Category Archives: Sorority History

The First Fraternity House Built by Women for Women

Syracuse University has the distinction of being home to the first fraternity house owned by women.  There were no dormitories for women when Alpha Phi and Gamma Phi Beta were founded in 1872 and 1874, respectively.  In 1884, the Alpha … Continue reading

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Fraternity and Sorority Magazines – Preserving History, Fostering Enthusiasm and Promulgating Lifelong Loyalty

This week, I had the opportunity to read hard copies of recently published sorority magazines.* What fun it was to turn the pages and read about some of the 26 National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) organizations! Good works are being done. … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Gamma Delta Quarterly, Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Phi, Alpha Xi Delta, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Delta Zeta, Gamma Phi Beta, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Ida Shaw Martin, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Alpha Theta (magazine), Kappa Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, National Panhellenic Conference, Notable Sorority Women, Phi Mu, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Kappa, Sorority History, The Anchora of Delta Gamma, The Angelos of Kappa Delta, The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi, The Eleusis of Chi Omega, The Key of Kappa Kappa Gamma, The Lyre of Alpha Chi Omega, The Quill of Alpha Xi Delta, The Themis of Zeta Tau Alpha, The Trident of Delta Delta Delta, Zeta Tau Alpha | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Fraternity and Sorority Magazines – Preserving History, Fostering Enthusiasm and Promulgating Lifelong Loyalty

Happy Founders’ Day, My Dear Pi Beta Phi!

When Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois opened in September 1856, 26 of the 99 students were women. Ten years later, when the 1866-67 academic year began, the cost of the first term was $12 in tuition and $9 for each … Continue reading

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The Early History of the Women’s Fraternity System at the University of Kansas

By 1870, eight state universities accepted women; these institutions were the Universities of Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, and California (Newcomer, 1959).  Women’s fraternities provided the female students with a support system in an educational environment that was … Continue reading

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Happy Founders’ Day, Alpha Xi Delta (and a Connection to Carl Sandburg)

Alpha Xi Delta was founded at Lombard College in Galesburg, Illinois on April 17, 1893. Its founders are Cora Bollinger Block, Alice Bartlett Bruner, Bertha Cook Evans, Harriett Luella McCollum, Lucy W. Gilmer, Lewie Strong Taylor, Almira Lowry Cheney, Frances Elisabeth … Continue reading

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Fraternity Women Who Were Lawyers, 1867-1902 (When Women Could Not Vote!)

During the time frame of this study, 1867-1902, women had few legal rights.  Therefore, it is interesting to note that several of these early fraternity women became lawyers at a time when women were not yet allowed to vote.  In … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Phi, Delta Delta Delta, DePauw University, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, National Panhellenic Conference, Notable Fraternity Women, Notable Sorority Women, Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History, University of Minnesota, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Fraternity Women Who Were Lawyers, 1867-1902 (When Women Could Not Vote!)

Goucher College – Home of a Once Thriving Women’s Fraternity System

  The Women’s College of Baltimore, today known as Goucher College, was founded in 1885 and graduated its first class in 1892.  It was one of the few women’s colleges hosting chapters of national women’s fraternities.  There is evidence of … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Phi, Delta Delta Delta, Fran Favorite, Gamma Phi Beta, GLO, Goucher College, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Alpha Theta, Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Goucher College – Home of a Once Thriving Women’s Fraternity System

The ΧΩ Connection – Founders’ Day and a Greek Theater at the University of Arkansas

Happy Founders’ Day to Chi Omega!  With the help of a Fayetteville dentist, Kappa Sigma Dr. Charles Richardson, Chi Omega was founded by Ina Mae Boles, Jean Vincenheller, Jobelle Holcombe, and Alice Simonds on April 5, 1895 at the University of … Continue reading

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Happy Founders’ Day Sigma Delta Tau!

March 25, 1917 is the date that seven female Cornell University students founded Sigma Delta Tau. Their organization was originally called Sigma Delta Phi, but when they discovered the name belonged to another Greek-letter organization they changed the “Phi” to … Continue reading

Posted in Cornell University, Founders' Day, Fran Favorite, National Panhellenic Conference, Sigma Delta Tau, Sorority History, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Happy Founders’ Day Sigma Delta Tau!

Iota Alpha Pi, Founded in March 1903, Is the Only NPC Group to Disband

The National Panhellenic Conference began in 1902 with seven founding members. In its first ten years, additional groups joined quickly . At the 1951 meeting, the six Association of Education Sororities (AES) and five other groups received full membership. In … Continue reading

Posted in Association of Education Sororities, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Iota Alpha Pi, National Panhellenic Conference, Sorority History, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , | Comments Off on Iota Alpha Pi, Founded in March 1903, Is the Only NPC Group to Disband