PRESERVING PI KAPPA PHI’S LEGACY

History is found in the faded composites, the dog-eared magazines, the programs and scrapbooks hidden away for preserving “when there’s time.” For Pi Kappa Phi, the time is now. We are embarking on a digital preservation journey that will allow us to transform our archival materials into a 21st-century digital collection.

Our history is crucial to understanding our roots, learning from the past and shaping a better future. From limited accessibility to physical deterioration, there are numerous challenges we face when safeguarding our history. In order to preserve our legacy, we are embarking on an exciting digital archives project with digital preservation experts HistoryIT to modernize our history and make our unique and proud legacy available to all members online.

Through this project, documents, images, reports and programs currently stored at Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters will be digitized and made searchable online through cutting-edge digital history software.

OUR DIGITAL PRESERVATION EFFORTS WILL:

OPEN OUR ARCHIVES UP TO ALL MEMBERS at any place and at any time. All members will be granted the opportunity to learn from and connect with our shared history online.

PROTECT OUR ARCHIVES from the consequences of aging. Time takes its toll on physical materials. Paper, photographs, film reels — they’re all susceptible to degradation. Through our digital preservation efforts, we’ll be identifying fragile and deteriorating artifacts that need to be preserved in archival-quality storage materials and locations.

CATALOG OUR HISTORICAL COLLECTION. As a member-driven organization, we’ve collected an immense number of historical artifacts. Lack of proper organization and cataloging can lead to the loss or misplacement of historical materials. Without an efficient system in place, documents, artifacts and records can become scattered or buried in storage facilities, rendering them inaccessible or prone to damage. We want to accurately preserve and honor our history through a comprehensive cataloging process.

TELL OUR STORY. Through a unique digital storytelling platform, we’ll bring our history to life for today’s member and for generations to come.

Are you interested in supporting efforts to preserve our legacy? Your donations to the Pi Kappa Phi Foundation will ensure the history and founding values of our Fraternity are preserved for future generations! For more information, please contact Pi Kappa Phi Foundation Chief Advancement Officer Steve Esworthy at sesworthy@pikapp.org or (980) 318-5366.