1919
Alpha Charter, University of California, Berkeley 1919
Signed by President LEAVITT O. WRIGHT & Secretary JUAN B. RAEL*
Courtesy of the Spanish & Portuguese Dept at The University of California, Berkeley
Although dated 1919, this charter was not issued until at least 1931-1937 given the signatories who were the first to hold each of their national positions in the organization. Also noteworthy is the charter’s font type as well as the alternation of the name of The University of California to the Spanish version.
Ruth Barnes’ Original Membership Pin
Courtesy of Diane Lee Henderson
1920s
Epsilon Chapter, The college of Wooster 1924
Signed by President ANNA McCUNE & Secretary GRACE M. ANDRADE
Courtesy of Professor Brian Cope, former Chapter Adviser 2022
Before Sigma Delta Pi had a national president in 1931, this unique charter was issued by the student officers at the University of California, Berkeley. Anna McCune, UC Berkeley’s student chapter president from 1923-24 was the 4th president in the Society’s 5-year-history at that time. Anna’s presidency was highlighted by her initiative to recruit new chapters.
Of historic note, prior to receiving this photo, the national office was unaware of the name of the student secretary who served with Anna McCune: Grace M. Andrade. Many of the charters of the Society’s older chapters were lost due to transitions and faculty retirements. Wooster’s unique charter is the only one of its kind that our national office knows to still exist.
1930s
Chi Charter, University of south carolina 1931
Signed by President T. EARLE HAMILTON & Secretary JAMES O. SWAIN*
Courtesy of Professor Cari Kepner-Lee, Chapter Adviser, 2022
The signatures do not represent the national officers in place when the charter was issued in 1931. Presumably, Chapter Chi lost its original charter and obtained a replacement with signatures of the national officers at the time. Considering the signatures of Swain and Hamilton, this replacement was likely reissued sometime between 1960-1963.
Omega Chapter, Davidson University, Quips and Cranks Annual, 1933
Courtesy of Professor Anthony Pasero, Chapter Adviser 2023
journal cover – 1st Edition of Entre Nosotros, MARCH 1939
Courtesy of Duke University Library
Alpha Delta, Florida State University
THE FLORIDA FLAMBEAU, MARCH 3, 1939: Seven Girls Receive Bids From Sigma Delta Pi, Spanish Honorary
Courtesy of Professor Anel Brandl, Chapter Adviser, 2022
1940s
Alpha Delta, Florida State University, 1946
Courtesy of Professor Anel Brandl, Chapter Adviser, 2022
Membership Pin, Nancy Ann (Armstrong) Semple
Courtesy of Amanda Fowler, daughter
Donated 2023
Nancy Ann (Armstrong) Semple was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. She entered the College of Mines and Metallurgy (CM&M), located in El Paso, in January 1945. She graduated on May 31,1948, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, and a minor in Spanish. At the time of her graduation, CM&M had become known as Texas Western College, and later (and currently) as the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). In addition to being a member of Sigma Delta Pi (Alpha Iota Chapter), she was a member of the National College Honor Society Alpha Chi, and the Chi Omega Sorority. After graduation she taught school in Texas, the Philippines, and Morocco, and later in life was a substitute teacher. She married LT William C. Semple III, U.S. Navy, in 1957 and they did several tours overseas to include Panama where they traveled extensively throughout Central and South America. No doubt her Spanish came in handy as my father didn’t speak the language. It goes to show you that one never knows when and where their foreign language skills will come in handy. When she graduated from college, she didn’t envision living in Panama!
She died in 1996, survived by two children and two grandchildren.
– Amanda Fowler, 2023
early Sigma Delta Pi reposteros
Photo from November 1948 edition of Entre Nosotros
Alpha Beta, Florida State University, 1949
Courtesy of Professor Anel Brandl, Chapter Adviser, 2022
Beta Sigma Charter, Hardin Simmons University 1949
Signed by President CARL A. TYRE and Secretary JAMES O. SWAIN
1950s
Omega Chapter, Davidson University, Chapter Program, 1950
Courtesy of Professor Anthony Pasero, Chapter Adviser 2023
Gabriela Mistral
Gabriela Mistral (left) with her “Niña Azul,” Marie-Lise Gazarian, at the Chilean poet’s home at 15 Spruce Street, Roslyn Harbor, NY, where Mistral resided during the last years of her life: 1953-57.
