Category Archives: Colleges and Universities

Happy Birthday to My Favorite First Lady, Grace Coolidge!

January 3 is the birthday of Grace Goodhue Coolidge. Gracious and humble, she was a dedicated member of Pi Beta Phi, having been a charter member of the chapter at the University of Vermont. She also served as Alpha Province … Continue reading

Posted in Boston University, First Ladies, Fran Favorite, GLO, Grace Coolidge, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Notable Sorority Women, Phi Kappa Psi, Pi Beta Phi, Presidents, Sorority History, University of Vermont, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Happy Birthday to My Favorite First Lady, Grace Coolidge!

December 24 Through January 2 – A Busy Time in Fraternity and Sorority History

It’s hard for today’s collegians to contemplate spending December 24 through January 2 on campus. Most higher education institutions shut down for the holiday week. However, that week has been a significant one in the history of Greek-letter organizations. Delta … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Delta Phi, Alpha Omicron Pi, Chi Phi, Delta Gamma, Founders' Day, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Miami University, National Panhellenic Conference, NIC, North-American Interfraternity Conference, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta, Phi Iota Alpha, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Nu, Sorority History, Women's Fraternity History, Zeta Beta Tau | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on December 24 Through January 2 – A Busy Time in Fraternity and Sorority History

A Holiday First for the Coolidges and the United States

At 5 p.m. on December 24, 1923, President Calvin Coolidge (Phi Gamma Delta, Amherst College) began a White House tradition. He touched a button and the electric lights on a 48-foot balsam fir sparkled with electricity. First Lady Grace Goodhue … Continue reading

Posted in Amherst College, Calvin Coolidge, First Ladies, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Phi Gamma Delta, Pi Beta Phi, Presidents, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, University of Vermont | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A Holiday First for the Coolidges and the United States

Syracuse University and the Tragedy of Pan Am Flight 103 Over Lockerbie

December 21, 1988, four days before Christmas, was to have been filled with joyful reunions. It quickly turned horrible for the families and friends of the 259 people on board and 11 on the ground who perished when Pan Am … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Tau Omega, Brown University, Delta Tau Delta, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Kappa Gamma, National Panhellenic Conference, NIC, North-American Interfraternity Conference, Ohio Wesleyan University, Phi Delta Theta, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sorority History, SUNY - Oswego, Syracuse University, Zeta Psi | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Syracuse University and the Tragedy of Pan Am Flight 103 Over Lockerbie

An American Tragedy in Newtown Brings Thoughts of a First Lady

The events that took place on December 14, 2012, at the Sandy Hook School in Newtown, Connecticut, strike at the heart of us all. So many lives taken, so close to Christmas and none of it makes much sense. Among … Continue reading

Posted in Beta Theta Pi, Calvin Coolidge, First Ladies, Fran Favorite, GLO, Grace Coolidge, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Pi Beta Phi, Presidents, University of Vermont | Tagged , | Comments Off on An American Tragedy in Newtown Brings Thoughts of a First Lady

100 Years Ago – 12/12/1912 in Fraternity and Sorority History

Today is 12/12/2012. One hundred years ago, on 12/12/1912, a Thursday, the world was a different place. Taking a glimpse into what was happening in the Greek-letter organization world a century ago offers a wonderful insight. While life is vastly … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Omicron Pi, Amherst College, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Mu, Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History, The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi, University of Idaho, University of Illinois, University of Maine, University of Minnesota, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Phi Beta Kappa Society, Oldest Greek Letter Organization

The Phi Beta Kappa Society was founded on December 5, 1776 by five College of William and Mary students. The first meeting of the organization took place in the Old Raleigh Tavern’s Apollo Room. As the first Greek-letter collegiate society, it … Continue reading

Posted in Colleges and Universities, Dartmouth College, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Harvard University, Phi Beta Kappa, Yale University | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Phi Beta Kappa Society, Oldest Greek Letter Organization

P.E.O. Bling – Supporting the Education of Women

“If someone doesn’t outbid her, you know it’ll soon be the subject of a blog post!” said my favorite Presbyterian pastor at our P.E.O. chapter’s annual fundraiser. And here the post is! The collection of P.E.O. themed items that our chapter president … Continue reading

Posted in Cottey College, Fran Favorite, Iowa Wesleyan College, P.E.O., Pi Beta Phi | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on P.E.O. Bling – Supporting the Education of Women

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

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 , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Knox College – the Early History of Its Women’s Fraternity System

Fraternity History and Sorority History Do Matter!

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 , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Fraternity History and Sorority History Do Matter!