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National Collegiate Players

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National Collegiate Players, also known as Pi Epsilon Delta (ΠΕΔ), was an American co-educational honor society for participants in collegiate theatre. It was founded in 1919 at the University of Wisconsin, finally going dormant around 1990.

National Collegiate Players
ΠΕΔ
FoundedJune 8, 1919; 105 years ago (1919-06-08)
University of Wisconsin
TypeHonorary
Former AffiliationACHS
StatusDefunct
Defunct Datec. 1990
EmphasisTheatre
ScopeNational
MottoPalamay en Drama
(Art in Drama)
PublicationPlayers
Chapters88
Members15,000+ lifetime
HeadquartersAkron, Ohio 44325
United States

History

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Pi Epsilon Delta was established at University of Wisconsin on June 8, 1919, by students who were interested in theater.[1] The first group contained seventeen men and women, including four faculty members.[2] Its first president was Ray E. Holcolm.[2] Pi Epsilon Delta was established as an honor society to recognize and encourage collegiate theatre.[1][3] Its activities included supporting dramatic performances, playwriting, and the study of drama and encouraging leadership in these fields.[1][3]

By 1922, Pi Epsilon Delta had a total of five chapters, including added chapters at Washington University in St. Louis, University of Minnesota, and Northwestern University.[4][5] In June 1922, Pi Epsilon Delta merged with Associated University Players to form National Collegiate Players.[1] Associated University Players was founded in 1913 at University of Illinois and had chapters at Ohio University, University of Washington, and University of Oregon.[5][1][3] All but its chapter at the University of Washington voted to join the merged organization.[2]

The merger was facilitated by two faculty members at the University of Wisconsin, Gertrude Johnson, professor of the speech department and grand chancellor of Pi Epsilon Delta, and Merle R. Raines, an English instructor and grand secretary of the Associated University Players.[5] Pi Epsilon Delta was an honorary society, while the Associated University players were a theatrical production group.[5]

The ideals and scope of the new National Collegiate Players were identical to Pi Epsilon Delta's.[2] However, all chapters were allowed to produce theatrical shows.[5] The merged organization's name was adopted due to resistance to continuing the form of a Greek letter organization, viewed as another secret order.[2]

The first chapter installed after the merger was Iowa State University in April 1923.[5] The society established the Junior Collegiate Players for students at junior colleges at Stephens College in 1949.[1] It also sponsored a Summer European Theatre Workshop for its members every two years starting in 1959.[6]

By 1962, the Players had initiated some 9,000 members.[7] The National Collegiate Players became an honor society when it joined the Association of College Honor Societies in February 1963.[1]

In 1977, the Players had 44 active chapters and 44 inactive chapters.[1] It had initiated 15,000 members.[1] Its headquarters was located at the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio.[1] The National Collegiate Players went dormant around 1990.[a]

Symbols

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The Pi Epsilon Delta membership emblem was a key that included the comedy and drama masks of ancient Greek theater and the Greek letters ΠΕΔ.[4][6] Founding member Frances Allen Tucker designed the key. Its motto was Palamay en Drama or "Art in Drama".[6]

The National Collegiate Players maintained the key and motto of Pi Epsilon Delta.[6][5] Its publication was Players, which was first published in 1924.[6]

Membership

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Students were admitted to the National Collegiate Players based on a point system for achievement in acting, construction, costuming, directing, playwriting, stage design, stagecraft, and the completion of courses in dramatic arts, speech, and literature at an accredited institution.[1][8][3] This was a modification of the point system used by Pi Epsilon Delta before the merger of the two organizations.[5]

Only upper-class women and men were eligible for membership which was limited to seven to twelve active members per chapter.[1][9][10] Applications for membership were voted on by the local chapter and approved by the national council, thus providing both national and local recognition for members.[8][9][10]

The Players also initiated honor members who had made significant contributions to academia or the theater profession.[7]

Chapters

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Following is a list of the chapters of the National Collegiate Players.[6][1] Inactive institutions are indicated in italics.

Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
1922–1923; 1925 University of Illinois Urbana, Illinois Inactive [11][12][b][c]
1922–1964 University of Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin Inactive [13][d]
1922 University of Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota Inactive [e]
1922–1932 Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois Inactive [e]
1922–1958 Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis County, Missouri Inactive [e]
1922 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Inactive [f]
1922–1930, 1941 Ohio University Athens, Ohio Inactive [f]
April 1923–1934 Iowa State University Ames, Iowa Inactive [5][g]
1923 DePauw University Greencastle, Indiana Inactive
1923 Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon Inactive
1923 Washington State University Pullman, Washington Inactive
1924 University of Nebraska–Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska Inactive
1926 University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona Inactive
1926–1935 Butler University Indianapolis, Indiana Inactive
1926 University of Southern California Los Angeles, California Inactive
1926–1950 University of Denver Denver, Colorado Inactive
1926 University of North Dakota Grand Forks, North Dakota Inactive
1926–1945 Adelbert College of Western Reserve University Cleveland, Ohio Inactive
1927 University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Inactive
1927 Southwestern University Georgetown, Texas Inactive
1927 Lawrence University Appleton, Wisconsin Inactive
1927 Muskingum University New Concord, Ohio Inactive
1927–1945 Flora Stone Mather College of Western Reserve University Cleveland, Ohio Inactive
1928–1943, 1950 Grinnell College Grinnell, Iowa Inactive
1929 Earlham College Richmond, Indiana Inactive
1929 Monmouth University Long Branch, New Jersey Inactive
October 25, 1930 – 1941 Cornell College Mount Vernon, Iowa Inactive [14]
1932–1950 University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Inactive
1935 Wichita State University Wichita, Kansas Inactive
1936–1950 Texas Wesleyan College Fort Worth, Texas Inactive
1936–1951 Alabama College, State College for Women Montevallo, Alabama Inactive
1937–1951 University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama Inactive
1938 Hamline University Saint Paul, Minnesota Inactive
1938–1950 Wayne State University Detroit, Michigan Inactive
1941 St. Olaf College Northfield, Minnesota Inactive
1941 Tulane University New Orleans, Louisiana Inactive
1942 St. Catherine University Saint Paul, Minnesota Inactive
1943 MacMurray College Jacksonville, Illinois Inactive
1945–1947, 1958 George Washington University Washington, D.C. Inactive
April 22, 1945 Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas Inactive [15][h]
1945 Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, Louisiana Inactive
1946 Drury University Springfield, Missouri Inactive
March 9, 1947 – 1989 University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Eau Claire, Wisconsin Inactive [16][17]
1947 Beloit College Beloit, Wisconsin Inactive
1947–1957 George Pepperdine College Los Angeles County, California Inactive
1947 University of Maryland, College Park College Park, Maryland Inactive
1947 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas Inactive
1948 College of Wooster Wooster, Ohio Inactive
1948 Southern Illinois University Carbondale Carbondale, Illinois Inactive
1948 University of South Dakota Vermillion, South Dakota Inactive
1948 Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, Missouri Inactive
1948 University of Florida Gainesville, Florida Inactive
1949–1953 Florida Southern College Lakeland, Florida Inactive
1949 Gustavus Adolphus College St. Peter, Minnesota Inactive
1949–1952 Northern Idaho College of Education Lewiston, Idaho Inactive
1950 Mankato State University Mankato, Minnesota Inactive
1951 Hope College Holland, Michigan Inactive
1951 University of Toledo Toledo, Ohio Inactive
1951 Macalester College Saint Paul, Minnesota Inactive
1951 Emporia State University Emporia, Kansas Inactive
1951 University of Vermont Burlington, Vermont Inactive
1951 Capital University Bexley, Ohio Inactive
1952 Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio Inactive
1952 University of Montana Missoula, Montana Inactive
1954 University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin Inactive
1956 Elmira College Elmira, New York Inactive
1957 Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, Louisiana Inactive
1958 Millikin University Decatur, Illinois Inactive
1958 Augsburg University Minneapolis, Minnesota Inactive
1959 St. Cloud State University St. Cloud, Minnesota Inactive [8]
1959 Southern Connecticut State University New Haven, Connecticut Inactive
1960 Cornell University Ithaca, New York Inactive
1961 Queens College, City University of New York Queens, New York Inactive
1961 Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia, Arkansas Inactive
1961 Arkansas Tech University Russellville, Arkansas Inactive
1961 University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh Oshkosh, Wisconsin Inactive
1962 University of Akron Akron, Ohio Inactive
May 26, 1962 Winona State University Winona, Minnesota Inactive [7]
1963 Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona Inactive
1963 California State University, Long Beach Long Beach, California Inactive
1963 University of Missouri–Kansas City Kansas City, Missouri Inactive
1963 Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, North Carolina Inactive
1964 Western Illinois University Macomb, Illinois Inactive
1965 Stephens College Columbia, Missouri Inactive
1966 California State University, Fresno Fresno, California Inactive
1966 East Carolina University Greenville, North Carolina Inactive
1966 West Virginia University Morgantown, West Virginia Inactive
1967 California State University, Sacramento Sacramento, California Inactive
1969 Northern Illinois University DeKalb, Illinois Inactive
1974 Wartburg College Waverly, Iowa Inactive

