Writing a Chapter History

[Senusret I]

My undergraduate chapter of Alpha Phi Omega (Mu Alpha, Georgetown University) will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary in May of 2006. The actual observance will be a gala weekend in March of 06. I have been appointed to the committee that will be writing our chapter history.



This document will most likely shape up to be a book-length manuscript! Our chapter has had pledge lines every semester since our inception (except the year 1994) and we’ve initiated a national APO president, Ambassador Maura Harty, and President Bill Clinton. This is an ambitious project that we have just over a year to prepare for.



Have you ever written or co-written a chapter history before? I mean a document more detailed than what might be found on a chapter website. If you have written one, what challenges did you face? What format was your chapter history presented in? Was it bound like a yearbook or more like a pamphlet?



Helpful to my chapter are active alumni from all generations, great records (photos, scrapbooks, yearbooks), an archives at the school library, and an office full of certificates, files, and miscellaneous data. Some obstacles may be narrowing down our scope and finding alumni from the initial chartering class. I can also foresee us having difficulty with finding one “voice” to write the history in.



Any thoughts?

[BSUPhiSig'92]

I wrote a history for my local chapter a few years ago. I conducted interviews with as many surviving members of our original local as I could, videotaped a few interviews etc. I also spent a considerable amount of time going through university archives, files at our national HQ, newspaper microfiche, etc. It was an incredibly rewarding experience, especially interviewing some of the oldest surviving brothers who actually met our founders. Our oldest brother I interviewed, (90 at the time) actually gave me his local pin, and other memorabillia he had from our years as a local (1926-1947). I had my work copied and spiral bound at Kinkos, and presented it to the chapter, national HQ, the University Archives, and any brothers who asked for it.

[honeybee77]

I am also writing our chapter history. What type of questions did you ask? I really don't where to start.

Thanks,
Milissa

[BSUPhiSig'92]

I asked a lot of questions about what the campus was like, what they did for fun, where did you meet, what was the chapter's reputation, etc. I also knew the names of specific founders and asked if he knew them, what they were like, etc. Once you get someone talking about their memories, it tends to flow from there as they recall more. I videotaped the whole thing so I wouldn't lose it.

[LightBulb]

Originally posted by Senusret I
I can also foresee us having difficulty with finding one “voice” to write the history in.

You could always have boxed-off sections (like in a textbook) where you have one member's story (an interview or something).

Good luck!

[Tom Earp]

I admire You for wanting to do this!

I get this question all of the time. I am not that Computor Savvy yet.

When You do as You say 50 Years, that is a long time as mine is with 40.

Asking questions is aeasy, finding Chapter Members can be a lot harder.

It takes a lot of work!

Good Luck, it is important for someone to do it.!

[emb021]

I would recommend you have two parts to your chapter history. One is a written history that gives, if you will, a story of your chapter. How it got founded, what happened to the chapter from year to year (interesting stories of events, notable service projects, trips to sections, hosting sections, going to regionals, nationals, etc.). Include copies of articles on the chapter from the T&T, school newspaper, local papers, etc. Include pictures of initated new Brothers, chapter doing stuff (service projects, fellowship events, awards banquets, etc). Might also want to include specific write ups of notable alumni Brothers.

The second part should be a factualy history of the chapter. List of advisors, presidents, number of members each year/semester. Awards given by the chapter, recieved by the chapter, received by the chapter membership from section/region/national.

I hope you will offer you're written history to others in the Fraternity. Would like to see a copy given to the National Archives, etc.

