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Phi Beta Kappa. Delta of Pennsylvania Records

Notifications

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center [Contact Us]3401 Market Street, Suite 210, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
UPS 43.4
Repository:
University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center
Extent:
7 cubic feet
Language:
English
Date:
1898-1972 (inclusive) and 1935-1968 (bulk)
Creator:
Phi Beta Kappa. Delta of Pennsylvania (University of Pennsylvania)
Abstract:
Phi Beta Kappa, Delta of Pennsylvania is the chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa national honor society at the University of Pennsylvania. The records document the activities of Delta of Pennsylvania mostly from the mid-1930s to the late-1960s. The documentation consists of correspondence, election results, handbooks, member lists, and reports.

Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest undergraduate honor society in the United States. The first chapter was founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia (Alpha of Virginia), followed by chapters at Yale (Alpha of Connecticut) in 1780 and Harvard (Alpha of Massachusetts) in 1781. The purpose of Phi Beta Kappa was to encourage academic achievement and a lifelong pursuit of learning. The name Phi Beta Kappa comes from the Greek phrase "Philosophia Biou Cybernetes" meaning "the love of wisdom is the guide of life." Early Phi Beta Kappa displayed many attributes that would in time come to be considered hallmarks of modern-day Greek letter fraternities – use of a Greek motto, governing rules for its members, initiation rituals for new members, and an oath of secrecy. Early Phi Beta Kappa also displayed characteristics of a traditional debating or literary society. However, during a wave of anti-secret society sentiment in 1830s America, chapters abandoned their secrecy oaths and focused solely on functioning as a scholastic honor society.

The origins of Phi Beta Kappa at the University of Pennsylvania can be traced back to 1892 and George Egbert Fisher, a Professor of Mathematics (and later Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences), who had been elected to Phi Beta Kappa as a student at Cornell University. Professor Fisher submitted a charter for a University of Pennsylvania chapter to the Council of the United Chapters which was granted in September 1892. Following the established naming convention for new chapters, as the fourth chapter founded in Pennsylvania, the chapter at the University of Pennsylvania was called Delta of Pennsylvania. The initial membership consisted of members of University of Pennsylvania faculty who likely would have been elected to Phi Beta Kappa had they been alumni of institutions that had a chapter. At the end of the 1892-93 academic year the initial members elected the most academically gifted members of the departing senior class, a select few from the junior class, and a handful of honorary members. In 1935 a section for the College of Liberal Arts for Women was established. These were not separate chapters, as spelled out in the Delta of Pennsylvania's constitution and by-laws at the time, though the two sections did have their own officers, conducted independent elections, had separate finances, and maintained a separate correspondence with the United Chapters.

The records of Phi Beta Kappa, Delta of Pennsylvania document the activities of the national honor society's chapter at the University of Pennsylvania mostly from the mid-1930s to the late-1960s. The documentation consists of correspondence, election results, handbooks, member lists, and reports. Similar material also exists for Delta of Pennsylvania's Women's Section.

There is some material generated under the auspices of the United Chapters of Phi Beta Kappa, the central and governing body of Phi Beta Kappa. This includes chapter manuals, constitution and by-laws, mailings to chapters, and significant runs of the Phi Beta Kappa Bulletin, distributed amongst chapter officers, and the Phi Beta Kappa Key, the United Chapters' quarterly publication for news.

Some documentation of other Phi Beta Kappa chapters exists, which is mostly chapter handbooks and member directories.

The records of Phi Beta Kappa are organized into four series - Delta of Pennsylvania; Delta of Pennsylvania, Women's Section; United Chapters of Phi Beta Kappa; and Other Phi Beta Kappa Chapters - each of which are arranged alphabetically.

The records of Phi Beta Kappa were donated to the University Archives in 1968 (accession number 68/4), 1975 (accession number 75-5) and 2014 (accession number 2014:23).

People
Subject
Occupation

Publisher
University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center
Finding Aid Author
Timothy H. Horning
Finding Aid Date
August 2014
Access Restrictions

Access to collections is granted in accordance with the Protocols for the University Archives and Records Center.

