Category Archives: Greek-letter Organization History

December 24 Through January 2 – A Busy Time in Fraternity and Sorority History

It’s hard for today’s collegians to contemplate spending December 24 through January 2 on campus. Most higher education institutions shut down for the holiday week. However, that week has been a significant one in the history of Greek-letter organizations. Delta … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Delta Phi, Alpha Omicron Pi, Chi Phi, Delta Gamma, Founders' Day, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Miami University, National Panhellenic Conference, NIC, North-American Interfraternity Conference, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta, Phi Iota Alpha, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Nu, Sorority History, Women's Fraternity History, Zeta Beta Tau | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on December 24 Through January 2 – A Busy Time in Fraternity and Sorority History

Happy Birthday Delta Gamma – Founded During a Christmas Holiday!

Delta Gamma was founded at the Oxford Female Institute, also known as the Lewis School, at Oxford, Mississippi. The school was established before the Civil War and eventually was absorbed by the University of Mississippi. Delta Gamma’s three founders, Eva … Continue reading

Posted in Delta Gamma, Founders' Day, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, National Panhellenic Conference, Notable Sorority Women, Phi Delta Theta, Sorority History | Tagged , | Comments Off on Happy Birthday Delta Gamma – Founded During a Christmas Holiday!

A Holiday First for the Coolidges and the United States

At 5 p.m. on December 24, 1923, President Calvin Coolidge (Phi Gamma Delta, Amherst College) began a White House tradition. He touched a button and the electric lights on a 48-foot balsam fir sparkled with electricity. First Lady Grace Goodhue … Continue reading

Posted in Amherst College, Calvin Coolidge, First Ladies, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Phi Gamma Delta, Pi Beta Phi, Presidents, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, University of Vermont | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A Holiday First for the Coolidges and the United States

Syracuse University and the Tragedy of Pan Am Flight 103 Over Lockerbie

December 21, 1988, four days before Christmas, was to have been filled with joyful reunions. It quickly turned horrible for the families and friends of the 259 people on board and 11 on the ground who perished when Pan Am … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Tau Omega, Brown University, Delta Tau Delta, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Kappa Gamma, National Panhellenic Conference, NIC, North-American Interfraternity Conference, Ohio Wesleyan University, Phi Delta Theta, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sorority History, SUNY - Oswego, Syracuse University, Zeta Psi | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Syracuse University and the Tragedy of Pan Am Flight 103 Over Lockerbie

An American Tragedy in Newtown Brings Thoughts of a First Lady

The events that took place on December 14, 2012, at the Sandy Hook School in Newtown, Connecticut, strike at the heart of us all. So many lives taken, so close to Christmas and none of it makes much sense. Among … Continue reading

Posted in Beta Theta Pi, Calvin Coolidge, First Ladies, Fran Favorite, GLO, Grace Coolidge, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Pi Beta Phi, Presidents, University of Vermont | Tagged , | Comments Off on An American Tragedy in Newtown Brings Thoughts of a First Lady

100 Years Ago – 12/12/1912 in Fraternity and Sorority History

Today is 12/12/2012. One hundred years ago, on 12/12/1912, a Thursday, the world was a different place. Taking a glimpse into what was happening in the Greek-letter organization world a century ago offers a wonderful insight. While life is vastly … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Omicron Pi, Amherst College, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Mu, Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History, The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi, University of Idaho, University of Illinois, University of Maine, University of Minnesota, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“We Should Live Together When We’re Old!” Kappa’s Boyd Hearthstone

By Kylie Towers Smith, Kappa Kappa Gamma’s Archivist/Museum Curator “We should live together when we’re old!” My sister and I said that when we were little. My school friends and I talked about it while we were growing up. And … Continue reading

Posted in GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Kappa Gamma, National Panhellenic Conference, Panhellenic House, Sorority History, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on “We Should Live Together When We’re Old!” Kappa’s Boyd Hearthstone

Happy Founders’ Day, Alpha Omicron Pi!

Alpha Omicron Pi was founded on January 2, 1897 at the home of Helen St. Clair (Mullan). She and three of her Barnard College friends, Stella George Stern (Perry), Jessie Wallace Hughan, and Elizabeth Heywood Wyman had pledged themselves to … Continue reading

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Phi Beta Kappa Society, Oldest Greek Letter Organization

The Phi Beta Kappa Society was founded on December 5, 1776 by five College of William and Mary students. The first meeting of the organization took place in the Old Raleigh Tavern’s Apollo Room. As the first Greek-letter collegiate society, it … Continue reading

Posted in Colleges and Universities, Dartmouth College, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Harvard University, Phi Beta Kappa, Yale University | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Phi Beta Kappa Society, Oldest Greek Letter Organization

Volunteering Or You Never Know Who’s Going to Write a Best Seller (Jen Lancaster!)

One of the best volunteer jobs in any fraternity or sorority is one where you have the opportunity to interact with collegians. The lessons that are learned on both sides, as a collegian and as an alumna/alumni, can be enlightening, … Continue reading

Posted in Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, National Panhellenic Conference, Notable Fraternity Women, Notable Sorority Women, Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Volunteering Or You Never Know Who’s Going to Write a Best Seller (Jen Lancaster!)