Category Archives: University of Southern California

Dora Shaw Heffner, Kappa Alpha Theta, #NotableSororityWomen, #WHM2021

Dora Shaw (Heffner) was born in Maine where her father was a judge and served as Attorney General of Maine. She attended Bates College in Maine from 1902-04 and she is listed among the alumni of the class of 1906. … Continue reading

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Lillian Copeland, Alpha Epsilon Phi, #NotableSororityWomen, #WHM2019

Lillian Copeland was born Lillian Drossin on November 25, 1904, in New York City. Her parents were Polish immigrants. After her father’s death, her mother remarried and Lillian took her stepfather’s name. As a child she moved to the west … Continue reading

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Hazel Hartzog Tow, Phi Mu, #WHM2018, #notablesororitywomen

Phi Mu was founded on January 4, 1852 at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. Originally known as the Philomathean Society, it and Alpha Delta Pi, also founded at Wesleyan College, are known as the “Macon Magnolias.” Phi Mu  was founded … Continue reading

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Hazing Has No Place on Fraternity Row

There is no universe in which I condone fraternity hazing. As a mother and as someone who believes deeply in the ideals of the fraternal world, I find hazing to be abhorrent to everything that should fraternity and sorority life. I … Continue reading

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Dr. Placida Gardner Chesley, Kappa Alpha Theta, #notablesororitywomen, #WHM2017

As a student at the University of Southern California, Vera Placida Gardner joined a local organization, Alpha Rho. She graduated from USC in 1910 and attended medical school at the University of Michigan. While in Ann Arbor, she became a member of … Continue reading

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11/11 Gamma Phi Beta’s Founding Day and Armistice Day

Frances Haven (Moss) grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Evanston, Illinois, as her father, Dr. Erastus Otis Haven, headed up the University of Michigan and then Northwestern University. When Dr. Haven was elected Chancellor of Syracuse University, Frances moved to … Continue reading

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ATO Celebrates 150 Years and a Side Trip to Laurel Hall

On Saturday, I attended Alpha Tau Omega’s 150th celebration. Now I know how those few men at Pi Phi conventions must feel – outnumbered! After lunch, my daughter forwarded me an e-mail she received from a friend. It read, “I am working … Continue reading

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An Emily Butterfield Painting and a Theta Tie to WDW

Emily Helen Butterfield was a talented woman by all accounts. In addition to being a founder of Alpha Gamma Delta and an architect in a time when few women chose that profession, she was an accomplished artist. Her sketches were … Continue reading

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Helen Marlowe, Tennis Champion, Zeta Tau Alpha, and Marine Captain

Where do I find subjects for this blog? Sometimes I find them and sometimes they find me. For the past two days I have been working on cataloging some information on spreadsheets. Enter Helen Marlowe, a member of the Xi chapter of … Continue reading

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Bursting My Bubble – When a Kite Is Just a Kite

I feel a tad bit awful about my recent post refuting the current internet factoid on U.S. Presidents and fraternity membership. While the “all but two” statement is no longer true, the real statistic is nonetheless impressive. And for all … Continue reading

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