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Tau Alpha Omicron Records
Notifications
Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. 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
Tau Alpha Omicron, a men's Greek fraternity, was founded at Swarthmore College in 1907. It became part of the national fraternity Phi Delta Theta in 192 , designated Pennsylvania Kappa Chapter. Its charter was revoked in 1958 following years of protest against the national organization's racial, ethnic, and religious restrictions on membership. The organization became a local fraternity, resuming its original name, and the supporting alumni organization was renamed Tau Alpha Omicron, Inc. To reduce the indebtedness of the fraternity, the College agreed to buy back at face value the bonds issued when the fraternity lodge was built in 1926. By 1974, the membership and administration of the local fraternity had collapsed, and the College recommended laying down Tau Alpha Omicron, Inc., and turning the lodge over to the College. In 1977, the College assumed control of the fraternity lodge, now known as Sharples #2.
The collection contains primarily the original building bonds redeemed by the College and related financial information and correspondence.
The collection is contained in 1 box.
Donor: John C. Thomas, Class of 1939
Date: 1985
Transfer: Controller's Office, Swarthmore College
Acc. SCA 1998.032
Provenance: John Thomas was the Treasurer of Tau Alpha Omicron, Inc., the alumni corporation created to support the local fraternity.
Organization
Subject
- Publisher
- Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
- Finding Aid Author
- FHL staff
- Finding Aid Date
- 2013
- Sponsor
- Encoding made possible by a grant by the Gladys Kriebel Delmas Foundation to the Philadelphia Consortium of Special Collections Libraries
- Access Restrictions
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Collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
Copyright has not been assigned to Friends Historical Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in to the Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Friends Historical Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by reader.
Collection Inventory
Includes Constitution of the Interfraternity announcement, dated Dec. 29, 1958, of revocation of Charter.
Physical Description1 folder
Checkbooks and alumni correspondence concerning finances, state of the fraternity, and the revocation of the charter and retirement of the bonds. Gift of John C. Thomas, Class of 1939. Also cover letter of alumni photograph given to College by Orrick Metcalfe.
Physical Description1 folder
Concerning collecting the outstanding bonds, alumni support for the local, budgets, and a copy of Phi Delta Theta's version of the revocation of the Chapter's charter in 1958.
Physical Description1 folder
Correspondence between former Treasurer of Tau Alpha Omicron, Inc., and the College concerning the decline of the fraternity and advisement to turn the lodge over to the College to be used more wisely.
Physical Description1 folder
Copy of letter from former member donating a 1928-1929 Chapter photograph. Response from President's Office explains that the local chapter was laid down in 1977.
Physical Description1 folder
Alpha Tau Omicron newsletter, with gaps
Physical Description1 folder
Redeemed bonds transferring title of lodge to Swarthmore College, with correspondence concerning. The College purchased the bonds at face value in 1959. Transferred from Controller's Office, SCA 199-032
Physical Description1 folder
Bonds. Note dated 1971 indicates that #62 was the last to be retired, 1968
Physical Description1 folder