Excerpts from the Journal of the Mathematics Club of Syracuse University concerning the founding of Pi Mu Epsilon

 

The original Journal, along with other materials

from the Syracuse University Mathematics Club

which was the forerunner of Pi Mu Epsilon,

is on display on the west side of the second floor

of the Norton Library at the University of Syracuse.

 

            The report of committee concerned with finding a suitable place for club meetings was given.  Discussion followed the report and it was decided to leave it to the executive committee to state where the next meeting should be held.

            Mr. Bentley reported that paper with engraving could be procured from him at 15 cents per 25 sheets.  Members were asked to sign paper telling the amount they desired.

The matter of organizing a mathematical fraternity was then discussed.  Dr. Roe explained the situation as it is in German universities.  A motion was made and carried that a committee be appointed by chair.  The following were chosen:

Dr. Roe, Chairman

Helen Applebee

Mr. Bentley.

Motion made and lost that club buy dishes for use at meetings.

The treasurer reported $16.40 in the treasury.

Motion made and carried that committee with power be appointed to consider some celebration of 10th anniversary of club.  This committee consisted of:

Dr. Decker, Chairman

Hazel Hurlbut

Jean Morrison

Dr. Metzler

Mr. Jeffords

The following were proposed for membership and unanimously elected:

Mr. Cotrell

Mr. Cohn

Miss Hazel Hurlbut gave the paper of the evening.  Her subject was “Some curious facts about numbers.”

The refreshment committee included:

Helen Barnard

Frances Buechelor

Mr. Sussman

Meeting adjourned

Jean Morrison, Sec’y

A special meeting of the Faculty, Seniors, Executive committee and committee on fraternity organization was called to order by Dr. Roe in the seminar room Dec. 6 at 3 o’clock.  The special committee gave their report and the matter of changing the club into a fraternity was discussed at length.  A straw vote was taken to determine whether the members present wanted anything further done by committee along this line.  The majority voted that the committee should proceed.

Adjourned,

Jean Morrison

Sec’y.

The Mathematical Club met December the eight, 1913 at the ∑.Қ house.  Dr. Bullard directed the meeting.  The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and approved.

Miss Florence Rickert presented the paper of the evening.  Her subject was “The Evolution and Transcendence of π.”  Discussion followed the reading of the paper.

The report of the committee on celebration of the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Club was then given.  A motion was made and carried that the report be received and discussed by items.

Dr. Roe gave the report of the committee appointed to consider changing the Club into a mathematical Fraternity.  He presented four methods.  Namely that:

1. The Club organizes into a Fraternity, which should have a definite standard of scholarship as a basis for membership.

2.  The Club organizes into a Fraternity in which members should pledge themselves to keep up their scholarship.

3.  The Club remain the same as at present and an honorary Mathematical Fraternity be formed outside of the Club.

4.  The Club should take Sophomores on probation and admit them their Junior year.

A motion was made and carried that the Club express its opinion in favor of the change into a Fraternity.  The motion was then made and carried that the second method be used.  Motion made and carried that the committee draw up a skeleton constitution of the Fraternity based on the second method.

It was moved that a vote of thanks be extended to the Sigma Kappa members for their hospitality.

The Committee on Refreshment consisted of:

Nina Rowe

Hazel Steere

Philip Meacham

On motion the meeting adjourned.

Jean Morrison, Sec’y

The regular meeting of the mathematical Club was held in Room 304 of the Hall of Languages, March 2, 1914.

The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and approved as read.

Miss Ruth Billard read a paper on “Why Students Should Elect Mathematics as a Major Subject!”

A motion was made and carried that after the business of the Club had been attended to, the Club be adjourned and that a convention be held to consider the Fraternity business.

The Secretary read a letter from Mrs. Pratt thanking the Club for the flowers sent at the time of Prof. Pratt’s death.

Miss Mary L. Foote’s name was suggested for membership.  The Secretary cast a unanimous ballot for her election.

