Lambda Sigma (Cwens) National Records, 1922-2011 | Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

By Kyle Beeler

Printer-friendly |

Collection Overview

Title: Lambda Sigma (Cwens) National Records, 1922-2011

Primary Creator: Cwens (Lambda Sigma)

Extent: 3.57 Cubic Feet

Date Acquired: 11/04/2011. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Honor Societies.

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection contains a variety of materials pertaining to the Cwens organization, Lambda Sigma chapter, the Alpha Gamma Delta organization, as well as others. Included are reports, photographs of group meetings and events, newsletters from the organizations, official records, extensive membership records for the national organization of Lambda Sigma, yearbooks, etc.

Collection Historical Note

Lambda Sigma is an American college sophomore honor society. Originally named the Society of Cwens, the society was established at the University of Pittsburgh in Fall 1922 as a women's honors society, and became a national organization with the 1925 foundation of chapters at Miami University and the University of Missouri. The society is "dedicated to the purpose of fostering leadership, scholarship, fellowship, and the spirit of service among college students, and to promoting the interests of the college or university in every possible way".

In the early 1920s, University of Pittsburgh Dean Thyrsa Amos saw the need for a society for outstanding sophomore women. On 7 November 1922, twelve sophomore women responded to invitations and met at Heinz House, electing to found a society to sponsor activities for all freshmen and sophomore women and to "select for membership in the spring those freshman women who displayed the finest Pitt spirit, showed good scholarship and expressed interest in activities through fine participation in them". The society was named Cwens, from the word cwēn, meaning "lady" or "queen" in Anglo-Saxon. The emblem selected was a golden crown resting upon a sceptre. Soon afterwards, Beta and Gamma chapters were founded at Miami University and the University of Missouri, with the first Society of Cwens conference held in May 1925 on the Miami campus.

A charter was obtained to certify Cwens as a national organization; a petition was submitted, and on 16 June 1926, the certificate of incorporation was approved and the charter of the National Society of Cwens was recorded in the Common Pleas Court of Allegheny County. Titles of officers in the organization were given Anglo-Saxon names, and a national convention (called the Witan) was held twice annually, rotating among the colleges and universities having Cwen chapters. The society's publication was called The Tid. The 1972 Witan, held in Pittsburgh on the campus of Duquesne University, observed the Fiftieth Anniversary of the society and climaxed in a "feast" in the Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh. This ceremony, detailed in the book of rituals (the Hydan-Bok), is a revered event in the history of the organization.

However, in 1975, the Title IX Education Amendments mandated the abolishment of single-sex organizations in institutions of higher learning. In October 1975, Cwens chapter presidents gave authority to the National Executive Board to disband the society and to formulate plans for a national sophomore honor society for both men and women.

The National Board disbanded the National Society of Cwens, founding the Lambda Sigma Society as a direct descendant on 6 March 1976. The Society of Cwens's goal of fostering leadership, scholarship, fellowship, and service remain the same in the child organization.

Source: Lambda Sigma website.

Subject/Index Terms

Honor Societies.

Administrative Information

Repository: Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

Accruals:

2010-2011 Records (2 folders) 7-16-2014

2012-2016 Records (5 folders) 6-9-2017

Initiate Lists/Membership Lists (1 CD-Rom) 10-31-2017

2016-2017 Records (1 folder, 1 CD-Rom) 12-7-2017

2017-2018 Records (1 folder, 1 CD-Rom) 9-11-2018

Acquisition Source: Ron G. Wolfe

Other URL: http://www.lambdasigma.org/

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Alpha Gamma Delta],
[Series 2: General Records],
[Series 3: Chapters],
[Series 4: Membership Records],
[Series 5: National Convention],
[Series 6: Photographs],
[Series 7: Publications],
[Series 8: Annual Records],
[Series 9: Contact Cards],
[Series 10: Memorabilia],
[Series 11: Digital Media],
[All]

Series 1: Alpha Gamma Delta

Materials relating to the Alpha Gamma Delta International Fraternity

Box 1

Barcode: 31234014045494

Folder 1: Alpha Gamma Delta Correspondence, 1979: Correspondence between organization members including a letter from Jimmy Carter commending the organization.
Folder 2: Alpha Gamma Delta Documents, 1979-1981: Various documents pertaining to organization rules and regulations.
Folder 3: Alpha Gamma Delta Information Booklets, 1977-1979: Booklets explaining the organization's history and traditions.
Folder 4: Alpha Gamma Delta Newsletters, 1979-1980

