Guide to the Sigma Chi Fraternity collection SC0754

compiled by Zachary R. Warma; updated by Jenny Johnson

Department of Special Collections and University Archives

2010

Green Library

557 Escondido Mall

Stanford 94305-6064

specialcollections@stanford.edu

URL: http://library.stanford.edu/spc

Note

This encoded finding aid is compliant with Stanford EAD Best Practice Guidelines, Version 1.0.

Language of Material: Undetermined

Contributing Institution: Department of Special Collections and University Archives

Title: Sigma Chi Fraternity collection

Identifier/Call Number: SC0754

Physical Description: 15 Linear Feet (28 boxes)

Date (inclusive): 1933-2021

Abstract: The collection contains financial records, including budgets, cancelled checks, receipts, invoices, pass books, investment records, bills, and accountant forms; house improvement documentation such as architectural plans and sketches, photographs, roofing samples, work orders, and safety inspection records; official documents related to insurance claims and forms, lawsuits, and ground leases signed with the Trustees of the University; Alpha Omega House Corporation records including meeting agendas, minutes, and correspondence with National organization and Stanford University; fraternity correspondence, including letters between alums, fraternity members; and publications such as chapter centennial celebration materials, STANFORD DAILY clippings, national news clippings, and copies of THE MAGAZINE OF SIGMA CHI. Additional materials not fully processed include completed surveys done at the 100th anniversary reunion, publications, correspondence, and photographs (1933-76).

Information about Access

This collection is open for research; materials must be requested at least 48 hours in advance of intended use.

Ownership & Copyright

All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, California 94304-6064. Consent is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, heir(s) or assigns. See: http://library.stanford.edu/depts/spc/pubserv/permissions.html.

Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.

Acquisition Information

This collection was given to the Stanford University Archives by the Alpha Omega Chapter of Sigma Chi, 2005-2009, and Timothy Portwood, 2015.

Cite As

[Identification of item], Sigma Chi Fraternity collection (SC0754). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Biographical/Historical Sketch

The Alpha Omega Chapter of Sigma Chi is one of Stanford's oldest fraternities, chartered in 1891 shortly after the opening of the University. In 1936, a collection of Sigma Chi alumni banded together to form the Alpha Omega House Corporation, a non-profit that both financed the construction of the current chapter house (finished in 1939) and continues to lease the land from the University. In 1965, the chapter was suspended from the National Sigma Chi Organization after pledging an African American student. A year later, the chapter deactivated in protest over National's discriminatory policies and became Sigma Chi Omega, a local fraternity, which it remained for eight years. In 1974, the chapter re-affiliated with the national organization. In 1991, Sigma Chi celebrated the centennial of both the University and the chapter. In 2002, facing financial pressures, the House Corporation proposed handing the house over to the University but a new Board was installed in 2003, and proceeded to fundraise over 2.5 million dollars to refurbish the house, a project that concluded in 2006.

Chronology

1891	Sigma Chi Alpha Omega Chapter chartered at Stanford University.
1936	Alpha Omega House Corporation formed; land leased by University to AOHC to construct chapter house.
1939	Sigma Chi House completed.
1965	Sigma Chi pledges Ken Washington, an African-American student. National organization promptly suspends chapter over "violation of tradition and ritual." Chapter challenges suspension, garners national press coverage, attention of U.S. Senator (and Stanford EX alumnus) Lee Metcalf and Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.
1966	To protest discriminatory policies of National, Stanford chapter deactivates, becomes Sigma Chi Omega.
1974	Chapter re-affiliates with Sigma Chi, once again becomes Sigma Chi, Alpha Omega Chapter.
1991	Sigma Chi celebrates centennial of University and Chapter founding.
2002	House Corporation proposes hand over of house to University.
2003	Newly installed House Corporation Boards launches 2.5 million dollar "Save the House" campaign.
2006	Refurbishing of Sigma Chi House is completed.

Description of the Collection

The collection contains financial records, including budgets, cancelled checks, receipts, invoices, pass books, investment records, bills, and accountant forms; house improvement documentation such as architectural plans and sketches, photographs, roofing samples, work orders, and safety inspection records; official documents related to insurance claims and forms, lawsuits, and ground leases signed with the Trustees of the University; Alpha Omega House Corporation records including meeting agendas, minutes, and correspondence with National organization and Stanford University; fraternity correspondence, including letters between alums, fraternity members; and publications such as chapter centennial celebration materials, STANFORD DAILY clippings, national news clippings, and copies of THE MAGAZINE OF SIGMA CHI.

Materials of particular note include documentation of Sigma Chi's pledge controversy, suspension, deactivation, and eventual re-affiliation with National (boxes 11-13) and files on the proposed handover of the chapter house and subsequent fundraising drive (boxes 21-22).

