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Student Life: Pi Kappa Lambda Honor Society, Theta Chapter Records

 Collection
Identifier: RG 19-003-002-002

Scope and Contents

The records of Pi Kappa Lambda, Theta Chapter, document the membership, programs, and governance of this honorary national musical fraternity from its establishment in 1927. The collection provides documentation concerning the history and operation of the national organization of Pi Kappa Lambda. The collection contains documentation concerning the work of the various presidents since 1961, including elections, correspondence, and honor recipients.

>The Administrative Series (Series 1) contains membership, financial, newsletters, and program files. A historical booklet that covers twenty years of the Society of Pi Kappa Lambda (1918-1937). Also included in this series are handbooks for the national organization and the its chapters.

Dates

  • Creation: 1927-2003, undated
  • Other: Date acquired: 10/05/1993

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted.

Biographical or Historical Information

The Theta Chapter of the honorary national musical fraternity.  Pi Kappa Lambda, was established at Oberlin College in 1926-1927.  It was the eighth chapter of the national organization which was founded in 1918 at Northwestern University.  Its purpose remains the promotion of musical education and excellence in performance and composition.  The motto of the Theta Chapter is "Try To Grasp Things Beautiful."  Students who are chosen for this honor must have a qualifying grade point average.  This average varies slightly through the years or "floats" depending on the strength of the graduating class.  Approximately 18 students are added each year to the membership rolls.

In the 1930s, Oberlin's Theta Chapter established a Scholarship and Loan Fund, from which loans could be made to needy students of high scholastic standing.  Over the years, Theta Chapter has presented numerous informal addresses by member and invited guests artists to perform throughout each season.

PRESIDENTS

1929   Arthur E. Heacox

               

1931   James H. Hall

                      

1933   Laurel Yeamans

                  

1936   Gladys F. Moore

              

1938   Gladys F. Moore

1939   Gladys F. Moore

1940   Josephine B. Lythe

1941   Josephine B. Lythe

1942   George E. Waln

1943   George E. Waln

1944   George O. Lillich

1945   George O. Lillich

1946   Robert A. Melcher

1947   Robert A. Melcher

1948   Robert A. Melcher

1950   David E. Moyer

1951   Clifford A. Cook

1952   Clifford A. Cook

1953   Fenner Douglass

1954   Fenner Douglass

1956   John Elvin

1957   Lucy Lewis

1958   Lucy Lewis

1959   Freeman Koberstein

1960   Freeman Koberstein

1961   Inda Howland

1964   William Richardson

1965   Garth Peacock

1966   Garth Peacock

1967   Robert Drummond

1969   Miles Mauney

1970   Miles Mauney

1971   Haskell L. Thomson

1972   Haskell L. Thomson

1973   Haskell L. Thomson

1974   Robert A. Melcher

1975   Robert A. Melcher

1976   Martha A. Stacy

1977   Martha A. Stacy

1978   Priscilla Smith

1979   Priscilla Smith

1980   Miles Mauney

1981   Miles Mauney

1982   Freeman Koberstein

1983   Freeman Koberstein

1984   Francis S. Walker

1985   Francis S. Walker

1986   Garth Peacock

1987   Gil Miranda

1988   Gil Miranda

1990   Norman Fischer

1991   Norman Fischer

1992   Joseph Schwartz

1993   Joseph Schwartz

Extent

4.83 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Method of Acquisition

The first lot of records was transferred from the Conservatory of Music in 1993. Additional files were received from the Office of Stewardship in January of 2006. In 2007 another set of records was received from Ellen Sayles, the Associate Dean of Studies (unprocessed).

Accruals and Additions

Accession Nos: 1993/102, 2006/002, 2007/013 (unprocessed).

Related Materials

For the records of other honorary society chapters at Oberlin, see RG 19/3/2/0, Honorary Organizations, and RG 19/3/2/1, Phi Beta Kappa, Zeta of Ohio.

Title
Student Life: Pi Kappa Lambda Honor Society, Theta Chapter Records
Author
Erika Biga, Tara L. Ikneouye, Kenneth M. Grossi, Rebecca Deeb, Alexander Woolverton, Anne Cuyler Salsich
Date
02/01/1994
Description rules
Rules for Archival Description
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Oberlin College Archives Repository

Contact:
420 Mudd Center
148 West College Street
Oberlin OH 44074-1532 US
440-775-8014
440-775-8016 (Fax)