Category Archives: Colleges and Universities

Sorosites = Sororities = Fraternities for Women = Women’s Fraternities

I found this gem in an 1880’s University of Kansas student publication, the Helianthus (Helianthus annuus is the common sunflower, the most ubiquitous flower in Kansas). The word “sorosites” was used in contrast to the word “fraternities.” It also tells some interesting history of … Continue reading

Posted in Beta Theta Pi, Fran Favorite, Fraternity History, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, National Panhellenic Conference, Phi Kappa Psi, Pi Beta Phi, University of Kansas, Women's Fraternity History | Comments Off on Sorosites = Sororities = Fraternities for Women = Women’s Fraternities

The Carnation, Fleur-de-lis, and the End of Ladies’ Home Journal Monthly Magazine

Ladies’ Home Journal began in 1883. The July/August 2014 issue was the last monthly issue of the magazine and the last one that was sent to subscribers. For two years, the magazine was a quarterly, newsstand-only publication and it ceased … Continue reading

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Ruing Recruitment Ruses – Those Specious Fraternity Claims

This poster entitled “The truth about Greek life” is disingenuous. I was reading some Fraternity Insider newsletters written by Wilson Heller in the 1970s and he was railing about the “all but 2 U.S. Presidents” stat touted on the poster below. … Continue reading

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On the 4th of July – Lou Gehrig, the Iron Horse, ΦΔΘ, and Silent Cal, ΦΓΔ

July 4, 1939 was “Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day” at Yankee Stadium. On that day, baseball great Lou Gehrig, Phi Delta Theta, became the first major league baseball player to have his number retired. There are still people who were at Yankee … Continue reading

Posted in Amherst College, Calvin Coolidge, Columbia University, Fran Favorite, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta, Presidents | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on On the 4th of July – Lou Gehrig, the Iron Horse, ΦΔΘ, and Silent Cal, ΦΓΔ

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

Posted in Fran Favorite, Notable Sorority Women, Sigma Nu, The Themis of Zeta Tau Alpha, University of Southern California, Zeta Tau Alpha | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Helen Marlowe, Tennis Champion, Zeta Tau Alpha, and Marine Captain

“A Hot Pilot is Born” to “Hello Dolly” – a ΘΦΑ Life Well Lived

Reading old issues of fraternity and sorority magazines is one of my favorite hobbies. In flipping through the Winter 1946 issue of The Compass of Theta Phi Alpha, I found a page with the title “A Hot Pilot is Born.”  The article tells the … Continue reading

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Friends Together, Friends Forever

It’s fraternity and sorority convention and leadership event time! My weekend was spent at Pi Beta Phi’s Alumnae Leadership Summit in St. Louis. Pi Phi’s conventions are in the odd years, since we were founded in 1867, and these smaller … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Epsilon Phi, Alpha Xi Delta, Conventions, Fran Favorite, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Monmouth College, National Panhellenic Conference, Northampton. Massachusetts, Pi Beta Phi | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Friends Together, Friends Forever

Among Kindred Spirits – Recharging the Archivist’s Batteries

This past weekend, the University of Illinois Archives’ Student Life and Culture Archival Program hosted the third National Archives Conference for Fraternities and Sororities. The conference is designed to provide archival training and support to headquarters staff and volunteers who oversee their organization’s archives. … Continue reading

Posted in Fran Favorite, Greek-letter Organization History, National Panhellenic Conference, Phi Gamma Delta, Sorority History, Student Life and Culture Archival Program, University of Illinois | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

June 9, 1902, a Defining Date for Alpha Xi Delta and P.E.O.

June 9, 1902, is a defining date for two organizations, Alpha Xi Delta and the P.E.O. Sisterhood. P.E.O. was founded as a collegiate organization at Iowa Wesleyan University on January 21, 1869. Alpha Xi Delta was founded on April 17, … Continue reading

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June 6, 1944, D-Day

On this anniversary of D-Day, I want to acknowledge the servicemen who sacrificed so very much on that day. We are indebted to them. On June 6, 1944, 5,000 ships, 11,000 aircraft and 150,000 Allied troops began the operation to gain a … Continue reading

Posted in Chi Psi, Fran Favorite, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta, Phi Kappa Psi, Phi Kappa Tau, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Sigma Nu, Sigma Pi, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Zeta Beta Tau | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on June 6, 1944, D-Day