Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series : Friends & Guests
ALPHA SIGMA TAU Service and Philanthropy
THANK YOU !
Alpha Sigma Tau (ΑΣΤ) is a national Panhellenic sorority founded on November 4, 1899 at Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University). It is the third-oldest educational sorority, and has more than 90 active chapters and colonies nationwide. [Wikipedia]
Since 1945 the national sorority Alpha Sigma Tau (AST) has been a strong supporter and advocate for Pine Mountain Settlement School. With nearly 90 chapters throughout the United States Alpha Sigma Tau selected Pine Mountain as the primary philanthropy for the sorority and Habitat for Humanity as its primary service focus. Since 1945 Pine Mountain has been enriched by the close relationship with this philanthropic sorority and the many visits by members of various national chapters.Pine Mountain has been very fortunate over the years to have the chapters visit the School and to have them participate in programs or provide designated service to the institution. For example, in the Spring of 2014 the School welcomed Radford University‘s Alpha Sigma Tau chapter to the campus. Pine Mountain was again fortunate in November of 2014 to have another group from AST on campus, seven AST members from James Madison University in Virginia. In March 2015 sisters from the Grand Valley University chapter of Alpha Sigma Tau came to work on the archive and grounds of the School.
These visitors are welcomed by the School’s Community Coordinator, Judy Lewis, who coordinates a variety of volunteer activities for the groups. Students are also given the opportunity to participate in any on-going programs that occur while they are on campus so they can understand the work and the mission of the institution. Further, they can contribute a variety of services, including building maintenance, trail work and other grounds maintenance and, importantly, they can work in the institution’s ARCHIVE where they can learn about the School’s history and the many individuals who have been a part of the institution since its founding in 1913. While working in the archive the sisters are honing skills in collection organization, digitization, database management and historical writing — and some heavy lifting! While working on trails, grounds or buildings the visitors can enjoy the physical environment of the place and help to maintain the beauty of the site. These service projects are just a few of the possibilities available to visiting sorority groups.
The philanthropy and the work of Alpha Sigma Tau benefits Pine Mountain in ways that are both tangible and intangible. The opportunity for the sororities to learn more about the work of Pine Mountain and for Pine Mountain to show its deep appreciation for the years of support they have given the School has enriched everyone.
![Judy Lewis, Community Coordinator and her GIANT teapot and equally large hospitality! [P1060589.jpg]](https://pinemountainsettlement.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/P1060589-e1433448094821-768x1024.jpg)
Judy Lewis, Community Coordinator and her GIANT teapot and equally large hospitality! [P1060589.jpg]
RADFORD UNIVERSITY, RADFORD, VA Chapter
JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY, HARRISONBURG, VA, Chapter

James Madison crew working on the archive at West Wind house with a little help from an energetic friend. [P1060784.jpg]
- James Madison University. The challenge! [P1060516.jpg]
- James Madison University sisters at breakfast in Laurel House. [P1060780.jpg]
- James Madison University sisters at breakfast in Laurel House. [P1060779.jpg]
- West Wind. James Madison University crew hard at work on archives at West Wind. [P1060788.jpg]
- James Madison University crew hard at work on archives at West Wind. Scanning and data entry. [P1060793.jpg]
- James Madison University sisters at breakfast at Laurel before leaving. [P1060992.jpg]
- 2015 James Madison University gets a chance to participate in a community day event. Dancing and dancing some more. [P1060858.jpg]
- 2015 James Madison University gets a chance to participate in a community day event. Dancing with the gentlemen from Harlan’s Challenge Academy. [P1060828.jpg]
- James Madison University gets a chance to participate in a community day event. [P1060806.jpg]
- James Madison University gets a chance to participate in a community day event. [P1060802.jpg]
- 2015 James Madison University gets a chance to participate in a community day event. Dancing with the gentlemen from Harlan’s Challenge Academy. [P1060827.jpg]
- James Madison University Alpha Sigma Tau sisters say goodbye to the School. [P1060886.jpg]
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY, ALLENDALE, MI Chapter
Thank you Cecelia, Jackie, Kayla, Carly, Shannon, Hannah and Olivia!
- Grand Valley University, Michigan, Alpha Sigma Tau volunteers. March 2-4, 2015. The crew with Judy Lewis, Community Coordinator. P1070050.jpg]
- Grand Valley University, Michigan, Alpha Sigma Tau volunteers. A hug for Judy. March 2-4, 2015.
- Grand Valley University, Michigan, Alpha Sigma Tau volunteers. March 2-4, 2015. Tea at Judy’s cottage.
- Grand Valley University, Michigan, Alpha Sigma Tau volunteers. March 2-4, 2015.
- Grand Valley University, Michigan, Alpha Sigma Tau volunteers. March 2-4, 2015.
- Grand Valley University, Michigan, Alpha Sigma Tau volunteers. March 2-4, 2015. At work in Hill House on the PMSS archive.
- Grand Valley University, Michigan, Alpha Sigma Tau volunteers. March 2-4, 2015.
TWO AT ONCE! EASTERN MICHIGAN & SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITIES
The week of June 15-17, 2015, Pine Mountain Settlement School was fortunate to have two separate Alpha Sigma Tau chapters on campus. They did a splendid job of assisting with the community Day Camp and helping the archivists compile folder data for an index to the large archival collections at the School. They also had an opportunity to commune with another Alpha Sigma Tau Chapter and to make friends across institutions. We thank them all!
To see some of their work for the Pine Mountain Settlement School Collections go to —
PMSS SERIES I-III – CONTAINER LIST, 1911-1983 – BOXES 1-54
We could not have done this without you.
A thank you, as well, to Anna Smith, our community volunteer librarian, whose fine work helped to prepare the collections for work before and after!! Thank you! Thank you!

