Gamma Phi Beta Founder's Day: November 11, 1874

Happy Birthday to the women of Gamma Phi Beta! The sorority was founded on this day in 1874 at Syracuse University in New York.

The term "sorority"from the latin meaning "sisterhood" was coined in 1882 in reference to Gamma Phi Beta. Prior to this, other Greek organizations for women were refered to as "women's fraternites" or "fraternities for women."

Gamma Phi Beta was founded by these four women: (information taken from the website of Gamma Phi Beta Headquarters at www.gammaphibeta.org)

Four Founders

The Scholar Helen Mary Dodge Ferguson was a talented musician and member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her chief interest was the mission work sponsored by her church. Helen died in 1937, leaving a substantial bequest to Syracuse University for scholarships for members of Gamma Phi Beta. Her love of learning has endeared her as the scholar of the four.

The Artist Frances "Fannie" Elizabeth Haven Moss entered Northwestern University, where her father was president, as one of the first female students. After he was named chancellor of Syracuse University, she transferred to Syracuse. Frances later moved with her husband to Illinois where she was instrumental in establishing Omicron Chapter (Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). She was also the only Founder to have a daughter join Gamma Phi Beta. An accomplished artist, many of Frances' original watercolor paintings are on display at International Headquarters.

The Friend Eunice Adeline "Addie" Curtis graduated from Syracuse with a bachelor's degree in music. She was the soprano soloist at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Syracuse for 33 years and had a son, Edward, with her husband, Frank Curtis. Addie was described by others as kind and generous to a fault, always cheerful, always sympathetic, the most charitable person who ever lived and deeply loved. In a word: friend.

The World Traveler Mary "Minnie" Alice Bingham Willoughby graduated from Syracuse with a degree in fine arts. She was a world traveler, having accompanied her parents to numerous sites in Europe. Minnie and Helen were the only Founders able to continue their close association after their college years, as both lived in Utica, New York. Minnie is described as having "a delight in all things that led to a cultural life," and a "pride in all conduct that led to the beauty of knowledge."

Alpha Chi Omega Founder's Day: October 15, 1885

Happy Founder's Day to the "Real, Strong Women" of Alpha Chi Omega! On this day in 1885 the Women's Fraternity was founded by seven women at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana.

The Fraternity colors of scarlet and green were selected to represent the fall colors present on campus during the organization's founding. The Lyre was chosen as the Fraternity symbol because of its connection to music and Greek mythology. Each founder of Alpha Chi Omega was a talented musician.

Information on the organization's founders was pulled from the Alpha Chi Omega Headquarters' website at http://alphachiomega.org/index2.aspx?id=41.

Anna Allen Smith (1870–1933) Interested in music from early childhood, Anna was the youngest student to do advanced work at DePauw’s School of Music, graduating at the age of 19. Anna was an accompanist, performer and teacher in the school for 10 years. She lived in Greencastle all her life, and the first Alpha Chi Omega convention took place at her home.

Olive Burnett Clark (1867–1957) Olive (called “Ollie” by her friends) studied piano, violin, cello and double bass. She taught at DePauw for two years while carrying on her studies. In her junior year, she left school to take teaching positions in Anderson and Franklin, Indiana. “I have found no greater happiness in my life than in Alpha Chi Omega,” she said later in life. “All I have ventured to give toward the upbuilding and uplifting of our fraternity has been from the depths of my heart, and has been repaid in thousand-fold by my girls.”

Bertha Deniston Cunningham (1869-1950) When Bertha’s parents decided their musically advanced daughter should continue her studies at DePauw, she had to play for Dean Howe to determine just how advanced she was. She went on to become the envy of the school’s music students because of her composing skills. She also was an accomplished performer and successful teacher in the School of Music for 10 years. Hers is the only one of five original badges that exists today. It’s on display at Alpha Chi Omega Headquarters.