Courtesy of Professor Marie-Lise Gazarian, Epsilon Kappa Chapter Adviser at St. John’s University and Sigma Delta Pi Vice-President of the northeast, 2022
Membership Pin 1955
Courtesy of Professor Marie-Lise Gazarian, Epsilon Kappa Chapter Adviser at St. John’s University and Sigma Delta Pi Vice-President of the northeast, 2022
Membership pin presented to Marie-Lise Gazarian when she was inducted into the Tau chapter of Sigma Delta Pi at Adelphi University, then known as Adelphi College. The event took place at the home of Dr Ruth Richardson.
1960s
Delta Upsilon Charter, bUTLER UNIVERSITY 1960
Signed by President T. EARLE HAMILTON and Secretary JAMES O. SWAIN
Courtesy of Professor Linda L. Willem, Chapter Adviser, 2022
Alpha Delta, Florida State University, October 3, 1968
Courtesy of Professor Anel Brandl, Chapter Adviser, 2022
Epsilon Upsilon Charter, University of Kentucky 1965
Signed by President T. EARLE HAMILTON and Secretary F. DEWEY AMNER
Pins, Keys and Price List 1967
From the October 1967 edition of Entre Nosotros
Alpha Delta, Florida State University, October 3, 1968
Courtesy of Professor Anel Brandl, Chapter Adviser, 2022
1970s
Kappa Eta, Roanoke College 1973
Signed by President T. EARLE HAMILTON and Secretary STUART MURRAY GROSS
Courtesy of Professor Lynn Talbot, Chapter Adviser, 2023
Nu Chi, Eastern Connecticut State College 1979
Signed by President RICHARD E. CHANDLER and Secretary IGNACIO R.M. GALBIS
Courtesy of Nu Chi chapter members, 2022
1980s
Xi Omicron, North Carolina State University 1981
Signed by President RICHARD E. CHANDLER and Secretary IGNACIO R.M. GALBIS
Courtesy of Professor Jim Michnowicz, Chapter Adviser, 2022
Nu Zeta, College of Charleston Chapter Registery, April 8, 1987
Courtesy of Devon W. Hanahan, Instructor, Chapter Adviser, 2023
The registry of the College of Charleston Nu Zeta Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi showing the signatures of new initiates on April 8, 1987. The signature of Nu Zeta’s Chapter Adviser Devon W. Hanahan, then Devon E. Wray, appears as she was student member of chapter she now advises.
RHO KAPPA charter,FURMAN UNIVERSITY 1988
Signed by President RICHARD E. CHANDLER and Secretary IGNACIO R.M. GALBIS
Courtesy of Professor Maria Rippon, Chapter Adviser and Sigma Delta Pi Vice-President of the southeast, 2022
Rho Rho, nORTHEAST mISSOURI sTATE uNIVERSITY / tRUMAN state UNIVERSITY 1989
Signed by President RICHARD E. CHANDLER and Secretary IGNACIO R.M. GALBIS
Courtesy of Professor Stacy L Bryant, Chapter Adviser, 2022
1990s
Zeta Zeta, University of Virginia Chapter Registry, May 2, 1991
The registry of the University of Virginia’s Zeta Zeta Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi showing the signatures of chapter officers and new initiates on May 2, 1991. The signature of Executive Committee Member Mark P. Del Mastro, a Ph.D. student at the time, is among the new members recorded.
Honor chapter Award, Kappa Phi, Friends University 1992
Signed by President RICHARD E. CHANDLER
Courtesy of Professor Jerry Smartt, Chapter Adviser, 2023
A gap in the national archives unfortunately precludes details on the honor chapters awarded in 1992. This certificate is therefore unique as its style is no longer in use today.
