The 17th National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) meeting took place from October 26-29, 1921; it was chaired by Ethel Hayward Weston, Sigma Kappa. She was the first NPC delegate to serve six years on the Executive Council. The meeting took place at the Hotel Claypool in Indianapolis at the corner of Illinois and Washington Streets. The hotel was torn down in 1969 and a retail mall, Claypool Court, replaced it.
The Hotel Claypool
A report written by Kappa Delta was circulated to the editors of the NPC magazines. Part of the report follows:
Hurried, worried looking women rushed through the mezzanine at nine in the morning and again at noon. In the hours between many voices were evident in Parlor ‘B’ and had one ‘listened in’ he would have heard many interesting discussions. . . . The first work of the Congress is always the hearing of individual fraternity reports and reports from the executive and standing committees of the Congress. Many of the fraternities have been devoting their energies these last two years to the development of their internal organizations. More central offices have been established to facilitate the handling of routine business and uniform systems of various kinds adopted for chapter routine business.
Extension has been general, sixty-seven chapters having been installed by the eighteen fraternities and forty-three alumnae groups having formed associations or chapters.
The effect of the work undertaken is shown in the continuing continuing of philanthropic work by the fraternities in the adoption of national service. Some war work in foreign countries is being continued: in one instance an Armenian girl is being educated. A vacation home and a summer camp for children have been established, a school for isolated children on the Maine coast is in operation; active support of the National Child’s Welfare Association has been carried on; a child welfare truck is being sent through one state, and work with the Crippled Children’s Hospital in Richmond is successful.
Scholarship loan funds are general and are becoming more and more extensive, some operating even outside their own membership. Building loan funds are also increasing in number as the fraternities find it increasingly necessary to assist their chapters in establishing suitable homes. Endowments are also becoming more common as the necessity for sinking funds to meet future demands is realized.
Vocations, careers if you will, is something no longer discussed at NPC meetings. After all, sorority women have been to outer space. In the 1920s, it was a hot topic and it was out of this sort of discussion that the Panhellenic House in New York City was born.
Round Table on Vocations, was written by Sigma Kappa and it accompanied other reports about the meeting. Mary C. Love Collins, Chi Omega’s National President and NPC Delegate, led the round table discussion on Vocations:
Dr. Collins has a masterly mind and a keen sense of humor, which happy combinations made for a delightful and most helpful discussion.
The choice of vocation takes in the inherent gifts of people, and also the social conditions and environment. Economic Independence for women would mean happier marriages, for then we would have marriages of choice and not of necessity.
The relation between economic burdens and standards of living should be understood. The world war has made economical independence for women more assured. Along with woman’s economical independence goes increased consumption of goods.
In woman’s choice of a vocation imitation will play its part. It used to be teach or marry, but now there is more liberty in choice of a profession. There are not enough women in medicine, in law, or in architecture to help in imitation. We should urge advanced professions for women. ‘All women are lifted up by heights attained by one woman.’
…. Mrs. Collins briefly touched on the new field for women in politics. She believe that women should enter this field, that is, capable women who have leisure to do so, and who have had some business experience. Mrs. Collins herself has been asked to run for practically every office in her own state (Kentucky) except that of governor.
In the discussion it was brought out that so few women are going into the teaching profession these days, that something should be done to encourage them to consider teaching. It would seem that an unjust stigma has fallen upon this noblest of professions which we should all strive to eradicate. Higher salaries would play an important part, here, also.
(c) Fran Becque, www.fraternityhistory.com, 2013. All Rights Reserved.
