The 1921 edition of The Sorority Handbook by Ida Shaw Martin contained this information about the two organizations who celebrating their founding on October 24. Delta Zeta founded in 1902 was not yet 20 years old and Alpha Epsilon Phi was about 12. Note that they both have full governing councils. The women serving their organizations were young career women and homemakers. These women dedicated themselves to nurturing and growing their o
Delta Zeta was admitted to membership in the National Panhellenic Conference in 1910. Alpha Epsilon Phi did not become a full member of NPC until 1951, although it had been given associate membership in 1947.
Alpha Epsilon Phi*
October 24, 1909
National Council
Dean, Lillian R. Hirsch, 115 Broadway, New York City
Exec. Sec., Lillian Unterberg, 11 West 86th St., New York City
Rec. Sec., Frances V. Erdofy, 854 West 180th St, New York City
Treasurer, Dorothy Grant, 35 Mt. Morris Park West, New York City
Historian, Mrs. Nathan H. Feitel, 830 Broadway, New Orleans, La.
Ritualist, Mrs Alice Borchard Green, 137 West 110th St. New York City
Field Secretary, Harriet Moses, 1626 Amsterdam Ave., New York City
Editor, Mrs. Ellis Slatoff, 580 St. Nicholas Ave., New York City
Chapter Roll – Adelphi, Cornell, Denver, Hunter, Illinois, Newcomb, New York State College for Teachers, New York University, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Syracuse
Alpha Epsilon Phi has 11 college chapters, and 5 alumnae associations. The total membership is 500, the active membership 200, the average initiation (yearly total) 75. The badge shows the three sorority letters, jeweled in pearls, and placed in sequence upon a narrow gold bar. The pledge pin is a triangle enameled in white with a narrow border of green. The coat-of-arms displays three pillars, supporting entablature that carries the three sororoity letters, and resting upon a broad base inscribed with the sorority name in Greek. At the base of the central pillar is the Book of All Ages carrying the motto, Multa Corda Una Causa. Above the book is a lamp of friendship. At the base of the outer pillar burns bowls of incense. The sorority has no national flag.
Colors – Green and White. Flower – Lily-of-the-Valley. Jewel – Pearl. Open Motto – Multa Corda Una Causa. Insignia – Three Pillars, Book of All Ages, Lamp of Friendship. Patron – None. Call – None.
Magazine – Alpha Epsilon Phi Quarterly – 1918
Convention – New York City – 1921.
*For Jewish Women
Delta Zeta
October 24, 1902
Grand Council
President, Rennie Sebring Smith, Y.W.C.A., Muncie, Ind.
Vice-President, Ruby Long, Cashmere, Wash.
Secretary, Louella Reeder, Baldwin, Kansas.
Treasurer, Mrs. Carl G. Malott, Box 411, San Benito, Tex.
Historian, Mrs. John M. Coleman, Loveland, Ohio
Big Sister, Mrs. Nettie W. Shugart, 231 N. 14th St., Lincoln, Neb.
Registrar, Henrietta Schlegel, 73 Harwood Ave., Mt. Washington, Pa.
Parliamentarian, Alys Sutton, 1640 Fowler St., Portland, Ore.
Editor, Arema O’Brien, 78 W. 4th Ave., Columbus, O.
Chapter Roll – Baker, California, Cincinnati, Cornell, Denver, DePauw, Eureka, Franklin, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas State College, Lombard, Louisiana, Miami, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio State, Oregon State College, Pittsburgh, Washington State, Washington State College, Wisconsin
Delta Zeta has 22 chapters and 13 alumnae associations. The total membership is 2,200, the active membership 450, the average initiation (yearly total) 200. The badge is a Roman lamp, flanked with Mercury wings and supported by the cap of an Ionic column. The sorority letters appear in black enamel on the bowl of the lamp, the official jeweling being a diamond in the flame of the lamp and four pearls at the base of the cap. The pledge pin is diamond-shaped and is inlaid with a gold lamp.
Colors – Old Rose and Nile Green. Flower – Killarney Rose. Jewel – Diamond. Open Motto – None. Insignia – Lamp, Bible, Scroll, Distaff, Bodkin.
Magazine – The Lamp – 1909
Convention – New York City, 1922
From Alpha Epsilon Phi’s website: Alpha Epsilon Phi Sorority was founded on October 24, 1909 by seven Jewish women at Barnard College in New York City. Their goal was to foster lifelong friendship and sisterhood, academics, social involvement and community service while providing a home away from home for their members. The dream that was born in a dorm room at Barnard College in 1909 continues to succeed, prosper and thrive on over 50 college and university campuses nationwide.
From Delta Zeta’s website: We’re nearly 270,000 women strong with 170 active collegiate chapters! Our Founders might not have imagined 117 years plus of sisterhood, or so many sisters. But they’d be delighted to know they have inspired a group of women, who have made a promise to live truly, and to continue doing so one generation after another.
Happy Founders’ Day, Delta Zeta and Alpha Epsilon Phi!
