Archives of DePauw University
and Indiana United Methodism
Special Collections
of DePauw University
The Society of Professional Journalists Records, 1922-1997
Size: 54 containers, 8 bound manuscript volumes (57.8 linear feet)
Restrictions: see instrument of gift form
Accession Numbers: UM88-122, UM89-80, UM89-119, UM90-111, UM91-37, D992.076, D994.103, D994.115, D000.021
Provenance: SPJ headquarters
Processed by: Joan Stevens, 1993
The Society of Professional Journalists was founded at DePauw University in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, Honorary Journalistic Fraternity with 11 original members. The organization was originally the idea of Laurence Sloan and William Meharry Glenn and was planned by the two for most of the 1908-1909 academic year. Its announcement on campus is described in the May 6, 1909 issue of DePauw University's student newspaper, The DePauw Daily. "The curiosity of the college world was aroused this morning by the appearance in chapel of ten men in black and white colors. ... It is their intention to include among their members only those men who expressly intend to engage in either newspaper or other literary work as a life profession."
In 1916 the word "honorary" was dropped from its name and the organization became Sigma Delta Chi, Professional Journalistic Fraternity. This is significant as the founders had debated whether Sigma Delta Chi should be an honorary or professional organization. Undoubtedly, changing from an honorary to a professional organization was done to reflect the fact that many Sigma Delta Chi members were now well into their profession and there was need for chapters outside of college campuses.
Through the years many name changes were proposed, debated and voted down. Then,
in 1960, the name became Sigma Delta Chi, Professional Journalistic Society, again moving it
away from its collegiate roots with the replacement of the word "fraternity." Another change
occurred at the 1973 convention when the name became Society of Professional
Journalists/Sigma Delta Chi.
The current name was adopted in 1989 when it became simply the Society of Professional Journalists, eliminating the collegiate style Greek letter name completely. Sigma Delta Chi is st2ill preserved in the organization's foundation of that name established in 1962.
The Society of Professional Journalists has a membership of thousands of journalists, both professional and collegiate. The first convention (the governing body) was held in 1912 in Greencastle, Indiana moving to different sites every year thereafter with a few exceptions due to war or financial problems.
One of the results of the first convention was the establishment of The Quill as a newsletter
for the fraternity members. At the 1914 convention, steps were taken to ensure the continuation
of The Quill as more than a newsletter by designating a portion of the initiation fee for
maintenance of a permanent Quill fund. Financial and personnel problems continued to plague
the magazine. In 1923 an endowment fund was proposed to provide monies for the publication
and pay a full-time editor. In the mid 1930s after much reorganization, The Quill became a
monthly magazine and has continued as such with the exception of a period during World War
II.
In January 1928 a national headquarters was established in Chicago, Illinois. A fire at the headquarters in 1934 destroyed many of the minutes of earlier conventions, files of The Quill and all office equipment and supplies. Membership records were saved, however.
The goals of the membership are varied and numerous. Committees were formed to deal with issues and problems in journalism. Among these committees and issues are Ethics, Freedom of Information, the First Amendment, open public meetings and records, state shield laws, free press, fair trial, cameras in the courtroom, the Equal Time Clause and the Fairness Doctrine. Lectures, films, grants and books have been produced through funds including the Kilgore Memorial Award, the Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship for Editorial Writers, the Frank W. Corrigan Internship and the Taishoff Memorial Fund.
Awards are a major part of the Society of Professional Journalists's activities. Many are given to thoise who have made major contributions to journalism or service to the organization. Some of these awards include the Distinguished Service Award recognizing 16 categories of journalistic performance, the First Amendment Award for contributions advancing freedom of the press, the Mark of Excellence Award for students, Distinguished Teaching Award, and the Historic Site Award.
The Society of Professional Journalists Records, 1922-1991, contain correspondence, minutes, reports, photographs and other media relating to its conventions, administration, membership, projects, awards and publications.