Amy Dubois Rieth (1868-1915) Amy was only 15 when she entered DePauw. She studied both voice and pianoforte. She was known as “the little girl with the big voice,” and was selected to sing important roles in school productions. Amy had a quiet and straightforward manner, which belied her fondness for pulling pranks on her fraternity sisters. Her influence on the fraternity endured long after she left to teach music in Kansas.

Nellie Gamble Childe (1867-1960) Nellie studied piano from an early age and, after much deliberation, chose DePauw. She was described variously by her sisters as being gentle, energetic, earnest and friendly, leading a life of “quiet influence for good.” Later in life, she cultivated roses and loved to garden. She said that Alpha Chi Omega had a small beginning, but was built by loyal women with high standards who have achieved “marvelous results.”

Bessie Grooms Keenan (1866-1920) Bessie began studying music as a young child and was an accomplished pianist by the time she entered DePauw. Near the end of her first year there, she strained the muscles of her left hand from over-practice and had to give up the ambition of her life. However, she gave much of her time to help build Alpha Chi Omega. Her daughter, Hannah, eventually became director of Alpha Chi’s central office, later known as headquarters.

Estelle Leonard (1860-1955) Estelle entered DePauw hoping to make a living as a musician. Most of her time was spent practicing or studying. She also served as Dean Howe’s secretary for two years. Though she had serious goals and a “dignified appearance,” she was known for playing practical jokes on her colleagues. She graduated in 1891 and had a full career, teaching music, publishing piano compositions, and reporting for the local newspaper. Long involved with Alpha Chi Omega, she attended more conventions than any other founder. She was described in our 1948 history as “distinctly modern in her ideas” and as having “developed independence, decision, and a rather bohemian attitude.”

Alpha Delta Pi Founders Day: May 15, 1851

Happy Birthday to the women of Alpha Delta Pi! Founded on this day in 1851, at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia.

Founder Eugenia Tucker decided to form a secret society for women and asked five friends to help her. Those friends were; Ella Pierce, Octavia Andrew, Bettie Williams, Sophronia Woodruff and Mary A. Evans. The following biographies were taken directly from the Alpha Delta Pi National website at www.alphadeltapi.org.

Eugenia Tucker
Eugenia Tucker was just sixteen years old when she left her family home in Laurens County, Georgia, to enter Wesleyan College.

Ella Pierce Turner Ella's interest in education was inherited from her family. Her father, Dr. George Foster Pierce, served as the first president of Wesleyan Female College and later served as president of Emory University. Ella was described as a "most charming young lady with seriousness of purpose and great determination." Ella had twelve children and her legacy lives on today with the many family branches that have ties to Alpha Delta Pi.

 

Octavia Andrew Rush Only 13 years old when she made the journey to Wesleyan, Octavia was the daughter of Bishop James Andrew who was the ranking member on the original Board of Trustees that started Wesleyan. After graduating, Octavia married John Wesley Rush, an Emory law student. They had ten children and John abandoned his law studies to become a Methodist preacher. During the Civil War, Reverend Rush went to defend the South and was captured in battle. Octavia remained a scholar and continued her involvement with Alpha Delta Pi until her death in 1917. Like Ella, many of Octavia's descendents are Alpha Delta Pi sisters.

Elizabeth Williams Mitchell
Elizabeth was born in Marion County, South Carolina, and is the only Founder who was not a Georgia native. Her father was a doctor and trustee at the Georgetown Methodist Church. Undoubtedly, this association with the church influenced Elizabeth's decision to attend Wesleyan, more than 450 miles from her home. She married Thomas Mitchell, a Methodist minister, and they had five children. "Bettie" as she was known at Wesleyan, died in 1884, just 13 days after the death of her eldest son. Our archivists have been unable to locate a photograph of Elizabeth.

