Category Archives: Greek-letter Organization History

Panhellenic “Refugees” Meet at Sea as World War I Begins

On September 2, 1914, 14 fraternity women met on board the S. S. San Guglielmo. Florence Eddy Hubbard, an alumna of the Pi Beta Phi chapter at Barnard College, chronicled the group’s travails as the women cut short their tours … Continue reading

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A Bishop’s Role in NPC History – Theta Phi Alpha, 8/30/1912

A few men have had roles in the founding of National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) women’s fraternities/sororities. Dr. Wellesley P. Coddington, George Banta, and Dr. Charles Richardson are some that quickly come to mind. Of that small fraternity of men involved in … Continue reading

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ΘΥ, ΒΣΟ, ΦΩΠ, the 1939-41 NPC Executive Committee – Whatever Happened to Them?

The 1937 National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) meeting took place at the Beekman Tower (Panhellenic), the New York City hotel built by NPC women, originally for NPC women.* The meeting was chaired by Harriet Williamson Tuft, Beta Phi Alpha. The next … Continue reading

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The West Baden Springs Hotel, the “Eighth Wonder of the World” and the Site of Several Fraternity Conventions

This past Saturday, August 24, a tweet from Phi Kappa Tau noted that “On this day in 1926, Phi Kappa Tau’s first convention at a resort hotel took place in West Baden, Ind.” In the 1920s, West Baden Springs was … Continue reading

Posted in Beta Theta Pi, Conventions, DePauw University, Fran Favorite, Fraternity meetings, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Sigma, Phi Gamma Delta | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The West Baden Springs Hotel, the “Eighth Wonder of the World” and the Site of Several Fraternity Conventions

Q. “Which Is the Best Fraternity? A. “And There You Are!”

The academic year is gearing up on campuses all across the country. For some, it means that fraternity and sorority recruitment time is near. Best wishes to the young men and women making decisions as to which organization they will … Continue reading

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Women’s Fraternities, Sororities, and Dr. Frank Smalley

“Why are some National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) groups women’s fraternities and some are sororities?” is a question I am often asked. It’s a tough one because the 26 NPC organizations are typically referred to as sororities in everyday conversation (i.e. … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Phi, Fran Favorite, Gamma Phi Beta, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, National Panhellenic Conference, Northwestern University, Syracuse University, The Crescent of Gamma Phi Beta, University of Michigan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Women’s Fraternities, Sororities, and Dr. Frank Smalley

“Baconian Biliteral Cipher, on the Estate of Colonel Fabyan,” National Security, and Elizebeth Smith Friedman

“Elizebeth Smith, ’15, and Wm. F. Friedman, Cornell, ’13. May 21, (1917). At home. Riverbank, Geneva, Ill.. where both are engaged on the Baconian Biliteral Cipher, on the estate of Colonel Fabyan,” is the notice of the marriage of a … Continue reading

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1839 – on the Eighth Day of the Eighth Month at Nine in the Evening – Happy 174th Birthday, Beta Theta Pi!

August 13, 1839, was Commencement Day at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Five days earlier, on August 8, at the first official meeting, eight young men established Beta Theta Pi, the first men’s fraternity founded west of the Allegheny Mountains. … Continue reading

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Sorority Members Rush To and Fro in the Summer of 1910

Has Fran finally lost it? Why is she using this picture? It looks like a hot mess all the way around. In 2013, taking a candid picture is not at all noteworthy. But back in the summer of 1910 when … Continue reading

Posted in Conventions, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, National Panhellenic Conference, University of Kansas, Women's Fraternities | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Sorority Members Rush To and Fro in the Summer of 1910

“The Best Man/Woman in the Chapter” With Thoughts of Thomas Arkle Clark

One of my all-time favorite magazines is Banta’s Greek Exchange. Sadly, it has not been published since 1973. For 60 years Banta’s Greek Exchange printed information from fraternity and sorority magazines along with feature articles and other items of interest to … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Phi, Alpha Phi Quarterly, Alpha Tau Omega, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, University of Illinois, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , | Comments Off on “The Best Man/Woman in the Chapter” With Thoughts of Thomas Arkle Clark