[Erik P Conard]

there were lots of fraternity and chapter histories written before,
say, 1920. They were limited editions but are found in many major college libraries. I used to browse the stacks at the U of IL
and found a great many, well done.
I wrote the 1950-60 section of TKE's hundredth (1999) as I entered high school in '50 and graduated BS in '60. What was passed on to me was simply AWFUL and incorrect. I re-wrote it
and came up with about 50 pages for that period, indeed a halcyon one, growth-wise. I worked as a field rep from 57-60 and
interviewed all but one of the national organizers, and sat with two of the founders of TKE, knew all living national presidents.
Yearbooks need be consulted, and interviews are paramount. I'd
guess a thousand hours, and depending on your your budget, you should realize that this'd only be done once, so put plenty of
love in it. Chapter histories might include some incidents, but as a
rule, local stories are of little value. Do not try to embellish or to
recall things that did not happen.
I wrote my PhD on "A History of Kansas' Closed Colleges" and I could have had 500 pages had not my Chairman told me to get it
done, revise it later, get the degree and get the hell out.
It is a labor of love, do it right, and you will never regret it.

[Greekopedia]

Originally posted by emb021
(interesting stories of events, notable service projects, trips to sections, hosting sections, going to regionals, nationals, etc.). Include copies of articles on the chapter from the T&T, school newspaper, local papers, etc. Include pictures of initated new Brothers, chapter doing stuff (service projects, fellowship events, awards banquets, etc).

This is what would interest me. Old photos mean a lot. And, if you could videotape old surviving members... that would be amazing to have in your archives.

[honeybee77]

All the information listed so far is great. Unfortunely, I am unable to make in person visits because of distance.

Has anyone had luck in researching by correspondence only.

Thanks

[Erik P Conard]

most of us self-styled erstwhile historians do not have the funds
to travel and be gadabouts collecting material by personal interviews, sorry to mislead you.
Phone calls are super cheap, cheapest ever, and will open many a
door to fruitful friendships and correspondence.
You can do it, I know you will. Good luck, it'll be fun and you will
leave tracks to inspire future chroniclers.

[macallan25]

I saw our complete history when I was at the SAE temple in Evanston, Ill. Pretty crazy.....very extensive piece of work, many volumes.

[barbino]

Originally Posted by macallan25

I saw our complete history when I was at the SAE temple in Evanston, Ill. Pretty crazy.....very extensive piece of work, many volumes.

Evanston is a Chicago suburb (the first suburb north).
This is in my "neighborhood" & now you have me wanting to visit the SAE temple. I've never gone inside, though I've gone past it many times. I'd love to look at the SAE history - I'm somewhat of a history buff. I believe that Sigma Chi's headquarters is in Evanston, too (and I know that Alpha Phi's is). These are all on or very near to Northwestern University's campus.

The University of Chicago (Hyde Park) area of Chicago on the South side of the city is where the Alpha Kappa Alpha's headquarters is located. Sometimes I take Chicago for granted because so much is right around me that I forget that it is there. Thanks for reminding me, I'll let you know about that visit.

[bellwisdom]

I was chapter historian 2 semesters ago and needed to provide a chapter history for our new website. Well I wanted to do more than just a few paragraphs, I wanted to put together something big. I did everything in a timeline format but there was lots of stuff missing because information was hard to come by. I actually got more info from the University Archives, the University Yearbooks, and Greek Affairs. The chapter only had a one page paper about the chapter history so it wasnt as much help and the IHQ only had info that I already knew. I was also able to get even more info from the surrounding undergrad and alumni chapters too. It wasnt as successful as I wanted but I learned a lot more and added more to that one page history that we originally had. I also convinced the Chapter to add to the duties of the Chapter Historian, Alumni chair, and pledge class vice president's so that they are keeping something similar to a monthly log of what is going on so that 50 years from now no more info is lost if another historian has to write a Chapter History. If you have a National Historian I'm sure that could have great advise too.

[honeychile]

Another chapter sister* & I wrote our chapter's history while we were still in school. One "fun" thing we added was interviewing at least one alumna from each decade. We asked about songs, traditions, and how much some things cost (tuition, dues, basic cost of living items).

If I could make one suggestion to someone tackling their chapter history, I would remind them that, just as you'd get several points of view from interviewing current sisters, you'll get different opinions from other decades. It's best to try to get at least 2-3 commentaries for each decade.


*For those who have read my story about Sarai, she's the sister who wrote this with me.