About Sigma Xi Programs Meetings Member Services Chapters Giving Affiliates Resources American Scientist
   Louisiana State University Chapter

A Brief History of
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Compiled through 2000 by Everett D. Besch

  • 1926-1927 - Inquiries begin to establish a chapter at LSU.

  • February 15, 1928 - LSU Sigma Xi Club established and organized by 18 Sigma Xi full members.

    "The purpose of the club is to further the advancement of research in the University and to give the University community the opportunity, when possible, to hear prominent speakers on scientific subjects."

  • April 1928 - First regular meeting with 23 persons present, in the LSU cafeteria at a cost of $0.85 per plate. The speaker was Beaugard Perkins, Assistant Professor of Physics, presentation title unknown.

  • October 21, 1928 - The first public lecture for the club. Lecturer was Dr. Everett Oertel with the title "Metamorphosis of Insects, particularly the Honey Bee."

  • February 8, 1929 - Indications from the national office of Sigma Xi that LSU did not qualify for a Chapter. Comments cited insufficient research base, insufficient research equipment and facilities, limited research budget, etc.

  • 1931-1936 - Inactive years for the club, no hope for a chapter caused disinterest. Dr. Warren Whitcomb, Jr. (who took over as president in the Spring of 1931) eventually forced an election in 1935.

  • 1935-1936 - Dr. Warren Whitcomb, Jr. was elected president. The Dean of the LSU Graduate School agreed to sponsor national lecturers, and there was renewed interest for establilshing a LSU chapter.

  • 1937 - The first national lecture at LSU was held. The speaker was a Zoology professor from the University of Texas (name and title of talk unknown). The LSU Bursar was slow in paying the $50 honorarium and the $4.15 hotel and meal charge.

  • January 5, 1939 - A lengthy questionnaire was submitted to the national society in support of a petition for a chapter. The petition request was deferred until the next year or until "...the permanence of favorable condition of the University." The scandals of 1939 gathered unfavorable national attention for LSU.

  • May, 1940 - The Club's "Report of a Special Committee of Sigma Xi to Summarize Status of Research at LSU" was distributed to all University officials. The report had a positive impact on the attitude of the university officials and faculty toward all aspects of faculty research.

  • November, 1940 - The LSU club gave strong support for a proposed State constitutional amendment, Senate Bill No. 380, known as the "Louisiana State University Code." The amendment was designed to remove the University from threats of political control.

  • July 1, 1941 - The club submitted "A Petition for the Establishment of a Chapter of The Society of Sigma Xi at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge". The petition was endorsed by President Campbell B. Hodges, Dean Fred C. Frey and the Board of Supervisors (unanimously) and signed by 74 of the 75 members. Nine of the signers had been among the 18 that organized the Club in 1928.

  • December 30, 1941 - The Dean of the University, Fred C. Frey, was notified by telegram, that the LSU Sigma Xi Chapter was "...granted."

  • March 24, 1942 - Chapter installation ceremonies were conducted by Dr. Edward Ellery, Union College, who was the national Secretary of Sigma Xi in 1927 when Sigma Xi was first contacted by LSU.

  • April 20, 1942 - First meeting of the LSU Chapter and the first election of graduate students.

  • November, 1943 - The Chapter begins holding luncheon meetings.

  • December, 1945 - Establishment of annual awards to graduate students "showing greatest promise and achievement in scientific research."

  • Early 1950's - Program planning included having two graduate student speakers during a Spring meeting.

  • Fall, 1952 - National Sigma Xi began regionalization of the Society, with the LSU Chapter placed in the Southeast U. S. Region. The Society's number for the LSU Chapter is 084.

  • 1972 - At the annual meeting, the members approved four documents as replacements for the Society's constitution and bylaws and Articles of Association (or Incorporation). This was preparatory to the proposed merger with the Scientific Research Society of America (RESA). Merger also approved creating "Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society of North America."

  • 1978 - The national society began publishing "Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society of North America Bulletin."

  • 1981 - The national society changed it's name to "Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society."

  • February 15, 1982 - The Chapter issued a public statement urging reconsideration of the "Balanced Treatment for Creation-Sciences and Evolution-Sciences Act of 1981." The Governor and Legislature were lobbied.

