National Collegiate Players Explained

National Collegiate Players
Letters:Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΠΕΔ
Crest:File:Pi_Epsilon_Delta_key.png
Birthplace:University of Wisconsin
Former Affiliation:ACHS
Status:Defunct
Type:Honorary
Emphasis:Theatre
Scope:National
Motto:Palamay en Drama
(Art in Drama)
Publication:Players
Chapters:88
Country:United States
Lifetime:15,000+
Zip Code:44325

National Collegiate Players, also known as Pi Epsilon Delta (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: 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.

History

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

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.[3] In June 1922, Pi Epsilon Delta merged with Associated University Players to form National Collegiate Players. Associated University Players was founded in 1913 at University of Illinois and had chapters at Ohio University, University of Washington, and University of Oregon. All but its chapter at the University of Washington voted to join the merged organization.

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. Pi Epsilon Delta was an honorary society, while the Associated University players were a theatrical production group.

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

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

By 1962, the Players had initiated some 9,000 members.[4] The National Collegiate Players became an honor society when it joined the Association of College Honor Societies in February 1963.

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

Symbols

The Pi Epsilon Delta membership emblem was a key that included the comedy and drama masks of ancient Greek theater and the Greek letters Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΠΕΔ.[5] Founding member Frances Allen Tucker designed the key. Its motto was Palamay en Drama or "Art in Drama".

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

Membership

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.[6] This was a modification of the point system used by Pi Epsilon Delta before the merger of the two organizations.

Only upper-class women and men were eligible for membership which was limited to seven to twelve active members per chapter.[7] [8] 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.

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

Chapters

Following is a list of the chapters of the National Collegiate Players.[9] [10] Inactive institutions are indicated in italics.

Charter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatusReferences
1922–1923; 1925University of IllinoisUrbana, IllinoisInactive[11] [12]
1922–1964University of WisconsinMadison, WisconsinInactive[13]
1922University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MinnesotaInactive
1922–1932Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IllinoisInactive
1922–1958Washington University in St. LouisSt. Louis County, MissouriInactive
1922University of OregonEugene, OregonInactive
1922–1930, 1941Ohio UniversityAthens, OhioInactive
–1934Iowa State UniversityAmes, IowaInactive
1923DePauw UniversityGreencastle, IndianaInactive
1923Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OregonInactive
1923Washington State UniversityPullman, WashingtonInactive
1924University of Nebraska–LincolnLincoln, NebraskaInactive
1926University of ArizonaTucson, ArizonaInactive
1926–1935Butler UniversityIndianapolis, IndianaInactive
1926University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CaliforniaInactive
1926–1950University of DenverDenver, ColoradoInactive
1926University of North DakotaGrand Forks, North DakotaInactive
1926–1945Adelbert College of Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, OhioInactive
1927University of KansasLawrence, KansasInactive
1927Southwestern UniversityGeorgetown, TexasInactive
1927Lawrence UniversityAppleton, WisconsinInactive
1927Muskingum UniversityNew Concord, OhioInactive
1927–1945Flora Stone Mather College of Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, OhioInactive
1928–1943, 1950Grinnell CollegeGrinnell, IowaInactive
1929Earlham CollegeRichmond, IndianaInactive
1929Monmouth UniversityLong Branch, New JerseyInactive
– 1941Cornell CollegeMount Vernon, IowaInactive[14]
1932–1950University of IowaIowa City, IowaInactive
1935Wichita State UniversityWichita, KansasInactive
1936–1950Texas Wesleyan CollegeFort Worth, TexasInactive
1936–1951Alabama College, State College for WomenMontevallo, AlabamaInactive
1937–1951University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AlabamaInactive
1938Hamline UniversitySaint Paul, MinnesotaInactive
1938–1950Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MichiganInactive
1941St. Olaf CollegeNorthfield, MinnesotaInactive
1941Tulane UniversityNew Orleans, LouisianaInactive
1942St. Catherine UniversitySaint Paul, MinnesotaInactive
1943MacMurray CollegeJacksonville, IllinoisInactive
1945–1947, 1958George Washington UniversityWashington, D.C.Inactive
Kansas State UniversityManhattan, KansasInactive[15]
1945Louisiana State UniversityBaton Rouge, LouisianaInactive
1946Drury UniversitySpringfield, MissouriInactive
– 1989University of Wisconsin–Eau ClaireEau Claire, WisconsinInactive[16] [17]
1947Beloit CollegeBeloit, WisconsinInactive
1947–1957George Pepperdine CollegeLos Angeles County, CaliforniaInactive
1947University of Maryland, College ParkCollege Park, MarylandInactive
1947University of ArkansasFayetteville, ArkansasInactive
1948College of WoosterWooster, OhioInactive
1948Southern Illinois University CarbondaleCarbondale, IllinoisInactive
1948University of South DakotaVermillion, South DakotaInactive
1948Southeast Missouri State UniversityCape Girardeau, MissouriInactive
1948University of FloridaGainesville, FloridaInactive
1949–1953Florida Southern CollegeLakeland, FloridaInactive
1949Gustavus Adolphus CollegeSt. Peter, MinnesotaInactive
1949–1952Lewiston, IdahoInactive
1950Mankato State UniversityMankato, MinnesotaInactive
1951Hope CollegeHolland, MichiganInactive
1951University of ToledoToledo, OhioInactive
1951Macalester CollegeSaint Paul, MinnesotaInactive
1951Emporia State UniversityEmporia, KansasInactive
1951University of VermontBurlington, VermontInactive
1951Capital UniversityBexley, OhioInactive
1952Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OhioInactive
1952University of MontanaMissoula, MontanaInactive
1954University of Wisconsin–MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WisconsinInactive
1956Elmira CollegeElmira, New YorkInactive
1957Southeastern Louisiana UniversityHammond, LouisianaInactive
1958Millikin UniversityDecatur, IllinoisInactive
1958Augsburg UniversityMinneapolis, MinnesotaInactive
1959St. Cloud State UniversitySt. Cloud, MinnesotaInactive
1959Southern Connecticut State UniversityNew Haven, ConnecticutInactive
1960Cornell UniversityIthaca, New YorkInactive
1961Queens College, City University of New YorkQueens, New YorkInactive
1961Ouachita Baptist UniversityArkadelphia, ArkansasInactive
1961Arkansas Tech UniversityRussellville, ArkansasInactive
1961University of Wisconsin–OshkoshOshkosh, WisconsinInactive
1962University of AkronAkron, OhioInactive
Winona State UniversityWinona, MinnesotaInactive
1963Arizona State UniversityTempe, ArizonaInactive
1963California State University, Long BeachLong Beach, CaliforniaInactive
1963University of Missouri–Kansas CityKansas City, MissouriInactive
1963Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem, North CarolinaInactive
1964Western Illinois UniversityMacomb, IllinoisInactive
1965Stephens CollegeColumbia, MissouriInactive
1966California State University, FresnoFresno, CaliforniaInactive
1966East Carolina UniversityGreenville, North CarolinaInactive
1966West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, West VirginiaInactive
1967California State University, SacramentoSacramento, CaliforniaInactive
1969Northern Illinois UniversityDeKalb, IllinoisInactive
1974Wartburg CollegeWaverly, IowaInactive

