Society of Professional Journalists / Sigma Delta Chi records

The Society of Professional Journalists was founded at DePauw University in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, Honorary Journalistic Fraternity with 11 original members. The organization was originally the idea of Laurence Sloan and William Meharry Glenn and was planned by the two for most of the 1908-1909 academic year. Its announcement on campus is described in the May 6, 1909 issue of DePauw University's student newspaper, The DePauw Daily. "The curiosity of the college world was aroused this morning by the appearance in chapel of ten men in black and white colors. ... It is their intention to include among their members only those men who expressly intend to engage in either newspaper or other literary work as a life profession."

In 1916 the word "honorary" was dropped from its name and the organization became Sigma Delta Chi, Professional Journalistic Fraternity. This is significant as the founders had debated whether Sigma Delta Chi should be an honorary or professional organization. Undoubtedly, changing from an honorary to a professional organization was done to reflect the fact that many Sigma Delta Chi members were now well into their profession and there was need for chapters outside of college campuses.

Through the years many name changes were proposed, debated and voted down. Then, in 1960, the name became Sigma Delta Chi, Professional Journalistic Society, again moving it away from its collegiate roots with the replacement of the word "fraternity." Another change occurred at the 1973 convention when the name became Society of Professional Journalists/Sigma Delta Chi.

The current name was adopted in 1989 when it became simply the Society of Professional Journalists, eliminating the collegiate style Greek letter name completely. Sigma Delta Chi is still preserved in the organization's foundation of that name established in 1962.

The Society of Professional Journalists has a membership of thousands of journalists, both professional and collegiate. The first convention (the governing body) was held in 1912 in Greencastle, Indiana moving to different sites every year thereafter with a few exceptions due to war or financial problems.

One of the results of the first convention was the establishment of The Quill as a newsletter for the fraternity members. At the 1914 convention, steps were taken to ensure the continuation of The Quill as more than a newsletter by designating a portion of the initiation fee for maintenance of a permanent Quill fund. Financial and personnel problems continued to plague the magazine. In 1923 an endowment fund was proposed to provide monies for the publication and pay a full-time editor. In the mid 1930s after much reorganization, The Quill became a monthly magazine and has continued as such with the exception of a period during World War II. Footnote

In January 1928 a national headquarters was established in Chicago, Illinois. A fire at the headquarters in 1934 destroyed many of the minutes of earlier conventions, files of The Quill and all office equipment and supplies. Membership records were saved, however.

The goals of the membership are varied and numerous. Committees were formed to deal with issues and problems in journalism. Among these committees and issues are Ethics, Freedom of Information, the First Amendment, open public meetings and records, state shield laws, free press, fair trial, cameras in the courtroom, the Equal Time Clause and the Fairness Doctrine. Lectures, films, grants and books have been produced through funds including the Kilgore Memorial Award, the Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship for Editorial Writers, the Frank W. Corrigan Internship and the Taishoff Memorial Fund.

Awards are a major part of the Society of Professional Journalists's activities. Many are given to thoise who have made major contributions to journalism or service to the organization. Some of these awards include the Distinguished Service Award recognizing 16 categories of journalistic performance, the First Amendment Award for contributions advancing freedom of the press, the Mark of Excellence Award for students, Distinguished Teaching Award, and the Historic Site Award.