ua021_495 Guide to the North Carolina State University, Student and Other Organizations, Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, North Carolina State University Chapter Records, 1932 - 1995 UA 021.495 Finding aid prepared by Processed by: Katie Brightman and Valerie Gillispie; machine-readable finding aid created by: Valerie Gillispie Special Collections Research Center 2003 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2011-12-20T16:29-0500 Finding aid written in English North Carolina State University, Student and Other Organizations, Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, North Carolina State University Chapter Records UA 021.495 Special Collections Research Center 6.25 Linear feet 1932 - 1995 The records of the North Carolina State University chapter of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, document the formation and evolution of the chapter. These records, containing materials from 1932 to 1995, include correspondence, meeting notes, administrative files, and other documents that detail the club's activities, including meetings, scientific lectures, research awards, administrative activities, and participation in activities of the national organization. The Sigma Xi Club was formed at North Carolina State College in 1938 and successfully petitioned to obtain Chapter status in the national Society of the Sigma Xi in 1944. The Society is dedicated to promoting and recognizing research achievements in a wide variety of scientific fields. The Chapter's activities include meetings, scientific lectures, research awards, administrative activities, and participation in activities of the national organization. North Carolina State University's chapter of Sigma Xi remained active as of 2008. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Special Collections Research Center Reference Staff. 12 archival boxes, 1 archival half box Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society. North Carolina State College Chapter. Restrictions to Access

This collection is open for research; access requires at least 24 hours advance notice.

 Acquisitions Information

Transferred from Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, North Carolina State University Chapter

 Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], North Carolina State University, Student and Other Organizations, Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, North Carolina State University Chapter Records, UA 021.495, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, North Carolina.

 Copyright Notice

North Carolina State University does not own copyright to this collection. Individuals obtaining materials from the North Carolina State University Libraries' Special Collections Research Center are responsible for using the works in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.

 Confidentiality Notice

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.

 Historical Note

Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, is a non-profit honor society of more than 70,000 scientists and engineers. Its mission is to enhance the health of the research enterprise, foster integrity in science, and promote the public's understanding of science for the purpose of improving the human condition. Sigma Xi has more than 500 chapters at universities and colleges, government laboratories, and industry research centers. Membership in Sigma Xi is by invitation. Any active full member may nominate an individual for membership (either associate, full, or promotion to full) by submitting a nomination form to the chapter secretary.

In 1974, the Society of the Sigma Xi, which was founded in 1886, merged with the Scientific Research Society of America to form Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society of North America. In 1979, the name was changed to Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society.

On February 17, 1938, twenty-nine members of Sigma Xi met at North Carolina State College to consider the establishment of a Sigma Xi Club. At this meeting, debate took place over the choice of establishing a Club versus an Alumni Chapter. A Club, which is usually formed before a Chapter, is made up of members of an institution's faculty who are already members or associates of Sigma Xi. In addition, a Club holds meetings and programs but cannot elect new members, whereas an Alumni Chapter, would have this ability. The members chose to form a club, and shortly thereafter committees began formulating by-laws, a constitution, and programs for the year.

On March 3, 1938, the Club decided to begin work on a petition for the establishment of a Chapter at State College. 70 members eventually signed the petition, which included general information about North Carolina State College, lists of projects and publications by the Club's members, biographies of all the members, and letters of recommendations. The petition was published in booklet form and submitted to Sigma Xi in October 1943. In December of that year the college was awarded a Chapter, and formally initiated in a ceremony held April 17, 1944.

From its inception, Chapter activities have included both general business and events designed to promote and recognize scientific achievement. The Chapter holds regular meetings, elects officers and new members each spring, and has an annual year-end banquet. It participates in the Distinguished Lecture series offered by the national organization, where individuals who are at the leading edge of science come to Chapters to speak to members and the general public. North Carolina State University's Chapter also participates in the Grants-in-Aid of Research program, providing financial aid to undergraduate and graduate students and encouraging close working relationships with faculty. In 1992, the chapter began conducting an annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. In 1993, they began giving a Faculty Research Award to honor young faculty who have demonstrated excellence in their areas of research specialization. North Carolina State University's chapter of Sigma Xi remained active as of 2008.

