Category Archives: Colleges and Universities

A Kite, a Key, Some Arrows, and Two Alpha Phis, 1890 Panhellenic Spirit in D.C.

In the summer of 1890, a group of women who belonged to Pi Beta Phi’s two-year-old chapter at George Washington University spent the summer in D.C. “It has been our good fortune this summer to meet with members of other … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Phi, Fran Favorite, George Washington University, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, National Panhellenic Conference, Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A Kite, a Key, Some Arrows, and Two Alpha Phis, 1890 Panhellenic Spirit in D.C.

“Unworthy of Womanly Dignity,” Recruitment Rules, University of Kansas, 1888

In 1870, only eight state universities were coeducational; the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, was one of the eight. Its women’s fraternity system dates to April 1, 1873, when the Kansas Alpha chapter of Pi Beta Phi** was chartered. … 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

Posted in Conventions, Delta Gamma, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, University of Southern California | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Bursting My Bubble – When a Kite Is Just a Kite

A Centennial Convention for Delta Sigma Theta; D.C. is Awash in Crimson and Cream

This morning, Friday, July 12, 2013, at 6:45 a.m., Delta Sigma Thetas and their friends and families began gathering in front of the Lincoln Memorial for a 5K Centennial Walk and Health Fair. Sponsored by the Delta Research and Educational … Continue reading

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Phi Sigma Sigma Celebrates Its Centennial in NYC

From July 10-14, 2013, Phi Sigma Sigma members will gather at the 2013 convention and celebrate the organization’s Centennial. The convention will take place at the Crowne Plaza in Times Square. The festivities will include a trip to Hunter College, … Continue reading

Posted in Conventions, Fran Favorite, Fraternity meetings, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Hunter College, National Panhellenic Conference, Phi Sigma Sigma, Sorority History, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Phi Sigma Sigma Celebrates Its Centennial in NYC

Celebrating a Century with a Gamma Phi Beta Friend, Initiated in 1933 at the University of Kansas

This weekend, there was a gathering in a church hall for a local woman who was celebrating her hundredth birthday. I first met her when I came to town and joined the University Women’s Club. She was one of the … Continue reading

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“When He (Calvin Coolidge, Jr.) Died, the Power and the Glory of the Presidency Went With Him,”

On June 30, 1924, the day that the above photograph was taken, Calvin Coolidge, Jr. and his older brother John played tennis on the White House court. Calvin Jr. wore tennis shoes, but not socks. Afterwards, he developed a blister … Continue reading

Posted in Amherst College, Calvin Coolidge, First Ladies, Fran Favorite, Northampton. Massachusetts, Phi Gamma Delta, Pi Beta Phi, Presidents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on “When He (Calvin Coolidge, Jr.) Died, the Power and the Glory of the Presidency Went With Him,”

Happy Birthday Calvin Coolidge, a President (and FIJI) Born on the 4th of July!

John Calvin Coolidge, Jr., the 30th President of the United States, was born on July 4, 1872 in Plymouth Notch, Vermont. He attended Amherst College in Massachusetts where he became a member of Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI). After graduation, while … Continue reading

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The Sorority Convention Season Begins

Pi Beta Phi’s first convention took place in Oquawka, Illinois* at the home of Fannie Thomson in August of 1868. The organization was founded on April 28,  1867 at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. The convention was a three-day affair, … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Xi Delta, Conventions, Fran Favorite, Fraternity meetings, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Monmouth College, National Panhellenic Conference, Phi Sigma Sigma, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Sigma Sigma | Tagged , | Comments Off on The Sorority Convention Season Begins

DKE Founders’ Day, a Cuban Convention, and a Box of Cigars

On June 22, 1844, in room 12 of Old South Hall, 15 Yale College* students from the Class of 1846 organized Delta Kappa Epsilon. The fifteen founders are William Woodruff Atwater, Edward Griffin Bartlett, Frederic Peter Bellinger, Jr., Henry Case, … Continue reading

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