Category Archives: Pi Beta Phi

The Sleep Deprivation Study Known as Convention

I had hoped to have a real post with some historical significance today. Not a chance! This is because I have been participating in a sleep deprivation study otherwise known as the 69th Biennial Pi Beta Phi Convention. We had … Continue reading

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All Aboard!! Special Trains to Conventions – the Fun Before the Fun!

The collegians and alumni/ae who are headed to conventions this summer will likely drive or fly to their destinations. Imagine what it must have been like when rail travel was the way people got to where they were going! “Specials,” … Continue reading

Posted in Conventions, Fran Favorite, Fraternity meetings, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, National Panhellenic Conference, Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Sorority Convention Season Begins

Pi Beta Phi’s first convention took place in Oquawka, Illinois* at the home of Fannie Thomson in August of 1868. The organization was founded on April 28,  1867 at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. The convention was a three-day affair, … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Xi Delta, Conventions, Fran Favorite, Fraternity meetings, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Monmouth College, National Panhellenic Conference, Phi Sigma Sigma, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Sigma Sigma | Tagged , | Comments Off on The Sorority Convention Season Begins

“He Who Enters Selfishly Here – Endangers” Dean Maria Leonard on Fraternity Life, 1938

“He who enters selfishly here – endangers” is the quote from University of Illinois Dean of Women Maria Leonard which appears on a small card titled “A Code.” It was found in a 1938 scrapbook put together by a young … Continue reading

Posted in Butler University, Conventions, Fran Favorite, Fraternity meetings, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History, Student Life and Culture Archival Program, University of Illinois, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on “He Who Enters Selfishly Here – Endangers” Dean Maria Leonard on Fraternity Life, 1938

The Tony Awards and the Sorority Women Who Have Won One

Sorority women who have won Tony Awards include: Agnes DeMille, Kappa Alpha Theta, 1947 Choreographer, Brigadoon, and 1993 special Tony Award for OKLAHOMA! Patricia Neal, Pi Beta Phi, 1947 Actress, Supporting or Featured (Dramatic), Another Part of the Forrest Sada Thompson, … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Gamma, Delta Sigma Theta, Fran Favorite, Gamma Phi Beta, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Notable Fraternity Women, Pi Beta Phi, Zeta Tau Alpha | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

On Memorial Day – WAVES, Smith College, Grace Coolidge, and a ΠΦ Connection

Seventy years ago, America was in the midst of World War II. Women had limited opportunities to be of service in the war effort. Some women became WAVES. Established by Public Law 689 on July 30, 1942, the official name … Continue reading

Posted in First Ladies, Fran Favorite, GLO, Grace Coolidge, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Pi Beta Phi, Smith College, The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on On Memorial Day – WAVES, Smith College, Grace Coolidge, and a ΠΦ Connection

5/25/1928 – The Rebirth of the Monmouth Duo Begins

Monmouth College, the birthplace of the women’s fraternity movement, is in Monmouth, Illinois, a small town about 15 miles from the Mississippi River in Warren County. The two organizations founded there – Pi Beta Phi in 1867 and Kappa Kappa … Continue reading

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Happy 111th Birthday, NPC!!

The National Panhellenic Conference, the umbrella organization of 26 women’s fraternities and sororities celebrates its 111th birthday this year. Here is the postcard Margaret Mason Whitney sent to the women who were scheduled to attend the first meeting on May … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Phi, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Founders' Day, Fran Favorite, Gamma Phi Beta, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, National Panhellenic Conference, Notable Sorority Women, Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , | Comments Off on Happy 111th Birthday, NPC!!

Sisters Helping Sisters When Times Get Tough

In 2012, the 26 National Panhellenic Conference member groups (and/or their foundations) provided almost $3 million dollars in academic scholarships to their members to pursue undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies. In addition, most of the groups fund emergency grants to members. … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Phi, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Sigma Tau, Alpha Xi Delta, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Delta Phi Epsilon, Delta Zeta, Fran Favorite, Gamma Phi Beta, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, National Panhellenic Conference, Phi Mu, Phi Sigma Sigma, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Delta Tau, Sigma Kappa, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Sorority History, Theta Phi Alpha, Women's Fraternities, Women's Fraternity History, Zeta Tau Alpha | Tagged , | Comments Off on Sisters Helping Sisters When Times Get Tough

A Vermont Graduation Brings Thoughts of Grace and Calvin Coolidge

Being in Rutland, Vermont, mere miles away from the Coolidge Homestead in Plymouth Notch, brings thoughts of the President and First Lady who were native Vermonters. Calvin Coolidge, a Phi Gamma Delta, and Grace Goodhue Coolidge, a Pi Beta Phi, … Continue reading

Posted in Calvin Coolidge, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Phi Gamma Delta, Pi Beta Phi, Presidents | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on A Vermont Graduation Brings Thoughts of Grace and Calvin Coolidge