 Scope and Content Note

These records contain materials related to the North Carolina State University Chapter of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, from 1932 to 1995. Materials for most years include correspondence, meeting minutes, banquet and lecture programs, financial records, membership information, and administrative files. The materials from the 1940s also include the Chapter's original petition, copies of the founding constitution, and information on the Chapter's initiation. The 1960s includes minutes and information from the national organization's annual convention. In the 1970s there is additional information about the Chapter's initiation ceremonies, manuals of procedure, and research awards. The 1980s and 1990s material, which is less complete than previous decades, includes books of abstracts from Undergraduate Research Symposia.

 Organization of Collection

The materials are organized chronologically by academic year. The original arrangement of materials was followed as closely as possible, which accounts for materials in some years being more sub-divided than in others. Within each year the topics were arranged from most chapter specific to most general, then chronologically within each topic.

 North Carolina State College--Faculty--History. North Carolina State University--Faculty--History. North Carolina State University--Students--History. Society of the Sigma Xi. North Carolina State College Chapter. College students--North Carolina--Societies, etc. College teachers--North Carolina--Societies, etc. Greek letter societies--North Carolina Raleigh (N.C.) Science--Research--North Carolina Science--Study and teaching (Higher)--North Carolina Sigma Xi Quarterly 1 1 1932 - 1933 Administrative File 1 2 1936 Administrative File 1 3 February, 1938 - May, 1938 Administrative File 1 4 September, 1938 - May, 1939 Administrative File 1 5 October, 1938 - May, 1939 Correspondence 1 6 October, 1939 - May, 1940 Administrative File 1 7 1939 - 1940 Correspondence 1 8 September, 1940 - June, 1941 Administrative File 1 9 October, 1940 - May, 1941 Correspondence 1 10 September, 1941 - June, 1942 Administrative File 1 11 October, 1941 - May, 1942 Petition for Chapter 1 12 December, 1942 Administrative File 1 13 July, 1942 - June, 1943 Initiation of Chapter [Folder 1 of 2] 1 14 October, 1943 - May, 1944 Initiation of Chapter [Folder 2 of 2] 1 15 March, 1944 - April, 1944 Correspondence 2 1 September, 1943 - July, 1944 Administrative File 2 2 September, 1943 - June, 1944 Correspondence 2 3 August, 1944 - July, 1945 Administrative File 2 4 September, 1944 - June, 1945 Financial Records 2 5 November, 1945 - June, 1946 Correspondence 2 6 September, 1945 - June, 1946 Administrative File 2 7 October, 1945 - March, 1946 Financial Records 2 8 October, 1946 - May, 1947 Correspondence 2 9 November, 1946 - June, 1947 Administrative File 2 10 November, 1946 - June, 1947 Transfer of Membership 2 11 October, 1947 - May, 1948 Nominations Disapproved 2 12 February, 1948 - March, 1948 Correspondence 2 13 October, 1947 - July, 1948 Administrative File 2 14 October, 1947 - April, 1948 Transfer of Membership 3 1 November, 1948 - May, 1949 Accepted Memberships 3 2 May, 1949 Nominations Held Over 3 3 February, 1949 - March, 1949 Correspondence 3 4 August, 1948 - July, 1949 Administrative File 3 5 October, 1948 - June, 1949 Transfer of Memberships 3 6 September, 1949 - April, 1950 Correspondence 3 7 August, 