Date Range

2001-2012

Description Level

Fonds

Creator

Beta Sigma Phi Lethbridge - Xi Master Chapter

Physical Description

20 cm

History Biographical

Beta Sigma Phi International was created in the 1930s as an organization that aimed at bringing women together and expose them to a social, cultural and educational activities. Typical chapters enjoy socials that range from informal gatherings to gala affairs that often include friends and family. Cultural programs ranged from arts to gardening to in-home businesses. Members contributed to the community through social work and fundraising, not unlike other service clubs. Beta Sigma Phi was founded in Lethbridge 19 July 1945 in a ceremony held at the Marquis Hotel. Mrs. Esther Lewis, a traveling representative of Beta Sigma Phi International with headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, read the pledge ritual to 22 women who formed the Kappa Chapter. The organization dropped to 10 members until 1949, when members from Kappa Chapter split to form Beta Chapter. Another chapter, Tau, was created later as was Nu Phi Mu Junior Chapter. In Lethbridge, the members work their way up through various levels according to a planned program of the larger organization. The members meet in each others' homes twice monthly and take turns making educational presentations on a variety of topics: music, health, history, home, famous women and literature. The local chapters of Beta Sigma Phi have provided volunteer and/or financial support to organizations including Harbour House, Meals on wheels, Canadian Cancer Society, Arthritis Society, Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation. Beta Sigma Phi also provides scholarships to Lethbridge College and the Kiwanis Music Festival. The Xi Master Chapter was established in Lethbridge in April 2001. The original members included Ione Adella Dergousoff (President), Joan Erdmann, Patricia Ann Hooper, Ruby Misak, Donna Lynn Palmer, Gladys Reive, Ruth Rittenhouse, Rhondda Aloha Schindeler, Helen Margrette Tytula, Dorothy T. Wells, Terry Westwood, Lorraine Joyce Whitelaw. The members who joined later include Val Peacock, Barb Beatty, Dot Nixey, Diane Parasak, Kate Langston.

Custodial History

The albums are donated by June Creighton

Scope and Content

4 volumes of scrapbook albums created by Beta Sigma Phi Xi Master Chapter (MA1049). The albums contain photographs, correspondence, postcards, memorabilia and newspaper clippings. Volume #4 contains an essay on the history of Lethbridge chapters "Beta Sigma Phi Sorority Lethbridge."

Accession No.

20151059

Collection

Archive

Less detail