Category Archives: Beta Theta Pi

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

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Knox College – the Early History of Its Women’s Fraternity System

The birthplace of the women’s fraternity system is only a few miles west of Galesburg. Pi Beta Phi was founded on April 28, 1867 in the southwest second floor bedroom of the home of “Major “ Jacob Holt at 402 … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Xi Delta, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Delta Delta, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Knox College, Lombard College, National Panhellenic Conference, Notable Sorority Women, P.E.O., Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History, The Trident of Delta Delta Delta, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Knox College – the Early History of Its Women’s Fraternity System

Happy Birthday AFA and a Belated Birthday Greeting to NIC!

The Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA) was founded on December 1, 1976. The momentous occasion took place in Williamsburg, Virginia,  during the 1976 Bicentennial gathering of the National Interfraternity Conference. AFA began with 35 members.  AFA offers professional growth and … Continue reading

Posted in Association of Fraternity Advisors, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Delta Tau Delta, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Men's Fraternities, National Panhellenic Conference, North-American Interfraternity Conference, Notable Sorority Women, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Chi, Sigma Nu, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sorority History | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Happy Birthday AFA and a Belated Birthday Greeting to NIC!

“My Dear Mrs. Sisson…Wouldn’t it be a good plan for you to look some of them up?”

“There are local ladies societies at Barnard (Alpha Omicron Pi), Wellesley (Alpha Kappa Gamma), U. of Miss (Sigma Tau), U of Ark (Chi Omega), Wesleyan (Phi Sigma), Dickerson (sic) (Phi Gamma Zeta), Sigma Kappa (Colby) – Wouldn’t it be a … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Omicron Pi, Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, Barnard College, Beta Theta Pi, Chi Omega, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Mary Love Collins, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Kappa | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on “My Dear Mrs. Sisson…Wouldn’t it be a good plan for you to look some of them up?”

DePauw’s 1870s Samurai Fraternity Men Who Were Betas and Dekes

In 1877, four young Japanese men arrived in Greencastle, Indiana. They became students at the alma mater of their teacher, an American missionary. They, too, like their mentor, became fraternity men. Two joined Delta Kappa Epsilon and the other two … Continue reading

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The Sisson’s Wednesday Evening Wedding in Galesburg

The story of their castle is on my blog, but here is the story I wrote of their Wednesday evening wedding from Pi Phi’s web-site. http://piphiblog.org/2012/06/18/a-greek-letter-royal-wedding/ If you enjoy reading this post, subscribe to updates, or like it on facebook … Continue reading

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“My Dear Sisson,” Wrote Wm. Raimond Baird on Jan. 1, 1898

William Raimond Baird was a patent lawyer and mineralogist, but his hobby was his fraternity and the fraternity world at-large. He spent 25 years as editor of Beta Theta Pi’s magazine and his manual American College Fraternities is considered a … Continue reading

Posted in Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, Beta Theta Pi, Fran Favorite, Knox College, Pi Beta Phi, Syracuse University, The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Francis and Grace Lass Sisson – Grand Presidents Who Lived in a Castle

Knox College graduates Grace Lass, a member of the Illinois Delta Chapter of Pi Beta Phi, and Francis Hinckley Sisson, a member of the Xi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi, were married in Galesburg, Illinois, on June 16, 1897. Grace … Continue reading

Posted in Beta Theta Pi, Fran Favorite, Knox College, Notable Fraternity Women, Notable Sorority Women, Pi Beta Phi | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Happy 175th Birthday Knox College and a Tidbit about Francis H. and Grace Lass Sisson

February 15, 2012, was the 175th anniversary of the founding of Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. Although it is the only remaining site of a Lincoln-Douglas debate, in the fraternity world it has another special distinction. Francis Hinckley and Grace … Continue reading

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