MS 239 - Epsilon Pi Tau International Honorary for Professions in Technology
MLA Citation
Tags
Title | MS 239 - Epsilon Pi Tau International Honorary for Professions in Technology |
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Subject | BGSU Centennial History |
Introduction | The records of Epsilon Pi Tau (EPT), 1929-present, were donated to the Center for Archival Collections, Bowling Green State University in April 1982. The collection was transferred by Ann Bowers, Curator of Manuscripts, with the cooperation of Dr. Jerry Streichler, EPT Executive Secretary. The records of the professional fraternity consist of the code and ritual, minutes, membership records, correspondence, biographical files, Chapter Files, financial records publications, programs and photographs. More current records from the Executive Offices, located at Bowling Green State University, periodically are added to the collection. No restrictions exist on the use of the collection and duplication is permitted for the purposes of preservation and scholarly research. The collection was arranged and finding aid developed by Elaine Ezell, Reference Archivist, in 1983 and updated by Ann Bowers in December 2003. Additional material has been incorporated into the collection as received that may not be indicated in the Scope Note but is represented in the inventory. |
Agency History | During the 1928-1929 academic year at The Ohio State University (OSU), six to eight graduate students in industrial arts and vocational education met weekly in a seminar with Dr. William H. Stone, Dr. William E Warner and Dr. Robert E. Smith. The idea of an honorary fraternity surfaced at one of these seminars. A survey indicated that fraternities within the profession did already exist with their membership comprised largely of teachers in industrial arts and vocational education. The group believed their purposes would be better served by organizing a fraternity with a different professional emphasis. This new fraternity was organized on March 13, 1929, at OSU, by E. L. Bowman, H. J. Davison, O.E. Sink and William E. Warner. It was officially named, Epsilon Pi Tau, National Honorary Fraternity in Practical Arts and Vocational Education. The name Epsilon Pi Tau was derived from the initial letters of the Greek names for the three precepts on which the Fraternity was founded: Exetasis, Pragmateia, and Texnikh. These ideals of research, social and professional proficiency, and skill form the basis of the Fraternity's philosophy. E.L. Bowman drafted the first initiation ritual. The emblem is an equilateral triangle bearing on each point one of the Greek letters of the Fraternity and on its sides the Greek words. The first Executive Secretary of EPT was William E. Warner and he held this office until his death on July 12, 1971. Warner utilized the fraternity to develop the leadership potential of the graduate students at OSU. Many of these students later founded chapters of EPT and became leaders in the profession. The Epsilon Pi Tau Review was published from 1930-1934 and provided graduate students and other leaders a source of publication for their research. The Fraternity also promoted research through forums, research projects, awards and scholarships. The Journal of Epsilon Pi Tau began in 1974 and was a revival of the earlier Review. Periodically, the Fraternity publishes newsletters to inform the members about professional activities and concerns and news from the chapters. Epsilon Pi Tau has inducted 75,000 members since its inception, with about 16,000 active members. Technology has been the common and unifying theme which connects a highly diverse membership-some members prepare for or practice in technical and professional positions while others study and continue a professional engagement with the phenomenon of technology as it affects individuals and society. As the premier academic and professional honors group for technology programs in higher education, workforce development programs, and professionals in practice, Epsilon Pi Tau has provided honor and distinction to members, institutions, programs, and individuals throughout the world for 75 years. Members reside in every state of the United States and in 49 other nations. The Code of Epsilon Pi Tau includes a Constitution and By-Laws. The By-Laws prescribe the governing bodies and how they are organized. The Board of Directors' functions and responsibilities and the operations of the International organization are detailed. Information upon which chapters can base their own By-Laws is provided. Chapters (campus and field) and groupings for at-large members are the basic governing units. The world is divided into five geographic regions, each including chapters and member units. Each region has an elected Director who serves on a five-member Board of Directors. Campus and Field Chapter Trustees must be Epsilon Pi Tau members and meet other performance criteria to be appointed. Regional Directors appoint Trustees upon recommendations that comply with the criteria. Trustees represent chapter officers and chapter members when voting on international organizational matters, such as elections and revisions of the constitution and By-Laws. Board policy execution and normal business operations are the responsibility of a board-appointed Executive Director who staffs the International Office. In response to members' interests, changes in that office include the creation and staffing of a Community and Technical Colleges Division, an International Development and Services Division, a Baccalaureate and Graduate Schools Division, and a Communications and Publications Division. Usually, in conjunction with one of the major professional associations for which Epsilon Pi Tau is the official honor society, the board conducts two official meetings each year and holds open Epsilon Pi Tau meetings for Trustees, officers, and members to inform and seek input on organizational matters. The International Office is located at Bowling Green State University. For more information about EPT please review the web site at: http://www.epsilonpitau.org/. |
