Guide to the Sigma Gamma Zeta Records, 1940–2014
Last Updated
Overview of the Collection
Repository:
Special Collections & Archives
McIntyre Library
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
P.O. Box 4004
105 Garfield Ave.
Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004
(715)-836-2739
http://www.uwec.edu/Library/archives/info.htm
Reference Code: USGZE AS165
Accession Number: 22-019
Collection Number: Archives Series 165
Creator: Sigma Gamma Zeta University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
Title: Sigma Gamma Zeta Records
Dates: 1940–2014
Quantity: 2.5 linear feet (3 archives boxes, 1 flat box)
Location of Collection: Shelf A3/2b (Box 1), D6/1e (Box 2), B5/5f (Box 3), B5/5e (Box 4); 1 banner rolled by file cabinet behind D9 shelving area
Languages: Collection materials are in English.
Summary: Records of Sigma Gamma Zeta Sorority, founded in 1940 by Mrs. Lyla Flagler and Mrs. Margaret Christofferson, and reactivated in 1979 as Sigma Gamma Zeta II. Includes organization records, scrapbooks, and artifacts.
Biographical/Historical Note
"The Sigma Gamma Zeta Sorority was founded in the fall of 1940 to provide sociability and a common meeting situation for women who had returned or transferred to the campus of Eau Claire State Teachers College in order to finish degrees after having their schooling interrupted by marriage, illness, or other circumstance." The group was founded by Mrs. Margaret Christofferson and Mrs. Lyla Flagler, who taught at Eau Claire from 1918–1952, assisted by Mrs. Elizabeth Ayer and Miss Laura Sutherland. In 1973, the Lyla Flagler Award Fund was created. –Lyla Flagler Award Fund article (inside Box 1, scrapbook 2). "Sigma Gamma Zeta" stands for service, cooperation, and friendship.
In March 1979, Sigma Gamma Zeta was reactivated, with some differences, as Sigma Gamma Zeta II, a scholastic honor society to award scholarships and other support for male and female adult students. To be eligible a student must have a grade point average among the top twenty percent of all sophomore students or above, be twenty-five or older, and be enrolled for a minimum of six academic credits (red brochure, inside Box 1, scrapbook 2).
As of 2022, through the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Foundation, a scholarship is named is named in Lyla Flagler’s honor, the Lyla Flagler Scholarship (Sigma Gamma Zeta) Fund. It provides one $700 scholarship. Non-traditional students who formerly attended UW-Eau Claire without graduating and returned to complete their degrees are eligible to apply for this scholarship award. Recipients must have financial need, have a FAFSA on file with the Financial Aid office, and should have had an above-average scholastic record when they first attended the University.
Content Description
Records of Sigma Gamma Zeta, 1940–2014. Box one contains two scrapbooks. The first scrapbook, ca. 1940–1953, contains photographs, cards, news clippings, newsletters, and correspondence. The second scrapbook, ca. 1963–1989, housed in a former Christmas card album, contains pamphlets on Sigma Gamma Zeta II, member rosters, correspondence from sorority alumni, letters from Lyla Flagler, constitution and by-laws, and other ephemera. Other items in the collection include constitutions, meeting minutes, newsletters, membership lists, journals, photographs, honors week, initiation, and scholarship information. Artifacts include member pins and two banners.
Related Collections
- AS115: University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire University Centers Activities and Programs programming files, 1917–2015
- AS344: University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Honors Week Records, 1949–2015
- AS358: University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire University Centers Activities and Programs student organizations files, 1960–2015 (Sigma Gamma Zeta: Box 3, Folder 33)
- AS374: University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire University Centers Activities and Programs campus organizations guidebook, 1986–1994
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information: Transfer to the University Archives ca. 2014.
Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public.
Use Restrictions: Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. Copyright owned by the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.
Processing Note: Additions processed and finding aid created by Julie Hatfield, May 2022. Financial information and bank statements were discarded.
Arrangement: Flat arrangement.
OCLC #: 873642882
Subjects
Personal Names:
Flagler, Lyla
Subject Terms:
Sigma Gamma Zeta — University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire — Societies, etc.
Ephemera
Photographs
Scrapbooks
Geographical Terms:
Eau Claire, Wis.
Detailed List of Contents
Container
Contents
Dates
Box/Folder
1
2 scrapbooks
ca. 1940–1953; 1963–1989
2/1
Meeting minutes, newsletters, member lists
1957–1976
2/2
Journal
1967–1974
2/3
Journal
1975–1977
2/4
Constitution
ca. 1991–2013
2/5
Meeting Minutes
1995–2012
2/6
Meeting Minutes
2012–2014
2/7
Activities
2006–2009
2/8
Adviser Information
2007–2009
2/9
Donations
ca. 2007–2014
2/10
Organization Re-Recognition and mandatory workshops
2010
2/11
Photographs, Correspondence, Society Seal, Treasurer’s Report
2004–2008, 2014
2/12
Scholarships
1991–2014
2/13
UW-EC Investment Club
1993
2/14
Officer Lists
1992–2014
2/15
Yearly membership totals and Honorary Members
1979–2010
2/16
Membership Lists (new and total)
1989–2004
3/1
Membership Lists
1991, 1995–2008
3/2
Membership Lists
2009–2014
3/3
Membership enrollment forms and applications
2005–2008, 2014
3/4
Membership Applications and Initiation
2010–2011
3/5
Records and membership applications
2011–2014
3/6
Initiation Guest Book
1979–2003
3/7
Initiation
ca. 1990–2014
3/8
Commencement Honors
1997
3/9
Honors Week Events (includes photos)
2002–2007
4/1
Honors Week Events (includes photos)
2008–2010
4/2
Honors Week Events
2011–2014
4
Member pins – ½ inch, gold
4
Banner – 21 x 19.5 inches, white circle base, with red letters and symbol spelling Sigma Gamma Zeta II
Rolled by File cabinet behind D9 shelving area
Banner – 35 x 27 inches, navy blue base, white circle in the middle with red letters and symbol with gold trim spelling Sigma Gamma Zeta