National Collegiate Players

Pi Epsilon Delta was established at University of Wisconsin on June 8, 1919, by students who were interested in theater. Its first president was Ray E. Holcolm. Its activities included supporting dramatic performances, playwriting, and the study of drama and encouraging leadership in these fields. In June 1922, Pi Epsilon Delta merged with Associated University Players to form National Collegiate Players. 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. ==Symbols==

The Pi Epsilon Delta membership emblem was a key that included the comedy and drama masks of ancient Greek theater and the Greek letters ''''''. Founding member Frances Allen Tucker designed the key. Its motto was 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. ==Membership==

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. 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. ==Chapters==

Following is a list of the chapters of the National Collegiate Players, with inactive institutions indicated in italics. == Notable members ==

Collegiate • Mary Wickes (Washington University), actress • Anne Simley, academic and founder of the theater department at Hamline University • 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 Honorary • 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 == See also ==