Collection (1934-2018, undated) of programs, constitutions, bulletins, reports, membership records, memorials, correspondence, scrapbooks and clippings related to the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and its Beta Alpha and Delta Chapters in Greenville, N.C.
The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International is a professional honorary society of women educators. The society promotes professional and personal growth of its members and excellence in education. Established in 1929, Delta Kappa Gamma has attained major objectives in improving opportunities for qualified women employed at every level of education, as well as in advancing the status of women educators. To this end, the purposes set forth by the founders continue to embody the spirit of the society. The purposes have grown and changed over time, but continue to be as valid in today's contemporary world as when first adopted. Membership is by invitation only and considered a prestigious honor with a variety of benefits and privileges. The Society currently consists of over 150,000 women educators in 14 countries.
The Delta Chapter is part of ETA State, North Carolina's region of Delta Kappa Gamma. Founded on 20 November 1937, the Delta Chapter began serving the North Carolina counties of Pitt, Beaufort, Hyde and Pamlico. In more recent years, due to a continually growing membership, Delta Chapter was divided into three separate chapters. The Alpha Omega Chapter, founded on 6 May 1965, began serving Beaufort and Hyde counties. The Delta Chapter continued to serve Pitt County, but another chapter was added to also serve Pitt County. This was the Beta Alpha Chapter, founded on 6 May 1965. The members of these chapters were from various fields of education. Each chapter collaborated with other chapters and with national and international members in part by members' attendance at local meetings and national conventions. Each chapter also participated in programs making it possible for women outside American to come and study in America.
Partial source: Website of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
The bulk of this collection consists of state directories, reports, memorials, tributes, histories biographical sketches, poems, published works, photographs, scrapbooks, newsletters, pamphlets, correspondence, clippings, programs, constitution and by-laws, bulletins, membership records and speeches. Series in this collection include Correspondence, Minutes, Reports, Membership Records, Histories, Other Publications, Other Printed Materials and Scrapbooks.
The bulk of the correspondence is from the 1960s-1970s, and includes letters concerning the organization's national headquarters, the Delta Chapter and the Alpha Beta Chapter. Most of the correspondence documents committee work at the local and state level. In addition are a few letters to Dr. Junius H. Rose, a longtime Greenville area educator, regarding the death of his wife. Minutes cover the work of several committees, the bulk of which is at the local level. Topics focus on the basic functions of the organization's chapters. Of particular interest are minutes from early 1969 which discuss the possibility of racial integration within the organization. Reports consist mostly of those created by the Beta Alpha Chapter, with a few Delta Chapter reports also present. The reports mainly focus on budgets and chapter special projects.
Membership records contain basic, detailed information on members. The bulk of these records is not dated, but appears to be related to members active during the 1950s and 1960s. State level rosters are relatively complete, with a few years missing, while the international rosters are very sparse, with the bulk dating to the 1970s. The histories include both bound and typescript publications documenting the Delta Chapter, the twelve founding members of Eta State, the Delta Kappa Gamma Society and Clara M. Parker, original founder of the international organization.
Other publications include a few bound publications, some of which do not directly concern the organization and others that do. Included in the latter, are state and international level newsletters, tributes and memorials for deceased members, yearbooks and clippings. Other printed materials consist of materials documenting the organization at the local, state and international levels. Among the materials are programs, district maps of North Carolina, handbooks, procedural materials and items that were distributed at meetings and conferences.
Also present are five scrapbooks documenting activities of the Beta Alpha Chapter, ETA, and the national level organization. Materials present in the scrapbooks include programs, newspaper clippings, meeting minutes, tributes, memorials, organizational histories, photographs and clippings.
September 11, 2019, 2.0 cu. ft.; Addition has records (1997-2017) relating to the Beta Alpha Chapter including four scrapbooks (2013/2014, 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018), certificates, a plaque, executive board meeting minutes, and membership information. Eta State Chapter material (1989-2007) includes histories, newsletters, programs, and the bylaws and standing rules. Delta Kappa Gamma Society International material (1941-2012) includes songbooks, handbooks, bulletins, and newsletters. Gift of Ann B. Stocks.
March 6, 2023, 1.5 cu. ft.; Addition includes records (2012-2021) primarily related to the Beta Alpha Chapter including executive and chapter meeting agendas and minutes, chapter newsletters, programs, budgets, correspondence, directories, membership applications, awards, and clippings related to fundraising, community outreach, and society events. Also included are some ETA State (NC) Chapter newsletters, committee materials, convention programs, and directories. Gift of Ann B. Stocks.
Gift of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, Beta Alpha and Delta Chapters, Greenville, N.C.
Gift of Beth Winstead
Gift of Ann B. Stocks
Processed by Deann Benedict April 2002
Amanda Keeny May 2012
Dale Sauter July 2012
John Dunning March 2023
Encoded by Apex Data Services
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.
Published works removed from manuscript collection and cataloged in North Carolina Collection. Includes ETA State (NC) Chapter directories and histories of Delta Kappa Gamma in North Carolina.