  • March, 1982 - Chapter members objected, on religious and philosophic grounds, to the Chapter having a wine and cheese reception prior to the Initiation Banquet.

  • May, 1983 - Three Chapter committees approved, namely, Membership, Special Activities, and Awards. Five had been proposed.

  • September 1, 1983 - Sigma Xi began a program to "reactivate" inactive members. The LSU Chapter participated successfully.

  • September 13, 1983 - LSU Chapter is notified of the approval of the LSU Medical Center Sigma Xi Club. The chapter sponsored the petition of the club establishment. Installation was on October 12, 1983.

  • November 16, 1983 - The LSU Chapter sponsored several public meetings on the "Atchafalaya, America's Largest River Basin Swamp."

  • 1983-1984 - Dr. Edward Lambremont, of LSU, was elected as the Southeast Regional Director for Sigma Xi.

  • 1990-1991 - Dr. Ronald M. Knaus, of LSU, was elected as the Southeast Regional Director for Sigma Xi.

  • April, 1991 - The LSU Chapter supported a High School Science Club competition and awarded Belaire High School a printer for an Apple computer.

  • October, 1991 - The LSU Chapter had 329 active members (234 Full and 95 Associate) and 52 inactive members.

  • October, 1992 - Members of the LSU Chapter (and perhaps the Chapter through its officers) were involved in lobbying State officials about possible budget reductions for higher education. This was the second instance (found so far) in which the Chapter became involved politically.

  • April, 1995 - The LSU Chapter sponsored the first Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University with 21 students presenting papers and representing the colleges of agriculture, arts and sciences, basic sciences and engineering.

  • November, 1995 - Members of the LSU Chapter participated in Sigma Xi's interactive teleconference entitled "A Town Meeting on Current Issues in Scientific Research" that was held in the Knapp Hall Auditorium.

  • 1997-1998 - This was supposed to be the 50th Anniversary Year of the LSU Chapter. The Chapter membership consisted of 185 Full Members and 69 Associate Members. Various special activities, in addition to all the regular ones, were planned to celebrate. Dr. Everett D. Besch volunteered to go through the Chapter's archives and to prepare a history of the Chapter. He discovered the Chapter's distinguished and long history. By that time it was decided to celebrate this year anyway and call it the "50th" Anniversary Year.

    The Constitution and By-Laws, dating from 1971, were fundamentally revised and accepted by the membership by the casting of ballots. The elected officers created an Executive Committee, which is marked by collegiality and shared responsibility and decision making. Several new committees were created: the Committee for Membership Development, the Committee on Chapter Archives and History, the Committee in Underegraduate Research, and the Committee on Publicity. The Admissions Committee and the Committee on LSU Chapter Grants-in Aid were reorganized and given a new charge. A web page was created.

    The Chapter sponsored awards for the three best posters at the Summer Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF), which was coordinated by the Committee on Undergraduate Research.

    A new Chapter award was created, namely the Ellinor H. Behre Prize in Science Writing, to mark the anniversary year, to emphasize the need for good writing in the sciences, and to honor Professor Behre, who was the driving force behind the establishment of Sigma Xi at LSU.

  • April 24, 1998 - The "50th Anniversary Banquet and Initiation Ceremony" was held in the Plantation Room of the LSU Union.

    The Banquet address "Science in the 21st Century" was given by Dr. George A. Bray, Executive Director of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

    50 new members were initiated, promoted, or reactivated to mark this special year in the Chapter's History. The new members were initiated at the Banquet.

  • 2000 - The LSU Chapter won the Sigma Xi '2000 Chapter Award', based on our Chapter's program called 'The Ellinor H. Behre Prize in Scientific Writing'. This award was significant as this was the very first year that Sigma Xi had given this award to any Chapter. The award reads as follows:

    Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
    Devoted to the Promotion of Research and Science

    Chapter Program Award

    Presented to
    Louisiana State University

    for

    Scientific Writing Prize Program

    For Year ending June 30, 2000

    The award was signed by the President of the Society, Dr. Jack Gibbons and by the Chair of the Committee on Qualifications and Membership, Penny Padgett

     

    Back to top | Privacy Policy | Copyright ©2013. All Rights Reserved.