Category Archives: Women’s Fraternities

NPC Organizations That No Longer Exist; A Reflection on International Badge Day

The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) celebrates International Badge Day on the first Monday in March. NPC asks its members to “Wear Your Letters on Your Heart.” Men’s fraternities and other Greek-letter organizations have joined in on the fun. The more the merrier, … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Phi, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Association of Education Sororities, Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, Delta Zeta, George Washington University, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Hunter College, Miami University, National Panhellenic Conference, Phi Mu, Sigma Kappa, Sorority History, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, The Phoenix of Alpha Sigma Alpha, Thiel College, University of California, University of California at Berkeley, University of Illinois, University of Missouri, Women's Fraternity History, Zeta Tau Alpha | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on NPC Organizations That No Longer Exist; A Reflection on International Badge Day

The 100th Anniversary of the Suffrage Parade, Sorority Women, and a Guest Appearance by High School Student J. Edgar Hoover

This weekend marks the 100th anniversary of the March 3, 1913 Suffrage Parade in Washington, D.C. Among the women who marched were sorority/fraternity women. Pi Beta Phi Carrie Chapman Catt was one of the speakers. Pi Beta Phi’s former Grand … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Chi Omega, Carrie Chapman Catt, Chi Omega, Delta Sigma Theta, Fran Favorite, George Washington University, GLO, Goucher College, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Howard University, National Panhellenic Conference, Notable Sorority Women, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Kappa, The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi, The Lyre of Alpha Chi Omega, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The 100th Anniversary of the Suffrage Parade, Sorority Women, and a Guest Appearance by High School Student J. Edgar Hoover

Sorority Women Who Have Won Oscars at the Academy Awards

The list of sorority women who have won Academy Awards: Best Picture Nancy Utley Jacobs, Chi Omega, President of Fox Searchlight, Producers of 2014’s Best Picture 12 Years a Slave and 2015’s Birdman Best Actress Kathy Bates, Alpha Delta Pi, Misery … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi, Chi Omega, Delta Zeta, Fran Favorite, Gamma Phi Beta, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Alpha Theta, National Panhellenic Conference, Notable Fraternity Women, Notable Sorority Women, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Gamma Rho, Sorority History, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Sorority Women Who Have Won Oscars at the Academy Awards

The First Time NPC Met in Denver, Winter 1930

The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) usually meets in the fall. However, there have been some exceptions. The 21st NPC meeting took place from February 23-28, 1930 at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, Colorado. It is likely most of the … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Delta Pi, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, National Panhellenic Conference, Pi Beta Phi, The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The First Time NPC Met in Denver, Winter 1930

Celebrating the Rebirth of Two NPC Alpha Chapters!

This spring two National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) organizations are recolonizing their Alpha chapters. Zeta Tau Alpha is returning to its birthplace at Longwood University. Alpha Omicron Pi is revitalizing the chapter whose home will be the now co-ed Columbia University, with … Continue reading

Posted in Barnard College, Boston University, Colby College, DePauw University, Farmville Four, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Knox College, Lombard College, Longwood University, Miami University, Mount Holyoke College, National Panhellenic Conference, Sorority History, Syracuse University, Women's Fraternities | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Happy Birthday Mizzou! In 1902, There Were Only Two – KKΓ and ΠBΦ

“Happy Birthday Mizzou! Founded in 1839 as America’s first public university west of the Mississippi,” read the status of one of my Pi Phi friend’s facebook page. How could I not cobble together a quick post from my dissertation, Coeducation … Continue reading

Posted in GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Kappa Gamma, National Panhellenic Conference, Notable Sorority Women, Pi Beta Phi, Sorority History, University of Missouri, Women's Fraternity History, Zeta Tau Alpha | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Happy Birthday Mizzou! In 1902, There Were Only Two – KKΓ and ΠBΦ

“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

Mary Kingsbury Simkhovitch, Settlement House Founder and Kappa Kappa Gamma

Mary Kingsbury Simkhovitch was a social worker at a time when that discipline was in its infancy. She was also a fraternity woman and played a role in the first gathering of what came to be the National Panhellenic Conference. … Continue reading

Posted in Boston University, Conventions, Fraternity meetings, GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, Kappa Kappa Gamma, National Panhellenic Conference, Notable Sorority Women, The Key of Kappa Kappa Gamma | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Mary Kingsbury Simkhovitch, Settlement House Founder and Kappa Kappa Gamma

“War Work” by NPC Groups During World War I

World War I opened the doors to greater philanthropic efforts by the NPC groups. The war began in 1914 and although America did not enter it until 1917, the NPC magazines of that era tell about the hasty departures of … Continue reading

Posted in GLO, Greek-letter Organization, Greek-letter Organization History, National Panhellenic Conference, Notable Sorority Women, Women's Fraternities, Women's Fraternity History | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on “War Work” by NPC Groups During World War I

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