Category Archives: Fran Favorite

1887 – When Illinois Was the West

It always catches me off guard when I see Illinois referred to as “the West.” In 1867, when Pi Beta Phi was founded and in 1870 when Kappa Alpha Theta and Kappa Kappa Gamma were founded, Illinois was the western frontier. … Continue reading

Posted in DePauw University, Fran Favorite, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Monmouth College, Pi Beta Phi | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on 1887 – When Illinois Was the West

Born in 1910 – A Lifetime in Gatlinburg!

Tuesday’s mail had the most pleasant surprise. The envelope was from Marie Maddox in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I immediately recognized the name. Marie is a teacher at Pi Beta Phi Elementary School in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. For Pi Beta Phi’s Centennial of Literary Service … Continue reading

Posted in Fran Favorite, Pi Beta Phi | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Born in 1910 – A Lifetime in Gatlinburg!

A Messy Desk Must Mean I’m Laboring on Labor Day

I’ve been writing. In fact, I’ve been writing a lot. Ice pack and Advil a lot. As a freelance project, I am writing about the history of a chapter of a men’s fraternity at a particular university. I love learning … Continue reading

Posted in Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Lambda Chi Alpha, Mount Holyoke College, Syracuse University, University of Maine | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

8/30/1912 + Bishop Kelly + 10 Founders = Happy 102 Years Theta Phi Alpha!

A few men have had roles in the founding of National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sororities. Dr. Wellesley P. Coddington (Syracuse Triad), George Banta (Delta Gamma), and Dr. Charles Richardson (Chi Omega) are some whose names quickly come to mind. Of that small … Continue reading

Posted in Founders' Day, Fran Favorite, Theta Phi Alpha, University of Michigan | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The G.I. Bill Changed Higher Education

Monday’s post, “A Memory of Fraternities” came back to me as I was reading a 1945 report from a fraternity chapter at the University of Illinois, “As did everyone, we had the strange problem during rushing of not knowing some of … Continue reading

Posted in Fran Favorite, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Syracuse University | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The G.I. Bill Changed Higher Education

2014 Emmys and the 19th Amendment

Congratulations to the winners of the 2014 Emmy Awards. Phi Gamma Delta Seth Meyers hosted the event which took place yesterday, on a Monday night. Congratulations to the members of Greek-letter organizations who won Emmys. They include: Ty Burrell, Sigma … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Delta Pi, Delta Gamma, Fran Favorite, Phi Gamma Delta, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on 2014 Emmys and the 19th Amendment

A “Memory of Fraternities” and Nile Kinnick in a 1945 Hawkeye

As I was working the Friends of Carbondale Public Library book sale on Saturday, I took a break and looked through the yearbooks we have for sale. Most are Obelisks from Southern Illinois University, but there was a copy of … Continue reading

Posted in Fran Favorite, Phi Kappa Psi, University of Iowa | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Thank You @CanadianGreeks

Canadian Greeks ‏@CanadianGreeks Fun fact: Maryon Moody Pearson (@KKGBetaPsiUofT @UofTSororities) famously said “Behind every successful man, there stands a surprised woman” That fun fact, posted on the Pearson’s 89th wedding anniversary made me smile this morning. I was planning a post about … Continue reading

Posted in Delta Upsilon, Fran Favorite, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Kappa Gamma, National Panhellenic Conference, NIC, North-American Interfraternity Conference, Phi Delta Theta | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Thank You @CanadianGreeks

Lost in 1887, Making Sorority Connections, Wasting Time

I am knee-deep in the 1880s researching an upcoming talk. I’m going through an 1887 Arrow of Pi Beta Phi which has the organization’s first directory of members included in it. My mind is wandering to all corners of the … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Xi Delta, Fran Favorite, Pi Beta Phi, The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Welcome New GLO Members!!!

My friend, an anthropologist, occasionally reads this blog. The topics really aren’t of interest to her, but every now and then she’ll remark on something I’ve written. I am not sure she understands Greek-letter organizations at all, but she knows that … Continue reading

Posted in Fran Favorite | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Welcome New GLO Members!!!