The collection is arranged into three series chronologically. Series I consists of all records through 1988 while Series II includes records 1989 through 1991. Series III consists of Journalistic Awards listings and entries, photographs, and records dating from as far back as 1912 to as late as 1997. Series I is arranged into three subseries: Administrative Records; Journalistic Competition, Entries and Awards; and Chapter Records. Records in Subseries 1 are arranged by record type, so that reports and minutes issued by the national office are arranged ahead of the convention and subject files. Non-print media in Subseries 1 are arranged at the end of it.
Subseries 2, Journalistic Competition ..., is arranged chronologically. Video and audio tapes are noted when present as is the location of any related print material. Subseries 3 consists of records created by individual college and professional chapters and sent to the national office.
Series III is divided into four subseries. Subseries 1 consists of Administrative Records such as board meeting minutes and conventions. Subseries 2 contains print media of Journalistic competition from 1928 through 1997. Subseries 3 is all microfilms of campus chapter members and issues of the Quill. Subseries 4 contains Journalistic competition oversized and non-print media entries.
Each group of records transferred to the archives will be treated as a separate series. Series II and subsequent record series, will follow the arrangement set up in Series I.
Society
of
Professional
Journalists
Records
Archives of DePauw University
and Indiana United Methodism
________
Special Collections
of DePauw University
Greencastle, Indiana
1994
Society of Professional Journalists Records
Society of Professional Journalists Records
Inventory
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SERIES I: Records 1922-1988
Subseries 1: Administrative Records
SPJ 1 National Offices, 1923-1983..............................................................................pg. 8
SPJ 2 National Offices, 1984-1988...............................................................................16
SPJ 3 Conventions, 1929-1956.....................................................................................17
SPJ 4 Conventions, 1957-1972.....................................................................................18
SPJ 5 Conventions, 1973-1983.....................................................................................19
SPJ 6 Conventions, 1984-1988.....................................................................................20
SPJ 7 Subject Files, A-Fi...............................................................................................20
SPJ 8 Subject Files, Fi-M..............................................................................................23
SPJ 9 Subject Files, N-Z...............................................................................................26
SPJ 10 Historic Sights, 1942-1973..................................................................................28
SPJ 11 Historic Sights, 1974-1988..................................................................................33
SPJ 12 Sigma Delta Chi Constitution................................................................................35
SPJ 13 Photographs: conventions, awards, miscellaneous.................................................35
SPJ 14 Photographs: Quill, n.d.; chapter, regional conferences.........................................38
SPJ 15 Photographs: Quill, dated....................................................................................39
SPJ 16 Photographs: Negatives.......................................................................................40
SPJ 17 Freedom of Information/First Amendment Congress (11 videos)..........................44
SPJ 18 Conventions, enrollments, seminars, meetings, (microfilm reels
and audiotape)....................................................................................................44
SPJ 19 Conventions, programs, meetings, title slides (all 35mm transparencies).................45
Subseries 2: Journalistic Competition, Entries and Awards
SPJ 20 Entries and Awards, 1983-1986 & unidentified (11 video and 13 audiotapes)...... 46
