.
By Cynthia Harris and Natalie Smith
Collection Overview
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The collection is composed of materials relating to the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, and the Delta chapter located at Kansas State University. A portion of the collection is devoted to chapter member Frank Marshall Davis, which includes three of his publications and correspondence between Davis and Kansas State University faculty member, Carol E. Oukrop. The chapter materials also include exhibit contents of physical items and web archives of a later online exhibit. The collection also has some of Phi Beta Sigma's Conclave programs, their national publication (The Crescent), and multiple yearbooks featuring Phi Beta Sigma members. Additional items include group photographs of the Alpha Sigma chapter, artifacts from previous conclaves, and a large Phi Beta Sigma banner. Another item of note is the George A. Parker scrapbook; Parker was a delegate to the 1964 Republican National Convention.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Morse Department of Special Collections
Accruals:
2007; 06/23/2015; 02/08/2018.
Access Restrictions:
No restrictions.
Use Restrictions:
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Physical Access Note:
Original materials available during open hours of repository and any digitized materials that are online are available with Internet access. Some materials are fragile and use of copy is required.
Technical Access Note:
Any audiovisual materials require appropriate components to hear and/or view.
Acquisition Source:
Kevin Christian, Todd LeBon, Delta Chapter
Acquisition Method:
Donation.
Preferred Citation:
[Item title], [item date], Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity collection, [Series name], Box [number], Folder [number], Morse Department of Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
Processing Information:
Processor Cindy Harris rehoused collection and updated description in 2015, and student assistant Natalie Smith updated container list in 2017. University archivist Cliff Hight reviewed it in 2017.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Frank Marshall Davis],
[
Series 2: Kevin A. Christian],
[
Series 3: Todd LeBon],
[
Series 4: Linden Houston],
[
Series 5: Theses, 1930, 1933, 1934],
[
Series 6: Delta Chapter],
[All]
- Series 1: Frank Marshall Davis

- Box 1

- Folder 1: Membership Cards, circa 1920s, 1946, 1953

- The American Newspaper Guild, Associated Negro Press, Phi Beta Sigma Delta Chapter Fraternity
- Folder 2: Copy of Membership Cards

- Correspondence: Davis, Beth [Charlton].
- Folder 3: Black World, Annual History Issue, February 1974

Black World magazine. (Chicago, IL: Johnson Publishing Company, Inc.), Vol. XXIII No. 4
"Poems by Frank Marshall Davis," pages 22-26
- Folder 4: I Am the American Negro, 1937

- Davis, Frank Marshall. I Am the American Negro. (Chicago, IL: Black Cat Press)
- Folder 5: Black Man's Verse, 1935

Davis, Frank Marshall. Black Man's Verse. (Chicago, IL: Black Cat Press)
This book is considered a "mini" because of its small size.
- Folder 6: Through Sepia Eyes, 1938

- Davis, Frank Marshall. Through Sepia Eyes. (Chicago, IL: Black Cat Press)
- Folder 7: Copy of Through Sepia Eyes

- Folder 8: Photographs

- Box 2

- Folder 1: Cassette Tapes, Undated

- 2 Cassette Tapes of Frank Marshall Davis
- Folder 2: Conversation between Frank Marshall Davis and Carol E. Oukrop, March 29, 1984

- 36 page transcription of a conversation between Frank Marshall Davis and Carol E. Oukrop.
- Folder 3: Program Announcement, Kansas Committee for Humanities, 1984-1985

- Announcement of Grants and Deadlines. Carol E. Oukrop and Philip M. Royster applied for a grant to go to Hawaii to interview Frank Marshall Davis.
- Folder 4: Correspondence, 1986, 1990-1993

- Correspondence between Carol Oukrop and John Edgar Tidwell and between Carol Oukrop and Leonard Ray Teel.
- Folder 5: Correspondence: Frank Marshall Davis to Carol Oukrop

