urn:taro:aushc.00011 Society of Professional Journalists (Austin Professional Chapter) An Inventory of Their Records at the Austin History Center Inventory prepared by Rick Taylor and Kathleen Mullen Austin History Center
Austin Public Library 810 Guadalupe Street Austin, Texas 78701 Phone: (512) 974-7385 Fax: (512) 974-7483 E-mail: ahc_reference@ci.austin.tx.us URL: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/ahc
2004 Finding aid encoded by Rick Taylor on 2004-12-01. Edited by Scott Jordan on 2007-01-04. Finding aid written in English. Collection Summary Society of Professional Journalists, Austin Professional Chapter. Society of Professional Journalists (Austin Professional Chapter) Records. 1966-2002. 1978-2000. This collection comprises the records of the Austin Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. From 1978 to 2000, the Austin Society of Professional Journalists produced the annual Gridiron Show – a theatrical parody of politics and current events – as a fundraising event in support of journalism scholarships and Freedom of Information issues. 3.5 linear ft., 4 boxes, 2792 items. AR.2004.022 English. Archives and Manuscripts Collection. Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, 810 Guadalupe Street, Austin, Texas, 78701. Biographical Sketch of the Society of Professional Journalists, Austin Professional Chapter

The activities of the Austin Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists/Sigma Delta Chi are represented from 1966 to 2002. The national organization, founded as Sigma Delta Chi in 1909, officially changed its name in 1988 to the Society of Professional Journalists. During the years represented in the papers, the Austin chapter energetically raised funds on behalf of several different causes, establishing the Dewitt Reddick First Amendment fund in 1979; the Stuart Long scholarship fund in 1978 to provide scholarships for undergraduate students committed to the study of journalism at the University of Texas, Austin; and the John Rogers Fund for investigative journalism in 1987. The group also donated funds to promote the study of journalism at the high school level in Austin, notably by presenting LBJ High School with media laboratory equipment, as well as providing money for students to travel to journalism conferences.

The Society of Professional Journalists/Sigma Delta Chi also sought to further a number of first amendment causes, such as the Texas Open Meetings Act, filing briefs of Amicus Curiae in cases heard before the Supreme Court of Texas and the Travis County Court. The Gridiron Show, an annual production spoofing notable news stories of the previous year, was a significant source of funds raised by the Society of Professional Journalists/Sigma Delta Chi.

Notable figures include Stuart Long, president from 1967-1968; and Lee Jones, president from 1980-1981 and treasurer from 1981-2002.

Presidents:

1967-1968 Long, Stuart. 1978-1979 Mulder, Roger. 1979-1980 Davis, Stewart. 1980-1981 Jones, Lee. 1981-1983 Hight, Bruce. 1983-1984 Carlson, Carolyn. 1984-1985 Tyson, Kim. 1985-1986 Davis, Jim 1986-1987 Kilday, Anne Marie. 1987-1988 Graves, Debbie. 1988-1989 McCann, Bill. 1989-1990 Voinis, Nick. 1990-1991 Jayson, Sharon. 1991-1992 Borges, Walter. 1992-1994 Vlerebome, Peggy. 1994-1995 Garcia, James. 1996-1997 Barnes, Sarah. 1997-1998 Gamboa, Suzanne. 1998-1999 Walt, Kathy. 1999-2000 Niederpruem, Kyle. Scope and Contents of the Collection

Minutes, correspondence, annual reports, meeting minutes, financial documents, membership lists, manuscripts, newsletters and legal documents (3.5 linear ft.) illuminate the activities of the Austin chapter the Society of Professional Journalists/Sigma Delta Chi, from 1966 to 2002 [bulk 1978-2000]. Arranged in three subgroups which retain the order given the documents by their custodian, Lee Jones, they consist of Organizational Records, Financial Records, and Gridiron records.

The Austin Professional Journalist and the Newshound (newsletters), The Capitol Griddle (an annual newspaper related to the Gridiron show), the Gridiron Show video recordings, and several artifacts, originally part of this collection, were separated to other collections (see Separated Material).

While the Gridiron records (11 items, 1978-1999) comprise the smallest discrete group, they vividly illuminate the energy with which the Society of Professional Journalists/Sigma Delta Chi undertook their fundraising activities, in addition to presenting a humorous commentary on local, regional and national politics. The Financial records (1,927 items, 1988-2002) further elucidate in great detail the operations of the Austin chapter as a fundraising organization. The Organizational records (854 items, 1966-2002) clarify the specific nature of the Society of Professional Journalists/Sigma Delta Chi's involvement in First Amendment rights issues by virtue of the Amicus Curiae briefs contained therein (see the cases of Austin American-Statesman v. AISD, 1984; and Charles M. Acker v. Texas Water Commission, 1987 and 1989). They also shed light on the internal processes of the organization through meeting minutes and annual reports.

