From February 20-December 4, 1915, the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, California, was the place to be. While the Exposition celebrated the completion of the Panama Canal, it also showcased the city’s recovery from the 1906 earthquake. A goodly number of Greek-Letter Organizations held events in conjunction with it.
It is important to remember that in 1915, the majority of GLO chapters and membership was east of the Rocky Mountains. Travel to San Francisco was largely by train, although some of the attendees may have traveled on ships through the Panama Canal. In any event, getting there took considerably longer than the half a day of air travel an east coaster would encounter in getting from New York City to San Francisco today.
A book published to encourage attendance at the Exposition included the events listed below. I suspect there may have been a few others organizations who did not get their plans in place until after the book was printed.
Omega Upsilon Phi Fraternity, San Francisco, June 25 and 26, 1915. H. Brooker Mills, M.D., Senior Grand Master, Philadelphia, Pa., T. Carroll Davis, M.D., Grand Scribe, 2408 W. Allegheny Ave., Philadelphia, Pa.
Alpha Omicron Pi, Berkeley, June 29 to July 3 inclusive, 1915. Miss Anna E. Many, Grand Secretary 1325 Henry Clay Ave., New Orleans, La.
Phi Sigma Fraternity, San Francisco, July 1, 2, and 3, 1915. R.P. Baker, Supreme President, 1160 Bay St., Alameda, Cal. J.R. Hermann, Chairman Committee on Arrangements, 120 Folsom St., San Francisco.
Sigma Phi Upsilon Fraternity, Grand Chapter, Berkeley, July 1 to 5 inclusive, 1915. Robert L. Patterson, President, 2187 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, Cal. Virgil Price, Secretary, 2021 24th Ave., Oakland, Cal.
Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, Special Meeting, San Francisco, in week of July 5, 1915. Mrs. Alta Allen Loud, National President, Albion, Mich. Mrs. Courter, President of San Francisco Alumnae Club, 138 Cabrillo St., San Francisco.
Pi Beta Phi, Berkeley, July 5-10, 1915, Miss Amy Onken, Grand Secretary, Chapin, Il.
Gamma Eta Kappa Fraternity, San Francisco, July 7 to 10 inclusive, 1915. Sumner I. Benedict, Secretary, 31 Union Square, New York City.
Theta Delta Chi, San Francisco, July 10 to 13 inclusive, 1915. Seward G. Spoor, President, 149 Broadway, New York City. Walter S. Mallory, Secretary, Paxinosa Ave., Easton, Pa.
Sigma Kappa, Berkeley, Cal., July 12 to 16 inclusive, 1915. Mrs. Ethel Hayward Weston, Grand Secretary, Oldtown, Me.
Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, San Francisco, July 12 to 17 inclusive, 1915. James Anderson Hawes, General Secretary, 30 Broad St., New York City, John Hubert Mee, Local Secretary, Merchants Exchange Bldg., San Francisco.
Phi Lambda Epsilon, San Francisco, July 14, 15, and 16, 1915. Howard H. Fassett, Chairman, Conclave Committee, 2217 19th Ave., Oakland, Cal.
Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, San Francisco, July, 15, 16, and 17, 1915. E.R.W. Gunn, Grand Secretary, Oxford, Ga.
Alpha Xi Delta Sorority, Berkeley, Jul 19 to 23 inclusive, 1915. Miss Lena G. Baldwin, Secretary, Elmira, NY.
Kappa Sigma Fraternity, San Francisco July 21 22 and 23 1915 Herbert M Martin Worthy Grand Scribe Danville Va
Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, Berkeley, July 27 to 31 inclusive, 1915. Miss Ethel Thayer, Secretary, 463 Blue Hill Ave., Grove Hall, Mass.
Delta Delta Delta Sorority, Asilomar Monterey Co., Cal. July 31 to August 5 inclusive, 1915. Mrs. Alfred McCray, National Secretary, No. 11 Parkview Apts., Dayton, Ohio.
Delta Gamma Sorority, Berkeley, August 2 to 7 inclusive, 1915. Miss M. Agnes Burton, Secretary, 27 Brainard St., Detroit, Mich.
Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Oakland, August 3 to 6 inclusive, 1915. Paul Tulane Atkinson, Grand Secretary, Box 211, Hampden Sidney, Va.
