[1][2] One modern writer notes, "Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, was, in essence, the Bible of the Greek letter system.

"[1] While seeking a Greek organization as a merger partner for his small national fraternity of Alpha Sigma Chi (which later joined Beta Theta Pi) at Stevens Institute of Technology,[3] William Raimond Baird conducted extensive research on fraternal organizations.

[5][4] Baird's publication coincided with a period of immense growth for fraternities in the United States.

[1][2] Baird's Manual covered national and international collegiate social, professional, and honor fraternities, including active and defunct organizations.

[5] A typical entry included an overview of a society's history, traditions, symbols, chapters their founding dates, and membership information.

[1] However, there was such a boom in the growth of Greek organizations, both local and national, that Baird struggled to update the entries and add new content for each edition.

When Baird's Manual ceased publication in 1991, Carrol Lurding of Delta Upsilon created a new resource, Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities.

[2][21][23] This free resource is inspired by Baird's Manual but does not duplicate the content found in the original serial.