The Organizational records divulge the relationship between the local Austin chapter and the national organization, especially regarding tensions in 1999-2000 over closed door sessions of the national Board of Directors.

 Organization of the Records

The original order has been preserved for this collection. Some Gridiron materials originally kept in binders were rehoused in folders. Three series are arranged in reverse chronological order:

Organizational records Financial records Gridiron documents Index Terms Persons: Barnes, Sarah. Borges, Walt. Carlson, Carolyn. Cross, Al. Dabney, Joe. Dare, Clint. Davis, Jim. Davis, Stewart. Dworin, Diana. Gamboa, Suzanne. Garcia, James. Gibson, Martin "Red". Graves, Debbie. Hight, Bruce. Jayson, Sharon. Jones, Lee. Kilday, Anne Marie. Long, Stuart. McCann, Bill. Mulder, Roger. Niederpruem, Kyle. Rogers, John. Tyson, Kim. Vlerebome, Peggy. Voinis, Nick. Walt, Kathy. Organizations: Society of Professional Journalists. Sigma Delta Chi. SDX Gridiron Foundation. Subjects: American Wit and Humor. Freedom of Information. Journalism. Government Information. Places: Austin (Tex.). Document Types: Agendas. Annual reports. Awards. Clippings. Correspondence. Financial documents. Legal documents. Manuscripts. Minutes. Printed material. Rosters. Titles: Gridiron Show. Administrative Information Custodial History

Donated by Lee Jones, Treasurer, Society of Professional Journalists (Austin Chapter).

 Preferred Citation

Society of Professional Journalists (Austin Professional Chapter) Records (AR.2004.022). Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, Texas.

 Acquisition Information

Donor #: DO/1991/003.

Donation Date: 2004-06-22.

 Processing Information

Initial Inventory and Preliminary Processing by Kathleen Mullen and Rick Taylor on 2004-11-30.

Final Processing and Finding Aid by Kathleen Mullen and Rick Taylor on 2004-11-30.

Additional processing by Scott Jordan on 2007-01-04.

Restrictions Restrictions on Access

None.

 Restrictions on Use

None.

 Related Material

Austin Files -- T7400(20) Society of Professional Journalists.

The Austin History Center's Recording Collection contains a series of 46 Gridiron Show videotapes, donated by the Austin Society of Professional Journalists in 1991.

Austin Professional Journalists, 1982-1996; Capitol Griddle, 1978-1999; and Newshound. Periodicals Collection.

 Separated Material

The Capitol Griddle (11 issues), the Austin Professional Journalist (99 issues), and Newshound (56 issues) were separated to fill gaps in the Periodicals Collection; the remainder have been returned to the donor.

Three videotapes were separated and added to an existing series of the Gridiron Show in the Recordings Collection - Videos - General Collection.

The President's gavel and two plaques were separated to the Artifacts Collection.

Several framed award certificates were not separated, but were removed from their frames and added to the Organizational records series in the appropriate year folders.

 Other Finding Aids

None.

 Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing and description of the materials in the collection.

