In the summer of 1890, a group of women who belonged to Pi Beta Phi’s two-year-old chapter at George Washington University spent the summer in D.C. “It has been our good fortune this summer to meet with members of other women’s fraternities, and these introductions have been the means of broadening our ideas of fraternity friendships. Pi Beta Phi and Alpha Phi have clasped hands through the Misses Allen and Caraway, the former is editor-in-chief of the Alpha Phi Quarterly, and is peculiarly fitted for the position by her superior intelligence and kind, womanly tact. Both young ladies are fine types of the fraternity woman.” Miss Allen was Cora Allen (McElroy), an initiate of Alpha Phi’s Beta chapter at Northwestern. She later served as Alpha Phi’s Grand President, National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) Delegate, and NPC Chairman. Miss Caraway was likely Blanche Caraway who served as Alpha Phi’s Treasurer from 1891-92. Caraway, along with Allen, founded Alpha Phi’s Zeta chapter at Baltimore’s Goucher College in 1891.
A Pi Beta Phi recounted an adventure the chapter enjoyed, “In the latter part of July, at the time of full moon, a pan-hellenic excursion to Cleveland Heights, ‘Oak View,’ was given by Columbia Alpha. Besides our own chapter, and our sister, Miss Grace Grosvenor, from Ohio Alpha (Ohio University), there were with us the Alpha Phis, Misses Allen and Caraway, and Miss Noble, an ex-Grand Secretary of Kappa Kappa Gamma, who proved to be a brilliant acquisition. The evening passed all too quickly, though not without the happy suggestion that we meet again this winter, perhaps at joint meetings, or at a pan-hellenic banquet.” Miss Noble was Margaret Noble (Lee); she served as Kappa’s Grand Secretary from 1881-82. Grace Grosvenor (Shepard) served as Pi Beta Phi’s Grand Vice President and she installed several chapters of the fraternity, including my chapter at Syracuse in 1896.
The correspondent added, “More recently we have met Miss Pitman, of Kappa Alpha Theta, which adds another interesting member to our circle of pan-hellenic sisters.” Miss Pitman was likely Josephine Pittman (Scribner). She presided at Theta’s 1889 Grand Convention. She later became a published author.
The chapter report closed with a sentiment that is as true today as it was 123 years ago, “We expect through meeting these representatives of the Greek world to cultivate a friendship for other fraternities without losing our own individuality that will result in a common good. It is inconsistent with fraternity principles to indulge in petty jealousies, and we are hoping much to keep in mind the fact that the common good is the highest good. We have learned that like begets like, consequently of whatever material a chapter is formed, just such material will it choose or win. A fraternity or chapter loyal to its noblest principles need never be afraid of holding its own.”
Emma Harper Turner, Pi Beta Phi Grand President. She started her fraternity life as a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma chapter at Franklin College (there is a post about her on this site.) She was also a charter member of the D.C. Alpha chapter of Pi Beta Phi when it was chartered in 1888. She may have participated in the trip to Oak View mentioned in this post.
When this account in an old Arrow caught my eye, I didn’t realize that it was going to have such a star-studded cast of Panhellenic visitors. The first attempt at a Panhellenic meeting took place the following year, in 1891, in Boston. NPC was not founded until 1902. These Washington women were ahead of their time!
(c) Fran Becque, www.fraternityhistory.com, 2013. All Rights Reserved.
