Requesting information

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by john1082

The basement is just that. Lots of olf fraternity records down there, stuff like minutes from GHZ meetings from the sixties (which is where I found the 1909 constitution) old C & C magazines - like I said, a typical basement.

The sad thing is that it really isn't organized very well.

I had a specific research topic in mind when I went down there - I was looking for supporting documentation and notes regarding the various amendments made to the constitution and stat code, specifically why and when and who engineered their merger into a single document. I never did find what I was looking for.

The basement at HQ isn't conducive to research and I doubt that they want guys wandering in to paw through the stuff. A specific research request worked for me and it was a topic of interest and relevance to the standing committee on the constitution, and hence, of relevance to the GHZ. A request to look through boxes to find stuff for X-Y-Z-Zeta would likely not be well received.

John, while I am sure you are totally correct, there is a need for it along with papers and Pins and Badges that need to be catagorized.

There have been many items donated and are placed in "The Basement".

Granted there is a lack of space on the main floor, it is still one of the most important parts of what We as LXA and Brothers is all about.

I know if memory serves me right, that some of the GC Brothers are of the same interest as you.

It also did not seem that well received about fing the Site of Warren Colle, but now it is History that has been found and documentated. That is the most important part is it not?

I am sure that there would be a few who would have and experience of a life time to be turned loose there!

Just do waht you do so well!!!!!

[EM1843]

We really need the services of a professional archivist.

[dever860]

Originally Posted by EM1843

We really need the services of a professional archivist.

Hell given the chance I would take a week off work to go sort that stuff. Granted I'm sure its more like a several month task, but I love digging through old stuff.

[boz130]

It's not unheard of...I visited SAE's HQ on Tuesday & saw records of every chapter they've ever had stored in "scrapbooks" (for lack of a better word) in their library. As I viewed the books, I noticed there were about 12 empty slots @ the bottom of the shelves.

When I asked my HQ contact if expansion meant he had to move all the records (for example, if the newest chapter were "Illinois Xi", would all the books coming after it, like "Indiana Alpha", etc. have to be moved one slot), he replied with glee, "Oh, no, that's done by our archivist". I'll bet the guy doesn't relish having a huge expansion push...

[john1082]

Originally Posted by dever860

Hell given the chance I would take a week off work to go sort that stuff. Granted I'm sure its more like a several month task, but I love digging through old stuff.

That's the problem: Too many people have gone "digging through old stuff" without a plan!

In an ideal scenario we would have a retired alumnus, who lived in Indianapolis, that was a retired CSI investigator, and plenty of storage and working room . . .

In the meantime, we have to make do with what we've got. If there was a specific research requirement then I suppose that arrangements could be made but HQ is not in the business of hosting scavenger hunts.

[dever860]

Originally Posted by john1082

That's the problem: Too many people have gone "digging through old stuff" without a plan!

In an ideal scenario we would have a retired alumnus, who lived in Indianapolis, that was a retired CSI investigator, and plenty of storage and working room . . .

In the meantime, we have to make do with what we've got. If there was a specific research requirement then I suppose that arrangements could be made but HQ is not in the business of hosting scavenger hunts.

I love scavenger hunts. .

I guess my problem as a youngin is not knowing all that is lost. I would have no knowledge that cole's constitution was missing, or that coles grave site was lost, unless I had prior knowledge or I was looking for it myself. So I guess a better question as John put it earlier, what do we need to find.

I however am still in search of a 1979 C&C if anyone has ready access to one.

[john1082]

Actually, nobody knew that the 1909 constitution was missing because nobody ever remembered seeing it! Nobody knew that there was such a document. BTW, it is hand written in a black lab notebook with what looks like crayon on the cover!

We DID know that Cole was dead and would likely remain so, so it was more of a hunt that the first discovery.

[Tom Earp]

John G. this amazing about the Constitution and funny at the same time when everything seemed to be so neatly done.

Also as Brother Raymond said, Warren was not lost, he always was there, to true!

But, as and can be seen, there is a need to catalog not only all Historical Papers, but the different Badges and Pins from all of the Locals who were affiliated with LXA and all of the items that have been donated by Brothers.

While not even 100 years old, there is a deffenite need to get this done as soon as possible, but not by just anyone. Granted, it has to be by a non paid Brother for costs.

Please, we cannot let this be lost in a dark catacomb.