One of my favorite things to read are old issues of fraternity and sorority magazines. In the early 1900s, the National Panhellenic Conference organizations adopted a service project/philanthropy and members raised funds or did service for that cause. They also did war work during and after the World Wars. In the late 1940s, Christmas parties for handicapped, orphaned, or underprivledged children, hosted by a fraternity and a sorority became de rigeur on some campuses. However, there really wasn’t a concerted effort to do collaborative projects in the pre-World War II years.
When I found this mention of a December 1932 Depression-era project on the Oklahoma State University campus, I became intrigued.
December 25, which might been ‘just another day’ for some six hundred old folks and tiny tots of Stillwater, Oklahoma, was transformed into a real Christmas by the Women’s Panhellenic Council of Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College.
Under the direction of Oklahoma B of ΠΒΦ, four trucks and ten automobiles delivered hundreds of pounds of food to the needy families of Stillwater on Christmas eve. Ruth Fleming, vice-president of Oklahoma B, was chairman of the Christmas project. She had members of the six national women’s fraternities represented on the campus as assistants; there were members of KAΘ, XΩ, KΔ, ZTA, AΔΠ, and ΠΒΦ.
A week before vacation began all women’s and men’s fraternities began have bringing food to the office of the Dean of Women. Here were collected the canned tomatoes, sent by KAΘ and ΠΒΦ; the cabbages sent by XΩ, KΔ, and ZTA; and the oranges sent by AΔΠ. The men’s fraternities sent 500 pounds of sugar. The boys’ and girls’ dormitories were asked to assist in providing the food, and they responded by sending oranges, potatoes, and canned vegetables. Townspeople voluntarily donated nuts, butter, and cabbage.
In order to have funds to buy the other desirable foods, the Women’s City Panhellenic entertained with a benefit bridge in November. Mrs. Sam Myers, Oklahoma B alumna, was in charge of the bridge, which was held at the largest hall in town donated by the American Legion. The city of Stillwater furnished the lights and the gas company donated the gas. The prizes were furnished by the stores, each contributing one prize. Good prizes such as turkeys, baked hams, linen, hose, vanities, $2.50 worth of cleaning, $2 worth of beauty parlor work, and $2 worth of tickets to the picture show were among the gifts. They made $60 with which Mrs. Myers bought Christmas candy, beef roasts, two loaves of bread, and a peck of apples for every family.
The list of needy families was secured from the United Charities, who usually supply these baskets of food; but this year they were glad to have the money to use as a shoe fund. Besides this list, a number of hungry college boys who were ‘batching’ in attics were helped.
About fifteen girls volunteered to sack and sort the food during the vacation. Then Saturday at one o’clock assisted by Boy Scouts, they loaded the cars and trucks. With three or four girls on each truck and two in each car the food was distributed.
l-t-r: Velma Bishop, Chi Omega; Jean Bullen, Kappa Alpha Theta; Kathryn Grover, Chi Omega; Bernadine Brock, Chi Omega; Thena Goble, Phi Omega Pi; Corabell Corbin, Pi Beta Phi; Mary katherine Thatcher, Kappa Alpha Theta; Bernice Wilcox, Kappa Alpha Theta; Mary Mullendore, Pi Beta Phi; Ruth Fleming, Pi Beta Phi; Bee Pitts, Kappa Alpha Theta; Margaret Thatcher (but not that Margaret Thatcher!), Kappa Alpha Theta; Myrna Wilcox, Kappa Alpha Theta; Geraldine Ray, Chi Omega
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