Category Archives: Men’s Fraternities

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!

New Ocean House, Swampscott, MA, the Site of Many Fraternity and Sorority Conventions

From the 1920s until the 1960s, the  New Ocean House in Swampscott, Massachusetts, was the site of many conventions, including those of fraternities and sororities. Alpha Chi Omega’s 1924 convention took place at the New Ocean House. Kappa Kappa Gammas … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Chi Omega, Calvin Coolidge, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, First Ladies, Fran Favorite, Fraternity meetings, GLO, Grace Coolidge, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Kappa Sigma, Phi Gamma Delta, The Anchora of Delta Gamma, The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on New Ocean House, Swampscott, MA, the Site of Many Fraternity and Sorority Conventions

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

Walt Disney World and Fraternity Connections?

Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, is a magical place, at least that’s how my family and I regard it. For decades, Greek-letter organizations have had conventions in or near the Disney Parks. Sometimes the organizations spend a “day at the … Continue reading

Posted in Fran Favorite, Kappa Alpha Theta, Men's Fraternities, Sorority History | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Walt Disney World and Fraternity Connections?

Happy Birthday Delta Gamma – Founded During a Christmas Holiday!

Delta Gamma was founded at the Oxford Female Institute, also known as the Lewis School, at Oxford, Mississippi. The school was established before the Civil War and eventually was absorbed by the University of Mississippi. Delta Gamma’s three founders, Eva … Continue reading

Posted in Delta Gamma, Founders' Day, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, National Panhellenic Conference, Notable Sorority Women, Phi Delta Theta, Sorority History | Tagged , | Comments Off on Happy Birthday Delta Gamma – Founded During a Christmas Holiday!

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

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

Happy Birthday AFA and a Belated Birthday Greeting to NIC!

The Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA) was founded on December 1, 1976. The momentous occasion took place in Williamsburg, Virginia,  during the 1976 Bicentennial gathering of the National Interfraternity Conference. AFA began with 35 members.  AFA offers professional growth and … Continue reading

Posted in Association of Fraternity Advisors, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Delta Tau Delta, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Men's Fraternities, National Panhellenic Conference, North-American Interfraternity Conference, Notable Sorority Women, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Chi, Sigma Nu, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sorority History | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Happy Birthday AFA and a Belated Birthday Greeting to NIC!