BYU

Harold B. Lee Library

Brigham Young University Clubs

Introduction

Brigham Young University is a private university that seeks to develop students of faith, intellect and character who have the skills and the desire to continuing learning and to serve others throughout their lives. Tracing its roots to Utah’s rich pioneer heritage and to Brigham Young Academy, the original school established in 1875, the university continues to provide an outstanding education in an atmosphere consistent with the ideals and principles of its sponsor, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Clubs have been an integral part of the Brigham Young University experience since its founding. The earliest club on record is the Polysophical Society, which provided students with an opportunity to discuss literature, science, music, fine arts, and civil government. The number of clubs has steadily grown over the years and today over 200 clubs provide students with a variety of social opportunities. The remarkable history of Brigham Young University’s clubs can be uncovered through many of the collections held in the University Archives.  The following source materials can get you started on your exploration of the Brigham Young University clubs.

Secondary Sources and General information

Collections held by the University Archives will be more useful to your specific research topic after you understand more about the general history of the university. The following resources are available to help you develop that understanding.

  • Histories of Brigham Young University
    • Wilkinson, Ernest L. Brigham Young University: The First One Hundred Years (4 volumes). Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Press, 1975
    • Wilkinson, Ernest L. and W. Cleon Skousen. Brigham Young University: A School of Destiny.  Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Press, 1976

Primary Sources

  • Sample materials dealing with the Brigham Young University clubs: A sample of the materials that contain information about BYU clubs. To map out a research strategy, please schedule an appointment with the University Archivist at 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu for additional help in discovering what other collections we may have that pertain to your research topic.
    • UA 226 Records, 1880-1895 Records of the Polysophical Society. Collection includes meeting minutes, programs, membership records, and party invitations. Also includes a brief history and correspondence from Herald Clark to Ernest Wilkinson concerning Polysophical Society as forerunner of lyceum course.
    • UA 188 Records, 1903-1905 Records of the Railto Club, Brigham Young University Chapter. Collection includes bound 76 page journal of the club and materials concerning debate topics. This club was a student debate organization.
    • UA 190 Records, 1912-1916 Records of the College Club. Collection includes Valentine card, club membership list, correspondence, cancelled check, and bound volume of club records.
    • UA 545 BYU Women records, 1914-2004 Collection contains scrapbooks and minute books that document the history of BYU Women. The scrapbooks include news clippings, announcements, programs, newsletters, membership directories, photographs, minutes, invitations, reports, constitution and by-laws, and the correspondence of various presidents of the club from between 1914 and 2004. BYU Women’s club included BYU women faculty and faculty wives.
    • UA 810 Intercollegiate Knights records, 1922-1990 This collection contains minutes of meetings, national newsletters, pictures, guidebooks, correspondence, and other various tokens from the national organization of the Intercollegiate Knights from between 1922 and 1990. The Intercollegiate Knights is a national service fraternity.
    • UA 461 Records, 1926-1961 Records of the Gamma Phi Omicron, Brigham Young University Chapter. Includes the constitution, history, minutes, membership lists, financial records, scrapbooks, photo albums. Gamma Phi Omicron was the honorary sorority of Home Economics.
    • UA 872 Scrapbook collection, 1927-1982 Collection contains photographs, letters, announcements, and memorabilia from various campus groups and clubs.
    • UA SC 39 Brief descriptions of some BYU clubs and social organizations Includes descriptions of the Faculty BYU/Women’s Organization, Y.X. Lady Missionaries, Blue Key National Honor Fraternity, Beta Beta Beta, Future Teachers Society, White Key and Gold Y.
    • UA 465 Records, 1932-1977 Records of the Alice Louise Reynolds Club.  Includes minutes, correspondence, scrapbooks, programs, financial reports, and study courses of various chapters. Also includes news clippings, tributes, an autobiography, and correspondence concerning Reynolds, and records of a project for a room in the library in remembrance of Reynolds.
    • UA 415 Records, 1935-1975 Records of the Society of the Sigma Xi, Brigham Young University Chapter. Includes petitions, correspondence, constitution and by-laws, membership lists, minutes, reports, and a copy of the Sigma XI Half Century Record and History 1886-1936.
    • MSS 2087 Papers, 1935-1979 Papers of Oliver R. Smith, an instructor and faculty member at Brigham Young University, 1938-1942, and 1946-1978. Includes files on BYU student clubs, including Delta Phi, Kappa Tau Alpha, Omega Nu, and Sigma Delta Chi. Also includes files relating to organizations with which he was affiliated, including US Air Force Reserve, Association of Educators of Journalism, Rocky Mountain Collegiate Press Association, National Council of College Publications Advisers, Red Cross, and Sons of Utah Pioneers.
    • UA 376 Records and minutes of the Associated Men Students of BYU, 1941-1945 Includes minutes of meetings concerning Y-Day plans, social and activity surveys, tuxedo bureau, rules for song contests, ice carnival, skits, and radio programs.
    • UA 462 Records, 1943-1962 Records of Y Calcares, a student service club: includes pledge book, minute book, and histories.
    • UA 369 Constitution of the “Y” Psychological Society One page constitution that defines the purpose of the society, the roles of officers and faculty advisors, membership eligibility, fees, and meeting schedules for the society.
    • UA 1248 Brigham Young University chapter records, 1947-1954 Ledger containing the meeting minutes of the Brigham Young University chapter of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society.
    • UA 742 Gold Y Chapter records, 1947-2002 Collection includes minutes, correspondence, reports, scrapbook pages, photographs, and financial records from the Gold Y Chapter from between 1947 and 2002. Also includes some minutes and correspondence from the national Intercollegiate Knights organization. The Gold Y Chapter of the Intercollegiate Knights was founded on the Brigham Young University Campus in 1941. Gold Y was the 23rd college service fraternity to associate itself with the national organization.
    • UA 1213 Records, 1963-1969 Records of Dileas Chalean, a campus organization for women interested in doing service. This collection contains a compilation of official documents, correspondence, minutes, photographs, and records detailing the organization and activities of Dileas Chalean.
    • UA 1323 Cycling Club records, 1969-1972 This collection contains copies of the bylaws of the BYU Cycling Club, a brief history of the club written by Keith M. Cottam, files related to the club, and materials related to the League of American Wheelman, Inc.
    • MSS 6829 Square Root Club Records The Square Root Club collection contains the records concerning the Square Root Club, which was established in 1956 and lasted until 1985. These records include meeting minutes, scrapbooks, and ephemera records. The ephemera collected from the years of the Square Root Club’s existence, with bulk dates beginning in 1971 and ending at 1985.
    • UA 5405 BYUSA Clubs papers, 1972-2005 This collection contains materials concerning clubs on campus administered by Brigham Young University Student Association (BYUSA).
    • UA 899 Records, 1987-1991 Phi Kappa Phi Records, Brigham Young University Chapter. Records include annual reports, correspondence, meeting minutes, financial records, agendas, election information, member information, and newspaper clippings.

This Popular Search Topics page offers only samplings of materials included in the University Archives that document the history of Brigham Young University clubs. Be sure to visit Special Collections to discover other material.