SPJ 21 Entries and Awards, 1986-1987 (16 video and 1 audio tape and 1 notebook)......48
SPJ 22 Entries and Awards, 1986-1987 (17 video and 2 audio tapes)..............................49
SPJ 23 Entries and Awards, 1986-1987 (17 video and 12 audio tapes)............................50
SPJ 24 Entries and Awards, 1987-1988 (18 video and 28 audio tapes)............................51
SPJ 25 Entries and Awards, 1983-1987..........................................................................53
SPJ 26 Entries and Awards, 1987-1988..........................................................................60
SPJ 27 Entries and Awards............................................................................................. 65
SPJ 28 Entries and Awards..............................................................................................65
SPJ 29 Entries and Awards..............................................................................................66
SPJ 30 Entries and Awards..............................................................................................67
SPJ 31 Entries and Awards..............................................................................................67
Subseries 3: Chapter Records
SPJ 32 Campus Chapters..................................................................................................68
SPJ 33 Professional Chapters............................................................................................71
SERIES II: Records, 1989-1991
SPJ 34 General Files; Entries and Awards, 1989-1991......................................................74
SPJ 35 Entries and Awards, 1990.................................................................................... 83
SPJ 36 Entries and Awards...............................................................................................84
SPJ 37 Entries and Awards (oversize)...............................................................................85
SPJ 38 Entries and Awards, audio and video tapes............................................................86
SPJ 39 Regional records: conferences and general files.......................................................87
SERIES III: Records and Awards
Subseries 1: Administrative Records
SPJ 40 Executive Meeting Minutes, Board Mailings, Conventions, 1957-1986.................88
SPJ 41 Daily Files, Board Meetings, Conventions, 1987-1991.........................................89
SPJ 42 Daily Files, Board Meetings, Conventions, 1991-1997.........................................90
SPJ 43 Foundation Board Minutes, Bylaws, Photographs (1912-64), 1965-1993............92
Subseries 2: Listings of Journalistic Competitions and Awards
SPJ 44 Entries and Awards, 1928-1997..........................................................................93
SPJ 45 Entries and Awards, 1991-1997..........................................................................95
Subseries 3: Microfilms
SPJ 46 Microfilm, Enrollments, Campus Chapter Members, Quill (1931-74),
1974-1987.........................................................................................................97
Subseries 4: Journalistic Competitions and Awards Entries
SPJ 47 Mark of Excellence and Sigma Delta Chi Entries, (1990-1997)...........................107
SPJ 48 Sigma Delta Chi Entries, 1991-1996..................................................................108
SPJ 49 Sigma Delta Chi Entries, 1995............................................................................108
SPJ 50 Pulliam Fellowship Applications, Photos (Quill staff), Delta Sigma Chi Entries.... 109
SPJ 51 Sigma Delta Chi Video Entries, 1990-1997........................................................109
SPJ 52 Sigma Detla Chi Video and Audio Entries, Board meetings, SDX banquet,
Mark of Excellence Audio Entries, Book, 1982-1987........................................110
SPJ 53 Mark of Excellence Video Entries, Misc. SPJ Videos, 1986-1997.....................111
SPJ 54 Mark of Excellence Video Entries, 1986 National Convention (47 audiotapes),
Audio Reels, 1986-1997...................................................................................112
Appendix A: Oversize Photographs (not boxed).......................................................................113