1949 - June, 1950 Administrative File 3 8 October, 1949 - June, 1950 Administrative File, circa 1940s 3 9 Minutes and Reports 3 10 1950 - 1951 Lecture and Banquet Programs 3 11 1950 - 1951 Transfer of Membership 3 12 1950 - 1951 Correspondence 3 13 June, 1950 - May, 1951 Minutes and Reports 4 1 1951 - 1952 Lecture and Banquet Programs and Announcements 4 2 1951 - 1952 Transfer of Membership 4 3 May, 1951 - April, 1952 Replies to Election Notices 4 4 1952 Correspondence 4 5 September, 1951 - June, 1952 Minutes and Reports 4 6 1952 - 1953 Lecture and Banquet Programs 4 7 1952 - 1953 Current Membership 4 8 1952 - 1953 Transfer of Membership 4 9 1952 - 1953 Nominations for Membership, B-C 4 10 1953 Nominations for Membership, D-H 4 11 1953 Nominations for Membership, J-N 4 12 1953 Nominations for Membership, P-W 4 13 1953 Correspondence 4 14 1952 - 1953 Minutes and Reports 4 15 1953 - 1954 Lecture and Banquet Programs 4 16 1953 - 1954 Membership 4 17 1953 - 1954 Membership Transfers 5 1 1953 - 1954 Correspondence 5 2 1953 - 1954 Minutes and Reports 5 3 1954 - 1955 Lecture and Banquet Programs 5 4 1954 - 1955 Membership Lists 5 5 1954 - 1955 Membership Transfers 5 6 1954 - 1955 Correspondence 5 7 1954 - 1955 Correspondence 5 8 August, 1955 - July, 1956 Administrative File 5 9 November, 1955 - May, 1956 Minutes and Reports 5 10 1956 - 1957 Lecture and Banquet Programs 5 11 1956 - 1957 Membership 5 12 1956 - 1957 Correspondence 5 13 July, 1956 - March, 1957 Correspondence 5 14 April, 1957 - June, 1957 Correspondence 5 15 February, 1958 Administrative File 5 16 November, 1957 - June, 1958 Correspondence 5 17 1958 - 1959 Administrative File 5 18 October, 1958 - May, 1959 Minutes and Reports 5 19 1959 - 1960 Lecture and Banquet Programs 5 20 1959 - 1960 Membership 6 1 1959 - 1960 Correspondence 6 2 1959 - 1960 Administrative File 6 3 1959 - 1960 Administrative File, circa 1950s 6 4 Meeting Minutes 6 5 1960 - 1961 Lecture and Banquet Programs 6 6 1960 - 1961 Correspondence 6 7 September, 1960 - April, 1961 Administrative File 6 8 1960 - 1961 Lecture and Banquet Programs 6 9 1961 - 1962 Correspondence 6 10 1961 - 1962 Administrative File 6 11 1961 - 1962 Meeting Minutes 6 12 1962 - 1963 Lecture and Banquet Programs 6 13 1962 - 1963 Correspondence 6 14 1962 - 1963 Administrative File 6 15 1962 - 1963 Meeting Minutes and Reports 6 16 1963 - 1964 Lecture and Banquet Programs 6 17 1963 - 1964 Correspondence 6 18 1963 - 1964 Administrative File 6 19 1963 - 1964 Meeting Minutes and Reports 7 1 1964 - 1965 Lecture and Banquet Programs 7 2 1964 - 1965 Membership 7 3 1964 - 1965 Treasurer's File 7 4 1964 - 1965 Correspondence [Folder 1 of 3] 7 5 1964 - 1965 Correspondence [Folder 2 of 3] 7 6 1964 - 1965 Correspondence [Folder 3 of 3] 7 7 1964 - 1965 Administrative File 7 8 1964 - 1965 Meeting Minutes 7 9 1965 - 1966 Membership Transfers 7 10 1965 - 1966 Treasurer's File 7 11 1965 - 1966 Correspondence 7 12 1965 - 1966 Administrative File 7 13 1965 - 1966 Treasurer's File 8 1 1966 - 1967 Correspondence 8 2 1966 - 1967 Administrative File 8 3 1966 - 1967 Lecture and Banquet Programs 8 4 1967 - 1968 Treasurer's File 8 5 1967 - 1968 Correspondence 8 6 1967 - 1968 Administrative File 8 7 1967 - 1968 Annual Convention Minutes 8 8 1968 Lecture and Banquet Programs 8 9 1968 - 1969 Treasurer's File 8 10 1968 - 1969 Correspondence 8 11 1968 - 1969 Administrative File 9 1 1968 - 1969 Annual Convention Minutes 9 2 1969 Lecture and Banquet