Sophronia Woodruff Dews Sophronia was born in 1835 in Augusta, Georgia and her family moved to Columbus, Georgia before Sophronia turned five. Her father, Dr. Michael Woodruff, was a prominent physician in Columbus, in addition to serving as a city alderman and president of the Muscogee Bible Society. Sophronia received her A.B. degree from Wesleyan in 1852. The subject of her commencement composition was "Selfishness - the Axis on Which the World Turns." Sophronia died in 1913 at the age of seventy-eight.

 

Mary Evans Glass Mary was born in Forsyth, Georgia in 1833. Like many of her Adelphean sisters, her father was a Methodist minister. He also served on the Wesleyan Female College Board of Trustees for forty years. Mary received both a literary and a musical education, graduating from Wesleyan with distinction. She married Sanford Glass, a lawyer, and they had one child before Mary's husband died in the Civil War. She went on to teach at a private school and until her death in 1914, remained very active with Alpha chapter in Macon.

Beta Chi Chapter of Sigma Delta Tau

Happy Birthday to the women of Sigma Delta Tau here at KU! The national Sigma Delta Tau chartered the KU colony as the Beta Chi Chapter on May 5, 1985. In the fall of 1987 they aquired their current house at 1625 Edgehill Road. The sixteen women who founded the Beta Chi chapter were:

1. Julie Ables
2. Robyn Levine                             
3. Brenda Ashner        
4. Amy Mandelmen
5. Fay Feldman            
6. Lori Nuddelman
7. Jodi Harris                
8. Charlotte Ross
9. Robyn Hart               
10. Janice Sherry
11. Lori Kagan               
12. Michelle Weisman
13. Lindley Kimbrough    
14. Jill Zakon
15. Wendy Kirsch           
16. Lisa Zurovsky

 The first Sigma Delta Tau chapter was founded at Cornell University in 1917 by seven women. These women decided to form their own Greek Chapter because most of the seven women had experienced the subtle discrimination practiced against religious minorities at the time.

Information taken from www.kusdt.com

Pi Beta Phi Founders Day: April 28, 1867

Happy Birthday to Pi Beta Phi! Today the women's fraternity has 134 collegiate chapters and more than 241,000 members across North America. The Kansas Alpha chapter was established at the University of Kansas in 1873. Here's some information on the fraternity's history and its founders.

On April 28, 1867, 12 women joined together to form the first national secret society for women at a time when only five state universities admitted women. That society was founded as I.C. Sorosis at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. Pi Beta Phi was the motto of this secret socitey and in 1888 the fraternity changed its official name to Pi Beta Pi.

Meet the Founders

Jennie Nicol, M.D. Jennie was a pioneer among physicians; she was one of the first women to study medicine. 
Quote: No woman ever entered the profession with a nobler purpose.

Libbie Brook GaddisThe youngest founder, she established Pi Beta Phi’s second chapter at Iowa Wesleyan University.
Quote: For while there are deeper and holier relations than that of … Pi Beta Phi, still nothing purer or lovelier graces the name of friendship.

Clara Brownlee Hutchinson Gentle and shy, she was Emma Brownlee’s younger sister. In challenging circumstances, she showed an admirable strength of character.

Ada Bruen Grier
A teacher and minister’s wife, she formed friendships in Pi Phi that lasted her entire lifetime. Her son, the Rev. James Harper Grier, became president of Monmouth College.
Quote: It has always been a real joy to me that I had a little part in the founding of Pi Beta Phi, and I wish you all continued prosperity of success.

Emma Brownlee Kilgore A true leader and Pi Beta Phi’s first president, she was the only founder to live continuously in Monmouth, Illinois. The Fraternity coat of arms is derived from the Brownlee family crest.

Fannie Thomson Radiating happiness, with a beautiful voice, in her short year of membership she was a faithful and enthusiastic member. The first Pi Beta Phi Convention was held at her house in Oquawka, Illinois, in August of 1867.
Quote: Our object … is to send out into the world women who will ever be an honor and a blessing.

Margaret Campbell Pi Beta Phi’s first treasurer and a promoter of philanthropic work.

