Alpha Beta Alpha (ΑΒΑ) is an American honorary library fraternity that is dedicated to serving college and university library science majors at the undergraduate level. The fraternity has one active chapter, after the apparent recent closure of its Alpha chapter at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Rho chapter is situated at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. It has installed 37 chapters, one of which is still active.
| Alpha Beta Alpha | |
|---|---|
| ΑΒΑ | |
 | |
| Founded | May 3, 1950 Northwestern State College of Louisiana |
| Type | Professional |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| Status | Active |
| Scope | National |
| Motto | "Books, People, Service, Life" |
| Colors | Royal Purple and White |
| Symbol | Book and quill pen |
| Flower | White rose |
| Publication | The Alphabet |
| Chapters | 1 active |
| Headquarters | Kutztown, Pennsylvania United States |
| Website | library |
| [1] | |
History
editAlpha Beta Alpha was founded at Northwestern State College, now known as Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana on May 3, 1950.[2] It was the first co-educational undergraduate library science fraternity to be established.
The idea of such an organization was first discussed at a banquet hosted by Eugene P. Watson at Northwestern State College on October 30, 1945.[3][4] The event was attended by some forty library science students and librarians, along with Nora Buest of the U.S. Office of Education; Sue Hefley, Louisiana State Supervisor of School Libraries; and Mary Harris, Assistant State Librarian.[4] Attendees spoke of the need for a nationwide professional development organization for library science students.[4]
The following year, on January 10, 1946, the Northwestern State College Library Club was founded.[3] Finally, on May 3, 1950, the members of the Scharlie E. Russel Library Club founded Alpha Beta Alpha, the first co-educational library science fraternity in the United States.[2] The purpose of ABA is to support interest in librarianship, to maintain a sense of respnsitiby for the profession, and to deveope a sympathy and understanding for the problems and work of people.[3]
The charter members of Alpha Beta Alpha were:[4]
- Helen Belisle
- Marguerite Bozeman
- Lucille Carnahan
- Agnes Clark
- Billie June Corry
- Randall Detro
- Mary Alice Driscoll
- Julia Duke
- Patsy Eason
- Bobbie Elkins
- Ruth Ann Ellender
- Yvonne Ewing
- Myrtle Freeze
- Sue Gilmore
- Maurine Gray
- May Hammett
- Sallie Harper
- Katherine Hopkins
- Audrey Jo King
- Dorothy Keyser
- Mrs. Johnnie Mallory
- Irene Pope
- Olive Roberts
- Freida Squyres
- Charles Thigpen
- Warren Tracy
- Tommie Jean Tullos
- Eugene Watson
- Mrs. Ora Williams
- Avis Jean Windham
Alpha Beta Alpha held its first national convention at Northwestern State College on March 15 and 16, 1952.[3][4] Nearly fifty chapters were chartered at colleges across the United States.[2][3]
As of 2023, the Rho chapter is the only active chapter of Alpha Beta Alpha and is located at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.[3] The group holds weekly meetings where they plan and organize various service events on and off campus, discuss current events in the library science field, and bring in library and academic professionals to talk about library-related topics, and job opportunities around the United States. Recently, the organization has offered more social activities and events than just purely academic pursuits. Alpha Beta Alpha on the campus holds an annual banquet where they discuss the year's events as well as honoring special guests and graduating seniors.
Symbols
editThe Alpha Beta Alpha badge is in the shape of a closed book, behind which a quill pen is placed vertically; diagonally across the book are the letters Α, Β and Α. The pledge button is shaped like a shield and crossed by a diagonal line. The blazon of the official coat of arms is as follows:
- Arms: purpure [purple], on a bend argent [silver], three Greek letters ΑΒΑ, of the first between; in chief, a white rose-leaved vert; and in base, the reproduction of the ΑΒΑ key.
- Crest: on a wreath of the colors, a candle holder argent holding a candle purpure, flamed and resplendent, or [gold].
- The motto is Books, People, Service, Life.
- The fraternity colors are purple and white.
- The official flower is a white rose.
- The official seal is round with a reproduction of the badge in the center, the fraternity's name, and the date encircling the badge.[5]
Chapters
editFollowing are the chapters of Alpha Beta Alpha, with. active chapters noted in bold and inactive chapters in italics.[4][6][7][2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Alpha Beta Alpha RHO Chapter Constitution" (PDF). Alpha Beta Alpha. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 28, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Anson, Jack L. and Marchesani Jr. Robert F., eds. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 20h edition. Indianapolis: Baird's Manual Foundation, 1991. pp. V66-67. ISBN 0-9637159-0-9
- ^ a b c d e f g Wanamaker, Karen (March 27, 2023). "Rohrbach Library Home: Alpha Beta Alpha: History Of ABA". Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Library. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ a b c d e f Nasri, William Z. (1968). "Alpha Beta Alpha". In Allen Kent & Harold Lancour (ed.). Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science. Vol. 1. New York: Marcel Dekker. pp. 166–169. ISBN 0-8247-2001-6. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
- ^ Baird, William R. (1991). "Alpha Beta Alpha". In Jack L. Anson & Robert F. Marchesani Jr. (ed.). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. Vol. 1. Indianapolis: Baird's Manual Foundation Inc. pp. V-66–67. ISBN 0-9637159-0-9.
- ^ William Raimond Baird (1977). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. G. Banta Company. pp. 737–.
- ^ Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. Baird's Manual Foundation, Incorporated. 1991. pp. V-66–67.
- ^ Jackson, Leah (15 February 2018). "NSU students revive Alpha Beta Alpha library society". Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "New Frontiers", South Carolina Librarian vol. 18, no. 2 (Spring/1974), pp. 33-34.