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A Photographic History of Oregon State University

Campus Organizations at OSU

Throughout its history, Oregon State University has supported a myriad of organizations that have played vital roles in shaping the campus community. These organizations have catered to a variety of groups and interests. They have included service and honorary societies; fraternities, sororities, and other social organizations; living groups; religious and spiritually affiliated organizations; clubs associated with academic programs and professions; and recreational and sports clubs.

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Theta Sigma Phi members performing a stunt in front of the Memorial Union, 1938. Theta Sigma Phi is a national professional society for women in journalism and communications. It was created in 1909 by female journalism students at the University of Washington. Oregon State’s Alpha Eta chapter was established in 1924, replacing a predecessor organization called The Scribe. The national organization, now known as the Association for Women in Communications, allowed men to become members in 1972. (HC 1182)
Oregon State Housemothers, ca. 1950. Greek houses and housing co-operatives employed housemothers, who served “in loco parentis” for those living groups, acting as administrator, superviser, social coordinator, and sometime confidante. One of the most famous housemothers affiliated with Oregon State was Florence Kincaid Naismith, widow of James Naismith, who is credited with inventing the game of basketball in 1892. She served as housemother for the Delta Delta Delta sorority from 1941 to 1947. Housemothers also had their own organization – the Resident Hostess Club of Oregon State College. It was created in 1948, and the members met monthly to discuss common issues and problems at the living groups, and to plan social events for the residents. The club had a close connection with the Dean of Women. The club disbanded about 1968. (P25:2715)
Wilma Mankiller with the officers of the OSU Native American Student Association, Fall 1988. The Native American Student Association sponsors the OSU Powwow. Mankiller, third from the right, was the chief of the Cherokee Nation, a position she held from 1985 to 1995. She was on campus in the Fall of 1988 to lecture and attend the OSU Powwow. She returned to lecture again at OSU in April 2007. (P94, Accession 97:100)