Sigma Delta Pi: A Brief History The First Seventy-Five Years 1919-1994 By T. Earle Hamilton (June 10, 1905 – October 2, 1996) i Copyright © by Sigma Delta Pi www.sigmadeltapi.org Published by Sigma Delta Pi in the U.S.A. First Edition (paperback): 1994 Electronic Edition: 2004 ii Ruth Barnes, founder, inspiration, and guiding spirit of Sigma Delta Pi; we remember with gratitude and appreciation. iii Contents Electronic Edition…………………………………………………………………. vi Preface……….…..………………………………………………………............... vii Chapter I The Alpha Years, 1919-30 A Society Founded and Governed by Students…………………………… 1 Chapter II Leavitt O. Wright, 1931-37 10 Nationalization of Sigma Delta Pi………………………………………… Chapter III John T. Reid, 1938-41 A Voice and a Guide for the Society……………………………………… 22 Chapter IV F. Dewey Amner, 1942-48 30 Contribution to the War Effort…………………………………………….. Chapter V Carl A. Tyre, 1948-59 A Decade of Successful Meetings, Triennial and Regional………………. 42 Chapter VI T. Earle Hamilton, 1960-68 54 Improvement in Quality and in Numbers…………………………………. Chapter VII Dolores Brown, 1969-71 Continued Expansion……………………………………………………… 72 Chapter VIII T. Earle Hamilton, 1972-77 74 Rapid Expansion, Financial Growth, and a New Edition of the Ritual…… Chapter IX Richard E. Chandler, 1978-92 The Golden Years of Sigma Delta Pi……………………………………… 82 Chapter X John H. LaPrade, 1993-95 Awakening of the Dormant Chapters……………………………………... 120 iv Appendix A "The Sigma Delta Pi Charter and Certificate" by Robert Frederick Lane…………………………………………………. 122 Appendix B The Ritual…………………………………………………………………. 124 Appendix C Recruitment and Reactivation…………………………………………….. 129 v Electronic Edition Commemorating the 75th anniversary of Sigma Delta Pi in 1994, T. Earle Hamilton published this history of the Society to provide an important account of the numerous contributions made by our members and friends since the founding of Alpha Chapter at the University of California-Berkeley in 1919. Now in honor of Sigma Delta Pi's 85th anniversary, we are pleased to present this special online edition of Hamilton's book that will be followed later in 2004 by a supplement in electronic and hard copies covering the Society's history since the first printing of A Brief History. To update the first edition for the current version, three editorial changes were implemented: 1) the correction of printing errors; 2) the addition of footnotes (which were not used in the first edition); 3) various formatting changes that better accommodate the online environment. Assisting with this project was Ms. Mollie Jenkins, the Administrative Specialist of the Department of Modern Languages at The Citadel, who spent many hours converting A Brief History to an electronic format that could be prepared for its eventual, current form. Although ahead in the "Preface" Hamilton mentions "the computerization of the manuscript" (viii), the electronic copy was never located; therefore Ms. Jenkin's scanning of the book was essential. I am also grateful to John H. LaPrade, President Emeritus of Sigma Delta Pi, for his invaluable editorial feedback. Finally, on behalf of the current Executive Committee of Sigma Delta Pi (Germán D. Carrillo, President; John H. LaPrade, Past-President and President Emeritus; Richard E. Chandler, President Emeritus and Honorary President; Mark P. Del Mastro, Executive Secretary-Treasurer), I hope that the increased availability of Hamilton's book as this online edition affords all our Society's members and friends a greater knowledge of and appreciation for not only the history of this organization, but also for the accomplishments of the many individuals who so selflessly dedicated much of their professional lives to the noble mission of La Sociedad Nacional Honoraria Hispánica. Mark P. Del Mastro Charleston, South Carolina January 2004 vi Preface When the writer was president of the society, he decided that a history should be written while it was still possible to consult some of the important participants. He was acquainted with a historical article by Professor Stuart M. Gross ("La Sociedad Nacional Hispánica, Sigma Delta Pi," Hispania July 1974, 67-70), but he envisioned a book-length account; so in 1973, he asked Dr. James O. Swain to write a history of the society. Even though his eyesight was failing—he had suffered from glaucoma for 30 years—he gladly agreed to do so; and at once he began writing what became largely a series of his own memories, for his acquaintance was wide and often intimate. In 1977, he sent Dr. Hamilton the completed manuscript, mostly handwritten. Shortly thereafter, an arsonist destroyed Dr. Hamilton's home and all its contents; so, assuming that Dr. Swain had retained a xeroxed copy, he immediately asked for another copy, but learned that someone had "cleaned out his files." Some years later, at the suggestion of colleagues, Dr. Hamilton set himself the task of writing a history with emphasis upon the development of the national organization