Alpha Omega Alpha, Alpha Chapter Records, 1902-1980

An inventory of its records at the University Archives of the University of Illinois at Chicago

Biographical Note

William Webster Root and five other medical students at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Chicago, Illinois (which eleven years later became the College of Medicine of the University of Illinois) organized Alpha Omega Alpha in 1902. The honor society was founded to foster honesty and formulate higher ideals of scholastic achievement in the education of medical students. The state of Illinois chartered the society in 1903 and within a decade chapters were established at seventeen medical schools. At the time of this writing there are 124 active chapters in the United States and Canada, of which the chapter at UIC is the Alpha Illinois chapter. The UIC Alpha chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha includes members from four campuses: Chicago, Peoria, Rockford, and Urbana-Champaign.

Alpha Omega Alpha is the only national honor medical society in the world. Its reason for existence is to recognize and perpetuate excellence in the medical profession. The society elects outstanding medical students, graduates, alumni, faculty, and honorary members to its ranks. The Society's journal, The Pharos, is published quarterly and includes non-technical papers and regular features addressing a wide variety of topics of interest to the physician.

Election to Alpha Omega Alpha is a distinction that accompanies a physician throughout their career. The society provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and is a source of valuable contacts.

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Scope and Contents

These records contain minutes of Alpha Chapter meetings of Alpha Omega Alpha at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Several Alpha Omega Alpha Publications are contained in the collection including member rosters, the history and constitution of the society, induction programs, and membership booklets.

The majority of the collection consists of a series of The Pharos, the journal published by the society. The collection is not complete, but includes issues from May and December, 1944; May and December, 1946; Spring and Fall (November), 1949; April and November, 1950; November, 1952; May and November, 1953; February, May and November, 1954.

Included in the collection is a handwritten ledger containing the constitution, bylaws, minutes, a list of the charter members and other member lists, dating from 1902 to 1946. Of particular interest is the photograph album that contains either composite photos or membership lists for most years from 1902 to 1942. Some photos included faculty advisors as well.

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Arrangement

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

None

Restrictions on Use

The collection may be used during regular business hours. Appointments are appreciated. No special equipment is required to use this collection.

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Related Material

Three books were removed from the collection and catalogued with the Library of the Health Sciences Rare Book Collection.

1. Catalogue of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honorary Fraternity 1902-1922

2. Alpha Omega Alpha Directory 1936

3. Alpha Omega Alpha Directory 1956

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Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Persons:

Organizations:

Places:

Document Types:

Titles:

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[description and date of item being cited], [folder number], Alpha Omega Alpha - Alpha Chapter Records. Record Group 016/30/03/01. University Archives. University of Illinois at Chicago.

Acquisition Information

This Collection was received in three accessions between 1980 and 1996, and contains material from accessions LHS 80-66, LHS 80-96, and an unknown accession donated by Tom Tingle in the 1990's.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Mary E. Meus during November 2004

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Bibliography

Alpha Omega Alpha website (http://www.alphaomegaalpha.org), Accessed November 16, 2004

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Detailed Description of the Collection