Category Archives: Men’s Fraternities

Happy Founders’ Day Delta Gamma and Phi Delta Theta!

March 15 is the day on which both Delta Gamma and Phi Delta Theta celebrate Founders’ Day. It is the birthday of Robert Morrison, one of Phi Delta Theta’s six founders. The organization was founded on December 26, 1848 at … Continue reading

Posted in Delta Gamma, Founders' Day, George Banta, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Miami University, National Panhellenic Conference, NIC, North-American Interfraternity Conference, Phi Delta Theta, Sorority History, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Happy Founders’ Day Delta Gamma and Phi Delta Theta!

Baird’s Manual of American College Fraternities Debuted 135 Years Ago

My thanks to Christopher Walters, a fraternity history enthusiast and a member of Phi Mu Alpha, for writing this blog post. In 1879 a revolution occurred in the fraternity world. It was in March of that year when a little booklet, … Continue reading

Posted in Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, Beta Theta Pi, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, NIC, North-American Interfraternity Conference, Sorority History, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Baird’s Manual of American College Fraternities Debuted 135 Years Ago

Happy Founders’ Day Sigma Pi – The Founding of the SIUC Chapter

February 26 is recognized as Sigma Pi’s Founders’ Day. In honor of my next-door neighbor, a former Grand Sage and charter member of the chapter at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, I offer this snippet about the history of the chapter. … Continue reading

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Happy Founders’ Day Phi Kappa Psi!

Today is Phi Kappa Psi’s Founders’ Day. I know this because I follow the tweets of Mike McCoy, Phi Psi’s Historian (@PhiPsiArchives). Mike has attended the National Archives Conference for Fraternities and Sororities.  At the conference in the summer of … Continue reading

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A Fraternity of Firsts – Heth Aleph Re at Tufts University

My thanks to Charlie Trantanella, Sigma Nu,  for this contribution. A graduate of Tufts University and the University of Arizona, he is currently writing a book entitled “Brown and Blue and Greek: A history of fraternities, sororities, and early student … Continue reading

Posted in Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Sigma Nu, Tufts University | Tagged , , | Comments Off on A Fraternity of Firsts – Heth Aleph Re at Tufts University

“Hazing as Girls Practice It” – The University of Chicago’s Esoteric Club, 1896

“What objection can Miss Talbott (sic) make to a national fraternity in the face of this?” was written on a page that had an undated article entitled “Hazing as Girls Practice it.” It was in with some late 1890s correspondence … Continue reading

Posted in American Association of University Women, Bradley University, Davida Harper Eaton, Delta Sigma Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), National Panhellenic Conference, Phi Delta Theta, Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History, University of Chicago, Women's Fraternities, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on “Hazing as Girls Practice It” – The University of Chicago’s Esoteric Club, 1896

The Surprises Archivists Love to Get – Kappa Delta’s Unexpected Gift

Meeting archivists from other fraternities has been a joy! Shirley McCann Gee is the Kappa Delta Foundation Archives Manager. Shirley and I have attended the two National Archives Conference for Fraternities and Sororities that have taken place at the University … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Delta Phi, Delta Gamma, Fran Favorite, George Banta, Panhellenic House, Phi Kappa Psi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, The Lyre of Alpha Chi Omega | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Surprises Archivists Love to Get – Kappa Delta’s Unexpected Gift

Happy Founders’ Day, Kappa Alpha Theta!

On January 27, 1870, Bettie Locke [Hamilton] stood before a mirror and repeated the words of the Kappa Alpha Theta initiation vow she had written. She then initiated Alice Allen [Brant], Bettie Tipton [Lindsey], and Hannah Fitch [Shaw]. In 1867, … Continue reading

Posted in DePauw University, Founders' Day, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Alpha Theta, Notable Sorority Women, Phi Gamma Delta, Sorority History, Women's Fraternities | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Happy Founders’ Day, Kappa Alpha Theta!

George Banta and the Delta Gamma / Phi Delta Theta Connection

There are a few men who names emerge in the history of women’s fraternities/sororities. These men include Dr. Wesley P. Coddington, Dr. Charles Richardson, Dr. Guy Potter Benton, and the Right Reverend Edward D. Kelly. The man most influential in … Continue reading

Posted in Delta Gamma, Fran Favorite, Franklin College, Fraternity meetings, George Banta, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, National Panhellenic Conference, Phi Delta Theta, Sorority History, The Anchora of Delta Gamma | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on George Banta and the Delta Gamma / Phi Delta Theta Connection

“My Sorority,” A Surprise Gift

A surprise gift from my Alpha Gamma Delta and P.E.O. friend, Nann Blaine Hilyard, set me on a quest to find out more about her delightful gift. It was wrapped in star paper and tied with a yellow ribbon, harkening, … Continue reading

Posted in American Association of University Women, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, P.E.O., Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Chi, Sorority History, University of Illinois, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on “My Sorority,” A Surprise Gift