October 15 is Founders’ Day for both Alpha Chi Omega and Zeta Tau Alpha. In 1885, Alpha Chi Omega was founded at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. Thirteen years later, in 1898, Zeta Tau Alpha was founded at the State Female Normal School (now Longwood University) in Farmville, Virginia.
Alpha Chi Omega’s seven founders, Anna Allen, Olive Burnett, Bertha Deniston, Amy DuBois, Nellie Gamble, Bessie Grooms and Estelle Leonard, were students in the DePauw School of Music. With the guidance and support of James Hamilton Howe, Dean of the School of Music, they created an organization that at its beginning insisted its members possess some musical culture. The first appearance of Alpha Chi Omega was in Meharry Hall of East College. The seven women wore scarlet and olive ribbon streamers attached to their dresses to display the organization’s colors.
Zeta Tau Alpha‘s founders are Alice Maud Jones Horner, Frances Yancey Smith, Alice Bland Coleman, Ethel Coleman Van Name, Ruby Bland Leigh Orgain, Mary Campbell Jones Batte, Helen May Crafford, Della Lewis Hundley, and Alice Grey Welsh.
For Founders’ Day, let’s take a look at a campus where Alpha Chi and Zeta installed chapters. Both organizations entered Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas, within five years of each other. The Omicron Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega was installed in 1907 and the Sigma Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha followed in 1912.
When the Nu Alpha local organization became the Omicron Chapter of Alpha Chi, Lemuel Herbert Murlin was President of Baker University. In the report of the chapter’s founding, it was reported that “Mrs. Murlin is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, and has shown a kindly interest in the installation of Omicron chapter.”*
Charter members of the Omicron Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega
The Delta Delta Delta chapter was chartered in 1895. The National Panhellenic Conference was established in 1902. When Alpha Chi joined Tri delta on campus, the two formed the campus Panhellenic Council. These are the Panhellenic rules as presented in a 1908 issue of The Lyre of Alpha Chi Omega.
Written invitations shall be sent out by each fraternity on Tuesday, 6:00 p. m., before Saturday, pledge day. Answers to invitation shall be expected not before Saturday.
Verbal invitations for Saturday entertainment shall be given on Wednesday morning before pledge day.
Fraternity may be discussed with rushee on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the following schedule:
Wednesday, 3:oo—6:oo p. m.—Alpha Chi Omega.
Wednesday, 7:oo—10:oo p. m.—Delta Delta Delta.
Thursday, 3 :oo—6:oo p. m.—Delta Delta Delta.
Thursday, 7 :oo—10:oo p. m.—Alpha Chi Omega..
The Delta fraternity shall entertain rushees from 1:oo to 3:30 p. m. on Saturday before December 15.
The Alpha Chi Omega fraternity shall entertain rushees from 3:30 to 7:oo p. m. on Saturday before December 15. No boys may be present at these hours of discussion.
Friday shall be Silent Day. No intercourse with rushee Friday or Saturday until hours of entertainment.
Each rushee may attend one chafing dish party aside from all night spread.
No invitations whatever except recognition of calls.
No campus rule.
Fraternity shall not make suggestions concerning their rushing to boys.
No suggestion to rushee that she might receive invitation to join fraternity.
In February 1916, the following report appeared in The Themis of Zeta Tau Alpha:
You girls may all be glad that you are not living in Kansas at the present time because we are most of us either taking, having, or recovering from the la grippe (influenza). Are any of you having the same experience? Among a few other disagreeable things, although you may not all agree, we have had some very cold weather and the college fuel was so scarce that several classes had to be dismissed. So many of our alumnae have been to visit us this fall; I think they must have come partly through curiosity to see our new house and our new girls. Any way we enjoyed them (and their good advice) very much.
We had a very nice reception for our patronesses before Christmas; to use the expression of one of the girls, “It was formal enough that we had to wear our mitts and stand in a receiving line.” We invited a hundred ladies of the town and representatives from each of the other two sororities, which are Delta Delta Delta and Alpha Chi Omega.
One of our girls, Cornelia Grant, entered the Inter-collegiate Prohibition Contest, and although she did not win in the contest, her oration was very well given. Then, two of our girls took part in a play given by the Dramatic Class and one of them, Besse Barricklow will graduate from that department in the spring. Our semester examinations will be given in two weeks and after that we may initiate our pledges if their grades are good enough. Owing to the busy time of year and so much sickness among the girls our letter must be short but I will try and have the chapter letter more interesting the next time.
A song written for the installation of the Sigma Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha.
The Alpha Chis mentioned the Zetas in their chapter report which appeared in the November 1912 Lyre:
Omicron’s Alumnae Breakfast last spring was a great success. Alpha Chi Omega songs and toasts added to the pleasure of the occasion…After the toasts were given, the girls of the class of 1915 presented a beautiful silver loving cup on which is inscribed ‘Awarded Annually to the Sisters of Highest Scholarship in Omicron Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega.’ On the opposite side the name of the girl who has the highest scholarship for each year will be engraved. We are delighted with our handsome gift.
At the close of the school year Mary Bovard and Bess Scott Linscott, both of Kansas City, Mo., were initiated into Alpha Chi Omega. The opening of college this fall found fourteen girls back. We have had some very enjoyable rushing parties, including a cafeteria supper, a one o’clock luncheon, a chafing-dish party followed by a slumber party, a Bacon Bat out at the city park, and a six o’clock dinner…We are glad to have with us Mrs. Wilson of Kansas City, Mo., as our chaperon this year.
Zeta Alpha Chapter of Phi Mu was installed June 19, at Baker University. A Panhellenic reception was held at the Zeta Tau Alpha House in honor of the new chapter.
Omicron girls are expecting to hear Fannie Bloomfield Zeisler** when she appears in concert at Lawrence, Kan., this fall. Delta Tau Delta Fraternity held its annual chicken fry October 11. A number of Omicron girls attended.
Omicron purchased a lot in a beautiful location near the campus. It is the intention of the chapter to build a fine chapter house within a few years. Plans are now under way by which the financial requirements may be met.
*Dr. Murlin, a Phi Kappa Psi, was President of Boston University when Grace Goodhue Coolidge was awarded an honorary degree. See http://wp.me/p20I1i-ck.
** Bloomfield Zeisler was an Honorary Member of Alpha Chi Omega. See http://wp.me/p20I1i-19y.
(c) 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/