Series 2: General Records

Box 1

Barcode: 31234014045494

Folder 5: Activity Files, 1974-2006: These files contain information regarding events which were planned for organization meetings.
Folder 6: By-Laws, Cwen National, 1925-1974: By-law revisions, suggested amendments, and a constitution booklet.
Folder 7: By-Laws, Lambda Sigma National, 1977: National by-laws and proposed amendments.
Folder 8: Calendars, Cwen, 1946-1969: Contained within the folder are calendars which lay out the specific events which will take place over the course of the academic year. There are detailed instructions that accompany most of the event listings.
Folder 9: Certificates, 2000: Certificate for the organization's 75th anniversary.
Folder 10: Charter Re-Application, Cwens, 1926-1936: Charter renewal files.
Folder 11: Contact Information Update Forms: These forms were sent out to past members of the Cwen organization in order to update their information, gather information on accomplishments after graduation, and to facilitate the reuniting of old friends.
Folder 12: Correspondence, 1936-1973: Correspondence between various members and leaders of the organization.
Folder 13: Correspondence, 1974-2008: Correspondence between various members and leaders of the organization.
Folder 14: Documents, 1967-2005: Various documents including oaths, advertisements, and general organization information.
Folder 15: Extension Files, Cwen, 1955-1971: Extension files for the organization. Also included are three photos.; Physical Description: 3x5
Folder 16: Financial Records, 1949-1968: Records of inventory and financial expenses.

Box 2

Barcode: 31234014045353

Folder 1: Minutes, 1929-1968: Minutes from various organizational events.
Folder 2: Minutes, 1969-1990: Minutes from various organizational events.
Folder 3: Minutes, 1991-2008: Minutes from various organizational events.
Folder 4: Programs, 1969-2002: This folder contains programs for such events as state day, presidential conferences, induction ceremonies, and and initiation ceremonies.
Folder 5: Reports, 1957-1991: Organizational reports and assessments.
Folder 6: Reports, 1992-2008: Organizational reports and assessments.
Folder 7: Songs and Rituals: Song and ritual lyrics and scripts.
Folder 8: Tapping Charts, 1922-1972: These lists contain specific information about how many people were recruited into the organization over the years. Each chart separated recruits based on which chapter they were seeking to join.
Folder 9: Emily Taylor Files, 1970-1988: Correspondence, news clippings, and other information concerning Emily Taylor, dean of women at the University of Kansas, who served as a mentor to women in college and university administration.

Box 3

Barcode: 31234014045320

Folder 1: Title IX, 1975-1976: Correspondence, documents, and a Cwen Tid article about the disbanding of the organization due to new laws.

Series 3: Chapters

Sub-Series 1: Chapter Records

Box 3

Barcode: 31234014045320

Folder 2: Award Files, 1966-1968: These items pertain to a recognition award that was given out annually. There is a list of requirements for the award as well as charts that show the scores of each chapter in their pursuit of the award.
Folder 3: Checklists, 1922-1989: Chapter checklists spanning 67 years.
Folder 4: Correspondence, Installation, 1952-1962: Correspondence from various chapters about organization installation.
Folder 5: Logs, 1985-2007
Folder 6: Petition Materials, 1964-1981: Petitions from local honor societies to become members of Lambda Sigma
Folder 7: Petition Materials, 1991-2008: Petitions from local honor societies to become members of Lambda Sigma
Folder 8: Visitation Report Forms, 1951-1963: Visitation report documents.
Folder 9: Visitation Report Forms, 1963-1968: Visitation report documents.
Folder 10: Visitation Report Forms, 1968: Visitation report documents.

Sub-Series 2: Individual Chapters

Box 3

Barcode: 31234014045320

Folder 11: Alabama, 1988
Folder 12: Behrend College, 1972-1974
Folder 13: Berry College, 1981: Various materials from Berry College pertaining to their application to Lambda Sigma.
Folder 14: Mansfield State College, 1970-1972
Folder 15: Pace University, 2005: Various materials from Pace University pertaining to their application to Lambda Sigma.
Folder 16: Robert Morris College, 1987
Folder 17: Slippery Rock, 1974: various materials from Slippery Rock pertaining to their application to the Cwens.
Folder 18: Union College, 1973-1974: Installation documents along with correspondence pertinent to the topic.
Folder 19: University of Kansas, ca. 1976

Series 4: Membership Records

Box 4

Barcode: 31234014045338

Folder 1: Lambda Sigma Master Roster, 1925-1978: Contains the master roster for the entire organization for every year from 1925 to 1978.
Folder 2: Cwen Membership Files, 1925-1975: Organization Membership records including national officers and lists of chapters and chapter officers.
Folder 3: Lambda Sigma Membership Files, 1976-1981: Contains files that have the names of organization office holders and their information.
Folder 4: Lambda Sigma Membership Files, 1988-1989
Folder 5: Lambda Sigma Membership Files, 1989-1990
Folder 6: Lambda Sigma Membership Files, 1990-1991
Folder 7: Lambda Sigma Membership Files, 1991-1992
Folder 8: Lambda Sigma Membership Files, 1992-1993