Additional materials not fully processed include completed surveys done at the 100th anniversary reunion, publications, correspondence, and photographs (1933-76). Preliminary listings for these are included in this guide.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Greek letter societies.

Minority college students

Sigma Chi Fraternity. Alpha Omega Chapter (Stanford University)

Records Accession ARCH-2005-129

Box 1, folder 1

Financial Records and Lease Information 1936-1947

Box 1, folder 2

Wells Fargo Bank Statements 1948-1958

Box 1, folder 3

Wells Fargo Union Savings Pass Books 1944-1958

Box 1, folder 4

Financial Reports, AOHC [Alpha Omega House Corporation] 1948-1960

Box 1, folder 5

Wells Fargo Union Check Book 1946-1965

Box 2, folder 1

Receipts and Invoices 1951-1967

Box 2, folder 2

Loomis Sayles Mutual Fund 1959-1968

Box 2, folder 3

Wells Fargo Bank Statements 1962-1968

Box 2, folder 4-5

Alpha Omega House Corporation Cancelled Checks and Financial Statements 1938-1968

Box 3, folder 1

University Invoices 1947-1968

Box 3, folder 2

EX [Sigma Chi] Financials 1960-1968

Box 3, folder 3

Sigma Chi Bank Books, Receipts, etc 1954-1969

Box 3, folder 4

Wells Fargo Bank Statements 1969-1972

Box 3, folder 5

EX paid bills 1969-1975

Box 3, folder 6

EX Breese Warner 1974-1975

Box 4, folder 1

Chapter Financials 1976-1977

Box 4, folder 2

Chapter Financials 1978-1979

Box 4, folder 3

AOHC Investments 1979-1980

Box 4, folder 4

Active Chapter Budgets 1979-1980

Box 4, folder 5

Fiscal Statements and Budget Overviews 1979-1980

Box 4, folder 6

Financial Advisor 1980

Box 4, folder 7

Fundraising 1980

Box 4, folder 8

Chapter Financial Statements 1981-1982

Box 5, folder 1

AOHC Finances 1983-1985

Box 5, folder 2

AOHC Finances 1986-1988

Box 5, folder 3

AOHC Finances 1989-1990

Box 5, folder 4

L. Tim Portwood Expenses 1982-1990

Box 5, folder 5

Checking Account 1991

Box 5, folder 6

AO Centennial Expenses 1991

Box 5, folder 7

Financials 1991-1993

Box 6, folder 1

Sigma Chi House and Ground Leases 1936-1939

Box 6, folder 2

Ground Leases 1953-1959

Box 6, folder 3

Major Repairs and Additions to Alpha Omega House 1949-1959

Box 6, folder 4

Insurance Policies and Premiums 1959-1968

Box 6, folder 5

House Repairs and Improvements 1960-1968

Box 6, folder 6

Ground Lease and Amendments 1973-1977

Box 6, folder 7

Insurance 1973-1980

Box 6, folder 8

Bathroom Renovation 1980

Box 6, folder 9

Lease: Regular School Year 1981

Box 6, folder 10

House Improvements/Engineering Reports 1980-1983

Box 7, folder 1

Insurance 1981-1983

Box 7, folder 2

Renovations and Improvements 1983-1986

Box 7, folder 3

House Improvement Notes 1986

Box 7, folder 4

Summer Work Orders 1986

Box 7, folder 5

Facilities Project Manager 1976-1987

Box 7, folder 6

Fire Safety 1979-1987

Box 7, folder 7

Insurance - General 1986-1987

Box 8, folder 1-2

Insurance Coverage - Donald Krebs case 1987

Box 8, folder 3

Renovations 1987

Box 8, folder 4

Insurance Coverage 1988

Box 8, folder 5

Insurance Coverage 1989

Box 8, folder 6

Work Orders and Renovations 1988-1989

Box 8, folder 7

Earthquake Prep 1989

Box 8, folder 8

Chapter Room Restoration 1989-1990

Box 9, folder 1

Roofing Project 1990

Box 9, folder 2

Insurance 1990

Box 9, folder 3

Emergency Lighting 1988-1991

Box 9, folder 4

Ground Lease 1991

Box 9, folder 5

Insurance 1991

Box 9, folder 6

Chapter Rental Agreement 1989-1992

Box 9, folder 7

Repairs and Maintenance 1990-1992

Box 9, folder 8

Summer Rent and Tax Issues 1992-1993

Box 9, folder 9

Risk Management Foundation 1992-1993

Box 9, folder 10

Fire Marshal Investigation and Follow up 1993

Box 9, folder 11

House Projects/Improvements 1993-1995

Box 10, folder 1

AOHC/National Correspondence 1943-1947

