Category Archives: Knox College

The Graduation Edition – Alumna / Alumnae /Alumnus / Alumni

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

I love the pomp and circumstance of graduation ceremonies. After all, I earned a degree based mainly on the color of the hood (two of my favorite colors wine and silver blue, which just happen to be Pi Beta Phi’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Beta Theta Pi, GLO, Goucher College, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Knox College, Syracuse University | Tagged alumna, alumnae, alumni, alumnus, graduation | 2 Comments

Celebrating the Rebirth of Two NPC Alpha Chapters!

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

This spring two National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) organizations are recolonizing their Alpha chapters. Zeta Tau Alpha is returning to its birthplace at Longwood University. Alpha Omicron Pi is revitalizing the chapter whose home will be the now co-ed Columbia University, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Barnard College, Boston University, Colby College, DePauw University, Farmville Four, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Knox College, Lombard College, Longwood University, Miami University, Mount Holyoke College, National Panhellenic Conference, Sorority History, Syracuse University, Women's Fraternities | Tagged National Panhellenic Conference, NPC, sorority history | 1 Comment

And the Answer Is….Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois!

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

The question is, of course, “Where is the only existing building connected to a Lincoln-Douglas debate?” Their fifth debate for the Illinois Senate seat took place on the east side of Old Main on the Knox College campus from 2:30 – … Continue reading →

Posted in Knox College, Presidents | Tagged Abraham Lincoln, Galesburg, Knox College, Lincoln-Douglas Debates, Stephen Douglas | Comments Off

Knox College – the Early History of Its Women’s Fraternity System

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

The birthplace of the women’s fraternity system is only a few miles west of Galesburg. Pi Beta Phi was founded on April 28, 1867 in the southwest second floor bedroom of the home of “Major “ Jacob Holt at 402 … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Xi Delta, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Delta Delta, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Knox College, Lombard College, National Panhellenic Conference, Notable Sorority Women, P.E.O., Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History, The Trident of Delta Delta Delta, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged Beta Theta Pi, Delta Delta Delta, Francis H. Sisson, Francis Hinckley Sisson, Grace Lass Sisson, Knox College, Pi Beta Phi, R. Louise Fitch | Comments Off

Fraternity History and Sorority History Do Matter!

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

It’s been a year since I started this blog. Some people stumble upon it while trying to find out which presidents were fraternity men, or which Olympic athletes were sorority members, or any odd number of searches that will lead … Continue reading →

Posted in Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, Calvin Coolidge, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Knox College, Men's Fraternities, Mount Holyoke College, National Panhellenic Conference, Notable Sorority Women, P.E.O., Presidents, Sorority History, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Syracuse University, The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi, Women's Fraternities, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged Chi Omega, famous NPC women, famous sorority women, Greek-letter Organization History, P.E.O., sorority history, Women's fraternities, women's fraternity history | Comments Off

Doctors Who Wore Badges: Fraternity Women in Medicine 1867-1902

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

In 1870, there were 525 female doctors in the United States (Newcomer, 1959). Among the fraternity women who became physicians were founders of two NPC groups, Rachel Jane “Jennie” Nicol, a founder of Pi Beta Phi, and Eleanor Dorcas Pond … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Phi, Boston University, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, DePauw University, Gamma Phi Beta, GLO, Goucher College, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Iowa Wesleyan College, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Alpha Theta (magazine), Kappa Kappa Gamma, Knox College, Lombard College, Monmouth College, National Panhellenic Conference, Northwestern University, Notable Fraternity Women, Notable Sorority Women, Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History, Syracuse University, The Anchora of Delta Gamma, The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi, The Key of Kappa Kappa Gamma, The Trident of Delta Delta Delta, University of California at Berkeley, University of Kansas, University of Michigan, University of Vermont, Women's Fraternities, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged Alpha Phi, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Famous fraternity women, Female doctors, female physicians, Gamma Phi Beta, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Monmouth College, National Panhellenic Conference, Pi Beta Phi, sorority history, Syracuse University, University of Michigan, Women's fraternities, women's fraternity history | Comments Off

Presenting the Lincoln Bowl – Knox vs. Eureka

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

Abraham Lincoln never attended college, but he has connections to many colleges. There are statues of him on numerous campuses including in Morris Library at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and at Illinois College. There are colleges named for him. And now there … Continue reading →

Posted in Eureka College, Knox College, Tau Kappa Epsilon | Tagged Abraham Lincoln, Eureka College, Knox College, Lincoln Bowl, Ronald Reagan, TKE | 3 Comments

The Sisson’s Wednesday Evening Wedding in Galesburg

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

The story of their castle is on my blog, but here is the story I wrote of their Wednesday evening wedding from Pi Phi’s web-site. http://pibetaphiblog.org/2012/06/18/a-greek-letter-royal-wedding/ If you enjoy reading this post, subscribe to updates, or like it on facebook … Continue reading →

Posted in Beta Theta Pi, Fran Favorite, Knox College, Pi Beta Phi | Tagged Beta Theta Pi, Francis H. Sisson, Francis Hinckley Sisson, Grace Lass Sisson, Knox College, Pi Beta Phi | Comments Off

“My Dear Sisson,” Wrote Wm. Raimond Baird on Jan. 1, 1898

Posted on June 17, 2012 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

William Raimond Baird was a patent lawyer and mineralogist, but his hobby was his fraternity and the fraternity world at-large. He spent 25 years as editor of Beta Theta Pi’s magazine and his manual American College Fraternities is considered a … Continue reading →

Posted in Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, Beta Theta Pi, Fran Favorite, Knox College, Pi Beta Phi, Syracuse University, The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi | Tagged Alpha Sigma Chi, Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, Beta Theta Pi, Francis H. Sisson, Grace Lass Sisson, Illinois College, Pi Beta Phi, Steven's Institute of Technology, Syracuse University, William Raimond Baird | 1 Comment

Francis and Grace Lass Sisson – Grand Presidents Who Lived in a Castle

Posted on June 9, 2012 by Fran Becque, Ph.D.

Knox College graduates Grace Lass, a member of the Illinois Delta Chapter of Pi Beta Phi and Francis Hinckley Sisson, a member of the Xi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi, were married in Galesburg, Illinois, on June 16, 1897. At … Continue reading →

Posted in Beta Theta Pi, Fran Favorite, Knox College, Notable Fraternity Women, Notable Sorority Women, Pi Beta Phi | Tagged 170 Shonnard Terrace, Beta Theta Pi, Chateau Fleur de Lys, Francis H. Sisson, Francis Hinckley Sisson, Greystone Court, Knox College, Pi Beta Phi, Yonkers | 1 Comment