Pi Lambda Theta records

Record Group

Identifier: RG-14-105

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This record group covers the activities of both the local chapter of Phi Lambda Theta at Johns Hopkins University and the national organization. Covering the period from 1925 to 1988, the records include membership and scholarship records, financial records, and minutes of chapter meetings.

Dates

Creation: 1925-1988

Creator

Pi Lambda Theta (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

All student organization records received prior to 2017 are closed for 25 years from the date of creation to everyone except current members of the student organization, after which they are publicly available for access. Materials intended for public dissemination, such as publications, newsletters, and event flyers, are publicly available for access immediately once processed. If you are a member of this student organization and have questions about our access policy, please contact Special Collections.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.

Biographical / Historical

Pi Lambda Theta was founded in 1910 through the efforts of Dr. W.W. Charters, Dean of Education at the University of Missouri. Charters was himself a member of the Gamma Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, an all male honorary organization, but he was also interested in establishing a similar organization for women. Charters invited a small group of women at the University of Missouri to discuss the possibility of setting up a national honor and professional association for women in education. Six other schools followed Missouri's lead and established chapters between 1912 and 1916.

The Johns Hopkins chapter was founded around 1926 by Florence Bamberger, the first woman promoted to the rank of full professor in the Department of Education at Hopkins. She published numerous articles covering a wide variety of topics, including childhood education, vocational training, and women's education and served as Dean of the School of Education at Hopkins in the 1940s. The Florence E. Bamberger Scholarship for women students in education was established in the 1940s.

During World War II members of Chi Chapter of Pi Lambda Theta at Johns Hopkins University were involved in defense activities, serving in the Red Cross, as air-raid warden instructors, workers in the air-raid warning center, nurses aides, or registrars at local draft boards. Through auctions and shows sponsored by Chi Chapter, money was raised for the Red Cross. After the war Pi Lambda Theta promoted special projects on teacher recruitment and retention, aid to schools in devastated areas, teacher exchange, and collaboration with the United Nations.

Although it began as a women's organization, Pi Lambda Theta began admitting men in 1974 following ratification of an amendment by the national organization's executive committee.

Extent

3.75 Cubic Feet (3 record center cartons)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Johns Hopkins chapter of Pi Lambda Theta was founded around 1926 by Florence Bamberger, the first woman promoted to the rank of full professor in the Department of Education at Hopkins. Although it began as a women's organization, Pi Lambda Theta began admitting men in 1974 following ratification of an amendment by the national organization's executive committee. Covering the period from 1925 to 1988, the records include membership and scholarship records, financial records, and minutes of chapter meetings.

Arrangement

The record group is divided into five series: (1) Financial Records; (2) Minutes of the Executive Committee of Chi Chapter - Pi Lambda Theta; (3) Governance and Membership; (4) Administrative Records; and (5) Publications concerning Pi Lambda Theta.