George Peavy with a group of students, ca. 1955. Painting by Fred Ludekens.
At times, Greek societies have volunteered for projects that are closely tied with goals of their sorority or fraternity. Started at the University of Washington in 1908, the forestry honor society Xi Sigma Pi came to Oregon Agricultural College in 1921 establishing the Zeta chapter. Minutes from the meetings of Xi Sigma Pi during the late 1930s and 1940s show what some of these activities included.
In 1939, the members of Xi Sigma Pi decided to give some of their time to the school museum. The head forester had suggested this, but other members thought that other activities might be better for promoting the Xi Sigma Pi name and offered alternatives. After other suggestions and “discussion about general slowness to reaction,” the alternatives were voted down and original plan reintroduced. It was quickly approved that members would volunteer one hour at a time to help keep the museum open “several hours during the week.” Towards the end of the 1940s and on in to the 1950s, the members of Xi Sigma Pi would develop a similar relationship with the Forestry School’s library.
In 1948, the chapter developed a project to help manage a section of Peavy arboretum. An activity they continued for several years.