Box 10, folder 2

Correspondence 1947-1950

Box 10, folder 3

Correspondence 1950-1957

Box 10, folder 4

Correspondence 1958-1964

Box 10, folder 5

Sigma Chi and Stanford University Fraternity System 1958-1964

Box 10, folder 6

AOHC Minutes 1958-1964

Box 10, folder 7

Alumni Lists 1964-1965

Box 11, folder 1

Correspondence 1964

Box 11, folder 2

Pledge Controversy and Correspondence 1965

Box 11, folder 3

Phillip Brown's Sigma Chi National Convention Materials 1965

Box 11, folder 4

Deactivation and Correspondence 1966

Box 11, folder 5

EX Alumni Response Letters 1966

Box 11, folder 6-7

Phil Brown Chapter Suspension & National Convention Documents 1964-1966

Box 11, folder 8

Correspondence 1967

Box 11, folder 9

Correspondence 1968-1969

Box 11, folder 10

House Corporation Manual 1969

Box 12, folder 1

Fraternities at Stanford Manual 1970

Box 12, folder 2

Correspondence 1970

Box 12, folder 3

Sigma Chi Alums List and Constitution 1971

Box 12, folder 4

DTD Beta Rho Association Manual 1970-1971

Box 12, folder 5

Correspondence and Notes 1972

Box 12, folder 6

Correspondence and Notes 1973

Box 12, folder 7-8

Chapter Reactivation 1974

Box 12, folder 9

Alumni Lists 1974

Box 13, folder 1

Alumni Lists 1975

Box 13, folder 2

National Relations 1974-1980

Box 13, folder 3

University Relations/Housing 1974-1980

Box 13, folder 4

AOHC Correspondence 1974-1980

Box 13, folder 5

Alumni List 1980

Box 13, folder 67

AOHC Meeting Agendas/Minutes 1977-1981

Box 14, folder 1-2

AOHC Director's Manual 1982

Box 14, folder 3

AOHC Director's Manual 1980-1982

Box 14, folder 4

AOHC Director's Manual 1980-1982

Box 14, folder 5

Correspondence 1980-1983

Box 14, folder 6

University Relations 1980-1984

Box 14, folder 7

Information From/To National 1980-1984

Box 14, folder 8

AOHC and Chapter Materials and Correspondence 1980-1984

Box 14, folder 9

Golf Tournament 1985

Box 15, folder 1

Stanford/Sigma Chi Telethon 1985-1986

Box 15, folder 2-3

AOHC Director's Manual 1977-1986

Box 15, folder 4

AOHC Board Minutes/Agendas 1986

Box 15, folder 5

Sigma Chi Lawsuit 1986-1988

Box 15, folder 6

University Task Force 1988

Box 15, folder 7

Stanford West Campus Region Plan 1986-1988

Box 15, folder 8

AOHC Officers and Directors 1981-1988

Box 15, folder 9

Alcohol/Party Policy 1984-1988

Box 15, folder 10

AOHC Agenda/Minutes and Notes 1985-1988

Box 16, folder 1

University Relations/Clippings 1987-1989

Box 16, folder 2

Alpha Beta 1988-1989

Box 16, folder 3

AOHC Board Meeting Packets 1989

Box 16, folder 4

AOHC Rules/Guidelines 1987-1989

Box 16, folder 5

AOHC Board Minutes/Agendas 1989

Box 16, folder 6

AOHC Portwood Files 1990

Box 16, folder 7

National - General 1986-1990

Box 16, folder 8

National - Drug/Alcohol Policy 1990

Box 16, folder 9

AOHC Board Manual 1981-1990

Box 16, folder 10

Scholarships and Awards 1988-1990

Box 16, folder 11

AOHC Accountant 1982-1990

Box 17, folder 1

AOHC Portwood Files 1991

Box 17, folder 2

University Relations - AIFC 1988-1991

Box 17, folder 3

University Relations - Chapter 1989-1991

Box 17, folder 4

AOHC Miscellaneous Notes 1990-1991

Box 17, folder 5

AOHC Agendas/Minutes 1990-1991

Box 17, folder 6

Centennial 1990-1991

Box 17, folder 7

Centennial Banquet 1991

Box 17, folder 8

Centennial Handouts 1991

Box 18, folder 1

Centennial Banquet Preparations 1991

Box 18, folder 2

Banquet Responses 1991

Box 18, folder 3

Phone Effort - Centennial 1991

Box 18, folder 4

Tailgate Cancellation Phone Calls 1991

Box 18, folder 5

Sigma Chi War Dead 1991

Box 18, folder 6

Centennial - Miscellaneous Correspondence 1990-1991

Box 18, folder 7

Chapter Charter - Lucite order 1991

Box 18, folder 8

List by Class Year 1991

Box 18

Chapter Charter reproduction encased in Lucite (2 items)