Notable members

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Collegiate

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Honorary

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Based on the lack of newspaper articles about chapter activities and member initiation. The University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire appears to be the last active chapter. It went dormant in 1989 according to its archive at the university library.
  2. ^ This chapter formed from the founding chapter of the Associated University Players, established in 1913.
  3. ^ In 1923, the chapter merged with Mask and Bauble. The chapter went dormant due to a lack of interest but was, later, revived as a separate group from Mask and Bauble.
  4. ^ This chapter formed from the founding chapter of Pi Epsilon Delta, established on June 8, 1919.
  5. ^ a b c This was originally a chapter of Pi Epsilon Delta.
  6. ^ a b This charter formed from a chapter of the Associated University Players.
  7. ^ Chapter formed from the local group Masqued Players.
  8. ^ Chapter formed from the local group, Kansas State Players.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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. VI-121–VI-122. ISBN 0-9637159-0-9
  2. ^ a b c d e Joder, A. B. (March 1, 1942). "National Collegiate Players". The Southern Speech Journal. 7 (4). Routledge: 126–127. doi:10.1080/10417944209370826.
  3. ^ a b c d Berkihiser, Charlotte (1955-04-27). "All Drama Phases Aim of Pi Epsilon". The Manhattan Mercury. Manhattan, Kansas. p. 47. Retrieved 2024-02-26 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b Wisconsin Art Portfolio Badger. Junior Class of the University of Wisconsin. 1921. p. 448.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Collegiate Players Sponsor Tony Sarg's Marionettes". The Capital Times. Madison, Wisconsin. 1923-04-16. p. 12. Retrieved 2024-02-26 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Robson, John, ed. (1963). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. pp. 578-579.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "National Dramatic Fraternity Chapter Estabished in WSC". The Winona Daily News. Winona, Minnesota. 1962-05-28. p. 8. Retrieved 2024-02-26 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b c "Honorary Drama Unit Formed at SC". St. Cloud Times. Saint Cloud, Minnesota. 1959-04-24. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-02-26 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b "Campus Men to Be Received in Dramatic Order". Arizona Daily Star. Tucson, Arizona. 1927-08-23. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-02-26 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b "Elect 2 Students to Pi Epsilon Delta". The Post-Crescent. Appleton, Wisconsin. 1928-12-15. p. 18. Retrieved 2024-02-26 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Pi Epsilon Delta Chooses Aquart for President". The Daily Illini. Urbana, Illinois. 1925-04-18. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-02-26 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Hickman '28 Picked as New President of Pi Epsilon Delta". The Daily Illini. Urbana, Illinois. 1927-05-13. p. 12. Retrieved 2024-02-26 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "National Collegiate Players, United States, Wisconsin Chapter, records, 1919-1964". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  14. ^ "Miss Gertrude Johnson to Install Chapter of National Collegiate Players at Cornell This Week-End". The Gazette. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 1930-10-21. p. 13. Retrieved 2024-02-25 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Dramatic Group Joins National". Manhattan Republic. Manhattan, Kansas. 1945-05-03. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-02-26 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Guide to the UWEC National Collegiate Players Papers, 1963-1989". University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. 2022-02-01. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  17. ^ "National Collegiate Players Form Chapter Here". Leader-Telegram. Eau Claire, Wisconsin. 1947-03-11. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-02-25 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Becque, Fran (2023-03-04). "Mary Wickes, Phi Mu". Fraternity History & More. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  19. ^ "Hamline Theater Founder Anne Simley, 101". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. 1992-02-13. p. 22. Retrieved 2024-02-25 – via Newspapers.com.
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