Anna Smith, community volunteer Librarian who assisted in preparation and follow-up for the two Alpha Sigma Tau work on the PMSS Collections. Ready to eat at Hill House. [P1100102.jpg]
EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY,(YPSILANTI Chapter
(Alpha Chapter) Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI
Thank you, Sydney, Sky, Heather and Caitlin. June 15-17, 2015. [P1100126.jpg]
- Alpha Sigma Tau. (Alpha Chapter) Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti. Sorority sisters display their ‘Anchor’ hand sign. [P1100121.jpg]
- Alpha Sigma Tau. (Alpha Chapter) Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti. Sorority sisters hard at work identifying folders in the main collections. [P1100119.jpg]
- Alpha Sigma Tau. (Alpha Chapter) Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti. Sorority sisters compiling data for the archive. [P1100117.jpg]
- Alpha Sigma Tau. (Alpha Chapter) Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti. Sorority sister who was a dedicated scanner. [P1100114.jpg]
- Alpha Sigma Tau. (Alpha Chapter) Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti .Sorority sisters have a late evening rendezvous at the PMSS sign to say goodbye. [P1100165.jpg]
- Alpha Sigma Tau .Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti. Sorority sisters have a late evening rendevous at the PMSS sign to say goodbye. [P1100165.jpg]
SHIPPENSBURG (PA) UNIVERSITY Chapter
(Beta Epsilon Chapter) Shippensburg, PA
Thank you MIchaella, Samantha, Allyson and Emilee, June 15-17, 2015.
- Alpha Sigma Tau sorority sisters from Beta Epsilon Chapter of Shippensburg University (PA) working with Day Campers at lunch time in Laurel House. [P1100143.jpg]
- Alpha Sigma Tau sorority sisters from Beta Epsilon Chapter of Shippensburg University (PA) working with Day Campers at lunch time in Laurel House. [P1100141.jpg]
- Alpha Sigma Tau sorority sisters from Beta Epsilon Chapter of Shippensburg University (PA) working with Day Campers at lunch time in Laurel House. [P1100139.jpg]
- Judy, Community Coordinator, Susan Brown, PMSS EE Coordinator and Ann Angel-Eberhardt Board volunteer, and Anna Smith, community librarian volunteer at lunch. [P1100137.jpg]
- Alpha Sigma Tau sorority members (Beta Epsilon) from Shippensburg University (PA) and Alpha Sigma Tau sorority members (Alpha Chapter) from Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, climb the hill to Hill House (Infirmary) to work together on archives. [P1100146.jpg]
- Alpha Sigma Tau sorority members (Beta Epsilon) from Shippensburg University (PA) and Alpha Sigma Tau sorority members (Alpha Chapter) from Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, work together on archives. [ P1100155.jpg]
- Alpha Sigma Tau sorority members (Beta Epsilon) from Shippensburg University (PA) and Alpha Sigma Tau sorority members (Alpha Chapter) from Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, work together on archives. [P1100153.jpg]
- Alpha Sigma Tau sorority sister (Beta Epsilon) from Shippensburg University (PA) works at data entry for archives. [P1100150.jpg]
- Alpha Sigma Tau sorority sister (Beta Epsilon) from Shippensburg University (PA) works at data entry for archives. [P1100149.jpg]
FAIRMONT STATE UNIVERSITY, WEST VIRGINIA
Founded as a private institution in 1865 Fairmont State was a Methodist institution that was dedicated to training teachers. In 1866 the school was transferred to the Regency of the West Virginia Normal School and in 1868 the state of West Virginia purchased the institution and it became a branch of Marshall College. After a succession of names, in 1931 the school became known as Fairmont State Teacher’s College and later as Fairmont State College. In 2004 the state of West Virginia legislature voted to change the name again to current appellation, Fairmont State University.
The long history of the institution left a trail of historical information and buildings and in 1994 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Pine Mountain is pleased to have an association with the Alpha Sigma Tau sorority of Fairmont State University and to welcome the school to its campus.
On this, their first visit to Pine Mountain, the girls assisted with an archival move and reorganization project. Others worked with the Maintenance Department on the school’s extensive grounds. While others helped to sort, cull and re-shelve an extensive library collection. All the work was an important contribution to the conservation and maintenance of the property of the School. The important re-housing the archive and cleaning and clearing of the many degraded boxes from long years of storage in West Wind, one of the many buildings at the school, was especially noteworthy.The following pictures show some of the activities of creating new boxes, boxing printing blocks, and re-labeling degraded file folders.
The following pictures show some of the activities of creating new boxes, boxing printing blocks, and re-labeling degraded file folders.
- Fairmont University. Alpha Sigma Tau service project in West Wind.
- Fairmont University. Alpha Sigma Tau service project in West Wind.
- West Wind Records storage before clean. Fairmont University. Alpha Sigma Tau service project in West Wind.
- Fairmont University. Alpha Sigma Tau service project in West Wind.
- West Wind. Fairmont University. Alpha Sigma Tau service project in West Wind.
- Fairmont University. Alpha Sigma Tau service project in West Wind.
- Archival papers project. Fairmont University. Alpha Sigma Tau service project in West Wind.
- Fairmont University. Alpha Sigma Tau service project in West Wind.
- Fairmont University. At Laurel House, Alpha Sigma Tau girls review the guest book of other Sisters.
- Fairmont University. Alpha Sigma Tau sisters with Sandy Miller , Board of Trustee member, as they prepare to return home.
- Fairmont University. Alpha Sigma Tau sisters with Helen Wykle, Board of Trustee member, as they prepare to return home.
Thank you!
SEE ALSO:
ALPHA SIGMA TAU AND PINE MOUNTAIN SETTLEMENT SCHOOL