Appendix B: Bound Manuscript Records.................................................................................114
Appendix C: Related DePauw University Records....................................................................115
SERIES I: Records 1922-1988
Subseries 1: Administrative Records
SPJ1 National Offices, 1923-1983
Folder 1 National Offices 1923
Executive Committee
Folder 2 National Offices 1923
Executive Committee
Folder 3 National Offices 1924
Executive Committee
Folder 4 National Offices 1924
2nd Vice President
Folder 5 National Offices 1924
Secretary
Folder 6 National Offices 1924
Treasurer
Folder 7 National Offices 1925
Quill Endowment
Folder 8 National Offices 1927
Executive Council
Folder 9 National Offices 1929
Executive Council
Folder 10 National Offices 1930
Executive Council
Folder 11 National Offices 1931
Executive Council
Folder 12 National Offices 1933
Executive Council
Folder 13 National Offices 1934
Executive Council
Folder 14 National Offices 1936
Executive Council Minutes
Folder 15 National Offices 1938
Executive Council
Folder 16 National Offices 1939
Executive Council
Folder 17 National Offices 1941
Executive Council Minutes
Folder 18 National Offices 1945
Executive Council Minutes
Folder 19 National Offices 1946
Executive Council Minutes
Folder 20 National Offices 1947
Executive Council Minutes
Folder 21 National Offices 1948
Executive Council Minutes
Folder 22 National Offices 1948
Executive Director
Folder 23 National Offices 1949
Executive Council Minutes
Folder 24 National Offices 1950
Executive Council Minutes
Folder 25 National Offices 1951
Executive Council Minutes
Folder 26 National Offices 1952
Executive Council Minutes
Folder 27 National Offices 1953
Committee for Advancement of Freedom of Information
Folder 28 National Offices 1953
Executive Committee Minutes
Folder 29 National Offices 1953
National Program Committee; Sub-Committee on Ritual
Folder 30 National Offices 1954
Executive Council
Folder 31 National Offices 1955
Executive Council Minutes
Folder 32 National Offices 1956
Executive Council Minutes
Folder 33 National Offices 1957
Executive Council Minutes
Folder 34 National Offices 1957
Executive Director
Folder 35 National Offices 1958
President
Folder 36 National Offices 1960
Board of Directors/Executive Council (1 meeting)
Folder 37 National Offices 1961
Executive Officer
Folder 38 National Offices 1961
First Vice-President
Folder 39 National Offices 1962
Executive Officer
Folder 40 National Offices 1962
Quill
Folder 41 National Offices 1963
Spring Board Meeting
Folder 42 National Offices 1963
Executive Officer
Folder 43 National Offices 1963
President
Folder 44 National Offices 1963
Regional Director
Folder 45 National Offices 1963 Subcommittee on Regional Boundaries
Folder 46 National Offices 1963
Vice-President Undergraduate Affairs
Folder 47 National Offices 1964
Spring Board Meeting
Folder 48 National Offices 1964
Awards Committee
Folder 49 National Offices 1964
Executive Officer
Folder 50 National Offices 1964
President
Folder 51 National Offices 1965
Spring Board Meeting
Folder 52 National Offices 1965
Executive Officer
Folder 53 National Offices 1965
President
Folder 54 National Office 1965
Professional Development Committee
Folder 55 National Offices 1966
Spring Board Meeting
Folder 56 National Offices 1966
Executive Officer
Folder 57 National Offices 1966
Membership
Folder 58 National Offices 1966
President of Board
Folder 59 National Offices 1967
Spring Board Meeting
Folder 60 National Offices 1967
Executive Officer
Folder 61 National Offices 1967
Quill
Folder 62 National Offices 1968
Spring Board Meeting
Folder 63 National Offices 1968
Executive Officer
Folder 64 National Offices 1968
Ways & Means Committee
Folder 65 National Offices 1969
Spring Board Meeting
Folder 66 National Offices 1969
Past Presidents
Folder 67 National Offices 1969
Secretary
Folder 68 National Offices 1970
Spring Board Meeting
Folder 69 National Offices 1970
Executive Officer
Folder 70 National Offices 1970
President
Folder 71 National Offices 1970
Vice President, Campus Affairs
Folder 72 National Offices 1971
Spring Board Meeting
Folder 73 National Offices 1971
Executive Officer
Folder 74 National Offices 1971
President
Folder 75 National Offices 1971
