ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202
COLLECTION: OGL #971
DATES: 1919-1984
SIZE: 14.75 linear feet
ACQUISITION:The Delta Zeta, Upsilon Chapter Records were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection by Kathie Anderson December 1983 (Acc.# 84-1296) and July 14, 1988 (Acc.# 88-1607).
ACCESS: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.
Three local womens organizations were formed in 1916 because of the large enrollment of women at the University of North Dakota and a strong interest for greek life. Edith and Esther Hagert were the original founders of one of the three women's organizations--Alpha Sigma Epsilon. Alpha Sigma Epsilon was based on the ideas of amity, scholarship, and equality. Alpha Sigma Epsilon held its first formal meeting on December 16, 1916, and their first pledge service on March 3, 1917.
Alpha Sigma Epsilon was later granted charter into Delta Zeta national sorority on February 10, 1919, and became the Upsilon Chapter of Delta Zeta at the University of North Dakota. They held their initiation into Delta Zeta on March 1, 1919. The Upsilon Chapter of Delta Zeta chose their colors to be royal purple and cream and their flower became the violet.
The Delta Zeta sorority was founded on October 14, 1902, at Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio. The purpose of the group was to "unite its members in the bonds of sincere and lasting friendship, to stimulate one another in the pursuit of knowledge, to promote the moral and social culture of its members, and to develop plans for guidance and unity in action; objects worthy of the highest aim and purpose of associated effort."
In 1920, a housing problem confronted the chapter. For two years the chapter's home was at 3000 University Avenue, but in 1922 the house was put up for sale. After many conferences, the decision was made to purchase the house at 315 Hamline Street. That home also was sold, and in the fall of 1926, the chapter moved to 2724 University Avenue, which was later enlarged and remodeled in 1964.
In July 1921, the Upsilon Alumnae Association was established to maintain a close relationship between alumnae and undergraduate members of the Upsilon Chapter. Sometime before 1946, the name of this organization was changed to the Grand Forks, North Dakota Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Zeta Sorority.
Upsilon Chapter was closed by the National at the end of 1982-83 academic year. Reasons given included poor membership, a lack of personnel and maintenance problems with the house. The old Delta Zeta house, at 2724 University Avenue, is now Conference Center, a UND women's residence hall.
The Delta Zeta, Upsilon Chapter Records consist of materials from 1919 to 1984. The records document both the activities of the active chapter and the alumnae chapter and are arranged chronologically for each group. Materials for the active chapter are arranged first, and include: 24 scrapbooks, 1931-1982; annual reports, 1963-1975; listings of Delta Zeta officers and members; executive minutes, January 1970 - September 1972; minutes of the active chapter, September 1954 - May 1983. These materials are housed in Box 1 - Box 7, Folder 16. Income and Expense summary sheets for December 1973 - November 1975, were filed in Box 8, an oversized box.
Materials related to the Alumnae are arranged second, and include: by-laws; minutes, September 1946 - February 1972, alumnae newsletters, "Upsilon-Up-To-Date", volumes I-IV, 1920-1924; and treasurer's report, May 1983 and January 1984.
Five photographs which were separated and placed in the Orin G. Libby Photograph Collection.
Scrapbooks
Box 1
vol I 1931-37
vol II 1944-49
vol III 1949-52
Box 2
vol IV 1950-54
vol V 1954-57
vol VI 1955-56
vol VII 1957-58
vol VIII 1958-59
Box 3
vol IX 1959-60
vol X 1960-61
vol XI 1961-62
vol XII 1962-64
Box 4
vol XIII 1964-68
vol XIV 1967-78
vol XV 1968-69
Box 5
vol XVI 1969-7
vol XVII 1971-72
vol XVIII 1972-73
vol XIX 1976-77
Box 6
vol XX 1976-77
vol XXI 1977-78
vol XXII 1979-80
vol XXIII 1980-82
vol XXIV 1981-82
Box 7
Folder
Grand Forks, North Dakota Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Zeta Sorority
Box 8
Folder
Five photographs were separated and placed in the Orin G. Libby Photograph Collection.
1. Group Photograph in ca. 1930's.
2. Group Photograph in ca. 1930's.
3. Alumnae Group Photograph in ca. 1970's.
4. Alumnae Group Photograph in ca. 1970's.
5. Reception Photograph in Ca. 1970's
| Original donation | First addition: 1920-1999 |
| Second addition: 1916-1984 |
Return to: UND Student Organizations
Return to: Women's Organizational Records
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