Call Number:

024

Repository:

Science History Institute Archives

Extent:

4.2 linear feet (3 record boxes)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Alpha Chi Sigma Grand Chapter Records, 1985-2010, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Date:

1985-2010 (inclusive)

Creator:

Alpha Chi Sigma. Grand Chapter and Anderson, Gary D.

Form:

Archival materials

Abstract:

Bound proceedings of the Grand Chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma, an American professional chemistry fraternity. The materials in this collection were collected and maintained by Gary D. Anderson, a Professor of Chemistry at Marshall University and a longtime active member of Alpha Chi Sigma who served on the fraternity's Grand Chapter.

Alpha Chi Sigma is an American professional chemistry fraternity. The fraternity was founded in 1902 by a group of undergraduate chemistry students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Alpha Chi Sigma's membership grew after its founding, which led it to incorporate as a national fraternity in 1904 and to hold its first national Biennial Conclave in 1908. Originally founded for students at colleges and universities, it evolved into a professional fraternity during the 1910s and 1920s, which it accomplished by opening its membership to alumni (1910) and chemistry professionals (1922).

Currently headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Alpha Chi Sigma seeks to bring together and support the endeavors of students and professionals in a wide variety of chemistry related careers. To recognize excellence by chemistry professionals, it supports the American Chemical Society Award for Pure Chemistry (established 1939) and presents the John R. Kuebler Award (established 1966). Over the course of its existence, Alpha Chi Sigma's membership has included twenty-one Nobel Laureates, including Linus Pauling, Glenn T. Seaborg, Paul J. Flory, and Alan MacDiarmid. The fraternity has also counted a number of other prominent chemistry professionals as members, including, but not limited to, Arnold O. Beckman, Willard H. Dow, Donald F. Othmer, and John D. Roberts.

Alpha Chi Sigma's Grand Chapter serves as the fraternity's legislative body, which controls its operations. Its membership consists of Grand Chapter Officers, District Counselors, Professional Representatives, Master Alchemist of each collegiate chapter, and Presidents of each professional chapter. When the Grand Chapter meets at the Biennial Conclave, individual chapters are represented by elected delegates. The Grand Chapter decides how business is to be conducted, amends the fraternity's constitution and by-laws, and conducts other business as needed. The Grand Chapter is also responsible for electing the fraternity's Supreme Council.

Sources

Alpha Chi Sigma Grand Chapter Records, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Alpha Chi Sigma Grand Chapter Records contain bound proceedings of the Grand Chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma. The materials in this collection were collected and maintained by Gary D. Anderson, a longtime active member of Alpha Chi Sigma who served on the fraternity's Grand Chapter.

The proceedings in this collection document the annual activities of Alpha Chi Sigma's Grand Chapter between 1985 and 2010, which include, but are not limited to, Grand Chapter business, actions of the Supreme Council, constitution and by-law matters, financial matters, and the management of the Alpha Chi Sigma Educational Foundation. To a lesser extent, they also document Gary D. Anderson's activities on Alpha Chi Sigma's Grand Chapter, which include his involvement in founding the Marshall University Chapter, and serving as the Grand Chapter's Grand Master of Ceremonies, Grand Collegiate Alchemist, and Grand Master Alchemist.