but with scant treatment of the individual chapters. Later, perhaps, someone will write a complete, detailed chronicle of each chapter and then assemble all these narratives in a more ambitious volume to supplement this little work. In order to compile an accurate and authoritative history based on official records and correspondence rather than on memory, the writer acquired adequate source material through the kindness of friends. Outstanding among these was Dr. Charles B. Faulhaber, for many years chairman of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of California-Berkeley. He xeroxed the minutes of all the meetings of Alpha Chapter held during its first ten years and then presented the assembled pages to the writer as " . a gift of Alpha." Earlier, one of the professors in this department wrote: "Unfortunately, there are no records of any minutes of the meetings of Alpha, so I cannot say whether they have simply been lost over the years, or were never kept." Nevertheless, Dr. Faulhaber was determined to find them, and finally he wrote with enthusiasm: "¡Albricias! After a certain amount of rummaging through the offices of my colleagues, I managed to find the letter file containing the records of Alpha." According to Dr. Faulhaber, the minutes were " . written in a typical cloth-covered ledger of the period with red leatherette comers." Although the book was officially called "Libro del Secretario y Tesorero," it was generally known as the "Record," and it is so called in this history. So if this professor had not been so persistent, this history might not have been written, at least certainly not in its present form. Obviously, then, our debt to him is immense. Also, Dr. Faulhaber put the writer in touch with University Archivist William M. Roberts, who quickly located a picture of Ruth Barnes, founder of the society, and he promptly supplied the copy used as the frontispiece of this little book. Dr. Anthony J. Cascardi, adviser of Alpha chapter, furnished the writer information on Juan C. Cebrián and on William Berrien, and a history of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Berkeley by Dr. S. G. Morley. When Dr. Carl A. Tyre completed his tenure as president in 1959, he shipped the writer a two-drawer oak filing cabinet containing the folders on the installation of all chapters from Alpha to Gamma Pi, and the writer filled the cabinet by adding chapter vii folders through Epsilon Phi (1965). The drawers contained also the correspondence of President Leavitt O. Wright and of President John T. Reid, including their "General Letters." The latter were issued six or seven times a year to keep the chapters fully informed. They were also of great value to the writer. This cabinet and several additional drawers of correspondence were stored in another house, so they escaped the fire mentioned above. These drawers of correspondence, along with the other source material mentioned, enabled the writer to document nearly every statement made in this history. He relied heavily on his almost complete file of Entre Nosotros, many early numbers of which were made available to him by Professor Stuart M. Gross. The writer is indebted to Miss Maurene Merritt, marketing manager for the L. G. Balfour Company (fraternity jewelers), for sending him a copy of the original Sigma Delta Pi contract dated June 22, 1932, and copies of other important material. Dr. William Moellering was called upon for his recollections based on his personal acquaintance with Drs. John T. Reid, Aurelio M. Espinosa, padre, S. G. Morley, and others of that community and time. Too, he was asked for some interpretations, and his replies were elucidating. The writer is especially appreciative of Dr. Richard E. Chandler, who was always willing, when asked, to devote his time and thought at every stage in the production of this little history: helpful suggestions on the writing, sound advice on the choice of the style and size of type, the selection of the printer, and his service as a consultant in the computerization of the manuscript. Dr. Hamilton asked Mrs. Ivy Strahle, formerly Dr. Chandler's bilingual secretary, to computerize the history, and Dr. Chandler generously made all arrangements, and then guided his capable secretary in carrying out the writer's wishes. This task required Dr. Chandler to drive across town to the university many times and to engage in considerable correspondence to offer valuable suggestions to the writer and to ascertain his preferences. Secretary Ivy Strahle, a perfectionist, was quick to catch any inconsistent or erroneous statement. Using brackets, she felt free to interrupt any passage to challenge a questionable phrase or sentence. The writer's choice was a fortunate one. The writer is grateful to Dr. Ignacio R. M. Galbis for his encouragement and for his helpful suggestions for the improvement of various passages. Finally, the writer acknowledges the patience of his wife, Juanita, in reading all copy.