Sigma Chi Fraternity, Berkeley, Cal. August 4, 5, and 6, 1915. Newman Miller, Grand Consul, 606 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. Frederick C. Grabner, Executive Secretary, 606 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill.
Kappa Alpha Pi National Fraternity, San Francisco, August 4 to 8 inclusive, 1915. W.N. Armel, Grand Corresponding Secretary, 4419 Cullora Ave., Chicago, Ill. R.H. Schultz, Grand Master, 337 County Bldg., Chicago, Ill.
Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, San Francisco, August 5, 6, and 7, 1915. Edgar A. Jonas, Supreme Justice, Fort Dearborn Bldg., Chicago Ill. C.C. Roads, Supreme Recorder, Williamson Bldg., Cleveland, Ohio.
Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, Grand Council Meeting, Berkeley, August 5 to 10 inclusive, 1915. Miss Eva Powell, Grand President, 2703 Dwight Way, Berkeley, Cal.
Sigma Phi Society, Berkeley, August 6 and 7, 1915. Philip J. Ross, Permanent Secretary, 66 Broadway, New York City.
Sorority Editors Conference, Berkeley, August 11, 1915. Miss R. Louise Fitch, Chairman, Euclid Apartments, Berkeley, Cal.
National Panhellenic Congress (now National Panhellenic Conference), Berkeley, August 11 to 14 inclusive, 1915. Mrs. E.M. Parmelee, Chairman, 7318 North Ashland Blvd., Chicago, Ill., Miss Lena G. Baldwin, Secretary, 670 Euclid Ave., Elmira, NY.
Phi Chi Fraternity, San Francisco, August 11 to 14 inclusive, 1915. F.P. McCann Jr., President, 1010 Kohl Bldg., San Francisco, Burr Moulthrop, Secretary, 1109 Flood Bldg., San Francisco.
Phi Delta Chi, San Francisco, August 12, 13, and 14, 1915. Wm. T. Gaessler, General Secretary, Agricultural Experiment Station, Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa.
Phi Chi Medical Fraternity, San Francisco, August 12 to 14 inclusive, 1915. Dunning S. Wilson, Grand Secretary, 119 West Oak Street, Louisville, Ky.
Alpha Delta Sigma Fraternity, San Francisco, August 16 and 17, 1915. Mortimer D. Williams, President, 141 Milk St., Boston, Mass., C. Chester Caywood, Secretary, 1231 New York Ave. N.W., Washington, DC.
Phi Delta Kappa, Oakland, August 18 to 21 inclusive, 1915. J. Harold Williams, President, Department of Education, Stanford University, Cal. James R. Young, Secretary, School of Education, University of Chicago, Chicago Ill.
Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, San Francisco, August 19, 20, and 21, 1915. Henry T. Bruck, Secretary, Box 445, Dayton, Ohio.
Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, Special Reunion, Berkeley, August 23 to 28 inclusive, 1915. John C. Griffin, Grand President, 215 Montague St., Brooklyn, NY. W.L. Phillips, Grand Secretary, 602 Times Dispatch Bldg., Richmond Va.
Chi Psi Fraternity, San Francisco, August 25 to 28 inclusive, 1915. Edward Cassius Swift, President, Ottawa Ill., Harold G. Aron, Secretary, 50 Pine St., New York City, Perry Evans, Chairman Committee on Arrangements, Mills Bldg., San Francisco.
Delta Chi Fraternity, San Francisco, August 25 to 28 inclusive, 1915. W.W. Bride, Secretary, Union Savings Bank Bldg., Washington, DC.
Phi Kappa Sigma, San Francisco or Berkeley, August 26, 27, and 28, 1915. Richard M. Philler, Secretary, 133 S. 4th St., Philadelphia, Pa.
Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, Asilomar, August 26 to 29 inclusive, 1915. Mrs. O.Y. Hansen, President, 53 Arthur St., Yonkers N.Y., Miss Emma F. Lowd, Secretary, 52 Irving Place, New York City.
Alpha Tau Omega, San Francisco, August 27 and 28, 1915. Claud T. Reno, Secretary, 323-324 Commonwealth Bldg., Allentown, Pa.
Psi Omega Fraternity, San Francisco, August 30, 1915. Dr. E.H. Sting, Secretary, Tiffin, Ohio, Dr. Edwin P. James, Deputy Councilor, Security Bank Building, Oakland, Cal.