- Folder 6: Correspondence: Carol Oukrop to Frank Marshall Davis

- Folder 7: Carol Oukrop: Frank Marshall Davis Materials and Interview CD

- Box 3

- Folder 1: Frank Marshall Davis Information 1

- Folder 2: Frank Marshall Davis Information 2

- Folder 3: Frank Marshall Davis Information 3

- Folder 4: Frank Marshall Davis Information 4

- Series 2: Kevin A. Christian

- Box 4: Yearbooks

- Item 2: Maroon and White, 1931

Maroon and White Yearbook. (St. Louis, MO: Sumner High School).
Photographs of Phi Beta Sigma, Delta Chapter member Wirt Dudley Walton on pages 10, 97 and 98. Walton was a music teacher at Sumner High School.
- Item 4: Red and Black, 1920

- Red and Black Yearbook. Lawrence High School, Lawrence, Kansas.
- Item 3: Maroon and White, 1935

Maroon and White Yearbook. (St. Louis, MO: Sumner High School)
Photographs of Phi Beta Sigma, Delta Chapter member, Wirt Dudley Walton on pages 11 and 67. Walton is listed on page 13 under "Music" Faculty.
- Item 5: Red and Black, 1921

- Red and Black Yearbook. Lawrence High School, Lawrence, Kansas.
- Item 6: The Blue M, Manhattan High, 1922

- Box 5: Subjects

- Folder 1: 25th Conclave Anniversary Program, 1939

- Official Silver Anniversary Souvenir Program
- Folder 2: 35th Conclave Anniversary Program, 1949

- Souvenir program.
- Folder 3: 38th Anniversary Conclave Program, 1952

- Conclave program of December 27-30, 1952. Includes photograph of the Phi Beta Sigma General Board. Everyone in the photograph has been identified.
- Folder 4: 58th Anniversary Conclave Program, 1972

- August 15-19, 1972, Miami Beach, Florida.
- Folder 5: 65th Anniverary Conclave Journal, 1979

- December 26-30, 1979 at Washington, D.C.
- Folder 6: 67th Anniversary Conclave Journal, 1981

- July 25-31, 1981, Charleston, South Carolina.
- Folder 7: 75th Conclave Souvenir Journal, 1989

- August 8-13, 1989, Washington, D.C.
- Folder 8: 81st Anniversary Conclave Program, 1995

- July 11-6, 1995, Washington, D. C.
- Folder 9: Conclave '99, 1999

- July 6-11, 1999, Dallas, Texas
- Folder 10: Conclave 2001, 2001

- July 9-15, 2001, Detroit, Michigan
- Folder 11: Conclave Memphis, 2003

- July 8-13, 2008, Memphis, Tennessee
- Folder 12: Theta Sigma Chapter, 1962

- Photograph of the 1962 Theta Sigma Chapter, Buffalo, New York
- Folder 13: Forcean Yearbook, 1927

- Includes Chapter photograph of Alpha Alpha Chapter, Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio
- Folder 14: The Sentinel Magazine, 2007

- Official publication of Iota Nu Sigma Chapter, Chicago, Illinois
- Folder 15: Edgerson, Eugene, The Harlem Globetrotters, 2006

- Four authographed photographs - two of Eugene Edgerson by himself, and two with his teammates.
- Folder 16: 60th Annual Eastern Regional Conference, 1974

- Gamma Rho Sigma, host. May 3-5, 1974, Queens, New York. Includes autographs of Nipsey Russell and Gilbert Daley, Eastern Regional Director.
- Folder 17: Phi Beta Sigma History Book, 1970

- Only 100 copies made it to publication.
- Folder 18: Theta Sigma Chapter; Beta Iota Chapter, 1928; 1948

- 1928 Theta Sigma Program; 1948 Theta Sigma Chapter photos; 1948 photo of Charter Members of Beta Iota Chapter, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
- Folder 19: Nashville Area Sigma Chapters, 1940

- Photograph, members of Eta Beta Sigma, Kappa-Meharry, Zeta Alpha, Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Folder 20: Sigma Flash, Monthly News Bulletin, September 1946