Scope and Content | The records of Epsilon Pi Tau document the history of this organization and its members from 1929 to the present. Governance documents include the constitution and code of regulations and their various revisions which date from 1951 to 1995. The initiation ceremony ritual and its various revisions date from 1942 to 1998. The Board minutes date from 1932 to 1946 and 1972 to 2001. Most of the minutes are located within the Conference files. The minutes contain the names of the representatives, business conducted and statistics illustrating the growth of the fraternity. A major weakness of the collection is the large gap in the minutes from 1946 to 1972. Election files, dating from 1967 to 1999, include balloting information and correspondence. Membership records, 1935 to 1992, include membership information from the chapters and alphabetical files on the Laureate and Honorary recipients. The bulk of the correspondence which dates inclusively from 1932 to 2001 was written by or addressed to William Warner. Arranged chronologically, the correspondence pertains to membership, the establishment of chapters, business with the various chapters, conference and program planning. Biographical files on the various leaders in the profession are also included in the EPT collection. These date as early as 1929 and include correspondence, resumes, newspaper clippings and publications. Conference files date from 1935 to 2003 and include the programs, some papers, and minutes of Board meetings held for annual meetings of the American Industrial Arts Association, the American Vocations Association, the National Association of Industrial Technology, and the International Technology Education Association. Chapter Files comprise almost fifty percent of the collection and are arranged alphabetically followed by the Field Chapters. Included in these files are correspondence, membership lists, membership applications, reports, photographs, award applications and programs. Biographical files on the profession's leaders date from 1929 to 1984 and include correspondence, newspaper clippings, and some publications. Financial documents, 1933 to 1994, include ledgers, statements, incorporation papers and tax exempt papers. Publications include newsletters, journals and publications by members of the profession. Photographs date from 1931 to 1992 and depict members, chapter events and activities, and visuals used in various publications. |
Series Description |
CONSTITUTION/CODE OF REGULATIONS RITUAL MINUTES ELECTIONS MEMBERSHIP RECORDS CORRESPONDENCE - 2009 Addition CORRESPONDENCE CORRESPONDENCE--REGIONAL BIOGRAPHICAL TOPICAL CONFERENCES CHAPTERS FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS - 2009 Addition LEDGERS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCORPORATION PAPERS/TAX EXEMPT FORMS MAP PUBLICATIONS NEWSLETTER EPSILON PI TAU REVIEW JOURNAL OF EPSILON PI TAU PHOTOGRAPHS RITUAL ARTIFACTS |
Inventory |
Folder
Box 2: Proceedings Folder
Box 3: Proceedings Folder
Box 4: Proceedings Folder
Folder
Box 6: Correspondence Folder
Box 7: Correspondence Folder
Box 8: Correspondence, Subject Files Folder (note that some regional correspondence mixed in with general correspondence)
Box 8A: Subject Files Folder
Box 9: Subject Files Folder
Box 10: Subject Files Folder (William Warner Files-see also Box 20)
Box 11: Subject Files Folder (William Warner Files-see also Box 20)
Box 12: Subject Files Folder
Box 13: Subject Files Folder
Box 14: Subject Files Folder
Box 15: Subject Files Folder
Box 16: Subject Files Folder
Folder
Box 18: Financial Documents Folder
Box 19: Financial Documents Folder
Box 20: Maps, Printed Material Folder
Box 21: Printed Materials Folder
Box 22: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 23: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 24: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 25: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 26: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 27: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 28: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 29: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 30: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 31: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 32: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 33: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 34: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 35: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 36: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 37: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 38: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 38B: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 39: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 40: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 41: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 42: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 43: Printed Material Chapter Files
Box 44: Printed Material Chapter Files
Folder 1
Box 46: Photographs Folder 1-Alpha Theta Chapter
Folder 27--Newsletter and journal photographs, 1980-1984 Newsletters
Oversize Box 1: Artifacts
Oversize Box 2: Artifacts
2009 AdditionFolder
Proceedings: Box 2 Folder
Folder
Correspondence: Box 2 Folder
Folder
Subject Files: Box 2 Folder
Subject Files: Box 3 Folder
Subject Files: Box 4 Folder
Subject Files: Box 5 Folder
Subject Files: Box 6 Folder
Subject Files: Box 7 Folder
Subject Files: Box 8 Folder
Subject Files: Box 9 Folder
Subject Files: Box 10 Folder
Subject Files: Box 11 Folder
Subject Files: Box 12 Folder
Subject Files: Box 13 Folder
Subject Files: Box 14
Subject Files: Box 15
Subject Files: Box 16
Subject Files: Box 17
Subject Files: Box 18
Financial Files: Box 1
Photographic Files: Box 1
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