Vice-President of Campus Affairs
Folder 76 National Offices 1972
Spring Board Minutes
Folder 77 National Offices 1972
Executive Officer
Folder 78 National Offices 1972
President
Folder 79 National Offices 1972
Vice President, Campus Affairs
Folder 80 National Offices 1973
Board of Directors
Folder 81 National Offices 1973
Spring Board Meeting
Folder 82 National Offices 1973
Executive Officer
Folder 83 National Offices 1973
First Vice President
Folder 84 National Offices 1973
Nominating Committee
Folder 85 National Offices 1973
President
Folder 86 National Officers 1973
Ways and Means Committee
Folder 87 National Offices 1974
Spring Board Meeting
Folder 88 National Offices 1974
Quill
Folder 89 National Offices 1974
Ethics Committee
Folder 90 National Offices 1974
Executive Officer
Folder 91 National Offices 1974
First Vice President
Folder 92 National Offices 1974
Immediate Past President
Folder 93 National Offices 1974
President
Folder 94 National Offices 1974
Nominating Committee
Folder 95 National Offices 1974
Secretary
Folder 96 National Offices 1975
Spring Board Meeting
Folder 97 National Offices 1975
Executive Officer
Folder 98 National Offices 1975
Nominating Committee
Folder 99 National Offices 1975
President
Folder 100 National Offices 1975
President Elect
Folder 101 National Offices 1976
Spring Board Meeting
Folder 102 National Offices 1976
Executive Officer
Folder 103 National Offices 1976
Nominating Committee
Folder 104 National Offices 1976
President
Folder 105 National Offices 1977
Executive Officer
Folder 106 National Offices 1977
National Officers (List)
Folder 107 National Offices 1977
Nominating Committee
Folder 108 National Offices 1977
Vice President Campus Affairs
Folder 109 National Offices 1978
Spring Board Meeting
Folder 110 National Offices 1978
Membership
Folder 111 National Offices 1978
Nominating Committee
Folder 112 National Offices 1979
Spring Board Meeting
Folder 113 National Offices 1979
Committees (Lists)
Folder 114 National Offices 1979
Executive Officer
Folder 115 National Offices 1979
National Officers List
Folder 116 National Offices 1979
Nominating Committee
Folder 117 National Offices 1979
President
Folder 118 National Offices 1979
Special Projects Committee
Folder 119 National Offices 1980
Spring Board Meeting
Folder 120 National Offices 1980
Committee (Lists)
Folder 121 National Offices 1980
Executive Officer
Folder 122 National Offices 1980
Lawyer Search Committee
Folder 123 National Offices 1980
Nominating Committee
Folder 124 National Offices 1980
President
Folder 125 National Offices 1980
Quill
Folder 126 National Offices 1981
January and April Board Meetings
Folder 127 National Offices 1981
Executive Officer
Folder 128 National Offices 1981
Investment Committee
Folder 129 National Offices 1981
Quill Endowment Trustees
Folder 130 National Officers 1982
Spring Board Meeting
Folder 131 National Offices 1982
Executive Officer Tornabene
Folder 132 National Offices 1982
President
Folder 133 National Offices 1983
Spring Board Meeting
Folder 134 National Offices 1983
Executive Officer Tornabene
Folder 135 National Offices 1983
Membership Itule
Folder 136 National Offices 1983
Nominating Committee
Folder 137 National Officers 1983
Past President Jean Otto
Folder 138 National Offices 1983
Planning Committee
Folder 139 National Officers 1983
President, Steve Dornfeld
Folder 140 National Offices 1983
Professional Development, Ralph Izard
SPJ2 National Offices, 1984-1988
Folder 1 National Offices 1984
Board Assignments
Folder 2 National Offices Spring 1984
Board Meeting
Folder 3 National Offices 1984
Campus Chapter Affairs, Charles Fair
Folder 4 National Offices 1984
Ethics Committee
Folder 5 National Offices 1984
Executive Director
Folder 6 National Offices 1984
Fund Raising Committee
Folder 7 National Offices 1984
Membership Committee
Folder 8 National Offices 1984
Nominations
Folder 9 National Offices 1984
President
Folder 10 National Offices 1984
President Elect
Folder 11 National Offices 1985
Board Assignments
Folder 12 National Offices 1985
Executive Officer, Russ Tornabene
Folder 13 Headquarters Sites Committee
SPJ3 Conventions, 1929-1956
Folder 1 Convention 1923
Treasurer's Report
Folder 2 Executive Council Chairman Reports to Conventions 1923, '24, '25, & '28
Folder 3 Conventions 1929
