SIGMA CHI MUSEUM
CHUCK AND KIM WATSON MUSEUM OF SIGMA CHI
The Sigma Chi Museum and Archives exists to preserve and interpret the rich history of the issues and individuals that have shaped Sigma Chi’s mission of fostering high standards of morality and character among the young men that pledge to the fraternity.
An Introduction To Our Fraternity's New Museum
by Dr. Noah Phelps, Ph.D. Director of Information Management Historical Initiative, Site Management, and Project Management.
by Dr. Noah Phelps, Ph.D. Director of Information Management Historical Initiative, Site Management, and Project Management.
Our new museum was constructed following a pipe burst that destroyed a section of the old basement museum in October 2013. At that time the Foundation determined that it would be better if we moved the museum out of the basement. This was in accordance with a suggestion of the Fraternity’s History Commission as far back as 2005.
The Foundation formed a Museum Renovation Committee, chaired by past Grand Consul, Lee Beauchamp, and consisted of the three living past Grand Historians, Doug Carlson, Eric Hansen, and Bill Fleming, along with current Grand Historian, Michael Codina.
The Foundation formed a Museum Renovation Committee, chaired by past Grand Consul, Lee Beauchamp, and consisted of the three living past Grand Historians, Doug Carlson, Eric Hansen, and Bill Fleming, along with current Grand Historian, Michael Codina.
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I am, also, the building manager, so it fell to me to find a general contractor and an exhibits company to carry out the design of the committee. We used a local general contractor, but we had to cast a broader net for an exhibits company. We were fortunate to find one of the nation’s most award winning companies, Exhibit Concepts, with the added bonus that one of their VPs is a Sigma Chi, Gerald “Jerry” Spangler, Dayton 1989. Jerry advised the committee on designed and oversaw the construction of the exhibits.
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The new museum’s footprint covers about 40% the first floor of the HQ’s south wing. It is approximately 1100 sq. ft. It includes both static panels and multimedia kiosks to display databases on the Magazine of Sigma Chi, Significant Sigs, the Order of Constantine, and the Sweetheart. There are also sounds clips of actors reading quotes from the Founders and a series of 7-minute clips from the films of the 1930, 1930, 1955, and 2005 anniversary celebrations.
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Below, please find photos taken of Sigma Chi headquarters, historical paintings of our founders, and our museum. To learn more about our fraternity's museum, click here.
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