Collection Inventory

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Address Service, 1958-1960.
Box 1 Folder 1
Annual Reports to United Chapters, 1932-1962.
Box 1 Folder 2
Associate Members, 1938.
Box 1 Folder 3
Balfour Company, 1954-1957.
Box 1 Folder 4
Bank Information, 1936-1954.
Box 1 Folder 5
Candidate Lists, 1931-1961.
Box 1 Folder 6
Carnegie Foundation Test, 1928.
Box 1 Folder 7
Certificates, 1954-1961.
Box 1 Folder 8
College for Women, 1934-1942.
Box 1 Folder 9
Constitution and By-Laws, 1925-1935, n.d.
Box 1 Folder 10
Constitution and List of Members, 1902.
Box 1 Folder 11
1898-1908.
Box 1 Folder 12
1909-1913.
Box 1 Folder 13
1914-1915.
Box 1 Folder 14
1916-1917.
Box 1 Folder 15
1918-1919.
Box 1 Folder 16
1920-1921.
Box 1 Folder 17
1922-1923.
Box 1 Folder 18
1924-1925.
Box 1 Folder 19
1926-1936.
Box 1 Folder 20
1937-1947.
Box 1 Folder 21
1961-1973.
Box 1 Folder 22
n.d.
Box 1 Folder 23
District Meetings, 1928-1960.
Box 1 Folder 24
1907-1910.
Box 1 Folder 25
1910-1913.
Box 1 Folder 26
1913-1914.
Box 1 Folder 27
1914-1918.
Box 1 Folder 28
1918-1919.
Box 1 Folder 29
1919-1923.
Box 1 Folder 30
1924-1962.
Box 1 Folder 31
n.d.
Box 1 Folder 32
Honorary, 1902-1925.
Box 1 Folder 33
Electoral Board, 1934-1961.
Box 1 Folder 34
Elmaleh Prize, 1945-1960.
Box 1 Folder 35
Faculty, 1955-1961.
Box 1 Folder 36
History of Delta of Pennsylvania Chapter, 1909.
Box 1 Folder 37
Honorary Members, 1927-1960.
Box 1 Folder 38
Initiations for Other Chapters, 1926-1955.
Box 2 Folder 1
Installation of a Section in the College of Liberal Arts for Women, 1935.
Box 2 Folder 2
Library, 1935-1960.
Box 2 Folder 3
Life Members, 1941-1944.
Box 2 Folder 4
Mailing Lists, 1934-1945.
Box 2 Folder 5
Meeting Announcements, 1927-1960.
Box 2 Folder 6
Member List, c. 1898.
Box 2 Folder 7
Member List, 1904.
Box 2 Folder 8
Member List, 1920.
Box 2 Folder 9
Minutes, 1923-1930.
Box 2 Folder 10
Necrology, 1929-1962.
Box 2 Folder 11
Permanent Organization Election Laws, 1944-1945.
Box 2 Folder 12
Phi Beta Kappa Association of Philadelphia, 1917-1937.
Box 2 Folder 13
Phi Beta Kappa Award, 1928.
Box 2 Folder 14
Proposed By-Laws, n.d.
Box 2 Folder 15
Scholarship Conference, 1928.
Box 2 Folder 16
Secretary's Reports, 1902-1914.
Box 2 Folder 17
Treasurer's Book, 1947.
Box 2 Folder 18
Treasurer's Reports, 1902-1913.
Box 2 Folder 19
Treasurer's Reports, 1926-1938.
Box 2 Folder 20
Treasurer's Reports, 1944-1946, 1949, 1955-1960, 1965.
Box 2 Folder 21
Triennial Councils, 1931-1958.
Box 2 Folder 22
Visiting Scholar Program, 1957-1963.
Box 2 Folder 23