Programs 9 3 1969 - 1970 Treasurer's File 9 4 1969 - 1970 Correspondence 9 5 1969 - 1970 Administrative File 9 6 1969 - 1970 Membership Lists, circa 1960s 9 7 Initiation 9 8 1970 - 1971 Discussion Group 9 9 1970 - 1971 Minutes and Reports 9 10 1970 - 1971 Lecture and Banquet Programs and Announcements 9 11 1970 - 1971 Membership 9 12 1970 - 1971 Treasurer's File 9 13 1970 - 1971 Correspondence 10 1 1970 - 1971 Administrative File 10 2 1970 - 1971 Minutes 10 3 1971 - 1972 Lecture and Banquet Programs 10 4 1971 - 1972 Membership 10 5 1971 - 1972 Initiation 10 6 1971 - 1972 Treasurer's File 10 7 1971 - 1972 Correspondence 10 8 1971 - 1972 National Office--Correspondence 10 9 1971 - 1972 News--National Office 10 10 1971 - 1972 Manual of Procedure 10 11 January, 1972 Proceedings of Annual Meeting 10 12 October, 1972 Minutes 10 13 September, 1972 Lecture and Banquet Programs 10 14 1972 - 1973 Membership 10 15 1972 - 1973 Initiation 10 16 Spring, 1973 Initiation in Absentia Forms 10 17 1973 Treasurer's File 10 18 1972 - 1973 Correspondence 11 1 1972 - 1973 Manual of Procedure 11 2 1973 Minutes 11 3 1973 - 1974 Lecture and Banquet Programs and Announcements 11 4 1973 - 1974 Membership Lists 11 5 1973 - 1974 Initiation 11 6 1973 - 1974 Treasurer's Files 11 7 1973 - 1974 Research Awards 11 8 1973 - 1974 Correspondence - Campus Chapter 11 9 1973 - 1974 Correspondence - National and Newsletters 11 10 1973 - 1974 Administrative Files 11 11 1973 - 1974 Constitution and By-Laws 11 12 1973 - 1974 Manual of Procedure 11 13 1973 - 1974 Minutes 11 14 1974 - 1975 Banquet Program 11 15 Spring, 1975 Membership Lists 11 16 1974 - 1975 Treasurer's Files 11 17 1974 - 1975 Research Awards 11 18 1974 - 1975 Correspondence - Campus Chapter 12 1 1974 - 1975 Correspondence - National and Newsletter 12 2 1974 - 1975 Administrative Files 12 3 1974 - 1975 Manual of Procedure 12 4 1974 - 1975 Membership Lists and Records of Local Support 12 5 1975 - 1976 Initiation 12 6 Spring, 1976 Treasurer's Files 12 7 1975 - 1976 Research Awards 12 8 1975 - 1976 Undergraduate Research Recognition 12 9 1975 - 1976 Faculty Research Grants 12 10 1975 - 1976 Administrative File 12 11 1975 - 1976 Banquet Program 12 12 Spring, 1977 Membership List 12 13 1976 - 1977 Research Awards 12 14 1976 - 1977 Undergraduate Research Recognition 12 15 1976 - 1977 Administrative File 12 16 1976 - 1977 Lecture and Banquet Announcements and Programs 12 17 1977 - 1978 Administrative File 12 18 1977 - 1978 Administrative File 12 19 1978 - 1979 Administrative File 12 20 1979 - 1980 Administrative Files, circa 1970s 12 21 Minutes and Reports 12 22 1980 - 1981 Correspondence 12 23 1980 - 1981 Membership List 12 24 1981 - 1982 Correspondence 13 1 1981 - 1982 Membership Lists 13 2 1982 - 1983 Correspondence 13 3 1982 - 1983 Bulletin and Banquet Program 13 4 1984 - 1985 Clipping 13 5 1985 - 1986 Banquet Program 13 6 Spring, 1989 Membership List 13 7 1991 - 1992 Correspondence 13 8 1991 - 1992 Book of Abstracts, Undergraduate Research Symposium 13 9 April, 1992 Book of Abstracts, Undergraduate Research Symposium 13 10 April, 1993 Book of Abstracts, Undergraduate Research Symposium 13 11 April, 1994 Book of Abstracts, Undergraduate Research Symposium 13 12 April, 1995 Initiation Banquet programs 13 13 1966, 1982-1991 Memos 13 14 1966-1974 Position Paper from the discussion group on "The Role of the University in Society" 13 15 undated Publiv Lecture announcements 13 16 1968-1972