[DeltAlum]

Here is the text from the form letter sent out by the Library of Congress regarding the rumor that all of the Greek Rituals are on file there:


"The Library of Congress receives frequent inquiries concerning college fraternity and sorority publications, particularly those detailing secret initiation rites. The Library's general collections do not include any publications which detail secret initiation rites for specific fraternities. The rumor that a collection of documents detailing specific initiation rites exists at the Library of Congress stems from the belief that such publications were requested by either the House Committee on Un-American Activities or by Senator Joseph McCarthy's Subcommittee of the Senate Government Operations Committee in the 1950's. We have been unable to identify any information to support this in the indexes to Congressional hearings or the Congressional Record. Unpublished materials from these committees are in the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration and are still sealed. No checklist or indexes exist for these documents.

The Library of Congress does have some fraternity and sorority publications which we receive through gifts, copyright deposit, and purchase. Greek letter society publications most commonly found in the Library of Congress collections include alumni directories, constitutions and by-laws, histories, song books, and periodical publications. These publications are recorded in the Library of Congress card catalog (pre-1980) or computer catalog (post-1968) under the name of the organization (e.g. Phi Kappa Theta, Delta Delta Delta) or under the broader subject heading "GREEK LETTER SOCIETIES." General information on initiations may be found by searching under the subject heading "INITIATIONS (INTO TRADES, SOCIETIES, ETC.)."

The Library of Congress owns published editions of Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (call no. LJ31.B2). This reference work contains information on men's and women's college fraternities and sororities, professional fraternities, honor societies, recognition societies, and inactive Greek letter societies. Part I contains a general discussion of the origins and evolution of the college fraternity altars, rituals, and accouterments. Part II lists fraternities by college campus. Parts III-VI describe individual fraternal organizations, including brief discussions of history, government, traditions and insignia, publications, funds and philanthropies, headquarters and chapters.

The New York Public Library, Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, New York, New York 10018, also maintains an extensive collection of Greek Letter Society publications, including the William R. Baird collection which was deposited in 1921. The most notable resources of this collection are the nearly complete sets of periodicals published by individual fraternities and sororities. Further information on college fraternities may be obtained from the National Interfraternity Conference, 3901 W. 86th Street, Suite 390, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46268."


Now, speaking of totally unfounded urban legends, what did I do with that letter about badges on the moon...