Notable members

Collegiate

Honorary

See also

Notes and References

  1. Joder . A. B. . March 1, 1942 . National Collegiate Players . The Southern Speech Journal . Routledge . 7 . 126–127 . 10.1080/10417944209370826 . 4.
  2. News: Berkihiser . Charlotte . 1955-04-27 . All Drama Phases Aim of Pi Epsilon . 2024-02-26 . The Manhattan Mercury . Manhattan, Kansas . 47 . Newspapers.com.
  3. News: 1923-04-16 . Collegiate Players Sponsor Tony Sarg's Marionettes . 2024-02-26 . The Capital Times . Madison, Wisconsin . 12 . Newspapers.com.
  4. News: 1962-05-28 . National Dramatic Fraternity Chapter Estabished in WSC . 2024-02-26 . The Winona Daily News . Winona, Minnesota . 8 . Newspapers.com.
  5. Book: Wisconsin Art Portfolio Badger. 1921. Junior Class of the University of Wisconsin. 448.
  6. News: 1959-04-24 . Honorary Drama Unit Formed at SC . 2024-02-26 . St. Cloud Times . Saint Cloud, Minnesota . 9 . Newspapers.com.
  7. News: 1927-08-23 . Campus Men to Be Received in Dramatic Order . 2024-02-26 . Arizona Daily Star . Tucson, Arizona . 5 . Newspapers.com.
  8. News: 1928-12-15 . Elect 2 Students to Pi Epsilon Delta . 2024-02-26 . The Post-Crescent . Appleton, Wisconsin . 18 . Newspapers.com.
  9. 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.
  10. [Jack L. Anson|Anson, Jack L.]
  11. News: 1925-04-18 . Pi Epsilon Delta Chooses Aquart for President . 2024-02-26 . The Daily Illini . Urbana, Illinois . 2 . Newspapers.com.
  12. News: 1927-05-13 . Hickman '28 Picked as New President of Pi Epsilon Delta . 2024-02-26 . The Daily Illini . Urbana, Illinois . 12 . Newspapers.com.
  13. Web site: National Collegiate Players, United States, Wisconsin Chapter, records, 1919-1964 . February 25, 2024 . University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries.
  14. News: 1930-10-21 . Miss Gertrude Johnson to Install Chapter of National Collegiate Players at Cornell This Week-End . 2024-02-25 . The Gazette . Cedar Rapids, Iowa . 13 . Newspapers.com.
  15. News: 1945-05-03 . Dramatic Group Joins National . 2024-02-26 . Manhattan Republic . Manhattan, Kansas . 1 . Newspapers.com.
  16. Web site: 2022-02-01 . Guide to the UWEC National Collegiate Players Papers, 1963-1989 . 2024-02-25 . University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire . en.
  17. News: 1947-03-11 . National Collegiate Players Form Chapter Here . 2024-02-25 . Leader-Telegram . Eau Claire, Wisconsin . 5 . Newspapers.com.
  18. Web site: Becque . Fran . 2023-03-04 . Mary Wickes, Phi Mu . 2024-02-25 . Fraternity History & More . en-US.
  19. News: 1992-02-13 . Hamline Theater Founder Anne Simley, 101 . 2024-02-25 . Star Tribune . Minneapolis, Minnesota . 22 . Newspapers.com.