Rho Chi Honor Society records, 1932-1992

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Summary

Title:
Rho Chi Honor Society Records
Dates:
1932-1992
Creators:
MacDougall, Conan and Rho Chi Honor Society
Abstract:
Documents related to the history and function of the UCSF chapter of the Rho Chi Honor Society, the national honor society for pharmacy. Includes member information, historical publications, and artifacts.
Extent:
.666 Linear Feet (2 document boxes)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Rho Chi Honor Society Records, AR 2020-04. Archives and Special Collections, University of California, San Francisco.

Background

Scope and content:

Includes correspondence (1930s) regarding the establishment of the chapter, correspondence (1982-1989) regarding graduate scholarships and lectures, meeting minutes (1930s), member details (1930s-1990s), "The Rho Chi Society" book by Roy A. Bowers and David L. Cowen, about the society's history and artifacts (gradution cords and a gave1 dated 1956 with inscription " Alpha Lambda Chapter Rho Chi from Glenn Spaulding Robert Masse").

Biographical / historical:

The Rho Chi Society has its origin in the merger of two movements, both commencing in 1917, to create a national honor society for pharmacy. One had started on the campus of the University of Michigan where there had been a local honor society (known as the "Aristolochite Society") in existence at the Pharmaceutical Department since 1908. This group began to plan for national expansion in 1917, and finally established a second chapter at the School of Pharmacy of the (then) Oregon Agricultural College in 1919 and a third at the University of Oklahoma in 1922.

The other movement, originally independent of the Michigan movement, was initiated even earlier in 1917 by Rufus A. Lyman in his presidential address to the American Conference of Pharmaceutical Faculties. Under the stimulus of his suggestion, and the conscientious efforts of Professor Zada M. Cooper, it was decided to take advantage of the activity in progress at Michigan. The "Aristolochite Society" had in the meantime become the "Rho Chi Society," and had been granted a charter by the State of Michigan on May 19, 1922. The Conference of Pharmaceutical Faculties, finding that the group met the standards which the Conference had determined upon, extended its recognition to Rho Chi, as "the Honor Society of Pharmacy." Rho Chi, in turn, provided that chapters could be established only at colleges that were members of the Conference (now the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.)

A policy of conservative expansion followed. After five years of existence, Rho Chi could count eight chapters; and after ten years, eighteen, but thereafter, growth continued more rapidly. In 2018, there were 128 active chapters and additional chapters are anticipated at new schools of pharmacy.

The high standards maintained for membership in Rho Chi have resulted in the general recognition of the Society not only by Pharmacy, but also by academic circles generally. Since 1947, the Society has been a member of the Association of College Honor Societies.

from https://rhochi.org/about-rho-chi/history/

*The Alpha Lambda Chapter at the University of California, San Francisco, CA became inactive in 2022.

Acquisition information:
This collection was transferred to the UCSF Archives and Special Collections by Conan MacDougall, Professor of Clinical Pharmacy Divine Family Endowed Chair in Clinical Pharmacy, UCSF School of Pharmacy in 2021.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-04-04 09:29:47 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research. The UCSF Archives and Special Collections policy places access restrictions on material with privacy issues for a specific time period from the date of creation. Access to records that contain personal and confidential information about an individual or individuals is restricted for 75 years from date of creation or until the death of the individual mentioned in the records, whichever is longer. Access to medical records is restricted for 100 years from the latest date of the materials in those files. Restrictions are noted at the series level. This collection will be reviewed for sensitive content upon request. Contact the UCSF Archivist for information on access to these files.

Terms of access:

Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of the University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing, and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Rho Chi Honor Society Records, AR 2020-04. Archives and Special Collections, University of California, San Francisco.

Location of this collection:
UCSF Library & CKM Archives and Special Collections, 530 Parnassus Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94143-0840, US