Box 5

Barcode: 31234014045346

Folder 1: Lambda Sigma Membership Files, 1993-1994
Folder 2: Lambda Sigma Membership Files, 1994-1995
Folder 3: Lambda Sigma Membership Files, 1995-1996
Folder 4: Lambda Sigma Membership Files, 1996-1997
Folder 5: Lambda Sigma Membership Files, 1997-1998
Folder 6: Lambda Sigma Membership Files, 1998-1999
Folder 7: Lambda Sigma Membership Files, 1999-2000
Folder 8: Lambda Sigma Membership Files, 2000-2001
Folder 9: Lambda Sigma Membership Files, 2001-2002
Folder 10: Lambda Sigma Membership Files, 2002-2003

Box 6

Barcode: 31234014045254

Folder 1: Lambda Sigma Membership Files, 2003-2004
Folder 2: Lambda Sigma Membership Files, 2004-2005
Folder 3: Lambda Sigma Membership Files, 2005-2006

Series 5: National Convention

Box 6

Barcode: 31234014045254

Folder 4: Fourth National Convention Files, 1929: Program for the event.
Folder 5: Sixth National Convention Files, 1934: Program and correspondence for the convention.; Physical Description: 4x6
Folder 6: Eighth National Convention Files, 1936: Program, correspondence, and a newspaper advertisement for the convention.; Physical Description: 3x5
Folder 7: Ninth National Convention Files, 1937: Program, reports, correspondence, memorabilia, and newspaper ads for the event.; Physical Description: 3x4
Folder 8: Tenth National Convention Files, 1940: Program, reports, correspondence, and minutes for the event.; Physical Description: 3x4
Folder 9: Eleventh National Convention Files, 1942: Reports, correspondence, minutes, and a newspaper advertisement for the event.; Physical Description: 3x4
Folder 10: Thirteenth National Convention Files, 1950-1951: Reports, correspondence, minutes, and a newspaper advertisement for the event.; Physical Description: 3x4
Folder 11: Fourteenth National Convention Files, 1952: Reports, correspondence, minutes, and a newspaper advertisement for the event.; Physical Description: 3x4
Folder 12: Fifteenth National Convention Files, 1954: Reports, correspondence, minutes, and a program for the event.; Physical Description: 3x4
Folder 13: Sixteenth National Convention Files, 1956: Reports, correspondence, minutes, and a program for the event.; Physical Description: 3x4
Folder 14: Seventeenth National Convention Files, 1958: Reports, correspondence, minutes, and a program for the event.; Physical Description: 4x4
Folder 15: Eighteenth National Convention Files, 1960: Reports, correspondence, minutes, and a newspaper advertisement of the event.; Physical Description: 2x3
Folder 16: Nineteenth National Convention Files, 1962: Reports, correspondence, minutes, and a program for the event.; Physical Description: 8x10

Box 7

Barcode: 31234014045288

Folder 1: Twentieth National Convention Files, 1964: Reports, correspondence, and minutes for the event.
Folder 2: Twenty First National Convention Files, 1966: Reports, correspondence, minutes, and a program for the event.
Folder 3: Twenty Second National Convention Files, 1968: Reports, correspondence, minutes, and a program for the event.
Folder 4: Twenty Third National Convention Files, 1970: Reports, correspondence, and minutes for the event.
Folder 5: Twenty Fourth National Convention Files, 1972: Reports, correspondence, minutes, and a program for the event.
Folder 6: Twenty Fifth National Convention Files, 1974: Reports, correspondence, and minutes for the event.
Folder 7: Lambda Sigma First National Convention, 1976: Contains attendee lists as well as newspaper articles about the convention.
Folder 8: Sixty Eighth National Convention Files, 1990: Reports, correspondence, and minutes for the event.
Folder 9: Seventieth National Convention Files, 1992: Reports, correspondence, and minutes for the event.
Folder 10: Seventy Fifth National Convention Files, 1997: Reports, correspondence, and minutes for the event.
Folder 11: Eighty Second National Convention Files, 2004: Reports, correspondence, and minutes for the event.
Folder 12: Eighty Third National Convention Files, 2005: Reports, correspondence, and minutes for the event.
Folder 13: Eighty Fifth National Convention Files, 2007: Reports, correspondence, and minutes for the event.
Folder 14: President's Conference Files, 1969-2001: Most of the files within the folder are correspondence about the conference, but there is also a chapter roster, an expense report for the event, an agenda, and questionnaires which ask questions about participants' opinions on the gathering.

