laura McArthur. Ms. McArthur taught Home Economics Education courses and was an alumni member of Alpha Chapter. These two faculty members helped students gather information and provided contacts to help with the process. The seniors worked hard on the groundwork, Phi chapter was chartered on May 19, 1934, and the seniors graduated a week later. Members of Alpha and Beta Chapters organized the installation ceremony which was conducted by Priscilla Rowland, National Phi U President. The ceremony was held in the Foods Lab when it was in the Administration Building.

The following students were initiated in May 1934 and the seniors graduated a week later. The first President of Phi Chapter was Merle (La Mont) Gunsalus who was a junior during the Installation Ceremony.

In 2008, Phi Upsilon Omicron is a Family and Consumer Sciences Honor Society which stresses professional works and service to the campus and community. It is an honor to be accepted as a member of Phi U, but along with the honor goes the responsibility of being a member of an active organization.

One of the goals of the Phi U is to help members become professionals in their field. Professionalism is gained not only through a college degree, but also through experiences one receives in college and related activities.

Each year Phi U has a professional project that promotes involvement with the campus and community. Phi U also has activities with the alumni chapter.

Students who have a 3.2 GPA and who have accumulated 40 credit hours are invited to join. We look for qualities of excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service in possible members.

Content Notes

The collection is composed of material collected by the Phi Upsilon Omicron Phi Chapters at South Dakota State University. Included are correspondence, minutes, newsletters, annual reports, scrapbooks, member lists, financial information, publications, clippings, meeting minutes and agendas, and photographs.

Also included is "The Candle," the Phi Upsilon Omicron National Honor Society journal, covering the years 1930-2004, annual reports submitted to the national headquarters, Initiate information sheets, detailed ledger sheets starting in 1934, hand-made chapter programs, very creative from 1937 to about 1980, senior biographies from 1952-1971 which are very detailed and include photographs, and detailed secretaries notebooks.

The scrapbooks consist of photographs, cards, significant correspondence and programs for events held by the chapter. Some items of note include a Coat of Arms patch for Phi Upsilon Omicron, a Holy Bible presented to the chapter by Laura J. McArthur in December 1941, and a material related to a Fruitcake Fundraising project which includes photographs, but the fruitcake recipe could not be found.

The photographs are not well described; however, most are group shots of members.

SDSU Archives and Special Collections

Follow this link for more information:

https://www.sdstate.edu/sdsu-archives-and-special-collections/university-archives

Language

English

Publisher

South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.

Rights

Copyright restrictions apply in different ways to different materials. Many of the documents and other historical materials in the Archives are in the public domain and may be reproduced and used in any way. There are other materials in the Archive carrying a copyright interest and must be used according to the provisions of Title 17 of the U.S. Code. The Archive issues a warning concerning copyright restrictions to every researcher who requests copies of documents. Although the copyright law is under constant redefinition in the courts, it is ultimately the responsibility of the researcher to properly use copyrighted material.

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