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Earnest (Lester) Papers
MS-0467
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Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & University Archives
Title: Lester Earnest Papers
Creator:
Earnest, Lester
Identifier/Call Number: MS-0467
Physical Description:
0.63 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1925-1954
Language of Material:
English
.
The Lester Earnest papers document the fraternal organization Phi Lamba Xi, of which earnest was a member during his time
at San Diego state. Highlights include the fraternity's newsletter, a group photograph, and the spring 1954 handbook of the
Delta Xi chapter of Sigma Chi. The collection consists of meeting minutes, newsletters, rosters, a handbook, a photograph
and some negatives. It dates from 1925 to 1954, and materials are filed chronologically.
This collection is open for research.
The copyright interests in some of these materials have been transferred to or belong to San Diego State University. The nature
of historical archival and manuscript collections means that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine.
Copyright resides with the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. Requests for permission to publish
must be submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted,
permission is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are
made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the
materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.
Susan Earnest Papers
Identification of item, folder title, box number, Lester Earnest Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, San
Diego State University Library.
Lester Earnest, born in 1906, attended San Diego State College from 1925 to 1928. In 1925 Earnest, with William Copeland,
Francis Knapp, Wright McConnell, Paul Pfaff, Ed Randel, Ralph Small, and Gerald Thomas, founded Phi Lambda Xi, a fraternal
organization for those students who did not wish to belong to any existing athletic or social fraternities. As a founding
member Earnest remained active with the fraternity for many years after graduation. Phi Lambda Xi reorganized after World
War II, and joined Sigma Chi in 1949 as the Delta Xi Chapter. Sigma Chi is still an active fraternity on campus.
After graduation from State, Earnest went on to a long and successful career with the City of San Diego. He served the city
for 23 years as the director of parks and recreation, budget director, and assistant to the city manager. Earnest and his
wife Susan, San Diego State alumni and professor of Speech pathology at State for 26 years, met on campus as students in 1925.
He passed away February 27, 2001 of complications as a result of several strokes.
2011-003
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Personal Papers
Photographs