Series 1: Organizational Records (854 items) 1 1 2002. (2 items). 1 2 2001. (4 items). 132000.(33 items). 141999 (1).(28 items). 151999 (2).(31 items). 161998.(3 items). 171997.(18 items). 181996.(14 items). 191995.(22 items). 1101994.(38 items). 1111993 (1).(45 items). 1121993 (2).(27 items). 1131992 (1).(23 items). 1141992 (2).(22 items). 1151991 (1).(27 items). 1161991 (2).(37 items). 1171990 (1).(33 items). 1181990 (2).(21 items). 1191989.(24 items). 1201988.(30 items). 1211987.(31 items). 1221986.(13 items). 1231985.(12 items). 1241984.(24 items). 1251983.(18 items). 1261982.(22 items). 1271981.(46 items). 1281980.(54 items). 21Before 1980 (Folder 1).(71 items). 22Before 1980 (Folder 2).(21 items). 23Before 1980 (Folder 3).(30 items). Series 2: Financial Records (1,927 items) 242002 - Long Statements (Washington Mutual Fund).(24 items). 252002 - Reddick Statements.(12 items). 262002 - Rogers CD.(11 items). 272002 - Receipts.(7 items). 282002 - Expenditures.(14 items). 292001 - Long Statements and CD (Bank United).(16 items). 2102001 - Reddick Statements. (12 items). 2112001 - Receipts.(13 items). 2122001 - Expenditures.(25 items). 2132000 - Long Statements and CD (Bank United).(15 items). 2142000 - Reddick Statements. (12 items). 2152000 - Receipts.(24 items). 2162000 - Expenditures (Folder 1).(19 items). 2172000 - Expenditures (Folder 2).(26 items). 2181999 - Long Statements and CD.(20 items). 2191999 - Reddick Statements. (13 items). 2201999 - Receipts.(21 items). 2211999 - Expenditures (Folder 1).(25 items). 2221999 - Expenditures (Folder 2).(21 items). 2231998 - Norwest Long Statements and CD.(11 items). 2241998 - Reddick Statements.(12 items). 2251998 - Receipts.(16 items). 2261998 - Expenditures (Folder 1).(22 items). 2271998 - Expenditures (Folder 2).(16 items). 2281997 - Norwest Long Statements and CD.(24 items). 2291997 - Reddick Statements.(13 items). 2301997 - Receipts.(30 items). 2311997 - Expenditures (Folder 1).(24 items). 2321997 - Expenditures (Folder 2).(18 items). 2331996 - Long Statements and CD.(15 items). 2341996 - Reddick Statements.(12 items). 2351996 - Receipts.(32 items). 2361996 - Expenditures.(29 items). 2371995 - Long Statements and CD.(18 items). 2381995 - Reddick Statements.(12 items). 2391995 - Receipts.(22 items). 2401995 - Expenditures (Folder 1).(22 items). 2411995 - Expenditures (Folder 2).(23 items). 2421994 - Long Statements and CD.(13 items). 2431994 - Reddick Statements.(22 items). 2441994 - Receipts.(41 items). 2451994 - Expenditures (Folder 1).(23 items). 2461994 - Expenditures (Folder 2).(22 items). 2471994 - Expenditures (Folder 3).(21 items). 311993 - Trust Fund Receipts.(8 items). 321993 - Receipts.(38 items). 331993 - Trust Fund Expenditures.(10 items). 341993 - Expenditures (Folder 1).(29 items). 351993 - Expenditures (Folder 2).(25 items). 361993 - Long CD and Statements.(18 items). 371992 - Rogers Statements.(17 items). 381992 - Reddick Statements.(12 items). 391992 - Long Statements and CD.(22 items). 3101992 - Trust Fund Expenditures.(10 items). 3111992 - Chapter Expenditures (Folder 1).(26 items). 3121992 - Chapter Expenditures (Folder 2).(26 items). 3131992 - Trust Fund Receipts.(4 items). 3141992 - Chapter Receipts.(28 items). 3151992 - Statements – Accounts Closed.(11 items). 3161992 - Tax Info - EOY Statements.(5 items). 3171991 - Minority Statements.(14 items). 3181991 - Rogers Statements.(18 items). 3191991 - Reddick Statements.(21 items). 3201991 - Professional Development Statements.(19 items). 3211991 - Long Statements and CD.(18 items). 3221991 - Gridiron Receipts.(12 items). 3231991 - Trust Fund Receipts.(15 items). 3241991 - Gridiron Expenditures.(12 items). 3251991 - Chapter Expenditures.(27 items). 3261991 - Griddle Statements.(24 items). 3271991 - Gridiron Bank Statements.(13 items). 3281991 - Trust Fund Expenditures (Folder 1).(25 items). 3291991 - Trust Fund Expenditures (Folder 2).(18 items). 3301991 - Chapter Receipts.(46 items). 3311990 - Minority Statements.(12 items). 3321990 - Rogers Statements.(12 items). 3331990 - Reddick Statements.(12 items). 3341990 - Professional Development Statements.(12 items). 3351990 - Long Statements and CD.(18 items). 3361990 - Gridiron Receipts(14 items). 3371990 - Trust Fund Receipts.(32 items). 3381990 - Gridiron Expenditures.(19 items). 3391990 - Chapters Expenditures.(30 items). 3401990 - Griddle Statements.(12 items). 3411990 - Trust Fund Expenditures.(21 items). 3421990 - Gridiron Bank Statements.(12 items). 3431990 - Chapter Receipts.(34 items). 3441989 - Minority Statements.(13 items). 3451989 - Rogers Statements.(14 items). 3461989 - Reddick Statements.(11 items). 3471989 - Professional Development Statements.(14 items). 3481989 - Long Statements(21 items). 3491989 - Gridiron Receipts.(10 items). 3501989 - Trust Fund Receipts.(18 items). 3511989 - Gridiron Expenditures.(31 items). 3521989 - Chapter Expenses.(24 items). 3531989 - Chapter Receipts.(30 items). 3541989 - 501c Files.(11 items). 3551989 - Griddle Statements.(14 items). 3561989 - Gridiron Statements.(18 items). 3571989 - Trust Fund Expenditures.(29 items). 3581988 - Gridiron Expenses.(19 items). Series 3: Gridiron (11 items) 411999 Gridiron.(7 items). 421997 Guide to the Griddle.(1 item). 431996 Guide to the Griddle.(1 item). 441994 Gridiron.(1 item). 451978-1979 Gridiron Material.(1 item).