Hero Archives 415x260

October 2020 Heritage News: US Archives Month

Category: Heritage

Noraleen Young

Alpha Chi, Purdue

October is US Archives Month, and the Theta archives are proud to be a member of the archival community. I want to take the opportunity to thank those who have contributed to the archives over the years. It would not be as rich or comprehensive without the contributions of many Thetas and Theta friends.

The primary mission of an organization's archives is to preserve the history of that organization. It is also part of that mission to share that content by supplying access or sharing stories from the archives via a broad range of channels.

For Theta's archives, it is done by

  • Supplying support to members for questions about their history,
  • Sharing the history of past members with family members and other Thetas,
  • Supporting college and alumnae chapters with their history and activities,
  • Researching historical context for officers, staff and members as they make decisions, and
  • Educating the broader community about Theta's contribution to college life and the role of college-educated women.

Theta's archives does this by accessing information through the archives' papers, publications, photographs, and artifacts. All this content is possible by those before us, members and their families who donate materials and share their stories, the 1899 Grand Convention that voted to set up the archives, and the earlier Fraternity archivists who supported the collections over the years. (Have a question about donating materials? Contact the archives!)

I created a group in our new ThetaConnect app called Theta History Group. I check in on a regular basis to answer questions, share some tidbit about Theta's past, or admire items and photographs from Theta's past shared by group members. You are welcome to join the group and learn more about Theta's history.

Archives are an essential part of an organization as it supplies the institutional memory, reflecting how we grew and adapted to our member's needs. Whether you email or call the archives, check out the content in the Heritage area of the Theta website, or visit the Heritage Museum, it is made possible because of the rich resources available in the Theta archives, made possible by those before us. Thank you!