Category Archives: First Ladies

Grace Coolidge, Loyal Pi Beta Phi

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

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A Phi Gam Starts a National Tradition, Helped by His Pi Phi Wife

This year’s White House ornament honors the presidency of my favorite First Couple. It was during his administration that the White House Christmas tree tradition began. The White House Historical Association does a great job of telling the story of … Continue reading

Posted in Amherst College, First Ladies, Grace Coolidge, Phi Gamma Delta, Pi Beta Phi, University of Vermont | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on A Phi Gam Starts a National Tradition, Helped by His Pi Phi Wife

The Monmouth Duo of First Ladies and More

I’m on my way out the door without time to write a real post, but there are three things I want to write about. Cyndy Bittinger, the former Executive Director of the Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation, is an expert on Grace … Continue reading

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Grace and Calvin Coolidge, Baseball, and the Two O’Haras

On Friday, July 3, 2015 another president made his debut in the fourth-inning mascot race during the Washington Nationals baseball game. It happened to take place on the evening before his birthday. The new guy just happened to win the … Continue reading

Posted in Delta Kappa Epsilon, First Ladies, Fran Favorite, Gamma Phi Beta, Grace Coolidge, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Phi Gamma Delta, Pi Beta Phi, Presidents, Psi Upsilon, Stanford University, The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi, University of Vermont | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Grace and Calvin Coolidge, Baseball, and the Two O’Haras

On the 4th – Calvin Coolidge, Charles Dawes, and Lou Gehrig – Fraternity Men All!

Last week, while I was at the Pi Beta Phi Convention, one of the first things past Grand President Sarah Ruth “Sis” Mullis said to me, after she gave me one of her patented Sis hugs, was “Frances (and she’s one … Continue reading

Posted in Amherst College, Calvin Coolidge, Columbia University, Delta Upsilon, First Ladies, Fran Favorite, Grace Coolidge, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta, Pi Beta Phi, University of Vermont | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on On the 4th – Calvin Coolidge, Charles Dawes, and Lou Gehrig – Fraternity Men All!

Alpha Kappa Alpha’s New Dimensions of Service and Eleanor Roosevelt on Founders’ Day

Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated, the first Greek-letter organization for African-American women, was founded on January 15, 1908 by nine young female Howard University students.  At its convention in June 2014, the sorority announced “Launching New Dimensions of Service” with five … Continue reading

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Grace Coolidge and the Rebecca, the First Family’s Raccoon, Attend the 1927 Easter Egg Roll

Grace Goodhue Coolidge, a University of Vermont Pi Beta Phi, has the distinction of attending all of the Easter Monday egg-rolling events which took place on the White House lawn during her tenure as First Lady. She was the first … Continue reading

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On NPC Badge Day, a Very Special Badge

March 3 is National Panhellenic Conference’s International Badge Day. On March 4, 1925, Calvin Coolidge was inaugurated as the 30th President of the United States, a role in which he had been serving after Warren G. Harding’s death.* What better way … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Sigma Alpha, First Ladies, Fran Favorite, GLO, Grace Coolidge, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, National Panhellenic Conference, Phi Gamma Delta, Pi Beta Phi, Presidents, Sorority History, University of Vermont, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on On NPC Badge Day, a Very Special Badge

“ΦΓΔ Grieves. ΣΧ Sympathizes, as Former President Calvin Coolidge Enters the Chapter Eternal.”

Two days after her 54th birthday, Grace Goodhue Coolidge became a widow. The 30th President died suddenly on the morning of January 5, 1933. “Calvin Coolidge, Greatest of Fraternity Presidents, Mourned by Greeks” is the headline of an article in … Continue reading

Posted in Amherst College, Calvin Coolidge, First Ladies, Fran Favorite, GLO, Grace Coolidge, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Indiana University, Kappa Alpha Psi, Phi Gamma Delta, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Chi, University of Vermont | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on “ΦΓΔ Grieves. ΣΧ Sympathizes, as Former President Calvin Coolidge Enters the Chapter Eternal.”

A Birthday Tribute to Grace Goodhue Coolidge

Today, January 3, is the birthday of First Lady Grace Goodhue Coolidge. As a student at the University of Vermont, she was one of the charter members of the Vermont Beta Chapter of Pi Beta Phi. In fact, the chapter … Continue reading

Posted in Calvin Coolidge, First Ladies, Fran Favorite, GLO, Grace Coolidge, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History, University of Vermont | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on A Birthday Tribute to Grace Goodhue Coolidge