History of NIC
 

The post regarding "Fraternity History" got me thinking about the history of the NIC.

Does anyone know a link to a site that has NIC history in more detail than what is on the NIC web site? And or which twenty-six (26) fraternities were the founding (charter) members of the NIC (IFC) in 1909?

I don't have a Bairds Manual, nor can I find any kind of link (I've tried various searches) about the history other than this from the NIC web site. Which isn't much. :rolleyes:

And please, I don't want or need the usual general history of fraternities such as Phi Beta Kappa; Union College, the Mother of all Fraternities; Miami Triad etc. Just history specific to the NIC.

Thanks.



Found under the "Who We Are & What We Do" link.

http://www.nicindy.org/index.html

North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC)

Have you every heard of the North-American Interfraternity Conference? How about the National Interfraternity Conference? Most have heard of one of these groups.

The North-American Interfraternity Conference (formerly known as the National Interfraternity Conference) has a long and storied history as a body that has assisted fraternal organizations to work together. On November 27, 1909, 26 fraternities met to discuss critical issues facing fraternities at that time. A formal organization was completed in 1910. In 1931 the organization's name was changed from Interfraternity Conference to National Interfraternity Conference. In 1999, the leadership again changed the name to North-American Interfraternity Conference to celebrate the membership of brothers in Canada.

Today, the NIC has 64 member organizations with 5500 chapters located on 800 campuses in the United States and Canada with approximately 350,000 undergraduate members. The NIC is led by a Board of Directors comprised of 15 volunteers from member fraternities. The headquarters and professional staff are located in Indianapolis, IN.

I'm not aware of any web sites with a detailed history of the NIC. I'd go to a library and read a copy of Baird's.

I think that is what I'm going to have to do. :(

NIC history...Baird's
 

If you will send me your snail-mail address, I will copy the NIC's
history as given in my Baird's 18th edition, 1968.
It is about seven pages and there additional histories of NPC, and other associations, 45 pages in all. If you wish those, too,
please advise.
I became chummy with the late John Robson, Sig Ep, who edited
the last editions of Baird's, and was collaborating with him to do
a new one about 1977 or so...We had a huge number of new data plus many corrections. Greeks were going ape--extension
wise--and chapter losses were becoming epidemic. The new undertaking would have been tremendous.
Upon Robson's unwelcome demise, the project languished a few
years then the NIC made a half-hearted attempt at a new one.
It not only was expensive, out of reach for many retireds, and of
undergrads, and hardly on the preferred list for many universtity
libraries. And, it was a REAL disappointment. I would doubt that
there will ever be another for several reasons, as the greeks have grown apart themselves in mission and identity and the
undertaking would be a nigh-impossibility...and certainly not
something the imploding NIC would want to tackle, either.
The 18th and previous editions are good references, though.
Please advise. Interfraternally, EPC

Re: NIC history...Baird's
 

Erik -

Thank you for your kind offer. I may take you up on it; but first, I will try the library. And if they do not have a copy, then I'll try the library over at UC Berkeley.

Besides, I'm sure once I start reading, I'll have more questions.

Re: NIC history...Baird's
 

I know the president of the Baird's Foundation and he told me that there will be another edition as soon as the NIC sells out of the 20th edition. This may take several more years to happen.

When the 21st edition does eventually come out, they may require that people preorder copies so that they can produce just that many. That way we won't have to wait another 15-20 years for another edition.

I bought the 20th edition of Bairds it was light in content. No locals were listed and the amount of initiates listed by chapter was gone. But overall it was still a good summary of national fraternities.

Does anyone know if it is possible - other than E-Bay or some other service - to buy a new copy of an older edition of Baird's?

That seems to be the problem with Bairds!

They seem to be deleting many of the Old line Greek Organizations. There is so much going on with Greek Prganizations, it is hard to keep up.

Thank god, there is always Change! But do not ever forget what History is!

We all come from somew here!:cool:

Speaking of Baird's, lookee what I just found. :)

http://www.iglsa.net/iglsa/bairds.htm

I don't know. Do you want the book to keep, or to read for a while? Because if you just want to borrow one, use Interlibrary Loan at your local/campus library to borrow the edition you want. :) (I worked in the Interlibrary Loan office at my college's library for a year and a half, that's why I know about it)

Hope this helps! :)

No, its not. And eBay is actually the less expensive then the brick and mortar antiquarian book dealers who have old copies of Baird's in stock.

Thanks for the info. I'll the library route for now. However, I know that I can quickly go into "research & history nerd" mode ;) and as such would want to go back to it for info. That's why I'm contemplating putting out the bucks for a copy. :p

Thanks for the link.

This is great. I just checked it out and of course I've already gotten side tracked a few times already . :D

Is it possible to find the names and directors of the Biard Foundation?