I am curious, does anyone know where defunct sorority or fraternity documents would go? There were about three sororities in my college that just disappeared in the 1930s. They were not absorbed--according to my research.
What would your guesses be as to where their documents went? Would they go to the college in which they were established or would they go with a member?
I've yet to go to our college's archivist because she is in the process of retiring.
What kind of documents were you looking for?A Constitution,roster etc? I know that when my local sorority was absorbed, everything that belonged to the local ,such as awards and ritual paperwork, was distributed among various alumnae to keep.
Last edited by glittergal1985; 09-05-2011 at 08:10 PM.
Reason: misspelling
It depends on what the items are. Some items may go back to the headquarters for safekeeping. Other items may be given to alumnae of the chapter to take care of.
I am curious, does anyone know where defunct sorority or fraternity documents would go? There were about three sororities in my college that just disappeared in the 1930s. They were not absorbed--according to my research.
What would your guesses be as to where their documents went? Would they go to the college in which they were established or would they go with a member?
I've yet to go to our college's archivist because she is in the process of retiring.
Thanks for the help!
Were the groups locals or regional groups or part of a national?
I would check with that college archivist before she retires!
If items were given to various alums -- they are probably lost forever.
__________________ XΩ Alumna --40 Year member ΦΑΘ Alumna ΚΔΕ Alumna
I think your university historian is a good place to start. I know that my alma mater preserved a lot of things like this (and even has rules about what needs to be preserved by groups that move into houses previously occupied by other groups).
The sorority was founded in 1931 and I looked in our college yearbook and they stop showing any information about it in 1941. So I went to visit the college archivist and things don't look so well.
It was a local organization and considering how old and how short of a time period it was around, I suppose if the documents were passed out to Alums that they are lost forever.
And yet, I am still very curious. So I think I will keep looking in the archives and trying to piece things together.