This collection pertains to the Flagstaff-based Preceptor RHO Chapter of the Beta Sigma Phi
social sorority and contains correspondence, minute books and scrapbooks (kept in their original form).
Collection Number
NAU.MS.47
Language
English.
Repository
Cline Library. Special Collections and Archives Department
Northern Arizona University
Cline Library
P.O. Box 6022
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6022
Phone: 928 523 5551
Fax: 928 523 3770
Email: Special.Collections@nau.edu
Historical Note
Beta Sigma Phi was founded as both a social sorority and a service organization by Walter W. Ross in Abilene, Kansas, in 1931. In a short time, there were over ten thousand chapters internationally. The Chapters of BSP stressed cultural awareness and an active social life through participation in educational programs and interaction with other chapters. BSP was the largest supporter of Girlstown, USA, a non-profit organization for girls from broken homes in Whiteface, Texas (Walter W. Ross was Girlstown's director at one time).
In Flagstaff, there were eight separate chapters of BSP: Alpha Sigma; Phi Eta; Xi Alpha Mu; Alpha Alpha; Xi Alpha Alpha; Alpha Upsilon; City Council; and Xi Upsilon, later renamed Preceptor RHO. A Preceptor RHO Chapter was the highest step in BSP hierarchy; all members had to have at least ten years of active
participation. Preceptor RHO-Flagstaff also had another distinction: the Order of the Rose was given to sisters with at least 15 years of active membership. Preceptor RHO-Flagstaff had over two-thirds of all the "Roses" in the Flagstaff area.
Scope and Content Note
This collection consists of papers from the Flagstaff Preceptor RHO Chapter of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority housed in two boxes (including one oversized box). The collection is divided by content and form into five series: 1) Chapter Organizational Outline; 2) Correspondence, 1961-1975; 3) Miscellaneous; 4)
Minute Books, 1972-1978; and 5) Scrapbooks, 1966-1978. The collection is evenly divided between Minute Books, Scrapbooks, and loose papers. The Scrapbooks contain many photographs, newsclippings, invitations, and announcements which document the sorority's activities.
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Arizona Board of Regents for Northern Arizona University, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.
Two 3-ring binders containing official minutes of BSP meetings. The first binder contains minutes from 1972 to 1975. The second binder contains minutes from 1975 to 1978.
Two oversized scrapbooks containing pictures, invitations, party memorabilia, programs, media clippings, and much more. The first scrapbook dates from 1966 to 1970. The second scrapbook dates from 1969 to 1978.
