Skip to main content

Omicron Delta Kappa Records

 Collection
Identifier: UA 7.027

  • Staff Only
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

The Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) collection documents the history of the organization from 1921-1997. The bulk of the material consists of correspondence from 1955 to 1971 related to the annual meetings of the General Council of ODK, election and initiation of new Eta Circle members, purchases of books and ODK keys, various financial records, banquet and Tap Service programs, and several newspaper clippings.  The collection also contains several copies of the annual national publication The Circle from 1925- 1933.

Acc. 1981.171

Dates

  • Creation: 1921-1997
  • Creation: Majority of material found in 1955-1971

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access:

The collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Conditions Governing Use:

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Historical Note:

Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) Honor Society, the national collegiate leadership society, was founded at Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia in 1914. Originally founded as a men's honor society, the passage in 1972 of the Education Amendments to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, opened the organization to women and the first woman was elected in 1973. Eta Circle of the College of William and Mary was chartered in 1921 and was the sixth circle chartered. Today there are approximately 300 active Circles throughout the United States. Along with Mortar Board, ODK currently sponsors the College's annual Yule Log ceremony (2007). Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .

Extent

0.80 Linear Feet

Additional Description

Arrangement of Materials:

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Acquisition Information:

Acc. 1981.017 received from Alexander Kallos 09.21/1977.

Related Materials:

Additional information can be found in the Flat Hat student newspaper at http://swem.wm.edu/beta/flathhat/ and the William and Mary News.  Current issues of the Flat Hat can be found at http://www.flathatnews.com/. 

Eta Circle correspondence is also contained in the R. Harvey (Robert Harvey) Chappell Papers, 1950-1982.

Names of the members of Eta Circle by year are contained in the College's yearbook, the Colonial Echo.

Processing Information:

This collection was processed by David Bassett in December of 2007.

Related Name

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the Omicron Delta Kappa Records
Author
Finding Aid Authors: David Bassett.
Date
2007-12-05
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
The collection description/finding aid is written in English

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Research Center Repository

Contact: