University of California, Irvine, Sorority and Fraternity Life records, 1969-2015, bulk 1989-2005

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Summary

Creators:

University of California, Irvine. Greek Life

Abstract:

The collection comprises records created and collected by the University of California, Irvine (UCI) Sorority and Fraternity Life (formerly Greek Life) office during their oversight of the Greek letter societies at UCI. The records contain administrative and subject files, files on individual sorority and fraternity chapters operating at UCI, and informational resources developed to promote sorority and fraternity life at UCI and assist student leaders in governing their chapters.

Extent:

11.35 Linear Feet (5 records cartons, 4 document boxes, 2 half document boxes, 1 flat box, 3 AV boxes, and 1 folder) and 1 linear foot and 7 DVDs of unprocessed materials

Language:

English .

Preferred citation:

University of California, Irvine, Sorority and Fraternity Life records. AS-131. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection comprises records created and collected by the University of California, Irvine (UCI) Sorority and Fraternity Life (formerly Greek Life) office during their oversight of the Greek letter societies at UCI. The records contain administrative and subject files, files on individual chapters operating at UCI, and informational resources developed to promote sorority and fraternity life at UCI and assist student leaders in governing their chapters. Materials include correspondence, by-laws, constitutions, publications, clippings, event flyers and leaflets, photographs, and video recordings. Also included are seven DVD recordings of Songfest (2009-2012).

Biographical / historical:

Sororities and fraternities were first established at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) in 1967. Greek Life was established as an administrative body at UCI in 1989 under the guidance of the Dean of Students. In 2019, it was renamed Sorority and Fraternity Life. Sorority and Fraternity Life's mission is to work with students to create an inclusive environment that challenges members to develop into leaders who uphold the values, oaths, and commitments of their collegiate fraternal organization at UC Irvine. Since 1967, UCI's fraternity and sorority community has grown to over 2,000 students.

UCI's Greek Songfest was established in 1980. It is the largest annual Greek-sponsored fundraiser at UCI. Fraternities and sororities perform renditions of Broadway musicals during the event. Each year the Greek community selects a different philanthropic organization as the recipient of the substantial funds raised by Songfest.

Several other organizations also oversee UCI's fraternities and sororities. The Interfraternity Council (IFC) serves as the self-governing body for 14 fraternities at UCI. Many fraternities are also member organizations of the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC). Overseeing several UCI sororities is the Panhellenic Association, the local governing body of the National Panhellenic Council (NPC). The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. (NPHC) provides leadership and training for nationally recognized fraternities and sororities of African American origin. The Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) was founded on June 8, 2009 to serve as the collegiate governing body of the culturally based fraternities and sororities at the UC Irvine campus. The Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) oversees the Greek honor societies at UCI.

The dates in the following chronology represent the initial establishment of each chapter at UCI. Most Greek letter societies listed are chapters of national organizations, but some are local to Southern California or UCI. In most cases the date represents the year the chapter received its national charter. In other cases the date represents the year that UCI Sorority and Fraternity Life officially recognized the sorority or fraternity's existence, which in most cases preceded the date the national charter was granted. In some cases chapters have experienced a lapse in their charters or have since closed.