It was moved and carried that on account of Prof. Pratt’s death the Banquet committee be discontinued.

Motion made and carried that club adjourn.

Jean Morrison

Sec’y.

Minutes of Convention– March 2, 1914.  A motion was made and carried that Prof. Bullard direct the meeting and that the present secretary act as Secretary.

The committee on the Fraternity presented a constitution.  It was moved and carried that the constitution be read and discussed by sections and tentatively adopted by sections.

Article two of the constitution was discussed and adopted.

Article three was revised and adopted.

A motion was made and carried that the name, Fraternity, be given to the Organization and a definite name be chosen later.

Articles 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 never adopted.

Article 12 was discussed, revised and adopted, also article 13.

The specific name of the Fraternity was then considered. ∑П, ∑ПM, MΦ were proposed.

A motion was made but lost that the name ∑П be adopted.  The name MPB was suggested but was not voted upon.

A motion was made and carried that a committee be appointed by Dr. Bullard to look up several names one of which the Fraternity might adopt.  Mrs. Roe, Hazel Hurlbut and Beatrice Blomberg were appointed on this committee.

On motion the Convention adjourned.

Jean Morrison

Secretary.

The Mathematical Club met in Room 304 of the Hall of Languages March 23, 1914.

The meeting was directed by Dr. Bullard. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and approved as corrected.

Miss Teresa Weiler gave the paper of the evening.  Her subject was “The History of the Number System of Algebra.”

Mr. Adler’s name was presented for membership.  The Secretary cast a unanimous ballot for his election.

A motion for adjournment was made and carried.

Jean Morrison

Secretary.

Minutes of Convention March 23, 1914

The minutes of the preceding convention were read and approved.  The constitution of the Fraternity was read by the Secretary.

The report of the committee appointed to look up names for the Fraternity gave their report.  They submitted the following names.

  1. EП= To promote scholarship.
  2. EПM= To promote scholarship and mathematics.
  3. ПΦM= loving disciples of mathematics.
  4. AП= Efficiency in all things.
  5. MPB=Mathematics the foundation of mental power.

A motion was made and lost that EП be adopted.  Moved and lost that MPB be chosen.  A motion was made and carried that number two, EПM be adopted.

Article three of the constitution was adopted.  This was concerning charter members and its number was changed from article fourteen to article three.

A motion was made that the order of the letters in the name of the Fraternity be changed to ПME.  A substitute motion was made and carried the constitution be adopted as a whole with the exception of the order of letters in the name.  It was left to the committee on names to learn if the Greek letters could be properly changed without altering the meaning.

The By Laws were submitted by the committee on Fraternity and were considered separately.

Article I concerning the duty of the Scholarship Committed was adopted.

Article II was amended and adopted.

Articles III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX were adopted.

The form of certificate of membership was discussed and adopted.

A motion was made and carried that the pledge be taken by those present:  Dr. Bullard directed the pledging.  Those taking the pledged [sic] signed their names as charter members of the Fraternity.

The convention adjourned.

Jean Morrison, Sec’y.

The regular meeting of the Mathematical Club was called to order by Dr. Bullard in room 304 Hall of Languages, April the twenty seventh 1914.  The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and approved as read.

The following names were presented for membership, Mr. A.W. Smith, Mr. Jacob Gallin, Mr. J. H. Case. The Secretary cast a unanimous ballot for their election.

A motion was made that the money in the Mathematical Club Treasury be turned over to the treasury of the Fraternity and that the Fraternity be made custodian of any other property held by the club.  Carried.

The Treasurer’s report was given for year 1913-14.

Total Receipts $59.62

Disbursements $19.36

Bank Balance April 25th 1914

$ 40.26

Motion made and carried that the Treasurer’s report be turned over to auditing committee, appointed by chair.

Miss Anna Meacham gave a very interesting paper on “Lightening Calculators.”

There was a motion carried for the adjournment of the club.

Jean Morrison, Secretary.