SIGMA XI
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Kranzberg, Melvin, Dr., 1917-1995
setName: label: See more items in
content: Melvin Kranzberg Papers
label: See more items in
content: Melvin Kranzberg Papers / Series 5: Professional Affiliations
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1970-1988
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0266, Subseries 5.3
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: This subseries contains minutes, correspondence, committee reports, and meeting programs that profile Melvin Kranzberg's involvement with Sigma Xi, a scientific research society, from 1970 to 1988. Kranzberg was on the Board of Directors from 1971-77,  the President from 1979-80, and on various committees throughout. The first box includes administrative records from the National Headquarters office detailing new member installations, new chapters of Sigma XI, the need for a Sigma Xi International, and reports from the Committee on Awards. Boxes two through six contain minutes, reports, and schedules from annual national meetings and and board of director meetings from 1971 to 1984. Boxes seven through nine detail Kranzberg's committee work dealing with archives, executive board, long-range planning, membership, nominations, and resolutions.

In addition to administrative files, this subseries includes records of conferences and lectures given or attended by Kranzberg and his peers. Included are copies of lectures and Sigma Xi lecture tour schedules from 1972 to 1978.  While Sigma Xi distributed many of its findings at lectures and conferences, correspondence and articles located in box twelve show that it also encouraged its members to seek publication in periodicals such as American Scientist and Science and Society.

The remaining two boxes include folders on officer searches, Sigma XI general files (constitutional amendments, manuals of procedure, and Sigma XI history) and various memoranda, reports, and minutes from meetings of preparation for Sigma Xi's Centennial in 1986. This Centennial observance included a special commemorative meeting, lecture tour, American Scientist theme issue, and the compilation of a history of Sigma Xi.