cover of Cougar Humor published in the spring 1962, from the Student Organization Records, University Archives

The University Archives are always full of pleasant surprises and the Student Organization Records do not disappoint in this regard.  While the “official” history of the University of Houston might be told in part through the President’s Office Records or the UH Photographs Collection, the unique history of diversity on which the University of Houston has grown can be glimpsed through a study of the Student Organization Records.

The word “diversity” gets thrown around quite a bit when discussing the University of Houston.  The natural association for one to make is the impressive ethnic diversity found in the student body.  However, as the Student Organization Records illustrate, that diversity has never been merely limited to the racial and ethnic composition of campus.  A large part of these materials come from fraternities and sororities, a typical staple of student life, and contain a number of photographs, scrapbooks, and negatives.  However, when looking at other organizations represented in this collection as a whole, they might be considered anything but typical.  Correspondence, brochures, pamphlets, and other publications may be found from the likes of the Sailing Club, the M&M’s (a group comprised of Mature and Married students), or even the Sunday Evening Club (where a group of individuals from the University community who would come together to consider “social and philosophical problems” and present “extremely informal” papers regarding “heartily interdisciplinary” topics).

cover of The Playbill as published by Alpha Psi Omega in September 1934, from the Student Organization Records, University Archives

Materials have been acquired from a variety of sources and date back to the 1930s through the present.  If you are interested in discovering another layer of the narrative that is the University of Houston’s history, be sure to give these Student Organization Records a look either via the detailed finding aid or by visiting us when you have the time.  We look forward to assisting you with your research.