The records of the Michigan chapter of Mortar Board span the years 1906 to 2008, but consist primarily of materials from 1920 through 1956. The collection is organized under a single series; Administrative Materials.
The Administrative Materials series, 1906-2008 (0.5 linear feet), consists of organizational histories, annual reports, chapter and organizational governing documents, membership rolls, press clippings, as well as project, treasury, and presidents' reports. The years covered in this series are scattered, with the bulk of the materials covering 1920-1956.
A history and record book details the work of the organization and its membership from 1906 to 1956. The organizational histories trace Mortar Board's growth since its founding, and include annual reports for the following years: 1919-1923; 1926-1927; 1930-1935; 1938-1949; and 1951-1954. In addition to a historical narrative and annual reports, the organizational history also includes information on the organization's songs and ritual activities. The records also include membership rolls listing members for the years 1906-1948 and 1957-1962. The membership rolls for 1906-1913 are found in both a membership book, as well as in the organizational history. The presidents' reports, 1949-1956, detail activities during those years and include two photographs of Mortar Board members.
The Society of the Mortarboard at the University of Michigan was founded in 1905 by four members of the class of 1906; Jane Cochrane, Anna Waugh, Effie Armstrong, and Sue Diack. Conceived of as an honor society for senior women, the organization devoted itself to scholarship and service, with a commitment to school spirit at the university.
As one of only three female honor societies on campus, Mortarboard regularly worked alongside its fellow women's groups, the Senior Society and Scroll, to promote social events and advocate for campus concerns such as new women's dormitories, women's rest rooms, academic honesty and cheating, and financial assistance for female students. From 1905 through 1917, Mortarboard operated as an independent honor society. However, similar societies, many with the same name, formed at other colleges and universities during the same period.
In February 1918, Michigan's Mortarboard Society met with delegates from female collegiate senior honor societies from Cornell University, Ohio State University, Syracuse University, and Swathmore at the Syracuse campus to form a national organization. Although the members from the Syracuse delegation declined to join the new group, the other members elected to form a national organization and adopted a pin, motto, and bylaws. "Mortar Board" was chosen as the group's official name, and Pi Sigma Alpha as its Greek letters, during its second annual conference at the University of Michigan in 1919. Mortar Board remained an all-women's organization until 1975 when it decided, as a result of Title IX, to become a coeducational society.
Still active as an honor society for seniors, the Michigan chapter of the Mortar Board Society lists among its accomplishments, a commitment to the advancement of women and women's education, ongoing support for a scholarship fund, support for female residence halls, and ongoing community service projects.