Annual Reports to United Chapters, 1935-1964.
Box 2 Folder 24
By-Laws, 1935-1965.
Box 2 Folder 25
Charter Members, 1935.
Box 2 Folder 26
1935.
Box 2 Folder 27
1936-1940.
Box 2 Folder 28
1941-1963.
Box 2 Folder 29
Carl Billman, 1958-1962.
Box 2 Folder 30
Speakers, 1937-1941.
Box 2 Folder 31
Spring 1935.
Box 2 Folder 32
Fall 1935.
Box 2 Folder 33
Spring 1936.
Box 2 Folder 34
Fall 1936.
Box 2 Folder 35
Spring 1937.
Box 2 Folder 36
Spring 1938.
Box 2 Folder 37
Fall 1938.
Box 2 Folder 38
Spring 1939.
Box 2 Folder 39
Fall 1939.
Box 2 Folder 40
Spring 1940.
Box 2 Folder 41
Fall 1940.
Box 2 Folder 42
Spring 1941.
Box 2 Folder 43
Fall 1941.
Box 2 Folder 44
Spring 1942.
Box 2 Folder 45
Fall 1942.
Box 2 Folder 46
Spring 1943.
Box 2 Folder 47
Fall 1943.
Box 2 Folder 48
Spring 1944.
Box 2 Folder 49
Fall 1944.
Box 2 Folder 50
Spring 1945.
Box 2 Folder 51
Fall 1945.
Box 2 Folder 52
Spring 1946.
Box 2 Folder 53
Fall 1946.
Box 2 Folder 54
Spring 1947.
Box 3 Folder 1
Fall 1947.
Box 3 Folder 2
Spring 1948.
Box 3 Folder 3
Fall 1948.
Box 3 Folder 4
Spring 1949.
Box 3 Folder 5
Fall 1949.
Box 3 Folder 6
Spring 1950.
Box 3 Folder 7
Fall 1950.
Box 3 Folder 8
Spring 1951.
Box 3 Folder 9
Fall 1951.
Box 3 Folder 10
Spring 1952.
Box 3 Folder 11
Fall 1952.
Box 3 Folder 12
Spring 1953.
Box 3 Folder 13
Fall 1953.
Box 3 Folder 14
Spring 1954.
Box 3 Folder 15
Fall 1954.
Box 3 Folder 16
Spring 1955.
Box 3 Folder 17
Fall 1955.
Box 3 Folder 18
Spring 1956.
Box 3 Folder 19
Fall 1956.
Box 3 Folder 20
Spring 1957.
Box 3 Folder 21
Fall 1957.
Box 3 Folder 22
Spring 1958.
Box 3 Folder 23
Fall 1958.
Box 3 Folder 24
Spring 1959.
Box 3 Folder 25
Fall 1959.
Box 3 Folder 26
Spring 1960.
Box 3 Folder 27
Spring 1961.
Box 3 Folder 28
Spring 1962.
Box 3 Folder 29
Spring 1963.
Box 3 Folder 30
Spring 1964.
Box 3 Folder 31
Fall 1964, Spring 1965.
Box 3 Folder 32
Fall 1965.
Box 3 Folder 33
Spring 1966.
Box 3 Folder 34
Fall 1966.
Box 3 Folder 35
Spring 1967.
Box 3 Folder 36
Fall 1967.
Box 3 Folder 37
Acceptances, 1935.
Box 3 Folder 38
Honorary and Alumnae Considered, Spring 1939.
Box 3 Folder 39
Refusals, 1935-1946.
Box 3 Folder 40
Requests for Election, 1935.
Box 3 Folder 41
Essay Contest, 1941.
Box 3 Folder 42
Faculty, 1965.
Box 3 Folder 43
Installation of a Section in the College of Liberal Arts for Women, 1935.
Box 3 Folder 44
Key Orders, 1960-1963.
Box 3 Folder 45
Member List, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 46
Minute Book, 1935-1944.
Box 3 Folder 47
Nominating Committee, 1960.
Box 3 Folder 48
Questionnaire, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 49
Rituals, 1936-1956.
Box 4 Folder 1
Secretary's File, 1964-1965.
Box 4 Folder 2
Treasurer's Book, 1964-1969.
Box 4 Folder 3
Treasurer's Files, 1944-1968.
Box 4 Folder 4
Visiting Scholars, 1960-1963.
Box 4 Folder 5

