Category Archives: Sorority History

Happy Birthday Amy Burnham Onken, NPC Chairman 1945-47!

Amy Burnham Onken, an alumna of Pi Beta Phi’s chapter at Northwestern University, attended her first National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) meeting in 1917. She served on Pi Phi’s Grand Council and was a visitor at the NPC meeting. Who could have … Continue reading

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Emmy Awards and the Sorority Women Who Have Won One or More

Here is a list of past winners who are sorority women, as best as I could determine. Additions, corrections, etc. are welcomed and appreciated as I’d like to make this a complete list. Please note that I’ve included regional Emmy … Continue reading

Posted in GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), National Panhellenic Conference, Notable Sorority Women, NPHC, Sorority History, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , | Comments Off on Emmy Awards and the Sorority Women Who Have Won One or More

Happy Birthday Sarah Ida Shaw Martin!

Sarah Ida Shaw Martin holds a unique place in the women’s fraternity world. Not only was she a founder of Delta Delta Delta, but she was also an influential voice in the history of several other women’s fraternities/sororities, most notably … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Sigma Alpha, Boston University, Delta Delta Delta, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Ida Shaw Martin, National Panhellenic Conference, Notable Sorority Women, Sorority History, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Happy Birthday Sarah Ida Shaw Martin!

Sorority Hankies – “As the Late Queen Said: ‘We Are Not Amused!'”

While doing research for my dissertation  I came across this newspaper ad; it was reprinted in a 1930s Key of Kappa Kappa Gamma. I made a copy and put it in a file. I had no idea that 12 years later … Continue reading

Posted in Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, National Panhellenic Conference, Phi Gamma Delta, Sorority History, The Key of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Sorority Hankies – “As the Late Queen Said: ‘We Are Not Amused!'”

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

Posted in Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, National Panhellenic Conference, Sorority History, Theta Phi Alpha, University of Illinois, University of Michigan | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on A Bishop’s Role in NPC History – Theta Phi Alpha, 8/30/1912

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.

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

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