AOII Centennial History Book

IJ
its staid format to one of wit and humor. Among the other innovations was the use of photographs for the first time, and with practical good sense, these juniors sold advertisements to help finance the publication. The pages of this 1897 edition of Mortarboard reveal the lively college days of the Class of '98. There were undergraduate clubs to satisfy many interests, including the Banjo Club, and dramatic clubs Ai Ai Hui and Sans Souci which performed its plays in French and German. A literary society and the College Settlement Association satisfied more serious interests.
The adventuresome '98ers lost no time adding their touches to life on the new campus. During the years at 343, the Junior Ball had been given in the gym- nasium of a neighborhood school. Ninety Eighters were the first to hold this social event on Barnard campus. Seats were removed from the theater in Brinckerhoff Hall to create a ballroom. Class Days had become an established event at Barnard before the school moved to the uptown campus. Again, the theater in Brinckerhoff Hall was the setting, this time the seats in place, for a formal Class Day program before an invited audience. The Class of '98 was the first to wear caps and gowns for this occasion.
Prior to the move to Morningside Heights, commencements had seen Barnard students, dressed in summer frocks and leghorn hats, seated apart from Columbia's students. At the conclusion of the ceremonies, they were asked to return to 343 to receive their diplomas. Commencement Day for Barnard's Class of 1898 found graduating seniors wearing caps and gowns and seated with students from other divisions of Columbia. Barnardians received their diplomas along with other Columbia students at the conclusion of their ceremonies.
Among the members of Barnard's sixth graduating class, this "grand and glo- rious Class of 1898," were Helen St. Clair, Jessie Hughan, Elizabeth Wyman, and Stella Stern whose strong scholastic records, devotion to their class- mates, and intense loyalty to Alma Mater were their generous gifts to Barnard
Jessie Wallace Hughan, seated left, and Stella George Stern, seated next to Jessie, with other staff
members of the Mortarboard, Barnard College annual, circa 1897-1898
f-


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m
1
!
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1
I
Above: The Class ot 1897, r commencement procession
Right: The Banjo Club with Helen St. Clair, seated left


r
Jessie Wallace Hughan
Helen St. Clair
Stella George Stern
Elizabeth Heywood Wyman
College. To these accomplishments they had added another in their junior year, the founding of Alpha Omicron Pi.
Their junior year began in the Fall of 1896. Helen St. Clair, Jessie Wallace Hughan. and Stella George Stern sought out Elizabeth (Bess) Heywood Wyman, whom they felt must inevitably be one of their members. Bess had attended Wellesley College in her first year and had transferred to Barnard as a sophomore. They met just about everywhere, including the soda fountain in Huylers' or over eclairs in Purcell's old restaurant. They often met in the janitor's basement seated on a box-like refrigerator. A parrot hung close by and the students' coats and hats draped the scene. The most serious plans were made in Stella's boarding house or the parlor of Helen's house. Her mother was very good to the girls. In these meeting places, the Ritual and the first constitution were planned.
These four were honest women of purpose who epitomized the rarest quali- ties of faith, hope, and charity. Stella Stern told us the Founders wanted a fra- ternity that would carry on the delightful friendships and cooperation of col- lege days into the years ahead, and do so magnanimously, both during school and alumnae life. The Founders were committed to establishing a democra- tic fraternity — democratic in choosing members and democratic in the internal government. They especially wanted a fraternity with no snobbery, no ostentation, no extravagance, and no exclusiveness. They were dedicated to having a fraternity whose members would be chosen for character and never excluded because of religious or any spurious reason. Above all, they wanted a high purpose to justify the organization's existence and devotion to a worthy cause which would make the fraternity a happy and enriching experience for its members.
On December 23, 1896 the four Founders, brought together by a feeling greater than ordinary friendship, pledged themselves to each other. This event took place in the stack room of the old Columbia College Library down on Madison Avenue, among the ancient tomes and as they sat in the old Gothic window seat. On January 2, 1897 they approved the constitution, fin- ished the formal Initiation Ritual, and agreed upon the badge. This was the official founding day of Alpha Omicron Pi. One week later Anne Richardson Hall was initiated, and on January 15. Edith Josephine Hulbuk. a graduate student, was received into the fraternity.
Our Founders studied Greek in college. Their love of the Greek language and dedication to values of truth and simplicity were stressed in our jewelry, Rituals, and democratic government. Stella wrote. "One of the first decisions we made was to have one emblem only and that a direct reminder of our essential purpose. We felt that would give us enough to live up to. and would identify us at least as well as would numerous supplementary devices...We did not want a design that showed some little object and resembled a breast pin or broach or lace pin. and we did not want one that looked like a school pin or could be mistaken, if not scrutinized, for the badge of many other societies.
"Theodore B. Starr was the "Cartier of that period and the Starr designer of insignia was the foremost artist of his kind. We engaged Starr and this design- er to arrange the proportions. We went to see them about it on our bicycles. (Fancy girls going down Broadway and Fifth Avenue on bicycles today!)"
Stella also told us "The Jacqueminot rose was chosen as our flower because it
56


