On November 4, 1899, eight young women, Mable Chase, Ruth Dutcher, May Gephart, Harriet Marx, Eva O’Keefe, Adriance Rice, Helene Rice, and Mayene Tracy, formed a sorority at the Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University) in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Alpha Sigma Tau was the name they chose. The organization became a national one in October 1925.
Carrie Washburne Staehle was born on April 11, 19oo, about six months after the sorority was founded. She became a member of the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Sigma Tau on January 12, 1924. And while she was not a founder of her beloved sorority, she was indeed a builder and played an integral role in the growth of Alpha Sigma Tau.
In 1926, Alpha Sigma Tau joined the Association of Education Sororities (AES). She served as national president of the sorority from 1934 through 1949. Alpha Sigma Tau became a full member of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) when the merger of AES and NPC was formalized in 1951. Staehle served as Alpha Sigma Tau’s NPC Delegate for 20 years from 1947, when AST became an associate member of NPC until 1967. From 1952 until 1960 she was National Secretary and from 1960 until 1976, she was Director of Publications. She was named President Emerita in 1970.
April 11 of each year is known as Carrie Washburne Staehle Day. Of her service, Alpha Sigma Tau said:
Renowned Past National President Carrie Washburne Staehle, Alpha, was a natural change agent – and innovated and managed change at a critical time in Alpha Sigma Tau’s history. As a leader, she inspired her Sisters to grow, develop, perform, and (perhaps most importantly) embrace change to help our Sorority achieve the “loveliness of its ideals.”
Carrie Washbourne Staehle died on June 17, 2001, at the age of 101, according to an obituary published in the Alameda Times. As a member of the Alpha chapter, she lived the history of the organization and was alive at its centennial. What a magnificent role she played in the sorority she loved!
