Guide to the Rho Epsilon Radio Fraternity Alpha Chapter Records 1924-2012
Cage 321

Summary Information

Repository
Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Creator
Rho Epsilon Radio Fraternity: Alpha Chapter
Title
Rho Epsilon Radio Fraternity, Alpha Chapter Records
ID
Cage 321
Date [inclusive]
1924-2012
Extent
6 containers., 2.5 linear feet of shelf space., 3000 items.
Language
Collection materials are in English.
Abstract
Correspondence, documents, licensing and financial records, minutes, membership lists, logs, QSL cards, and technical materials relating to a Washington State University amateur radio group and some information concerning the national fraternity which it founded.

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]. Cage 321, Rho Epsilon Radio Fraternity, Alpha Chapter Records. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Biography/History

The first amateur radio group in the United States was organized in 1910 on the State College of Washington (now Washington State University) campus. In December 1911, this organization, the WSC Radio Club, founded Rho Epsilon as a national radio fraternity and became Alpha Chapter of that group. Although Rho Epsilon was incorporated in 1925, other chapters were not formed until the late 1930s, with the University of Washington's Beta Chapter receiving its charter in 1936. The remaining five chapters: Gamma, University of Idaho; Delta, University of Virginia; Epsilon, Illinois Institute of Technology; Zeta, Montana State College; and Eta, Tri-State College (Indiana), were established shortly after Beta Chapter, and all seven chapters continued in operation until the onset of World War II.

In December 1947 Homer J. Dana, one of the early members of the radio fraternity on the WSU campus and a research engineer, called a meeting for all those interested in reactivating Alpha Chapter. Alpha Chapter succeeded in regrouping late in 1948 and at that time corresponded with the other six chapters with the intention of reestablishing the national organization. Letters were exchanged on this topic, new groups wrote asking for information about Rho Epsilon, but the reactivation of the national fraternity did not take place.

The present location and even the existence of the national fraternity records is in doubt. Soon after the University of Washington's chapter was chartered, members of Beta Chapter were elected national fraternity officers and subsequently requested that all national records and materials be transferred from Pullman to the Seattle area. Apparently this transfer took place, for after the war the president of the reactivated Alpha Chapter wrote to Beta Chapter asking that these records be returned to Pullman. He was informed that Beta Chapter was defunct and that the records were no longer available.

According to the fraternity's constitution, the purpose of Rho Epsilon is "to encourage experimental radio activity among American college students; to foster orderly operation of radio stations; and to endeavor to obtain legislative protection for radio as an experimental science. Secondarily, to establish branches in American educational institutions under suitable conditions."

Alpha Chapter of Rho Epsilon remains an active student organization on the Washington State University campus, despite closing for a few years in the mid 2010s.

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Arrangement

The records of Rho Epsilon, Alpha Chapter are arranged in nine series: Correspondence, Documents, Licensing Records, Financial Records, Minutes, Membership, Logs, Technical Materials, and Other Records. Where possible, records have been arranged chronologically within the series.

A tenth series has been added, consisting of a later donation of early materials from the founding of the club, circa 1924, to records of the present, ca. 1976. These are topically arranged, in a chronological order whenever possible, divided into Correspondence, Organizational Documents, Membership, Minutes, Technical Materials and Other Items.

An eleventh series has also been added, consisting of a later donation of approximately 1700 QSL cards, covering all 50 states and over 60 foreign nations, and ranging in date from the early 1920s to the 2010s (bulking in the 40s to 70s). These are arranged alphabetically by place of origin, with all 50 states (and DC) preceding the other countries.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections  © 2012

http://www.libraries.wsu.edu/masc/

Terrell Library

P.O. Box 645610

Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA

509-335-6691

mascref@wsu.edu

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open for research use.

Acquisition Information

The records of Rho Epsilon Radio Fraternity, Alpha Chapter, were deposited in the Washington State University Library in two installments, on April 4, 1976 and June 3, 1976 by Rick Maricle. These records were arranged and described by Roberta Stokes in August 1976. An addition to previous Rho Epsilon Radio Fraternity, Alpha Chapter, was donated to Washington State University Library in June, 1977 (77-21) and February, 1978 (77-21a) and described here by Catherine Feher in 1978. Another addition was donated to the WSU Libraries' MASC in April 2018, retained as UA2018-02, and incorporated here by University Archivist Mark O'English.