- This news bulletin was issued from The Office of the National Executive Secretary, Richmond, Virginia
- Folder 21: Theta Sigma Chapter, 1948

Photograph, Theta Sigma Chapter at the home of Brother C. E. Ford, Buffalo, New York
Left to Right - Back Row: Brother Wardner Jones, Funeral Home Director; Brother Ernest Cannon, U. S. Post Office; Brother Dr. I. L. Scruggs, Medical Doctor; Brother Bennie Lipman; Brother Clarence Cooper, Chef, U. S. Central Railroad; Brother Thaddeus "Thad" Johnson; Brother Godfrey Tooten, Owner Liquor Store, Pharmarist; Brother Ernest Gadson
Letf to Right - Middle Row: Brother C. E. Ford, Wholesaler Livestock, Midwest to Canada; Brother Fred Barkley, Social Worker; Brother Leonard Chapman; Brother Alexander Hall
Left to Right - Front Row: Brother James Howell, Director of Maintenance, City of Buffalo; Brother George Nelson, Owner Olde Virginia Sausage Package Plant; Unknown; Brother Jacob Gale, Co-Owner, Olde Virginia Sausage Package Plant
- Folder 22: Eastern Regional Conference, Souvenir Program, 1955

- April 29-May 1, 1955, Washington, D. C.
- Folder 23: 50th Anniversary Conclave Souvenir Program, 1964

- December 26-30, 1964, Washington, D. C. Two programs, one cover red the other white. In the white cover program, President Lyndon B. Johnson "LBJ" wrote "To Phi Beta Sigma Fratenity with best wishes, Lyndon B. Johnson". Also in the white cover program there is an original photograph of the 50th Anniversary Conclave Committe.
- Folder 24: The Crescent Magazine, 50th Anniversary, December 1, 1964

- Vol. 50, No1
- Folder 25: Correspondence to Kevin A. Christian from Clarence Pair, January 4, 2001

- Clarence Pair, Alpha Chapter, 1918, wrote to Kevin Christian documenting the early years of Sigma and the founding of Zeta Phi Beta, the sister sorority.
- Folder 26: Our Cause Speeds On, 1957

- Savage, W. Sherman and L. D. Riddick. Our Cause Speeds On. (Atlanta, GA: The Fuller Press)
- Folder 27: 75th Anniversary Edition, Phi Beta Sigma Membership Directory, 1989

- A directory listing of Phi Beta Sigma members.
- Folder 28: Phi Beta Sigma, National Membership Directory, 2003

- A directory listing of Phi Beta Sigma members.
- Folder 29: 45th Anniversary Conclave Souvenir Program, 1959

- 45th Anniversary Conclave Souvenir Program, Washington, D. C., December 26-30, 1959.
- Folder 30: The Crescent, November 1938

