Collection inventory

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Alpha Phi Omega Phi Chapter Collection

An inventory of the collection at the Syracuse University Archives

Finding aid created by: Ari Spatola
Date: January 2020

Revision history:

Historical Note

Alpha Phi Omega is a co-educational national service fraternity founded in 1925 by Frank Reed Horton. The Phi chapter of Syracuse University was founded in 1931 by a group of fifteen men, most of them part of the State University College of Forestry, in association with the Boy Scouts of America. The Syracuse chapter has actively participated in numerous and varied acts of community service and fundraising. Most notably, the Phi chapter has dedicated itself to serving the disabled community as well as advocating for accessibility on the Syracuse University campus. In 1967, the Phi chapter became aware of the difficulty of traversing campus for those with mobility issues while helping their fraternity brother in a wheelchair navigate campus. Shortly after, the chapter began its first efforts towards the project Elimination of Architectural Barriers. The chapter soon realized the project should be carried out on a national basis and began a campaign for national support. Their efforts appeared in several articles in the national Alpha Phi Omega publication, Torch and Trefoil, and their Architectural Barriers Handbook was published. The leaders of the 1970 National Convention of Alpha Phi Omega in Dallas, Texas unanimously endorsed the Elimination of Architectural Barriers as the service fraternity's second national project and the first to be proposed by a chapter. The Syracuse chapter was awarded the Arno Nowotny National Service Award in 1973 for their published handbook. The Phi chapter continued their dedication to disability awareness in later years with popular events such as their annual campus-wide Christmas parties for handicapped and underprivileged children which began in 1967, a benefit wheelchair basketball game in 1972, and their participation in the Delta Tau Delta Dance Marathon to fight Muscular Dystrophy. As of 2020, the chapter continues to grow and provide service to their community.

Scope and Content Note

The Alpha Phi Omega Phi Chapter collection contains series for: Memorabilia, Records, and Scrapbooks. The Memorabilia series is comprised of Phi chapter banners and a signed paddle. The Records series houses paper awards and plaques, and budget and treasurer information. Also included are Phi chapter by-laws, conference materials, and correspondence most notably between the Phi chapter and alumni, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regarding non-profit eligibility. Lastly, the Records series houses meeting minutes, pledge applications, photographs of Phi chapter events such as the ugly man contest and annual Christmas party, composite portraits, publications created by the Phi chapter concerning disability and general chapter information, and sign in books. The Scrapbook series contains scrapbooks of the Phi Chapter from 1965-2007.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

The Syracuse University Archives has a clipping file on Phi chapter of Alpha Phi Omega.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

Alpha Phi Omega. -- Phi Chapter (Syracuse University)
Greek letter societies.
Student activities.
Higher education.

Types of Material

Awards.
Banners.
Bylaws (administrative records)
Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence.
Memorabilia.
Minutes (administrative records)
Photographs.
Scrapbooks.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Alpha Phi Omega Phi Chapter Collection,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Lynne Mowers, 2008 and 2019, and Maria Velazquez, 2016.

Processing Information

Materials were placed in acid free folders and boxes and clippings were photocopied. Banners and paddle were placed in custom housing.

Arrangement

Materials are arranged in alphabetical order.

Table of Contents

Memorabilia

Records

Scrapbooks

Inventory