Two National Panhellenic Conference groups, Delta Zeta and Alpha Epsilon Phi, were founded on October 24. In 1902, Delta Zeta made its debut at Miami University in Ohio; Alpha Epsilon Phi was founded in 1909 at Barnard College in New York City.
Delta Zeta’s founders are Alfa Lloyd, Mary Collins, Anna Keen, Julia Bishop, Mabelle Minton, and Ann Simmons. I find it so very interesting that Delta Zeta’s history includes the heritage of several other NPC organizations, for it has absorbed or merged with several other former NPC groups. Between 1941 and 1962, the members of four other NPC groups became members of Delta Zeta. The organizations with which Delta Zeta has absorbed or merged include Beta Phi Alpha, Theta Upsilon, Phi Omega Pi, and Delta Sigma Epsilon. Prior to these groups becoming a part of Delta Zeta, many had themselves merged with other groups.
The first group to become a part of Delta Zeta was Beta Phi Alpha; it was founded as Bide-a-wee on May 8, 1909 at the University of California-Berkeley. A few months later, the name changed to Aldebaran, In 1919, it became Kappa Phi Alpha. It then changed its name to Beta Phi Alpha. In 1923, Beta Phi Alpha joined NPC. On June 22, 1941, Beta Phi Alpha was absorbed by Delta Zeta. At that point, 30 chapters had been installed and there were 3,000 members. Beta Phi Alpha’s “Convention Lights” is still sung at the close of Delta Zeta conventions.
Phi Omega Pi was founded at the University of Nebraska on March 5, 1910. In its early years, membership was limited to those belonging to the Order of the Eastern Star. In 1931, this restriction was eliminated. It was granted associate NPC membership in 1930 and full membership in 1933. On October 1 of that year, Sigma Phi Beta, founded at New York University on November 1, 1920 under the name of Sigma Sigma Omicron, was absorbed by Phi Omega Pi. On August 10, 1946, Delta Zeta absorbed Phi Omega Pi.
Delta Sigma Epsilon was founded on September 23, 1914 at Miami University. In the fall of 1941, Pi Delta Theta merged with Delta Sigma Epsilon. In 1956, Delta Sigma Epsilon was absorbed by Delta Zeta. At the time of the merger more than 13,000 women had been initiated as Delta Sigma Epsilons members in its 52 chapters.
Theta Upsilon was founded at the University of California-Berkeley in 1914. Its roots can be traced to 1909 when a group of women rented a house on Walnut Street that they called “Walnut Shell.” On January 1, 1914, they organized as the Mekatina (“Among the Hills”) Club. Theta Upsilon was granted associate NPC membership in 1923 and full membership in 1928. In September 1933, Lambda Omega, which was founded on May 5, 1923 at the University of California-Berkeley, became a part of Theta Upsilon. On May 6, 1962, Theta Upsilon became a part of Delta Zeta.
Alpha Epsilon Phi
Alpha Epsilon Phi was founded in Helen Phillips’ room. She had the inspiration for the group as a way to stay in closer contact with her friends. The other founders are Ida Beck, Rose Gerstein, Augustina “Tina” Hess, Lee Reiss, Stella Strauss and Rose Salmowitz.
The seven shared their Jewish heritage. A second chapter was quickly founded two months later at nearby Hunter College. The founding chapter at Barnard was closed when the college banned Greek-letter organizations in 1913.
Today, Alpha Epsilon Phi notes that the organization is a Jewish sorority, “but not a religious organization, with membership open to all college women, regardless of religion, who honor, respect and appreciate our Jewish identity and are comfortable in a culturally Jewish environment.”
Some of Alpha Epsilon Phi’s early philanthropic efforts include providing aid to the Jewish victims of World War I. The March 21, 1919 New York Times includes a headline “A Dance for Jewish War Relief.”
The dance took place on March 22, 1919 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. The patronesses were listed and they included Mrs. Henry Morganthau, Mrs. Michael Friedman, Mrs. Israel Unterberg, Mrs. Albert Stern, Mrs. Fred Stern, and Mrs. Irving Lehman.
During World War II, Alpha Epsilon Phi adopted another project to benefit the war effort. They raised $1,500 and donated a fully equipped ambulance and canteen unit. The Nu Chapter at the University of Pittsburgh held a bridge party at the Schenley Hotel on December 20, 1942. The two co-chairmen from the active chapter were Harriet Harris and Shirley Sheffler. Sarah Pitler served as the alumnae club representative. There were to be door prizes and a $25 war bond was raffled.
On April 13, 1942, an ambulance was turned over to U.S. Army at a ceremony held at the Hotel New Yorker in New York City. The ambulance had a silver plaque on it acknowledging it as a gift from Alpha Epsilon Phi.