Chapter Banner, Delta Psi, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire 1996
Banner prepared by honorary members Juan Carlos Chaves
Sigma Delta Pi’s Executive Committee, summer 1996
Left to right: President John LaPrade, Secretary-Treasurer Ignacio RM Galbis, Past President Richard Chandler, President Emeritus T. Earle Hamilton (seated)
UPSILON THETA charter, FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY 1998
Signed by President JOHN H. LAPRADE and Secretary MARK P. DEL MASTRO
Courtesy of Professor Tim Buckner, Chapter Adviser, 2022
Honorary Membership Certificate, Tau Iota, The Citadel 1999
Signed by President JOHN H. LAPRADE and Secretary MARK P. DEL MASTRO
6.25 X 8 inch certificate. Certificates of this size were eventual replaced by the printer friendly 8.5 X 11 inch version.
2000s
Upsilon Psi Chapter Registry, December 5, 2001
Courtesy of Professor Tulia Jiménez-Vergara, Chapter Adviser, 2022
This entry is from Upsilon Psi’s first induction ceremony at The College of New Jersey.
La Orden de Don Quijote, April 2005
Signed by President GERMÁN D. CARRILLO and Secretary MARK P. DEL MASTRO
Courtesy of Professor David T. Gies
Honorary Membership Certificate, Alpha Phi, Texas Tech University, May 2005
Signed by President GERMÁN D. CARRILLO and Secretary MARK P. DEL MASTRO
Courtesy of Professor Comfort Pratt, Alpha Phi Chapter Adviser at Texas Tech University and Sigma Delta Pi Vice-President of the southwest, 2022
Carlos Fuentes inducted into the Order of Don Quijote, October 25, 2005
The induction was conducted by the Zeta Sigma chapter of Sigma Delta Pi at the University of Arkansas Little Rock.
2010s
Chapter #600, November 14, 2014
Executive Director Mark P. Del Mastro during the installation of Chapter Alpha Alpha Alpha (#600) of Sigma Delta Pi at the University of North Florida on November 14, 2014.
Honorary President Appointment, July 2016
Signed by President LUCY F. LEE and Secretary MARK P. DEL MASTRO
Courtesy of Professor David T. Gies
Inaugural Ana María Matute Award, September 26, 2016
Dr. David T. Gies, Honorary President of Sigma Delta Pi, presents the University of Virginia’s Anthony Pasero-O’Malley the inaugural Ana María Matute Award.
Commemorative Centennial Pin
Issued to new members during 2019.
Journal Cover – cENTENNIAL cELEBRATION eDITION OF eNTRE nOSOTROS, sPRING 2019
In homage to the first edition of Entre
Nosotros issued March, 1939. Cover design by M. Del Mastro.
75th Anniversary certificate, Alpha Phi, Texas Tech University, August 27, 2019
Signed by President LUCY F. LEE and Secretary MARK P. DEL MASTRO
Courtesy of Professor Comfort Pratt, Alpha Phi Chapter Adviser at Texas Tech University and Sigma Delta Pi Vice-President of the southwest, 2022
College of Charleston lecture, November 14, 2019
The announcement flyer for Dr. Del Mastro’s presentation at the College of Charleston for his book on the 100-year history of Sigma Delta Pi (1919-2019).
2020s
Ruth Barnes Replica Pin
Presented to new members during spring 2020 through November 30 to commemorate Sigma Delta Pi’s Centennial Celebration.*
*Initially this replica pin was to be issued only during the spring of 2020 to recognize the Centennial Celebration. However, a decrease in new members due to the Covid-19 pandemic prompted the extension of the pin’s issue through November 2020.
Alpha Beta Pi Charter, The College of Idaho 2022
Signed by President LUCY F. LEE and Secretary MARK P. DEL MASTRO
Courtesy of Professor Elena Bonmatí Gonzálvez
Alpha Beta Pi Initiation Program, Novemeber 2022
Courtesy of Professor Elena Bonmatí Gonzálvez
