Category Archives: Greek-letter Organization History

E. Jean Nelson Penfield, KKG, and Carrie Chapman Catt, ΠΒΦ, the Monmouth Duo of Suffragists

Eliza Jean Nelson (Penfield), who was born and raised in Greencastle, Indiana, graduated from DePauw University in 1893. While a student, she became a member of the Iota chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She attended the 1891 Panhellenic meeting in … Continue reading

Posted in Carrie Chapman Catt, DePauw University, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Kappa Gamma, National Panhellenic Conference, Notable Sorority Women, Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History, The Key of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on E. Jean Nelson Penfield, KKG, and Carrie Chapman Catt, ΠΒΦ, the Monmouth Duo of Suffragists

A Kite, a Key, Some Arrows, and Two Alpha Phis, 1890 Panhellenic Spirit in D.C.

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Phi, Fran Favorite, George Washington University, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, National Panhellenic Conference, Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A Kite, a Key, Some Arrows, and Two Alpha Phis, 1890 Panhellenic Spirit in D.C.

“Unworthy of Womanly Dignity,” Recruitment Rules, University of Kansas, 1888

In 1870, only eight state universities were coeducational; the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, was one of the eight. Its women’s fraternity system dates to April 1, 1873, when the Kansas Alpha chapter of Pi Beta Phi** was chartered. … Continue reading

Posted in Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, National Panhellenic Conference, Pi Beta Phi, University of Kansas, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on “Unworthy of Womanly Dignity,” Recruitment Rules, University of Kansas, 1888

William Raimond Baird, BΘΠ, Opens Fraternity Congress, 1893 Chicago World’s Fair

The post previous to this one is about the Fraternity Congress at the Columbian Exposition (aka Chicago’s World’s Fair) in 1893. After it was posted, I came across the program of events. I was elated to find out that one … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Phi, Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, Beta Theta Pi, Conventions, Delta Gamma, Fran Favorite, Fraternity Magazines, Fraternity meetings, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Sorority History | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on William Raimond Baird, BΘΠ, Opens Fraternity Congress, 1893 Chicago World’s Fair

120 Years Ago Today, Fraternity Men and Women Gathered in Chicago at the World’s Fair

Chicago was the place to be in the summer of 1893. The World’s Columbian Exposition, also known as the Chicago World’s Fair, was taking place. July 19, 1893 also has the distinction of being the first time the men and … Continue reading

Posted in Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, Conventions, Delta Delta Delta, Fran Favorite, Fraternity meetings, Gamma Phi Beta, GLO, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Men's Fraternities, National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), National Panhellenic Conference, NIC, North-American Interfraternity Conference, NPHC, Phi Delta Theta, Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History, Women's Fraternities, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on 120 Years Ago Today, Fraternity Men and Women Gathered in Chicago at the World’s Fair

NPC Women Meet for Lunch at Marshall Field’s, Chicago, July 1912

On July 1, 1912, ten years after the first National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) meeting in May of 1902, and nine months after the 1911 annual meeting, eighteen women representing eight of the sixteen NPC organizations met for lunch. The Pan-Hellenic … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Phi, Beta Theta Pi, Chi Omega, Conventions, Delta Delta Delta, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, National Panhellenic Conference, Pi Beta Phi, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on NPC Women Meet for Lunch at Marshall Field’s, Chicago, July 1912

Bursting My Bubble – When a Kite Is Just a Kite

I feel a tad bit awful about my recent post refuting the current internet factoid on U.S. Presidents and fraternity membership. While the “all but two” statement is no longer true, the real statistic is nonetheless impressive. And for all … Continue reading

Posted in Conventions, Delta Gamma, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, University of Southern California | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Bursting My Bubble – When a Kite Is Just a Kite

A Centennial Convention for Delta Sigma Theta; D.C. is Awash in Crimson and Cream

This morning, Friday, July 12, 2013, at 6:45 a.m., Delta Sigma Thetas and their friends and families began gathering in front of the Lincoln Memorial for a 5K Centennial Walk and Health Fair. Sponsored by the Delta Research and Educational … Continue reading

Posted in Conventions, Delta Sigma Theta, Founders' Day, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Howard University, NPHC, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , | Comments Off on A Centennial Convention for Delta Sigma Theta; D.C. is Awash in Crimson and Cream

Phi Sigma Sigma Celebrates Its Centennial in NYC

From July 10-14, 2013, Phi Sigma Sigma members will gather at the 2013 convention and celebrate the organization’s Centennial. The convention will take place at the Crowne Plaza in Times Square. The festivities will include a trip to Hunter College, … Continue reading

Posted in Conventions, Fran Favorite, Fraternity meetings, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Hunter College, National Panhellenic Conference, Phi Sigma Sigma, Sorority History, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Phi Sigma Sigma Celebrates Its Centennial in NYC

Celebrating a Century with a Gamma Phi Beta Friend, Initiated in 1933 at the University of Kansas

This weekend, there was a gathering in a church hall for a local woman who was celebrating her hundredth birthday. I first met her when I came to town and joined the University Women’s Club. She was one of the … Continue reading

Posted in Fran Favorite, Gamma Phi Beta, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Pi Beta Phi, The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi, University of Kansas | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Celebrating a Century with a Gamma Phi Beta Friend, Initiated in 1933 at the University of Kansas