Annals, 1934.
Box 4 Folder 6
A Bibliography of Phi Beta Kappa, Clark Sutherland Northup, 1928.
Box 7 Folder 4
Chapter Officer's Manual, 1934.
Box 4 Folder 7
Chapter Officer's Manual, 1958.
Box 4 Folder 8
Chapter Officer's Manual, 1959.
Box 4 Folder 9
Chapter Policy Committee Report, 1925.
Box 4 Folder 10
Chapter Secretaries, 1965.
Box 4 Folder 11
1938.
Box 4 Folder 12
1940.
Box 4 Folder 13
1955.
Box 4 Folder 14
1958.
Box 4 Folder 15
1961.
Box 4 Folder 16
1964.
Box 4 Folder 17
Dedication of Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall, 1957.
Box 4 Folder 18
Form of Initiation, 1956.
Box 4 Folder 19
Fourth Annual Lecture, 1938.
Box 4 Folder 20
Greeting to New Members of Phi Beta Kappa, A, n.d.
Box 4 Folder 21
Handbook and General Address Catalogue, 1900.
Box 7 Folder 1
Handbook for New Members, 1938.
Box 4 Folder 22
Handbook for New Members, c. 1959.
Box 4 Folder 23
Index to Phi Beta Kappa, 1934.
Box 4 Folder 24
Laws and Practices, 1933.
Box 4 Folder 25
Mailings to Chapters, 1928-1937.
Box 4 Folder 26
Mailings to Chapters, 1937-1948.
Box 4 Folder 27
Mailings to Chapters, 1949-1956.
Box 4 Folder 28
Mailings to Chapters, 1956-1966.
Box 4 Folder 29
30 October 1931.
Box 4 Folder 30
30 March 1932.
Box 4 Folder 31
15 October 1932.
Box 4 Folder 32
25 February 1933.
Box 4 Folder 33
May 1933.
Box 4 Folder 34
October 1933.
Box 4 Folder 35
January 1934.
Box 4 Folder 36
March 1934.
Box 4 Folder 37
October 1934.
Box 4 Folder 38
January 1935.
Box 4 Folder 39
15 April 1935.
Box 4 Folder 40
22 October 1935.
Box 4 Folder 41
16 March 1936.
Box 4 Folder 42
10 November 1936.
Box 4 Folder 43
25 November 1936.
Box 4 Folder 44
10 February 1937.
Box 4 Folder 45
26 February 1937.
Box 4 Folder 46
May 1937.
Box 4 Folder 47
October 1937.
Box 4 Folder 48
January 1938.
Box 4 Folder 49
April 1938.
Box 4 Folder 50
October 1938.
Box 4 Folder 51
January 1939.
Box 4 Folder 52
April 1939.
Box 4 Folder 53
October 1939.
Box 4 Folder 54
January 1940.
Box 4 Folder 55
April 1940.
Box 4 Folder 56
October 1940.
Box 4 Folder 57
November 1940.
Box 4 Folder 58
January 1941.
Box 4 Folder 59
April 1941.
Box 4 Folder 60
October 1941.
Box 4 Folder 61
October 1943.
Box 4 Folder 62
December 1944.
Box 4 Folder 63
December 1946.
Box 4 Folder 64
February 1949.
Box 4 Folder 65
March 1950.
Box 4 Folder 66
January 1951.
Box 4 Folder 67
March 1952.
Box 4 Folder 68
March 1953.
Box 4 Folder 69
January 1954.
Box 4 Folder 70
February 1955.
Box 4 Folder 71
February 1956.
Box 4 Folder 72
January 1957 .
Box 4 Folder 73
February 1958.
Box 4 Folder 74
March 1959.
Box 4 Folder 75
February 1960.
Box 4 Folder 76
February 1961.
Box 4 Folder 77
March 1962.
Box 4 Folder 78
Index to Volume One (November 1910 to May 1913), n.d.
