January 3 is the birthday of Grace Goodhue Coolidge. Gracious and humble, she was a dedicated member of Pi Beta Phi, having been a charter member of the chapter at the University of Vermont. She also served as Alpha Province Vice President. One of my favorite letters written during her years as First Lady is a handwritten one to Pi Beta Phi’s Grand President, Amy Burnham Onken, in response to an invitation to attend the 1927 convention at the Breezy Point Lodge, in Pequot, Minnesota.
On April 22, 1927 she wrote on White House stationery, “I should be happy indeed, were I able to write and tell you that I would see you all at the Convention at Breezy Point in June. Unfortunately it is most difficult if not absolutely impossible for me to step aside from the beaten path and I must therefore content myself with wishing for Pi Beta Phi the most successful Convention in its glorious history. From one of its loyal members.”
Grace Goodhue Coolidge (center) with Pi Phi friends at the 1915 convention in Berkeley, California.
As a collegian, Grace Coolidge was her chapter’s delegate to the 1901 Syracuse convention. There she met Anna Robinson, the representative from the chapter at Boston University. A lifelong friendship was formed. She was a founder and the first president of the Western Massachusetts Alumnae Club and she attended the 1915 Berkeley convention as a fraternity officer. From that journey on the train from Massachusetts to Berkeley, she and a group of Boston University and University of Vermont Pi Phis formed a Round Robin letter that lasted until the end of their lives.
In 1924, Pi Beta Phi presented to the nation the First Lady’s official portrait painted by Howard Chandler Christy. It was a glorious day in April when more than 1,100 Pi Phis visited the White House to be a part of the unveiling. Her Round Robin friends, including the Fraternity’s Grand Vice President, Anna Robinson Nickerson, the Boston University Pi Phi she had known since 1901, presented her with a diamond arrow badge.
An Arrow correspondent described the events:
The guests assembled in the historic East Room, forming a semi-circle about the panel on the west wall, where hung the curtains, in wine red velvet, with cords of silver blue, which covered the portrait. The presentation party was assembled in the Green Room. Promptly at four-thirty a section of the Marine Band began to play, announcing the opening the opening of the simple ceremony. The presentation group, led by Miss Onken and Mrs. Nickerson, came first from the Green Room, taking their places on the inner side of the circle, facing the portrait. On either side of the portrait stood the two active girls who were to draw the curtains.
Through the double doorway appeared the Army, Naval, and Marine Aides to the president. With the Senior Aides as escort, came Grace Coolidge, First Lady of the Land. She wore a soft grey georgette crepe afternoon dress trimmed with crystal, and, as jewels, a diamond eagle on her shoulder, a chain with a crystal pendant, a gold bracelet, her wedding ring, and the diamond studded arrow, which had been presented the day before by a group of personal friends in Pi Beta Phi. Wonderfully slim and straight, with arms at her side, she stood very still through the entire ceremony, except for a constant play of understanding appreciation, which lighted her expressive face.”
The representatives of Vermont Beta and Michigan Beta drew the silver blue cords, the heavy wine-red curtains parted, and the portrait was revealed. Then, as Mrs. Nickerson put it, “to express a little of what was in their hearts,” the Anthem was sung, with Mrs. Coolidge joining in. After the portrait was presented, the group moved to the Blue Room. A single line was formed and the guests were presented by name to the First Lady. To each she gave a smile, an individual word of greeting, and a warm handshake.
The lower floors of the White House were open, so that the attendees had an opportunity to see the staterooms. At the conclusion of the reception, the group headed to the gardens, where a panoramic photo was taken. As the First Lady left the grounds after the picture, she spoke to the nearby Pi Phis, “This is the loveliest thing I have seen here. I should like to keep you here always, to make beautiful the White House lawn.”
A portion of the picture taken on the White House lawn when the Pi Phis presented the official portrait of the First Lady. The only man in the picture is the artist, Howard Chandler Christy. Two of the Founders, who by then were in their 70s, attended as well as Carrie Chapman Catt who was the keynote speaker at the event. Unfortunately she is in the front row to the right of the artist and is not visible in this portion of the photo. Also note that the First Lady is the only female without a hat since she was the one being visited and not a visitor.
The day the Pi Phis visited a Vermont Beta sister in the White House remained one of the highlights of the First Lady’s life. Three month later the Coolidge’s world would be shattered. Their youngest son, Calvin Junior, died on July 7, 1924, from blood poisoning stemming from a blister that formed on his foot following a tennis game he played without socks.
© Fran Becque, www.fraternityhistory.com, 2016. All Rights Reserved. If you enjoyed this post, please sign up for updates. Also follow me on twitter @GLOHistory and Pinterest www.pinterest.com/glohistory/
