Notre Dame of Maryland University Eta Sigma Phi records

Eta Sigma Phi (ESP) is an honor society for college and university students of classical languages, literature, culture, and history. Its origins date to 1914, when students at the University of Chicago formed an undergraduate classics club called Phi Sigma. In 1924 this club united with a similar organization at Northwestern University, becoming a national honor society, and changing its name to ESP. Notre Dame established the Beta Kappa chapter of ESP on May 7, 1949; it was the first chapter in Maryland and the 49th overall. Events in the first year included a trip to the Walters Art Gallery (now Museum) and attendance at a Catholic University production of “Oedipus.”

Over the years Notre Dame’s ESP chapter was very active. The programs they sponsored on campus included a number of Latin Days in the 1960s-1980s, Classics Weekends in 1976 and 1979, and a Classics Day in 1970. Other selected programs included “A Classical Sampler” on March 18, 1987, with presentations on the culture of the ancient world by Notre Dame faculty members Jo Trueschler, Ruth Watkins, and Sr. Thérèse Marie Dougherty; “The Classics World from the Air,” presented by Rev. Raymond V. Schoder, S.J.; and a 1988 musical satire called “O My Goddess!” In addition, Notre Dame’s chapter hosted the 1963 national ESP convention.

Archives records show members were inducted as recently as 2009, and the ESP website (accessed March 11, 2019) lists it as an active chapter, but it is not listed on the Notre Dame website as a current honor society on campus.