2023: An Archival Year in Review

Like others at this time of the year, I like to do a year-end wrap up for the archives. It is fun to look back...and maybe I will find items to build some excitement for the archives’ 125th anniversary in 2024!

The archives received some amazing items that tell the story of Theta this year. Among some of the more notable items was a 1914-1918 scrapbook of Lucy Lane Fargo, Alpha Rho/South Dakota. In it, she documents her activities on the University of South Dakota campus, as well as some time at the University of Minnesota when she transferred in her senior year. Campus events, dances, sporting events, and efforts to support soldiers and other World War I-related efforts are documented through the pages. I also received the freshman beanie of Michele Potvin Piechuch, Gamma Eta/Massachusetts, circa 1963, along with her Pledge Manual. At that time, it was not unusual for members of freshman classes to wear identifying items. On this campus, it was a beanie cap with Theta letters for Michele. (Please contact me if you have items you would like to donate to the archives or have a question!)

I also received materials from several recently closed chapters this year. As stated in a heritage blog post back in February, this is an important part of the work that I do in the archives. A chapter may be closed, but their members are still part of Theta, and their history is vital to the overall history of the organization.

The Theta archives spent plenty of time on TikTok in 2023: @ThetaHistory! We post once a month about a variety of topics. Even if you don’t have a TikTok account, you may see these posts come up in your other social media feeds. If you have a topic you would like me to address, let me know!

We welcomed visitors to headquarters for the Heritage Museum and Theta Room this year. If you are planning a trip to the Indianapolis area, please contact us to schedule a visit.

In 2024, the Theta archives turns 125 years old, and I am honored to work with such a rich, historical, and important collection. I have some special plans to mark this important milestone, so keep an eye out for more information next year!