Box 4 Folder 79
October 1912.
Box 4 Folder 80
March 1913.
Box 4 Folder 81
October 1913.
Box 4 Folder 82
January 1914.
Box 4 Folder 83
March 2014.
Box 5 Folder 1
May 1914.
Box 5 Folder 2
January 1915.
Box 5 Folder 3
March 1915.
Box 5 Folder 4
May 1915.
Box 5 Folder 5
October 1915.
Box 5 Folder 6
January 1916.
Box 5 Folder 7
March 1916.
Box 5 Folder 8
May 1916.
Box 5 Folder 9
October 1916.
Box 5 Folder 10
March 1917.
Box 5 Folder 11
May 1917.
Box 5 Folder 12
October 1917.
Box 5 Folder 13
January and March 1918.
Box 5 Folder 14
May 1918.
Box 5 Folder 15
October 1918.
Box 5 Folder 16
January 1919.
Box 5 Folder 17
March 1919.
Box 5 Folder 18
October 1919.
Box 5 Folder 19
January 1920.
Box 5 Folder 20
March 1920.
Box 5 Folder 21
May 1920.
Box 5 Folder 22
October 1920.
Box 5 Folder 23
January 1921.
Box 5 Folder 24
March 1921.
Box 5 Folder 25
October 1921.
Box 5 Folder 26
January 1922.
Box 5 Folder 27
March 1922.
Box 5 Folder 28
May 1923.
Box 5 Folder 29
October 1923.
Box 5 Folder 30
March 1924.
Box 5 Folder 31
May 1924.
Box 5 Folder 32
October 1924.
Box 5 Folder 33
January 1925.
Box 5 Folder 34
March 1925.
Box 5 Folder 35
May 1925.
Box 5 Folder 36
October 1925.
Box 5 Folder 37
January 1926.
Box 5 Folder 38
May 1926.
Box 5 Folder 39
October 1926.
Box 5 Folder 40
January 1927.
Box 5 Folder 41
May 1927.
Box 5 Folder 42
October 1927.
Box 5 Folder 43
January 1928.
Box 5 Folder 44
March 1928.
Box 5 Folder 45
May 1928.
Box 5 Folder 46
January 1929.
Box 5 Folder 47
March 1929.
Box 5 Folder 48
May 1929.
Box 5 Folder 49
October 1929.
Box 5 Folder 50
January 1930.
Box 5 Folder 51
March 1930.
Box 5 Folder 52
May 1930.
Box 5 Folder 53
October 1930.
Box 5 Folder 54
March 1931.
Box 5 Folder 55
May 1931.
Box 5 Folder 56
October 1931.
Box 5 Folder 57
Phi Beta Kappa Past and Present, 1908.
Box 5 Folder 58
Phi Beta Kappa Souvenir, 1910.
Box 5 Folder 59
Search for Values, 1934.
Box 5 Folder 60
Sesquicentennial Ceremonies, 1926.
Box 5 Folder 61
Sixteenth National Council Reports of Officers, 1928.
Box 5 Folder 62
Sixth Annual Lecture, 1940.
Box 5 Folder 63
Eighth Triennial Council, 1904.
Box 5 Folder 64
Eighteenth Triennial Council Delegate's Manual and Minutes, 1934.
Box 5 Folder 65
Nineteenth Triennial Council Delegate's Manual, 1937.
Box 5 Folder 66
Twentieth Triennial Council Delegate's Manual, 1940.
Box 5 Folder 67
Twenty-First Triennial Council Delegate's Manual, 1946.
Box 6 Folder 1
Twenty-Second Triennial Council Delegate's Manual, 1949.
Box 6 Folder 2
Twenty-Third Triennial Council Delegate's Manual, 1952.
Box 6 Folder 3
Twenty-Fourth Triennial Council Delegate's Manual, 1955.
Box 6 Folder 4
Twenty-Fifth Triennial Council Delegate's Manual, 1958.
Box 6 Folder 5

