Records of Pi Kappa Lambda

The records of Pi Kappa Lambda fill four boxes and span the dates 1918 to 2003. The bulk of the materials dates from the years (1984-2000) that Lilias Circle (who donated the collection) served as Secretary-Treasurer. As Secretary-Treasurer, Circle kept not only the current records of the Society, but also what remained of the Society's historical records. This series includes historical materials relating to the founding and early years of the Society; minutes of governing meetings; secretary's and president's correspondence; financial and membership records; and materials regarding the projects and publications undertaken by the Society.

Historical materials include a 1937 history and an undated handbook that describe the founding and early growth of the society. A copy of the articles of incorporation as well as drafts from various years of the ceremonies for installation of new chapters and inductions of members are also included. Duplicates of index cards from 1963 and 1964 list chapter presidents and secretaries. The manual of operation describes the duties of the Secretary-Treasurer in the day-to-day running of the national office.

Minutes that record the meetings of the Board of Regents, Biennial Conventions and Executive Sessions of the Society offer information regarding various issues the Society faced through the years and decisions that were made by these governing bodies. Secretary's reports are year-end reports regarding the execution of the secretary's duties.

Correspondence mainly consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence from the years that Lilias Circle served as Secretary-Treasurer. One file of general correspondence includes letters on various subjects. Subject correspondence is arranged alphabetically in separate folders following Circle's arrangement of these records. Several of these folders contain correspondence with current and past presidents of the Society or members of the Board of Regents. One folder consists of correspondence relating to the Society's membership in the American Association of College Honor Societies. One folder contains correspondence regarding the nomination and honoring of exemplary chapters of the Society.

Financial records include ledgers dating from the founding of the Society through 1943. These ledgers contain records of the income and expenses of the Society and also contain early membership records. Annual audit reports from the 1930s through the 1990s are included in these records. Several additional folders contain correspondence regarding the audits, not-for-profit annual reports and trust account reports.

Membership records are contained in two folders, one containing correspondence and one containing tallies from elections.

Programs and projects folders consist of materials relating to the Society's biennial conventions and materials regarding the competitions the Society held. The biennial conventions folders contain correspondence, program packets and lists of delegates from the various chapters. The competitions materials consist of one folder of general correspondence regarding the competitions; one folder regarding the winner of the Opera competition, Outcast of Poker Flats; and one folder regarding the chamber music competition.

Publications folders contain materials relating to publications projects undertaken by the Society. Correspondence with Northwestern University Press regarding these projects, as well as contracts and royalty statements are included. The materials are divided into folders for each of the three publications, with general folders followed by folders relating to the gifts of the publications to various libraries and reviews of the publications.

One miscellaneous folder contains the transcript of an oral history interview with composer Howard Hanson (Music 1916, Honorary Doctorate 1925).

Materials in each folder are arranged chronologically by date, with undated materials at the back of the folder.

Addition, Box 4 The addition to the records of Pi Kappa Lambda fills one half of Box 4 of the series and spans the dates 1966 to 2000. It is comprised of additional records from the office of Lilias Circle who served as Secretary/Treasurer for Pi Kappa Lambda from 1984-2000. The addition includes originals and copies of certificates of appreciation and honor that the society issued, and a blank chapter charter certificate. It also includes annual reports of the Secretary and the Secretary/Treasurer, and several folders of correspondence including correspondence between Circle and Wilbur Rowand, the previous Secretary of the society; correspondence regarding the Pi Kappa Lambda room in the Music Administration Building on the Northwestern campus; and correspondence regarding insurance policies for the society.