Series 6: Photographs

Box 7

Barcode: 31234014045288

Folder 14

Item 1: Kicklighter
Item 2: 75th Anniversary Honorees with List: Group photo by large pool.
Item 3: Mu Chapter
Item 4: Amy Mutzner
Item 5: A lake from the back of a boat
Item 6: Group photo taken on the steps of a building
Item 7: Lake Photo
Item 8: Photo of girls on a boat
Item 9: People in a lake
Item 10: Person water skiing
Item 11: Lake Shelter: Photo of a shelter by the lake.
Item 12: Five ladies seated in a dark room
Item 13: Empty Banquet Tables
Item 14: Mu Chapter Members: Katie, Voss, Stacey Edwards, Shannon Jollay, Julie Hammond, Lisa Karlosky, Anita Vincent
Item 15: Belinda Morton
Item 16: Unidentified Men, 10/20/2001
Item 17: Student Representatives: Kitty Hylces and Christy Pointer
Item 18: Student Representatives: Ching Wei Keng and Derek Jones
Item 19: Unidentifed Woman and Man
Item 20: Student Representatives: Missy Noblit and Holly Johnson
Item 21: Missy leaving board Christine Lomingon, 10/16/1999
Item 22: Student Representatives: Brian Cooper and Betsy Rafe
Item 23: Student Representatives: Holly Johnson and Christine Peoples
Item 24: John Gump - Outstanding Advisor, 10/20/2001
Item 25: Carolyn B. - Outstanding Advisor, 10/16/1999

Series 7: Publications

Box 7

Barcode: 31234014045288

Folder 15: Cwen Manual, 1932: Manual for the organization which includes the history and traditions.
Folder 16: Cwen Tids, 1935-1944: Organization newsletters.

Box 8

Barcode: 31234014045270

Folder 1: Cwen Tids, 1945-1958: Organization newsletters.
Folder 2: Cwen Tids, 1958-1964: Organization newsletters.
Folder 3: Cwen Tids, 1964-1970: Organization Newsletters.
Folder 4: Cwen Tids, 1970-1976: Organization newsletters.
Folder 5: Hydan Bok Revision Process Files, 1948-1971: Correspondence, editing notes and recommendations, drafts of revisions, and a booklet from 1957 containing revision instructions.
Folder 6: Hydan Bok Copies, 1937-1938
Folder 7: Hydan Bok Copies, 1939

Box 9

Barcode: 31234014045262

Folder 1: Hydan Bok Copies, 1961
Folder 2: Hydan Bok Copies, 1972
Folder 3: Lambda Sigma Information Pamphlets
Folder 4: Lambda Sigma Society Handbook, 1986
Folder 5: "The Diamond" Newsletters, 1976-1991
Folder 6: "The Diamond" Newsletters, 1992-1996
Folder 7: "The Diamond" Newsletters, 1997-2011
Folder 8: "Carbon Copy" Newsletters
Folder 9: Miscellaneous Newsletters

Series 8: Annual Records

This series was created to easily add accruals to the collection. Materials that were separated into specific series such as minutes, reports and publications will be found together beginning in the 2008-2009 year.

Box 10

Barcode: 31234014045247

Folder 1: Annual Records, 2008-2009
Folder 2: Annual Records, 2009-2010
Folder 3: Annual Records, 2010-2011
Folder 4: Annual Records, 2012
Folder 5: Annual Records, 2013
Folder 6: Annual Records, 2014
Folder 7: Annual Records, 2015
Folder 8: Annual Records, 2016
Folder 9: Annual Records, 2017-2018

Series 9: Contact Cards

Box 11: Contact Cards: Master contact record for every chapter.; Barcode: 31234014045171

Series 10: Memorabilia

Box 11

Barcode: 31234014045171

Item 1: Cwens Crown
Item 2: Lambda Sigma Pendant

Series 11: Digital Media

Box 12: CD-Roms with Rosters

Barcode: 31234014045163

Item 1: Initiate Rosters, 2006-2007: Format: CD
Item 2: Initiate Rosters, 2007-2008: Format: CD
Item 3: Initiate Rosters, 2008-2009: Format: CD
Item 4: Initiate Rosters, 2009-2010: Format: DVD
Item 5: Initiate Rosters, 2010-2011: Format: CD
Item 6: President's Conference, 2011-10: Format: DVD
Item 7: Lambda Sigma Power Point: Format: 3.5" Floppy Disk
Item 8: Lambda Sigma Initiate Lists, 2010-2017: Format: CD-R
Item 9: Chapter Rosters, 2017-2018