Guide to the Alpha Mu Fraternity, Beta Chapter records

Amanda Graham
Sacramento Room, Sacramento Public Library
828 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 264-2976
Fax: (916) 264-2884
Email: sacroom@saclibrary.org
URL: http://www.saclibrary.org
Copyright 2011
Sacramento Public Library. All rights reserved.

Guide to the Alpha Mu Fraternity, Beta Chapter records

Collection number: MC 6

Sacramento Public Library

Sacramento Room

Sacramento, California
Processed by:
Nathan Brumley
Date Completed:
2011
Encoded by:
Amanda Graham
Copyright 2011 Sacramento Public Library. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Alpha Mu Fraternit, Beta Chapter records
Dates: 1902-1915
Bulk Dates: (bulk 1902-1910)
Collection number: MC 6
Creator: Alpha Mu Fraternity. Beta Chapter.
Collection Size: .5 linear ft. (3 archival boxes)
Repository: Sacramento Public Library. Sacramento Room
Sacramento, California 95814
Abstract: The Alpha Mu fraternity was a high school fraternity that operated in the Sacramento Area from 1902 to 1910. Their records are comprised of the fraternity constitution, initiation ceremony, meeting minutes, correspndence, financial documents and objects used in initiations (1902-1915; bulk 1902-1910).
Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials, please contact the Sacramento Room.
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Use of the described materials may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Sacramento Public Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Alpha Mu Fraternity, Beta Chapter records, MC 6, Sacramento Room, Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento, California.

Historical Note

The Alpha Mu fraternity was a high school fraternity that operated in the Sacramento Area from 1902 to 1910. Students from Sacramento High School applied for a charter from the Alpha Chapter of the Alpha Mu fraternity in San Francisco, which resulted in the formation of the Alpha Mu Beta Chapter in Sacramento. The Sacramento City Board of Education passed an order prohibiting Sacramento High School students from joining fraternities after July 1st, 1904. The fraternity in Sacramento continued to recruit members and was quite active up until fraternities were completely banned from Sacramento high schools in March of 1909. Beta Chapter continued to convene until its final meeting in June of 1910.

Scope and Content Note

This collection is comprised of the fraternity constitution, initiation ceremony, meeting minutes, and other internal documents from 1903 to 1910. It also holds the correspondence within the fraternity and with other organizations from 1902 to 1910 and financial information on dues and fraternity expenses from 1904 to 1909. The general material in this collection includes the blind fold used in initiations and false wills for their members.
This collection is organized into four series:
  • Series 1. Administration
  • Series 2. Correspondence
  • Series 3. Financial
  • Series 4. General

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
High school fraternities -- California -- Sacramento
Teen age boys -- California -- Sacramento -- Societies and clubs
Alpha Mu Fraternity. Beta Chapter.
Sacramento Senior High School -- Societies and clubs


Box/Folder: 2/1-5

Series 1. Administration 1903-1910

Physical Description: 2 folders, 3 bound volumes

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series contains the fraternity constitution, initiation ceremony, meeting minutes, and other internal documents. Meetings touch on a variety of topics, such as the near formation of the Alpha Mu fraternity in Ventura, an electric battery for initiations, and how the fraternity's leadership nearly ended their fraternity's charter in March of 1910.
Box/Folder: 1/1-2

Series 2. Correspondence 1902-1910

Physical Description: 2 folders

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series contains correspondence within the fraternity and with other organizations. It is arranged by the last name of the addressee and then chronologically. Included are communications between fraternity members and several jewelers regarding the making of fraternity pins, and letters from the Principal of Sacramento High School to the fraternity about setting a good example.
Box/Folder: 1/3

Series 3. Financial 1904-1909

Physical Description: 1 folder

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series contains financial information on dues and fraternity expenses. It includes journals with member names and amount owed, a Wells Fargo & Company document from 1909, and the annual financial report from the Grand Secretary from 1909.
Box/Folder: 2/6-7; 3

Series 4. General 1905-1915

Physical Description: 2 folders and 1 box

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series contains objects used in fraternity ceremonies, such as a blind fold and a paint brush handle, and other documents, including constitutions and laws of other lodges, Grand Theater tickets, a wedding announcement, and false wills for members of the fraternity.