- Vol. XIII, No.3
- Folder 31: The Crescent, Spring 1949

- Special Edition.
- Folder 32: The Crescent, Fall 1951

- Vol. XXXV, No. 2.
- Folder 33: The Crescent, December 1954

- Vol. 38, No. 2
- Folder 34: The Crescent, May 1960

- Vol. 46, No. 1
- Folder 35: The Crescent, December 1960

- Vol. 46, No. 2
- Folder 36: The Crescent, May 1961

- Vol. 47, No. 1
- Folder 37: The Crescent, December 1961

- Vol. 47, No. 2
- Folder 38: The Crescent, December 1962

- Vol. 48, No. 2
- Folder 39: The Crescent, December 1963

- Vol. 49, No. 2
- Folder 40: The Crescent, December 1965

- Vol. 51, No. 2
- Folder 41: The Crescent, May 1969

- Vol. 55, No. 1
- Folder 42: The Crescent, December 1969

- Vol. 55, No. 2
- Folder 43: The Crescent, May 1970

- Vol. 56, No. 1
- Folder 44: The Crescent, December 1972

- Vol. 58, No. 2
- Folder 45: The Crescent, May 1973

- Vol. 59, No. 1
- Folder 46: The Crescent, November 1973

- Vol. 59, No. 2
- Folder 47: The Crescent, Fall 1974

- Vol. 60, No. 2
- Folder 48: The Crescent, Fall 1975

- Vol. 61, No. 2
- Folder 49: The Crescent, Spring 1976

- Vol. 62, No. 1
- Folder 50: The Crescent, Fall 1976

- Vol. 62, No. 2
- Folder 51: The Crescent, Fall 1979

- Vol. 65, No. 1
- Folder 52: The Crescent, Spring 1981

- Vol. 66, No. 1
- Folder 53: The Crescent, Spring 1982

- Vol. 67, No. 1
- Folder 54: The Crescent, Spring 1985

- Vol. 69, No. 1
- Folder 55: The Crescent, 1986

- Vol. 70, No. 3
- Folder 56: The Crescent, Summer 1988

- Vol. 71, No. 1
- Folder 57: The Crescent, Winter 1992-1993

- Vol. 74, No. 1
- Folder 58: The Crescent, Spring 1996

- Vol. 76, No. 2
- Folder 59: The Crescent, Winter 2002

- Vol. 77, No. 1
- Folder 60: The Crescent, Summer/Fall 2002

- Vol. 77, No. 2
- Folder 61: The Crescent, Winter 2004

- Vol. 77, No. 3
- Folder 62: The Crescent, Spring 2005

- Vol. 77, No. 3
- Folder 63: The Crescent, Winter 2005

- Folder 64: The Crescent, Fall 2006

- Folder 65: Special Conclave Edition, 2007

- 93rd Anniversary Conclave of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity at Charlotte, North Carolina, July 31, 2007.
- Folder 66: The Crescent, Fall 2009

- Post Conclave Edition, The Crescent Magazine, Fall 2009.
- Folder 67: The Crescent, Spring 2010

- The Crescent, Phi Beta Sigma Magazine, Spring 2010.
- Folder 68: The Crescent, Winter 2011

- The Crescent, Phi Beta Sigma Magazine, Winter 2011.
- Box 6: Yearbooks, 1920-1927; 1931-1932; 1949; 1952; 1965

- The yearbooks include photographs of members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Delta Chapter.
- Item 1: Royal Purple, 1921

Royal Purple Yearbook. (Manhattan, KS: Kansas State Agricultural College)
Photograph of Phi Beta Sigma, Delta Chapter on page 226.
- Item 2: Royal Purple, 1922

Royal Purple Yearbook. (Manhattan, KS: Kansas State Agricultural College).
Photograph of Phi Beta Sigma, Delta Chapter Members on page 255.
- Item 3: Royal Purple, 1923

Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS: Kansas State Agricultural College)
Photographs of members of the Phi Beta Sigma Delta Chapter and their House Mother on page 328.
Photograph of the Phi Beta Sigma, Delta Chapter House on page 329.
- Item 4: Royal Purple, 1924

Royal Purple Yearbook. (Manhattan, KS: Kansas State Agricultural College)
Photographs of the members of Phi Beta Sigma, Delta Chapter and their House Mother on page 282.
- Item 5: Royal Purple, 1925

Royal Purple Yearbook. (Manhattan, KS: Kansas State Agricultural College)
Photographs of the members of the Phi Beta Sigma, Delta Chapter and their House Mother on page 276.
- Item 6: Royal Purple, 1926

Royal Purple Yearbook. (Manhattan, KS: Kansas State Agricultural College)
Photographs of the members of the Phi Beta Sigma, Delta Chapter and their House Mother on page 298.
- Item 7: Royal Purple, 1927

Royal Purple Yearbook. (Manhattan, KS: Kansas State Agricultural College)
Photographs of the members of Phi Beta Sigma, Delta Chapter and their House Mother on page 332.
- Item 8: The Archives, 1965

The Archives Yearbook. (Jefferson City, MO: Lincoln University)
Photograph of Phi Beta Sigma, Delta Chapter member, Earl E. Dawson, who was President of Lincoln University on page 5.
- Item 9: The Panther, 1949