Box 19, folder 1

AOHC Portwood Files 1992

Box 19, folder 2

AOHC Board Minutes/Agendas 1991-1992

Box 19, folder 3

AOHC - Pledge Orientation 1984-1992

Box 19, folder 4

Alcohol Policy 1992

Box 19, folder 5

AOHC Portwood Files 1993

Box 19, folder 6

Pledge Party Incident and Lawsuit 1991-1993

Box 19, folder 7

AOHC Board Minutes/Agendas 1992-1993

Box 19, folder 8

Alumni Lists 1990-1993

Box 19, folder 9

AOHC Portwood Files 1994

Box 19, folder 10

National Fraternity Relations 1993-1994

Box 20, folder 1

National Relations 1994

Box 20, folder 2

AOHC Portwood Files 1995

Box 20, folder 3

AOHC Portwood Files 1996

Box 20, folder 4

AOHC Portwood Files/Greek Task Force Report 1997

Box 20, folder 5

AOHC Portwood Files 1998

Box 20, folder 6

Alumni Relations/Lists 1996-1998

Box 20, folder 7-8

AOHC Portwood Files 1999

Box 21, folder 1-2

AOHC Portwood Files 2000

Box 21, folder 3

AOHC Portwood Files 2001

Box 21, folder 4

AOHC Portwood Files 2002 Jan-Apr

Box 21, folder 5

AOHC Portwood Files 2002 May-Jul

Box 21, folder 6

AOHC Portwood Files 2002 Aug-Sep

Box 22, folder 1

Proposed Lease Termination 2002

Box 22, folder 2

AOHC Portwood Files 2002 Oct

Box 22, folder 3

House Corporation Proposal 2002

Box 22, folder 4

AOHC Portwood Files 2005 Nov-Dec

Box 22, folder 5

AOHC Portwood Files 2003

Box 22, folder 6

Save the House Campaign 2003

Box 22, folder 7

Portwood Files 2005

Box 22, folder 8

Portwood Files 2006

Box 22, folder 9

EX Alumni Newsletter 2006-2007

Box 23

Magazine of Sigma Chi Vols. XCIII-XCIX 1974-1980

Box 24

Sigma Chi House Brochure Accession ARCH-2023-017 2022 October 21

Physical Description: .25 Linear Feet

Addenda, 2005-301 ARCH-2005-301

Box 1

Binder with materials on the history of Sigma Chi's "rebellion" over the racial discrimination issue in the 1960s and subsequent removal and reinstallation. Includes pictures and articles.

Box 1

Binder with information about the old house and related subjects, miscellaneous.

Box 1

Binder containing surveys filled out by attendees at the 100th anniversary reunion. Surveys include questions on why members joined and favorite Sigma Chi moments.

Box 1

Articles and publications related to or referring to Sigma Chi, including information on the hoax kidnapping.

Box 1

Sigma Chi stationary/envelopes.

Box 1

General publications, pictures, and articles put out by Sigma Chi through their newsletter and other publications. Included are initiation tests and correspondence pertaining to rush.

Box 2

Guestbook

Box 2

Charles Edgar Randall Jr. Initiation

Box 2

Chapter History 1981

Box 2

Alpha Omega Balfour Candidate 1942

Box 2

Treasurer Report Summary 1973

Box 2

John C. Mueller 1973-1984

Box 2

Letters sent to alumni, flyers, and postings about upcoming events/reunions.

Box 2

Personal correspondence Sigma Chi-related, mostly involving Portwood.

Addenda, 2007-036 ARCH-2007-036

Box 1

Group photos 1935-1936, 1975-1976

Box 1

Photocopy of house photo pre 1938

Box 1

Photographs, group and candid [removed from notebook and re-sleeved] 1933-1991

Box 1

Small album of photos kept by Ben Holt, class of 1935 1933-1935

Box 1

Sigma Chi Centennial paperweight [reproduction of old document in Lucite]

Addenda, 2015-159 ARCH-2015-159

Box 1, folder 1

Articles of incorporation 1935 Aug 30

Box 1, folder 2

Board Meetings 1982-1983

Box 1, folder 3

Board Meetings 1978-1981

Box 1, folder 4

Correspondence

Box 1, folder 5

Ground lease 1977

Box 1, folder 6

Miscellaneous

Box 1, folder 7

Meeting minutes 1982-1983

Box 1, folder 8

Stanford Alumni Newsletter: A Publication of the Alpha Omega Chapter of Sigma Chi Fraternity 2012-2015