Tag Archives: University of Illinois

Founded on April 17 in “I” States – Alpha Xi Delta, Beta Sigma Psi, and Gamma Phi Omega

Three GLOs celebrate Founders’ Day today. All were founded in “I’ states (Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, or Idaho). Two of the organizations Alpha Xi Delta and Beta Sigma Psi were founded in Illinois, in 1893 and 1925, respectively. Gamma Phi Omega … Continue reading

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Who Was Thomas Arkle Clark, Dean of Men?

I just spent two days of research in my very favorite place to research, the Student Life and Culture Archives at the University of Illinois. I was on a specific quest, so I didn’t have time to just open books … Continue reading

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Happy Founders’ Day Sigma Delta Tau, Especially the Chapter at 1104 West Nevada Street

On March 25, 1917, 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 “Tau.” Sigma Delta Tau’s … Continue reading

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Julian H. Lewis, Ph.D., M.D., Alpha Phi Alpha, the “Father of Anthropathology”

“This is the greatest unknown story of the greatest unknown medical and African American pioneer of the 20th century,” said Robert L. Branch II. Branch was speaking about Julian Herman Lewis, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha. Lewis was honored … Continue reading

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Rotary International’s Birthday with a Surprise Visit from a Sigma Nu

Rotary International, one of the world’s first service organizations, was founded on February 23, 1905.  That first Rotary Club in Chicago has the name Rotary One. According to this on the Rotary One website: On February 23, 1905, Paul Harris … Continue reading

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First Homecoming? 1910, Illinois!

It’s Homecoming season. Several schools vie for the claim of being the first to have a homecoming celebration. Although I usually do not quote Wikipedia, I found this citation amusing. “The NCAA, Trivial Pursuit, Jeopardy!, and references from the American TV Drama … Continue reading

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The Importance of Indiana and Other Monday Morning Musings

All weekend, I have been jumping between projects. I’ve been writing my talk for the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis Alumnae Panhellenic (http://wp.me/s20I1i-indy). The celebration is Sunday, October 12, 2014, and if you haven’t reserved a spot, you might still have a … Continue reading

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R.I.P. James Brady, Significant Sig

Yesterday, James “Jim” Brady, died. A few months after becoming President Reagan’s Press Secretary, he was seriously wounded  in the assassination attempt on the President’s life. Since that time, Brady and his wife, Sarah, have been staunch advocates for gun control. Brady, a … Continue reading

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Van Lingle Mungo to Start the Baseball Season

Jazz pianist Dave Frishberg wrote one of my favorite baseball songs. Frishberg first wrote a melody, but was having a hard time coming up with lyrics. While looking though a baseball encyclopedia, he happened on the name of Van Lingle Mungo, a … Continue reading

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Gamma Phi Beta’s Founders’ Day and Its Only Chapter Founded by a Founder

A church oyster supper was the first social event Frances Haven (Moss) attended after enrolling in Syracuse University in 1874. Her father, Dr. Erastus Otis Haven, had been recently elected Chancellor of the university. At that supper, she met the … Continue reading

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