Acacia Fraternity, San Francisco, August 30, 31, and September 1, 1915. Harry E. Kilmer, Grand Secretary, Centerville, Mo., G.D. Ream, Chairman, 1915 Conclave Committee, 2634 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, Cal.
Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, San Francisco, August 30 to September 4 inclusive, 1915. Harry B. Wassell, Secretary, 1411 Commonwealth Bldg., Pittsburg, Pa. C.C. Chambers, Field Secretary, 1411 Commonwealth Bldg., Pittsburg, Pa. M.E. Van Dine, Chairman Committee on Arrangements, Kohl Bldg., San Francisco.
Delta Sigma Delta Fraternity Supreme Chapter, San Francisco, August 30 to September 9 inclusive, 1915. Dr. Burton Lee Thorpe, Supreme Grand Master, 3605 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, Mo., Dr. R. Hamill D. Swing, Supreme Scribe, 1623 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa.
Beta Theta Pi, Oakland, August 31 to September 3, inclusive 1915, Francis H. Sisson, President, 527 Fifth Ave., New York City, Francis W. Shepardson, General Secretary, 5558 Kimbark Ave., Chicago, Ill., James L. Gavin, General Treasurer, 1012 Hume Mansur Bldg., Indianapolis, Ind.
Phi Delta Theta Reunion, San Francisco, August, 1915. George G.D. Kierulff, Alumni Commissioner, Foxcroft Bldg., 68 Post St., San Francisco.
Alpha Sigma Phi, San Francisco, September 1, 1915, Berkeley, September 2, 3, and 4, 1915. Wayne M. Musgrave, Grand Junior President, 51 Chambers St., New York City.
Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity, San Francisco and Berkeley, September 2, 3, and 4, 1915. Carl R. Ganter, Secretary, 136 W. 44th St., New York City.
Psi Upsilon, Berkeley, September 2, 3, and 4, 1915. George S. Coleman, Secretary, Tribune Bldg., New York City.
Phi Sigma Kappa, San Francisco, September 6, 1915. Wm. A. Mclntyre, President, 21 W. Spring St., Ardmore, Pa., John Adams Lowe, Secretary, Williams College Library, Williamstown, Mass., Gustav de Bretteville, Chairman, Committee on Arrangements, Claus Spreckels Bldg., San Francisco.
Alpha Chi Sigma, Berkeley, September 6, 7, and 8, 1915. Harry A. Curtis, Grand Master Alchemist, Boulder, Colo.
Kappa Alpha Fraternity, D.R. Neal Province, South San Francisco, September 7, 8, and 9, 1915. Dr. L.D. Mead, Province Commander, Butler Bldg., San Francisco, R.G. Thompson, Province Secretary, Flood Bldg., San Francisco.
Theta Tau, Berkeley, September 8, 9, and 10, 1915. Erich J. Schrader, Grand Regent, Rockland via Yerington, Nevada.
Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America, San Francisco, September 10 and 11, 1915. Fritz H. Nymeyer, Traveling Secretary, 110 W. 40th St., New York City, Edwin R. Jackson, Chairman, 1915 Convention Committee, 237 First St., San Francisco.
Theta Xi Fraternity, San Francisco, September 18, 1915. H.T. Wreaks, Secretary, 80 Madison Lane, New York City.
Tau Beta Pi, Berkeley, September 1915. R.C. Mathews, Secretary, Executive Council, Knoxville, Tenn.
Theta Chi Fraternity Coast Reunion, San Francisco, November 12, 1915. A.C. Pickett, President of Local Chapter, 2415 Prospect St., Berkeley, Cal. E. Wesson Clark, National Secretary, 101 Milk St., Boston, Mass.
In addition, Rotary International and the P.E.O. Sisterhood also held meetings.
P.E.O. Sisterhood Special Meeting, San Francisco, October 26, 1915. Mrs Martha Horne Nance, President of Chapter AM, San Francisco, 512 Falcon Ave., San Francisco.
International Association of Rotary Clubs, San Francisco, July 19 to 23 inclusive, 1915. Frank L. Mulholland, President, 1411 Nicholas Bldg., Toledo, Ohio, Chesley R. Perry, Secretary, 910 Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill.
Grace Goodhue Coolidge (center) with University of Vermont Pi Beta Phis at the 1915 convention in Berkeley, CA. This picture was taken at the Exposition.
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