Jennie Horne Turnbull Quiet and charming, she planned her life around her work as a minister’s wife and Pi Beta Phi. Jennie was a charter member of the Philadelphia Alumnae Club and had Illinois Alpha granddaughters.
Quote: The founders dreamed dreams as to our future but truly this has gone far beyond our wildest dreams. Words fail to express the pride the founders feel in the work, and well we should. It’s wonderful.

Rosa Moore Generous and sensitive to the needs of others, she spent her days in social work and missionary endeavors.
Quote: The one word out of my heart to every other heart is give all that you are and have, and this consecration will restore all that has been lost to you, to others and the world forevermore.

Nancy Black Wallace
Pi Beta Phi’s first secretary and an enthusiastic extensionist. She installed the third chapter of I.C. Sorosis at the Seminary in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
Quote: I am glad that the great, sympathetic heart of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity has responded to the call of true service, that the result is worthwhile work in a needy field, uplifting the womanhood of our own America. This is a worthwhile work and commands the admiration of those of us who launched the craft.

Inez Smith Soule
Independent, beautiful and known for her keen wit, she established a long Pi Phi legacy through a Pi Phi daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter.
Quote: Said of Inez, “Any attempt to transfer her enthusiasm, her keen humor and her lovable charm into the category of printed words fails from the outset. There is an inner radiance expressed by her actions which finds no other medium.”

Fannie Whitenack Libbey It was in her home that the groundwork was laid for Pi Beta Phi. She always remained young at heart and found great joy in meeting with the girls of Pi Beta Phi.
Quote: I trust that the companionship and friendships formed in your college may prove sweet and lasting as those of us girls in 1867 … a tie that will bind you to achieve the highest and best in life.



 

Information taken from the Pi Beta Phi International website at http://www.pibetaphi.org/ 

Chi Omega Founder's Day: April 5, 1895

Happy 116th birthday to Chi Omega Fraternity! Today Chi Omega has more than 235,000 members in more than 170 chapters. Here's a little history of the organization and its founders.

Chi Omega was founded April 5, 1895 at the University of Arkansas by Ina May Boles, Jean Vincenheller, Jobelle Holcombe and Alice Simonds, with help from Dr. Charles Richardson (an initiate of Kappa Sigma Fraternity).

Ina May was an artist and designed the official Chi Omega ring worn by members of the Governing Council. She also designed the seal of Chi Omega and the first crest. Ina May served as the New York City Alumnae chapter president while living in the City with her husband, Benjamin Morton. Many of her paintings are signed Christina Morton. Ina May's sister, Flora, was an initiated by Xi Chapter at Northwestern University.

JeanVincenheller was very active in establishing Chi Omega's esoteric traditions. Jean was a student of music, the editor of a college magazine called "Cardinal," and President of Math and Literary Societies. She served as the first National President in 1900 and as National Vice President from 1900-1901. Jean was married with two daughters; one was initiated at Psi Chapter. Jean is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Jobelle Holcombe was a true intellectual. After graduation, she became an English professor at the University of Arkansas and was the first woman to receive the honor of "Doctor of Laws" from the University. There is a women's Residence Hall named after her at the University called Holcombe Hall. Jobelle served as National Vice President from 1906-1908. She is buried in Fayetteville, Arkansas and marked as a founder of Chi Omega.

Alice (Allie) Cary Simonds was the oldest of Chi Omega's female founders. In school, she specialized in zoology. Allie served as the first President and Vice President of Psi Chapter. She married and had one son, but died shortly after he was born. She was only 27 years old. Allie is buried in the Congressional Cemetery and is marked as a Founder of Chi Omega.

Dr. Richardson studied dentistry at Vanderbilt University where he was an initiate of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He never married, but was a big brother figure to many Chi Omegas. Dr. Richardson designed the first Chi Omega badge from dental gold. He is buried in Fayetteville, Arkansas and is marked as a founder of Chi Omega.

Information taken from the Chi Omega National website