Chronology of the establishment of Greek letter societies at UCI
Date	Event
1967	Alpha Phi Omega (Service organization) Chi Psi (IFC)
1970	Sigma Pi Sigma (ACHS Honors)
1974	Delta Gamma (NPC) Gamma Phi Beta (NPC) Phi Beta Kappa (Honor society) Pi Beta Phi (NPC)
1975	Beta Theta Pi (IFC) Phi Delta Theta (IFC) Sigma Chi (IFC)
1976	Eta Kappa Nu (ACHS Honors)
1977	Alpha Kappa Alpha (NPHC sorority) Alpha Chi Omega (NPC)
1979	Delta Delta Delta (NPC)
1980	Delta Sigma Theta (NPHC sorority)
1981	Alpha Phi Alpha (IFC and NPHC fraternity)
1982	Kappa Alpha Psi (IFC and NPHC fraternity) Kappa Sigma (IFC) Kappa Kappa Gamma (NPC) Tau Beta Pi (ACHS honors) Phi Gamma Delta (IFC)
1983	Lambda Theta Delta (Asian fraternity) Phi Zeta Tau (Asian sorority)
1985	Kappa Alpha Theta (NPC) Phi Alpha Delta (Professional)
1986	Phi Alpha Theta (ACHS honors)
1987	Sigma Alpha Epsilon (IFC)
1988	Alpha Phi (NPC Women's) Sigma Nu (IFC) Psi Chi (ACHS Honors) Chi Epsilon (ACHS Honors)
1989	Pi Kappa Phi (IFC) Lambda Phi Epsilon (Asian fraternity) Kappa Zeta Phi (Asian sorority) Phi Sigma Kappa (IFC) Phi Kappa Psi (IFC) Delta Sigma Phi (IFC)
1990	Alpha Epsilon Pi (IFC)
1993	Sigma Pi (IFC) Sigma Gamma Rho (NPHC sorority)
1994	Alpha Kappa Delta Phi (Asian sorority)
1995	Sigma Lambda Beta (IFC and Latino) Sigma Phi Epsilon (IFC)
1998	Pi Alpha Phi (Asian fraternity)
2000	Lambda Theta Nu (Latina sorority) Sigma Lambda Gamma (Latina sorority)
2001	Sigma Omicron Pi (Asian sorority) Tau Theta Pi (Multicultural sorority) Delta Gamma Chi (Multicultural fraternity) Delta Phi Gamma (Filipina sorority)
2002	Sigma Delta Alpha (Latino fraternity) Zeta Phi Rho (Multicultural fraternity) Alpha Epsilon Omega (Armenian fraternity) Delta Lambda Chi (Multicultural sorority)
2003	Epsilon Phi (Jewish sorority) Pi Kappa Alpha (IFC)
2004	Phi Kappa Psi (IFC) Phi Sigma Rho (Engineering sorority)
2008	Alpha Epsilon Phi (Jewish sorority)
2010	Lambda Sigma Gamma (MCG)
2011	Phi Lambda Rho (Latina sorority)
2012	Nu Alpha Kappa (Latino fraternity)
2016	Sigma Pi Alpha (Latina sorority)
2019	Zeta Beta Tau (IFC)

Acquisition information:

Transferred from Greek Life, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2014. Transferred from an unknown source, 2017. Separated from AS-217 campus organizations collection (formerly PS-033 clubs and organizations publications), 2020. Transferred by Stephanie Tenney, 2021.

Processing information:

Processed by Cyndi Shein, 2007 and 2008; Dawn Schmitz, 2009; and Sarah Glover, 2020-2021. The collection title was changed from "University of California, Irvine, Greek Life records" to "University of California, Irvine, Sorority and Fraternity Life records" to reflect the office's name change in 2019.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in six series:

Series 1. Administrative and subject files, 1983-2009. 2 linear feet
Series 2. Chapter files, 1969-2015. 2.1 linear foot.
Series 3. Reference publications, 1985-2007. 2 linear feet.
Series 4. Photographs, 1998-2008. 1 linear foot.
Series 5. Video recordings, 1987-2001. 2.5 linear feet.
Series 6. Realia, 2006-2009. 0.75 linear feet

The collection also contains 1 unprocessed addition:

Accession 2014.035. Unprocessed addition, 2005-2013. 1 linear foot and 7 DVDs.

Accruals:

Accruals are expected.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Greek letter societies -- California -- Irvine -- History -- Sources
School yearbooks -- California -- Orange County
Video recordings -- 20th century.
T-shirts -- 20th century.
Medallions (medals)
Photographic prints -- California -- Irvine -- 20th century.
Photographic prints -- California -- Irvine -- 21st century.
Photograph albums -- California -- Irvine -- 20th century.
Video recordings -- 21st century
Names:: University of California, Irvine. Greek Life -- Archives
University of California, Irvine -- Archives

Access and use

Restrictions:: Processed components of the collection are open for research. The addition to the collection is only minimally processed, but is open for research. Access to original video recordings is restricted; researchers may request viewing copies. Please contact the Department of Special Collections and Archives in advance to request access.
Terms of access:: Property rights and copyright reside with the University of California. For permission to reproduce or to publish, please contact the University Archivist.