Guide to the Delphian Study Club Records
SJSU Library Special Collections & Archives
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
Phone: (408) 808-2062
Fax: (408) 808-2063
Email: special.collections@sjsu.edu
URL: http://library.sjsu.edu/sjsu-special-collections/sjsu-special-collections-and-archives
© 2010
Trustees of the California State University. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Delphian Study Club Records
Collection number: MSS-2010-1-12
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
Phone: (408) 808-2062
Fax: (408) 808-2063
Email: special.collections@sjsu.edu
URL: http://library.sjsu.edu/sjsu-special-collections/sjsu-special-collections-and-archives
Finding aid funded by the generous support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
- Date Completed:
- 2010
- Encoded by:
- Aurelia Giusti
© 2010 Trustees of the California State University. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Delphian Study Club Records
Dates: 1931-2011
Collection number: MSS-2010-1-12
Creator:
Delphian Club
Collection Size:
2 boxes,
1.5 linear feet
Repository:
San José State University. Library.
San José, California 95192-0028
Abstract: The Delphian Study Club Records (1931-2007) document the San Jose Delphian Club's history and activities. The Delphian Study
Club originally formed as a chapter of the Delphian Society, which was founded in Chicago around 1910 to promote education
of women in the arts, literature, and history. The San Jose Delphian Study Club was founded in 1931. The first name of this
women's club was the Alpha Chi Chapter. The goal of the club was to promote education, personal improvement and social progress.
In 1947, the Alpha Chi Chapter spilt from the National Organization to form a separate autonomous organization, which they
renamed the Delphian Study Club. This collection is arranged into two series: Series I. Minutes Records and Meeting Reports,
1931-1999; Series II. Programs, 1957-2007.
Physical location: Vault 1, Range 20B
creator:
Delphian Club
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has been assigned to the San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission
to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the Special Collections & Archives 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. Copyright restrictions also apply
to digital reproductions of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
Preferred Citation
Delphian Study Club Records, MSS-2010-1-12, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
Project Information
This finding aid was created as part of the Survey and Cataloging Project, a two-year San José State University Library grant
project funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. The project began in 2008.The Project Director
is Danelle Moon. The Project Archivist is Erin Louthen.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Aurelia Giusti. Finding aid EAD encoded by Aurelia Giusti. Reviewed by Danelle Moon.
Organizational History
The Delphian Society formed in Chicago around 1910 to promote women's education in the arts, literature and history. Following
the formation of the society, several chapters formed across the U.S., including a local chapter in San Jose.
On January 30, 1931, the San Jose chapter received their Charter from the national organization and at that time the seventy-nine
members named their branch the Alpha Chi Chapter. The goal of the members was to promote higher education, personal improvement,
and social progress. The Delphian Study Club, a women's book club, offered specific courses in the humanities. The members
were required to purchase the complete set of books though the meetings were non-scholarly. As part of their membership, the
women were required to present what they learned during their assigned readings and were encouraged to speak briefly from
direct knowledge and understanding rather than reciting a prepared speech. The Delphian Society published several volumes
of books containing an outline of human knowledge from ancient history, literature, drama, art, modern literature, poetry,
and music.
In 1947, the Alpha Chi Chapter spilt from the National Organization to form a separate autonomous organization, which they
renamed the Delphian Study Club. This spilt allowed the women the ability to charter their own study course based on subjects
of interest and speakers of their choice.
The Presidents of Delphian Study Club (1942-1985) include: Alice Fuller 1942, Thelma Carter 1950, Helen Miller 1960, Beth
Leese 1955, Bobbie Powell 1954, Gladys Scarborough 1964, Hazel Lambrecht 1962, Eileen Murphy 1963, Norma Spalding 1975, Fuji
Takaichi 1966, Tody Dahleen 1967, Kay Schilla 1964, Frances Lenz 1978, Marcia Vosti 1973, Sadye Lewis 1981, Helen Hughes 1977,
Marion Rumbolz 1976, Diane McLaughin 1979-1986, Carol Johnson 1981, Jacqui Smith 1982-1983, Geraldine Payne 1984-1985.
Bibliography
The Delphian Society.The Delphian Society. Chigaco : Topical Outlines, 1928. [on line] San José
The Delphian Society
Related Material
The YWCA of Silicon Valley Records, MSS-2006-01-01, San José State University Library, Special Collections and Archives.
National Organization for Women, San José/South Bay chapter, MSS-2008-03-02, San José State University Library Special Collections
& Archives.
League of Women Voters, San José/Santa Clara chapter Records, MSS-2006-09-01, San José State University Library Special Collections
and Archives.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Delphian Study Club Records (1931-2007) document the San Jose Delphian Club's history and activities. The Delphian Study
Club originally formed as a chapter of the Delphian Society, which was founded in Chicago around 1910 to promote education
of women in the arts, literature, and history.
The San José Delphian Study Club was founded in 1931. The first name of this women's club was the Alpha Chi Chapter. The goal
of the club was to promote education, personal improvement and social progress. In 1947, the Alpha Chi Chapter spilt from
the National Organization to form a separate autonomous organization, which they renamed the Delphian Study Club.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into two series: Series I. Minutes Records and Meeting Reports,1931-1999; Series II. Programs,
1957-2007.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Women -- California -- San José --Societies and clubs
Women -- Education (Higher) -- 20th Century
Women's studies -- California -- San José
Series I Series 1:
1931-2010
Physical Description:
1.0 Box
Series Scope and Content Summary
The materials in this series document the history and the activities of the Delphian Study Club. Society formed in 1931. The
first name of this women's club was the Alpha Chi Chapter, a chapter of the national society. The records consist of meeting
minutes, handwritten notebooks, photographs, and newspapers. The meeting reports provide some documentation on club social
activities such as picnics and parties, as well as including revisions to their club constitution. The minute reports for
the year 1995 can be found in the folder 12, which also contains treasurer reports from 1993-1994. Folders 13 and 14 consist
of photographs, notes and meeting reports.
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically by date.
Box 1:Delphian Club Materials
Folders 1-8: Minute Book
1931-1973
Folder 9: Member List, Minutes and Constitution
1973-1980
Folder 10: Minutes and Member Lists
1980-1985
Folder 11-12: Minutes
1985-1996
Folder 13: Photographs, Minutes, and Newspapers
1993,1992-1996,1998
Folder 14: Notes, Newspapers, History of Delphian Club
1964-1985
Folder 15: Party Reports, Job, Newspapers
1962-1996
Folder 16-17: Minutes
1999-2010
Folder 18: Member Obituaries
Folder 19: April 2007 Spring Luncheon Programs , April 2008 Spring Luncheon Photos, 75th year celebration programs
2007-2008
Folder 20: Member Roll Call
1999-2007
Folder 21: Revised Club History, Member Histories/Bios, Delphian Fashion History
Folder 22: Printed Materials
Folder 23: Miscellaneous Materials
Series II Series 2:
1957-2011
Physical Description:
1.0 Box
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series consists of club programs, which highlight the diversity of study subjects that include: ancient history, literature
(Montaigne, Steinbeck, Turgenev, Shakespeare, etc.), music (classicism, romanticism, Opera, Wagner, Brahms, etc.), art, philosophy
(Epicurus, Descartes, Spinoza, etc.), poetry (Milton, Whitman, etc.). A few of the speakers include Margie Gray, Fuji Takaichi,
Dr. Jeanne Elliott, Toddy Dahleen, and Stella George. Note that programs are missing for the years 1960, 1964-1967, 1969,
2005-2006.
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically by year.
Folders 24-27: Programs
1957-2011