Folder 4 Convention 1930, Columbus, Ohio
Folder 5 Conventions 1931
Folder 6 Convention 1933
Folder 7 Convention 1934, DePauw
Folder 8 Convention 1935
Folder 9 Acts and Summaries of Conventions 1936, '37, '38
Folder 10 Convention 1936
Folder 11 Convention 1937
Folder 12 Convention 1938
Folder 13 Convention 1939
Folder 14 Convention 1940, Des Moines
Folder 15 Convention 1941, New Orleans
Folder 16 Convention 1946, Chicago
Folder 17 Convention 1947
Folder 18 Convention 1948
Folder 19 Convention 1949
Folder 20 Convention 1950
Folder 21 Convention 1951
Folder 22 Convention 1952
Folder 23 Convention 1952
SDX Publicity
Folder 24 Convention 1953
Folder 25 Convention (45th) Nov. 11-13 Columbus, Ohio; Deshler-Hilton Hotel
Folder 26 Convention (46th) 1955
Folder 27 Convention (47th) 1956
SPJ4 Conventions, 1957-1972
Folder 1 Convention 1957
Folder 2 Convention (48th) 1957, Proceedings
Folder 3 Convention 1957 (48th), Houston, Texas, Proceedings
Folder 4 Convention (49th) 1958 November 19-22, U.S. Grant Hotel, San Diego,CA
Folder 5 Convention (50th) 1959, Indianapolis
Folder 6 Convention 1961, Miami, Proceedings
Folder 7 Convention 1962
Folder 8 Convention 1963
Folder 9 Convention 1964
Folder 10 Convention 1964, Kansas City, Missouri, Proceedings
Folder 11 Convention 1965
Folder 12 Convention 1965, Los Angeles
Folder 13 Convention 1966
Folder 14 Convention 1966, Pittsburgh, Proceedings
Folder 15 Convention 1967, Minneapolis, Proceedings
Folder 16 Convention 1967
Folder 17 Convention 1968
Folder 18 Convention 1968, Proceedings
Folder 19 Convention 1969
Folder 20 Convention 1969, San Diego, Calif., Proceedings
Folder 21 Convention 1970
Folder 22 Convention 1970, Business Session, Proceedings
Folder 23 Convention 1971
Folder 24 Convention 1971, Thursday and Saturday Sessions, Proceedings
Folder 25 Convention 1972
Folder 26 Convention 1972, Statler Hilton, Proceedings
SPJ5 Conventions, 1973-1983
Folder 1 Convention 1973
Folder 2 Convention 1973, Buffalo, New York, Proceedings
Folder 3 Convention 1974
Folder 4 Convention 1974, Proceedings
Folder 5 Convention 1975
Folder 6 Convention 1975 (66th), Philadelphia, Proceedings
Folder 7 Convention 1976
Folder 8 Convention 1976, Proceedings
Folder 9 Convention 1977
Folder 10 Convention 1977, Detroit, Proceedings
Folder 11 Convention 1978
Folder 12 Convention 1978, Proceedings
Folder 13 Convention 1979
Folder 14 Convention 1979, Proceedings
Folder 15 Convention (71st), 1980 Hyatt, Columbus, Ohio
Folder 16 Convention 1981, Washington, D.C.
Folder 17 Convention 1981, Proceedings
Folder 18 Convention 1982, Milwaukee
Folder 19 Convention 1983
SPJ6 Conventions, 1984-1988
Folder 1 Convention 1984, Part 1
Folder 2 Convention 1984, Part II
Folder 3 Convention 1984, SPJ-SDX Daily
Folder 4 Convention 1985, Part I
Folder 5 Convention 1985, Part II
Folder 6 Convention 1986, Invitation
Folder 7 Convention 1986, Part I
Folder 8 Convention 1986, Part II
Folder 9 Convention 1986, "The Working Press"
Folder 10 Convention 1987, Evaluations
Folder 11 Convention 1987, Part I
Folder 12 Convention 1987, Part II
Folder 13 Convention 1987, Part III
Folder 14 Convention 1988
SPJ7 Subject Files, A-Fi
Folder 1 Admission of Women
Folder 2 Award Certificates
Folder 3 Award Programs, Beckman Efficiency Award
Folder 4 Award Programs: Distinguished Service Awards (DSA)
Folder 5 Award Programs: DSA 1952-53
Folder 6 Award Programs: DSA 1964-65
Folder 7 Award Programs: DSA 1970-71
Folder 8 Award Programs: DSA 1973-74
Folder 9 Award Programs: DSA 1974-75
Folder 10 Award Programs: DSA 1976-77
Folder 11 Award Programs: DSA 1978-79
Folder 12 Award Programs: DSA 1980-81
Folder 13 Award Programs: DSA 1981-82
Folder 14 Award Programs: DSA 1982-83
Folder 15 Award Programs: DSA 1983-84
Folder 16 Award Programs: DSA 1984-85
Folder 17 Award Programs: DSA 1987-88
Folder 18 Award Programs: Distinguished Teaching Award (DTA) in Journalism
Folder 19 Award Programs: Kilgore Memorial
Folder 20 Award Programs: Mark of Excellence (MOE) National Winners 1967, '68, '71
Folder 21 Award Programs: MOE National Winners 1972-1983
Folder 22 Award Programs: MOE National Winners 1984 (Partial)
Folder 23 Award Programs: MOE National Winners 1985-86
Folder 24 Award Programs: MOE National Winners 1987/88
Folder 25 Award Programs: Outstanding Chapter