California: Alpha of California (University of California): Handbook, 1917.
Box 6 Folder 6
Connecticut: Alpha of Connecticut (Yale University): Catalogue of Members, 1905.
Box 6 Folder 7
Connecticut: Gamma of Connecticut (Wesleyan University): Catalogue, 1906.
Box 6 Folder 8
Georgia: Gamma of Georgia (Emory University): Address at the Installation of the Gamma Chapter of Georgia, 1929.
Box 6 Folder 9
Illinois: Beta Chapter of Illinois (University of Chicago): Handbook, 1915.
Box 6 Folder 10
Illinois: Gamma Chapter of Illinois (University of Illinois): Handbook, 1920.
Box 6 Folder 11
Illinois: Gamma Chapter of Illinois (University of Illinois): Charter, Constitution, By-Laws and Members, 1930.
Box 6 Folder 12
Kentucky: Alpha of Kentucky (University of Kentucky): Who's Who, 1935.
Box 6 Folder 13
Massachusetts: Alpha of Massachusetts (Harvard University): Catalogue, 1912.
Box 6 Folder 14
Massachusetts: Beta of Massachusetts (Amherst College): Catalogue, 1934.
Box 6 Folder 15
Massachusetts: Epsilon of Massachusetts (Boston University): Directory, 1916.
Box 6 Folder 16
Minnesota: Beta of Minnesota (Carleton College): Handbook, 1918.
Box 6 Folder 17
Minnesota: Beta of Minnesota (Carleton College): Handbook, 1939.
Box 6 Folder 18
Missouri: Alpha of Missouri (University of Missouri): Handbook, 1909.
Box 6 Folder 19
New Hampshire: Alpha of New Hampshire (Dartmouth College): 150th Anniversary, 1937.
Box 6 Folder 20
New York: Beta of New York (New York University): The Presidents of the Beta of New York, A Centennial Memoir, 1958.
Box 6 Folder 21
New York: Gamma of New York (City College of New York): History, c. 1942.
Box 6 Folder 22
New York: Kappa of New York (Syracuse University): Handbook, 1905.
Box 6 Folder 23
New York: Kappa of New York (Syracuse University): Men and Days in Phi Beta Kappa, Rev. Arthur Copeland, D.D., 1907.
Box 7 Folder 2
New York: Theta of New York (Cornell University): Handbook, c. 1912.
Box 6 Folder 24
Ohio: Alpha of Ohio (Adelbert College and College for Women of Western Reserve University): Handbook, 1917.
Box 6 Folder 25
Ohio: Epsilon of Ohio (Ohio State University): Directory, 1917.
Box 6 Folder 26
Pennsylvania: Alpha of Pennsylvania (Dickinson College): Handbook, 1929.
Box 6 Folder 27
Pennsylvania: Alpha of Pennsylvania (Dickinson College): Handbook, 1933.
Box 6 Folder 28
Pennsylvania: Alpha of Pennsylvania (Dickinson College): Handbook, 1939.
Box 6 Folder 29
Pennsylvania: Beta of Pennsylvania (Lehigh University): Handbook, c. 1937.
Box 6 Folder 30
Pennsylvania: Epsilon of Pennsylvania (Swarthmore College): Handbook, 1919.
Box 6 Folder 31
Pennsylvania: Eta of Pennsylvania (Allegheny College): Handbook, 1927.
Box 6 Folder 32
Pennsylvania: Iota of Pennsylvania (Gettysburg College): Handbook, 1940.
Box 6 Folder 33
Pennsylvania: Theta of Pennsylvania (Franklin and Marshall College): Handbook, 1933.
Box 6 Folder 34
Pennsylvania: Zeta of Pennsylvania (Haverford College): Handbook, 1937.
Box 6 Folder 35
Rhode Island: Alpha of Rhode Island (Brown University): Handbook, 1914.
Box 6 Folder 36
Rhode Island: Alpha of Rhode Island (Brown University): Keys at Brown, 1937.
Box 6 Folder 37
Rhode Island: Alpha of Rhode Island (Brown University): More Than a Century of Scholars, William T. Hastings, 1955.
Box 7 Folder 3
South Dakota: Alpha Rho of South Dakota (University of South Dakota): Membership Scroll, n.d.
Box 6 Folder 38
Tennessee: Alpha of Tennessee (Vanderbilt College): Handbook, 1906.
Box 6 Folder 39
Tennessee: Alpha of Tennessee (Vanderbilt College): In Memoriam Herbert Cushing Tolman, 1926.
Box 6 Folder 40
Texas: Alpha of Texas (University of Texas): Handbook, 1920.
Box 6 Folder 41
Wisconsin: Alpha of Wisconsin (University of Wisconsin): Catalogue, 1917.
Box 6 Folder 42
Wisconsin: Phi Beta Kappa Alumni in Milwaukee [Association]: Handbook, c. 1917.
Box 6 Folder 43

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