National Collegiate Players

Pi Epsilon Delta was established at University of Wisconsin on June 8, 1919, by students who were interested in theater. The first group contained seventeen men and women, including four faculty members.{{cite journal |last1=Joder |first1=A. B. |date=March 1, 1942 |title=National Collegiate Players |journal=The Southern Speech Journal |publisher=Routledge |volume=7 |pages=126–127 |doi=10.1080/10417944209370826 |number=4}} Its first president was Ray E. Holcolm. Pi Epsilon Delta was established as an honor society to recognize and encourage collegiate theatre.{{Cite news |last=Berkihiser |first=Charlotte |date=1955-04-27 |title=All Drama Phases Aim of Pi Epsilon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-manhattan-mercury-all-drama-phases-a/142101364/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |work=The Manhattan Mercury |location=Manhattan, Kansas |pages=47 |via=Newspapers.com}} Its activities included supporting dramatic performances, playwriting, and the study of drama and encouraging leadership in these fields.

By 1922, Pi Epsilon Delta had a total of five chapters, including added chapters at Washington University in St. Louis, University of Minnesota, and Northwestern University.{{Cite news |date=1923-04-16 |title=Collegiate Players Sponsor Tony Sarg's Marionettes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-collegiate-players-spo/142100864/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |work=The Capital Times |location=Madison, Wisconsin |pages=12 |via=Newspapers.com}} In June 1922, Pi Epsilon Delta merged with Associated University Players to form National Collegiate Players. Associated University Players was founded in 1913 at University of Illinois and had chapters at Ohio University, University of Washington, and University of Oregon. All but its chapter at the University of Washington voted to join the merged organization.

The merger was facilitated by two faculty members at the University of Wisconsin, Gertrude Johnson, professor of the speech department and grand chancellor of Pi Epsilon Delta, and Merle R. Raines, an English instructor and grand secretary of the Associated University Players. Pi Epsilon Delta was an honorary society, while the Associated University players were a theatrical production group.

The ideals and scope of the new National Collegiate Players were identical to Pi Epsilon Delta's. However, all chapters were allowed to produce theatrical shows. The merged organization's name was adopted due to resistance to continuing the form of a Greek letter organization, viewed as another secret order.

The first chapter installed after the merger was Iowa State University in April 1923. The society established the Junior Collegiate Players for students at junior colleges at Stephens College in 1949. It also sponsored a Summer European Theatre Workshop for its members every two years starting in 1959.

By 1962, the Players had initiated some 9,000 members.{{Cite news |date=1962-05-28 |title=National Dramatic Fraternity Chapter Established in WSC |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-winona-daily-news-national-dramatic/142103279/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |work=The Winona Daily News |location=Winona, Minnesota |pages=8 |via=Newspapers.com}} The National Collegiate Players became an honor society when it joined the Association of College Honor Societies in February 1963.

In 1977, the Players had 44 active chapters and 44 inactive chapters. It had initiated 15,000 members. Its headquarters was located at the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. The National Collegiate Players went dormant around 1990.{{Efn|Based on the lack of newspaper articles about chapter activities and member initiation. The University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire appears to be the last active chapter. It went dormant in 1989 according to its archive at the university library.}}

The Pi Epsilon Delta membership emblem was a key that included the comedy and drama masks of ancient Greek theater and the Greek letters {{lang|grc|ΠΕΔ}}.{{cite book|title=Wisconsin Art Portfolio Badger|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VK9GAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA448|year=1921|publisher=Junior Class of the University of Wisconsin|page=448}} Founding member Frances Allen Tucker designed the key. Its motto was Palamay en Drama or "Art in Drama".

The National Collegiate Players maintained the key and motto of Pi Epsilon Delta. Its publication was Players, which was first published in 1924.

Students were admitted to the National Collegiate Players based on a point system for achievement in acting, construction, costuming, directing, playwriting, stage design, stagecraft, and the completion of courses in dramatic arts, speech, and literature at an accredited institution.{{Cite news |date=1959-04-24 |title=Honorary Drama Unit Formed at SC |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-cloud-times-honorary-drama-unit-form/142102846/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |work=St. Cloud Times |location=Saint Cloud, Minnesota |pages=9 |via=Newspapers.com}} This was a modification of the point system used by Pi Epsilon Delta before the merger of the two organizations.

Only upper-class women and men were eligible for membership which was limited to seven to twelve active members per chapter.{{Cite news |date=1927-08-23 |title=Campus Men to Be Received in Dramatic Order |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-campus-men-to-be-rece/142101760/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |work=Arizona Daily Star |location=Tucson, Arizona |pages=5 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=1928-12-15 |title=Elect 2 Students to Pi Epsilon Delta |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-elect-2-students-to-pi/142101151/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |work=The Post-Crescent |location=Appleton, Wisconsin |pages=18 |via=Newspapers.com}} Applications for membership were voted on by the local chapter and approved by the national council, thus providing both national and local recognition for members.

The Players also initiated honor members who had made significant contributions to academia or the theater profession.

Following is a list of the chapters of the National Collegiate Players.Robson, John, ed. (1963). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. pp. 578-579.Anson, Jack L. and Marchesani Jr. Robert F., eds. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 20th edition. Indianapolis: Baird's Manual Foundation, 1991. pp. VI-121–VI-122. {{ISBN|0-9637159-0-9}} Inactive institutions are indicated in italics.

• Mary Wickes (Washington University), actress{{Cite web |last=Becque |first=Fran |date=2023-03-04 |title=Mary Wickes, Phi Mu |url=https://www.franbecque.com/mary-wickes-phi-mu-notablesororitywomen-whm2023/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=Fraternity History & More |language=en-US}}
• Anne Simley, academic and founder of the theater department at Hamline University{{Cite news |date=1992-02-13 |title=Hamline Theater Founder Anne Simley, 101 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-hamline-theater-founder-ann/142097752/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |work=Star Tribune |location=Minneapolis, Minnesota |pages=22 |via=Newspapers.com}}
• Haila Stoddard (University of Southern California), actress, producer, writer and director
• Jon Whitmore (Washington State University) chief executive officer of ACT and president of Texas Tech University and San José State University

• Judith Anderson, stage and film actress
• Henry Fonda, actor
• Helen Hayes, actress
• Cedrick Hardwick, stage and film actor
• Charles Laughton, actor and director
• Raymond Massey, actor
• Agnes Moorhead, actress
• Tyrone Power, actor
• Basil Rathbone, actor

• Honor society

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Category:Student societies in the United States

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Category:Theatrical organizations in the United States

Category:Fraternities and sororities in the United States

Category:Student organizations established in 1919

Category:1919 establishments in Wisconsin

Category:Former members of Association of College Honor Societies

Category:Defunct fraternities and sororities