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Names and Subjects

Corporate Name(s)

Creator(s) :
  • Rho Epsilon Radio Fraternity. Alpha Chapter--Archives

Subject(s)

  • Radio--Washington (State)--Pullman--Societies, etc.
  • Greek letter societies--Records and correspondence
  • Colleges and Universities
  • Washington (State)

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Detailed Description of Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series 1: Correspondence 
box folder

 1924-1926  5

 1 1

 1933-1937  18

 1 2

 1938  26

 1 3

 1939  14

 1 4

 1940-1941  14

 1 5

 1947-1948  51

 1 6

 1949  28

 1 7

 1950-1951 1953-1954.  16

 1 8

 1959-1966  33

 1 9

 1973  6

 1 10

correspondence from WSU administration and student organizations. undated  9

 1 11

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Series 2: Documents 
box folder

Articles of incorporation, constitution and by-laws, related legal papers for Rho Epsilon; constitution and revisions for Alpha Chapter 1925-ca 1974  14

 1 12

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Series 3: Licensing Records 
box folder

Correspondence, federal regulations and guidelines, applications for amateur radio station license filed with Federal Communications Commission and similar agencies 1924-1974  50

 1 13

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Series 4: Financial Records 
box folder

Tax returns and related correspondence 1934-1965  50

 1 14

Invoices, receipts, shipping orders, bank statements (2 only), dues receipts (October 1937-November 1939) 1928-1964  100

 1 15

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Series 5: Minutes 
box folder

 January 1924-October 1931  1 volume

 2 16

 January 1925-February 1925 1933-1934 October 1936-January 1937 (for Minutes of October 15, 1940, February 23, 1948, December 7, 1948, see stapled minutes beginning with April 1949) August 1949-October 1949 1961-1962 October 1963-1965.  100

 2 17

 1966-1967  1

 2 18

 1974-1975  3

 2 19

 Undated  1 volume

 2 20

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Series 6: Membership 
box folder

Pledge and initiation ceremonies, oath of pledgeship, lists of pledges, initiates, charter and other members, fraternity certificates. Undated  38

 2 21

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Series 7: Logs 
box folder

 February 1922-April 1928  1 volume

 2 22

 February 1926-April 1938 (only 7 entries before 1935)  1 volume

 2 23

 October 1931-August 1932  1 volume

 2 24

 August 1932-September 1932 bound with Minutes 1924-1931, pages 115-120. 
box folder

 November 1932-January 1935  1 volume

 2 25

 April 1938-November 1939  1 volume

 2 26

 November 1939-December 1941  1 volume

 2 27

 May 1948-January 1949  1 volume

 2 28

 January 1949-November 1949  1 volume

 2 29

 November 1949-November 1953  1 volume

 2 30

 November 1953-May 1958  1 volume

 3 31

 November 1960-December 1962  1 volume

 3 32

 January 1963-February 1965  1 volume

 3 33

 February 1965-May 1970  100

 3 34

 May 1970-December 1971  100

 3 35

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Series 8: Technical Materials 
box folder

Technical drawings and information relating to local equipment and facilities.  31

 3 36

Technical manuals and call book.  5

 3 37

Advertising brochures for radio materials.  8

 3 38

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Series 9: other Records 
box folder

Rho Epsilon information sheets, flyers for Alpha Chapter meetings and functions; and "Proposal for Relocation and Improvement of Rho Epsilon Amateur Radio Club Station.  8

 3 39

Newspaper clippings concerning hams in general, WSU and Pullman hams.  5

 3 40

Miscellaneous papers, award certificate, photographs of early members.  7

 3 41

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Series 10: Additional Records 1924-1976 
box folder

Correspondence 1938-1976  63

 4 1

Organizational Documents 1911-1975  5

 4 2

Membership 1937-1976  50

 4 3

Minutes 1925-1976  12

 4 4

Financial 1936-1976  12

 4 5

Newspaper Clippings 1976-1976  8

 4 6

Proposals and Statement of Purpose 1975-1976  3

 4 7

Technical Materials 1928-1976  50

 4 8

Photographs 1975-1976  6

 4 9

WSU/WSC QSL Cards and Format of WSU QSL Card.  5

 4 10

Radiogram Record Forms from 1964 Alaska Earthquake and Radiogram Form.  200

 4 11

Field Day 1976  8

 4 12

Programs, Sign-Up Sheets, Announcements and Other Papers ca 1960-1976  6

 4 13

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Series 11: QSL Cards 
box

United States, Alabama to Pennsylvania ca 1925-ca 2012  850

 5

United States, Rhode Island to Wyoming; Antarctica to Yugoslavia ca 1925-ca 2012  850

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