The Panther Yearbook. (Prairie View, TX: Prairie View A & M College)
Photograph of Phi Beta Sigma, Delta Chapter member Francis F. Fry, who was the Chief Engineer on page titled "Mechanical Arts."
- Item 10: The Panther, 1952

The Panther Yearbook. (Prairie View, TX: Prairie View A & M College)
Photographs of Phi Beta Sigma, Delta Chapter members Francis F. Fry (Chief Engineer) and Claude L. Wilson (Dean of Engineering) under pages titled "Engineering."
- Item 16: The Archives, 1942

- Item 17: The Lion, 1953

- Box 7: Oversize

- Oversize Photographs and Artifacts.
- Item 1: Photograph, Alpha Sigma Chapter-Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, 1959

- A group photograph of Phi Beta Sigma, Alpha Sigma Chapter.
- Item 2: Photograph, 45th Anniversary Conclave, 1959

- A group photograph of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity at the 45th Anniversary Conclave.
- Item 3: Photograph. 50th Anniversary Conclave, 1964

- A group photograph of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, 50th Anniversary Conclave, 1964.
- Item 4: Photograph, Phi Beta Sigma, Alpha Sigma Chapter, 1922

- A framed photograph, of individual photographs, of the Phi Beta Sigma, Alpha Sigma Chapter, 1922.
- Item 5: Bag, Blue with Zipper, Conclave, Charleston, 1981

- A blue vinyl bag with zipper. Phi Beta Sigma 1981 Conclave, Charleston. Masking tape has the name "Albert Giles."
- Item 6: White Canvas tote bag with blue handles and trim., 1989

- Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. 1914-1989, Diamond Jubilee Conclave, Washington, D. C.
- Box 9: Oversize scrapbook, 1964

- Scrapbook of George A. Parker from his time as a delegate to the 1964 Republican Convention, San Francisco, California.
- Drawer H3.5: Oversize banner

- Phi Beta Sigma banner
- Series 3: Todd LeBon

Our Cause, The Official Magazine of the Eastern Region of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
The Sentinel, The Official Newsletter of the Iota Nu Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Chicago, Illinois
- Box 10

- Folder 1: Our Cause, Spring 2009

- Our Cause, The Official Magazine of the Eastern Region of Phi Beta Sigma Franternity, Inc., Vol. 1, Issue 1
- Folder 2: Our Cause, Spring 2011

- Our Cause, The Official Magazine of the Eastern Region of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Vol. 2, Issue 1
- Folder 3: The PBS Open, 2006-2007

- Phi Beta Sigma, Iota Nu Sigma Chapter, Chicago, Illinois, Golf Tournament, 2006-2007.
- Folder 4: The Sentinel, Winter 2004

- The Sentinel is the Official Newsletter of the Iota Nu Sigma Chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Chicago, Illinois.
- Folder 5: The Sentinel, Spring 2005

- The Sentinel is the Official Newsletter of the Iota Nu Sigma Chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Chicago, Illinois,
- Folder 6: The Sentinel, Fall/Winter 2005

- The Sentinel is the Official Newsletter of the Iota Nu Sigma Chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Chicago, Illinois.
- Folder 7: The Sentinel, Spring 2006

- The Sentinel is the Official Newsletter of the Iota Nu Sigma Chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Chicago, Illinois.
- Folder 8: The Sentinel, Fall 2006

- The Sentinel is the Official Newsletter of the Iota Nu Sigma Chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Chicago, Illinois.
- Folder 9: The Sentinel, Spring 2007

- The Sentinel is the Official Newsletter of the Iota Nu Sigma Chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Chicago, Illinois.
- Folder 10: The Sentinel, Fall 2007

- The Sentinel is the Official Newsletter of the Iota Nu Sigma Chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Chicago, Illinois.
- Folder 11: Infinite Greek Magazine, Winter/Spring 2004

- Infinite Greek, The Magazine created for Greeks by Greeks, Miami, Florida.
- Folder 12: Infinite Greek Magazine, Summer/Fall 2004

