Category Archives: Alpha Phi

The First Fraternity House Built by Women for Women

Syracuse University has the distinction of being home to the first fraternity house owned by women.  There were no dormitories for women when Alpha Phi and Gamma Phi Beta were founded in 1872 and 1874, respectively.  In 1884, the Alpha … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Phi, Gamma Phi Beta, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, National Panhellenic Conference, Sorority History, Syracuse University, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off

Fraternity and Sorority Magazines – Preserving History, Fostering Enthusiasm and Promulgating Lifelong Loyalty

This week, I had the opportunity to read hard copies of recently published sorority magazines.* What fun it was to turn the pages and read about some of the 26 National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) organizations! Good works are being done. … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Gamma Delta Quarterly, Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Phi, Alpha Xi Delta, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Delta Zeta, Gamma Phi Beta, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Ida Shaw Martin, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Alpha Theta (magazine), Kappa Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, National Panhellenic Conference, Notable Sorority Women, Phi Mu, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Kappa, Sorority History, The Anchora of Delta Gamma, The Angelos of Kappa Delta, The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi, The Eleusis of Chi Omega, The Key of Kappa Kappa Gamma, The Lyre of Alpha Chi Omega, The Quill of Alpha Xi Delta, The Themis of Zeta Tau Alpha, The Trident of Delta Delta Delta, Zeta Tau Alpha | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off

Fraternity Women Who Were Lawyers, 1867-1902 (When Women Could Not Vote!)

During the time frame of this study, 1867-1902, women had few legal rights.  Therefore, it is interesting to note that several of these early fraternity women became lawyers at a time when women were not yet allowed to vote.  In … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Phi, Delta Delta Delta, DePauw University, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, National Panhellenic Conference, Notable Fraternity Women, Notable Sorority Women, Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History, University of Minnesota, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , | Comments Off

Goucher College – Home of a Once Thriving Women’s Fraternity System

  The Women’s College of Baltimore, today known as Goucher College, was founded in 1885 and graduated its first class in 1892.  It was one of the few women’s colleges hosting chapters of national women’s fraternities.  There is evidence of … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Phi, Delta Delta Delta, Fran Favorite, Gamma Phi Beta, GLO, Goucher College, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Alpha Theta, Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

The Syracuse – Michigan Match-Up, the Non-Athletic Version

Syracuse and Michigan play a basketball game tonight. It’s part of the coveted Final Four of NCAA basketball. The Final Four usually not a big deal in the Becque household (well, at least not in my life – my sons … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Phi, Fran Favorite, Gamma Phi Beta, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Syracuse University, Theta Phi Alpha, University of Michigan | Tagged , , , | Comments Off

Women’s Fraternities at the University of Minnesota through 1902

The University of Minnesota was established February 13, 1851, under a charter from the territory of Minnesota. It was reorganized under a state charter on February 18, 1868. Although there was faculty opposition to coeducation, the cause was heralded by … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Phi, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Alpha Theta, Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History, University of Minnesota, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , | Comments Off

NPC Organizations That No Longer Exist; A Reflection on International Badge Day

The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) will celebrate International Badge Day on March 4, 2013 and sorority women are asked to “Wear Your Letters on Your Heart.” International Badge Day began in 1997.  In the spring of 1996, after she wore … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Phi, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Association of Education Sororities, Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, Delta Zeta, George Washington University, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Hunter College, Miami University, National Panhellenic Conference, Phi Mu, Sigma Kappa, Sorority History, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, The Phoenix of Alpha Sigma Alpha, Thiel College, University of California, University of California at Berkeley, University of Illinois, University of Missouri, Women's Fraternity History, Zeta Tau Alpha | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

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

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

The First NPC Meeting and the 36¢ Assessment

The National Panhellenic Conference’s 2012 meeting in St. Louis, Missouri begins today. NPC’s first meeting was in Chicago in 1902. After the first meeting, two copies of the minutes were mailed to each of the groups that sent representatives to … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Phi, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, National Panhellenic Conference | Tagged , , , | Comments Off

Whistle a Happy (Sorority) Tune……

Sorority whistles may have been the first social media used by National Panhellenic Conference organizations. Imagine being on a campus and hearing your organization’s whistle. What a comforting sound it must have been, knowing sisters were close at hand. Sorority whistles … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Phi, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Kappa Alpha Theta, National Panhellenic Conference, Phi Mu, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Sigma Sigma, The Anchora of Delta Gamma, The Trident of Delta Delta Delta, Zeta Tau Alpha | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off