Sigma Xi
Records,
1943 - 1971
1. l.f.
History
“Founded in 1886, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society is a non-profit
membership society of more than 70,000 scientists and engineers who were elected
to the Society because of their research achievements or potential. Sigma
Xi has more than 500 chapters at universities and colleges, government laboratories
and industry research centers. In addition to publishing American Scientist,
Sigma Xi awards grants annually to promising young researchers, holds forums
on critical issues at the intersection of science and society and sponsors
a variety of programs supporting honor in science and engineering, science
education, science policy and the public understanding of science.”
(http://www.sigmaxi.org/ - 6/21/04)
The Sigma Xi Club organized at North Dakota Agricultural College in 1931 (in
1960 college reorganized as North Dakota State University); the North Dakota
State University club successfully petitioned to become a chapter , which
was formally established in 1963. In 1974 the Society of the Sigma Xi became
Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society of North America; and in 1979 was
renamed Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society.
Scope and Content
The Constitution is an amended version (1963) and the Bylaws cover 1963-1970.
The Meeting Minutes (1943-1966) provide the most comprehensive information
on the organization for a twenty-three year period. The files on the drive
for and eventual granting of chapter status (1957-1963) are also fairly comprehensive.
Additional material includes executive committee minutes; annual reports;
membership information, banquet programs; publication lists of members; national
lectureships, and headquarters material.
Photographs of the
installation ceremony have been removed to the NDSU Photography Collection.
BOX 1
1 Finding Aid
2 Constitution – May 14, 1963
3 Bylaws - 1963, 1964, 1967, 1970
4 Meeting Minutes – November 1943 – November 1955
5 Meeting Minutes – January 1956 – March 1960
6 Meeting Minutes – March 1961 – April 1962
7 Meeting Minutes – September 1962 – May 1963
8 Meeting Minutes – September 1963 – May 1964
9 Meeting Minutes – September 1964 – April 1965
10 Meeting Minutes - October 1965 – December 1966
11 Report - Information for the Executive Committee – NDAC’s Club
- 1959
12 Executive Committee – minutes – 1961, 1964, 1965
13 Executive Committee – minutes & correspondence – 1969-1970
14 Annual Reports – 1957-58, 1958-59, 1960-1961, 1961-62, 1964-1965
15 Correspondence – Club status to Chapter Status – 1957 - 1964
16 National Executive Committee – re: official visitor – 1958
17 Chapter Status – vote by NDAC members to proceed or not – March
1961
18 Petition – establishment of chapter at NDSU – August 1962
19 Petition – establishment of chapter at NDSU – August 1962
20 Petition for establishment of Chapter at NDSU (1962) & formal letter
granting of charter
21 Installation of Chapter at NDSU – correspondence, guest book, congratulations
[photos removed to NDSU Photograph
collection] – May 1963
22 Installation – press releases, newspaper clippings – May/June
1963
23 NDSU Chapter Secretary’s Correspondence to National - 1962
24 Secretary’s Minutes & Correspondence – 1966-1967
25 Correspondence – general - 1959-1960
26 Correspondence- general – 1963-1965
27 Correspondence – primarily between local NDSU chapter and national
– 1965-1971
28 Committees – 1956-1965
29 Membership – 1964-1966
30 Membership related – 1964-1968
31 Membership Correspondence – 1965-1971
32 Membership related – 1967-1970
33 Membership – 1969-1971
34 Member Publications – 1957-1959
35 Call to action response – “Scouting – A Ready-Made Field
for Scientist Recruitment” –
36 National Lecturers – correspondence/notices - 1957-1971
37 Initiation (NDAC) related – 1958
38 Initiation Banquets – 1965-1970
39 Invitations & congratulations for other chapter installations –
1966-1971
40 National meeting report by NDSU delegate – 1968
41 Manual for procedure – national – 1970
6/04