- Infinite Greek Magazine, The Magazine created for Greeks by Greeks, Miami, Florida.
- Series 4: Linden Houston

- The Sunflower Yearbook, Topeka High School, Topeka, Kansas, 1918.
- Box 4

- Folder 1: The Sunflower Yearbook, 1918

- The Sunflower Yearbook, Topeka High School, Topeka, Kansas, 1918
- Series 5: Theses, 1930, 1933, 1934

- Theses written by members of the Delta chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
- Item 1: Fry, Louis Edwin. The Characteristics of the Egyptian Mastaba, 1930

Louis Edwin Fry's 1930 thesis.
Call # LD2668 .T38 1930 F79
Location: University Archives.
- Item 2: Settler, Sheridan H. Full Feeding Versus Limited Feeding of Swine on Peanut Pasture, 1934

Sheridan H. Settler's 1934 thesis.
Call # LD2668 .T4 1934 S41 C.2
Location: University Archives.
- Item 3: Wilson, Claude Leonard. A Study of Asphalt Bridge Plank, 1933

Claude Leonard Wilson's 1933 thesis.
Call # LD2668 .T4 1933 W52
Location: University Archives.
- Series 6: Delta Chapter

- Box 11: Subjects

- Folder 1: Balton, Monroe, 1930

November 20, 1930 Phi Beta Sigma initiation certificate received by Monroe R. Balton. Gift of Family given to Dr. Myra Gordon for donation to the University Archives.
Student directory shows where Balton lived while attending Kansas State Agriculture College and Applied Science.
Student photograph from Royal Purple Yearbook, 1935.
- Folder 2: Fry, Louis E., Jr., 2007

- Arch + Black, an ongoing project that provides convenient access to online resources related to architecture and African Americans.
- Folder 3: Scott, Simon Walter, 1928

- 14 page notebook containing Simon Walter Scott's biography information. Gift of daughter, Virginia C. Spencer.
- Folder 4: Media, DVD, Phi Beta Sigma House History, 2006

- PowerPoint of Phi Beta Sigma House History with photographs.
- Folder 5: Media, DVD, A Pilgrimage to Delta Chapter, 2006

Media, DVD, A Pilgrimage to Delta Chapter, 2006.
5 copies, plus Master Copy.
- Folder 6: Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, 1920-1927

- List of members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Kansas State Agriculture College and Applied Science, 1920-1927.
- Box 7: Oversize

- Item 7: Poster, Meet ~N~ Greet, Circa 2006-2012

- Poster announcing that the Phi Beta Sigma Delta Chapter is inviting young men to attending a "Meet ~N~ Greet" gathering in the Hemisphere Room of Hale Library on September 10. No year listed. Circa 2006-2012.
- Item 8: Diploma, Simon Walter Scott, 1928

- Photocopy of Simon Walter Scott's 1928 Bachelor of Science in Rural Commerce Diploma, Kansas State Agriculture College. Gift of daughter, Virginia C. Spencer.
- Item 9: Centennial proclamation, 2017

- Box 8: Exhibit materials, 2006–2008

This box includes copies of materials used in an exhibit in the Morse Department of Special Collections in conjunction with an August 2006 Phi Beta Sigma event at Kansas State University titled the Charles I. Brown Historical Symposium: A Pilgrimage to Delta Chapter. Images and information pertain to the chapter house, 1020 Colorado Street; housemother, Bertha Scott; Charles Ignatius Brown; chapter members who studied agriculture, architecture, engineering (chemical, electrical, mechanical), journalism, general science, and veterinary medicine; and the symposium.
Additionally, the department developed an online exhibit in 2008 about the Delta chapter. Web archives of the site can be found at http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.lib.k-state.edu/depts/spec/exhibits/pbs/index.html.
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Frank Marshall Davis],
[
Series 2: Kevin A. Christian],
[
Series 3: Todd LeBon],
[
Series 4: Linden Houston],
[
Series 5: Theses, 1930, 1933, 1934],
[
Series 6: Delta Chapter],
[All]