k
is the symbol of our central and essential virtue. It was our idea that the gen- erosity, the ever-unfolding of the rose, making new beauty with each unwrap- ping of its hidden heart, that its perfume, enduring even after death and sweetening the containing waters, made it fitting for a garland to bind us. The strong red with its overtone of courage and vigor had an added reason for the rose that matches our fraternity color, cardinal, the heart color. Among the deep red roses, the Jacqueminot seemed to us outstanding because of its richness of color and fragrance, combined with softness and modesty of bear- ing." Today, the Jacqueminot rose, a hardy stock, may be found in some old rose gardens. The roses are not long-stemmed or tightly petalled, but are widely opened, with a rich, yellow center — a heart of gold.
The badge and the Jacqueminot rose were the only two symbols used by A O n in the beginning. Stella wrote, "We felt that synthetic coats of arms (besides being medieval and out of accord in societies called Greek), shields, sub-mot- toes, fraternity jewelry of a general nature stamped toilet goods and what not, and all other trifles bearing shields and coats of arms, were cheap, childish, and undignified in comparison with one austere, though rich badge. And we felt that many societies had these things not for intrinsic use-
fulness but just because the others did. By avoiding this foolish conformity, we would from the start indicate our determined simplicity."
The badges were debuted at the first entertainment hosted by Alpha Omicron Pi, which was a reception and cotillion. Miss Emily Janes Smith, Dean of Barnard College. Mrs. Seith Low, wife of the President of Columbia College, and Mrs. Abraham A. Anderson and Mrs. Van Wick Brinckerhoff, the donors of Milbanks and Brinckerhoff Halls, being the patronesses, were all invited. Since the fraternity badges were to be ready just
in time for this event, Anne Richardson Hall was sent down to Fifth Avenue on her bicycle to get them. Anne stopped to talk to friends and then, aware of time passing, said anx- iously, "Oh, I must go. I am going to get our badges. We have nothing else to wear at the cotillion." Soon after this, Beta Epsilon Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma enter- tained Alpha Omicron Pi and the new fraternity became established as a feature of Barnard College life.
The first meeting of the fraternity's Grand Council was on July 27, 1898. The Grand Council was the "gov- erning board of the fraternity" and the members were to include the four Founders (serving for life), one alumna member from each chapter, and the President of each chapter (serving without a vote). All officers were to serve for two-year terms with the exception of the Founders who served for life. At this time there were only 12 initiated members of AOn. The Grand Council consisted of six of these members, the four Founders, and Alpha Chapter members Anne Richardson Hall and Agnes Dickson. They discussed the possibility of Stella working on establishing a chapter at H . Sophie Newcomb Memorial College in New Orleans, Louisiana.
#4L
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Stella George Stern, Alpha Grand President 1898-1905
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1898 - 1899
Stella George Stern, Alpha
Grand President
Helen St. Clair, Alpha
Grand Secretary
COLLEGIATE CHAPTER INSTALLATIONS
Alpha Chapter (Barnard College - Columbia University, New York, New York). January 2, 1897
Pi Chapter (Hi Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, New Orleans, Louisiana), September 8, 1898
Class Roll.
AM*B.H.Mayar • Edith Helen Bo****- * " Ida Kioto* Welle
Ann. Richardson Hall .
jMate Wallace Hufhan Ida KldM Walla • Bulla Oaorfa *
President Vtce-PTueident Secretary
At the second meeting of Grand Council, Stella Stern was elected Grand President and Helen St. Clair Grand Secretary. (In addition to handling sec- retarial duties, Helen also acted as the fraternity's Treasurer). The constitu- tion provided for additional offices, however the Grand Council felt that a full slate of officers was not necessary at that time. In subsequent meetings they also began devising a plan to prove to Barnard that with the addition of the chapter at Sophie Newcomb, AOn was truly a national fraternity. This would help AOfl gain recognition at Barnard and gain a chapter room similar to the ones already given to Kappa Kappa Gamma and Kappa Alpha Theta.
Having more than one chapter necessitated adopting procedures for naming new chapters. The head chapter, or Mother Chapter, took the name "Alpha." It was determined that each chapter of the fraternity was to choose its own name. Permitting each chapter to select its own name was a democratic delegation of choice to chapters and later resulted in many interesting reasons for names given to chapters. Bess Wyman was well versed in Greek and volunteered to help translate the sub-mottoes for each chapter.
Alpha Omicron Pi established Pi Chapter at H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College on September 8, 1898. Stella initiated Katherine Reed as a charter member of Pi Chapter. Katherine was a friend of Stella's from her days as a student at Sophie Newcomb before going to Barnard. The other prospective members were unable to come because of a yellow fever scare. At Newcomb, almost identical conditions prevailed as at Barnard. There was one estab- lished fraternity and all other nationals were interested in going on that campus. The women's ideals and reasons for this courageous course of join- ing a brand new fraternity were identical to those that led to the founding of Alpha Omicron Pi. The Founders could not overestimate Pi Chapter's brav- ery and loyalty. With the establishment of Pi Chapter, Alpha Omicron Pi had become national in character in less than one year's time.
AOn's third chapter resulted from Helen St. Clair's attending New York University Law School on a scholarship after graduating from Barnard. She met some very intelligent and interesting women and founded Nu Chapter. Installed in 1900, this chapter, with so many legal minds, made its valuable contribution by keeping the democratic legislation understandable and true to the original reasons for the founding of AOfl.
Class Roll.
Fannie lasted Alward Clara da Uaaa Berg
•KoaaUa Bloomla«dale Edith Halaa Boatakee
•Lillian Bridgurt
bouise Falter Da Hart julte Hutchana Farwell Anna Rlchardaon Hall
KathartoattacMon Hawaiaa -Adeline Helnold
•Bertha Hobba
Jeaaia Wallaea Hafban •Marjoria Jacob!
Louiee EUsabath Lacey Ella Rouolle Lathrop
Acnaa Crawford Laaycraft
Emily Jamea Smith, •Former member.
.
Pr-aaentation Orator
Tie—»rer Historian
. Prophat Poet
L o u i . e Fuller Da Hart


ltt.ll. larti. MlH.W,, Meyer
Frunce. Qrtimi wOrmy P e rkine
•brito Frttard
toOTB* I,tern MMVoi,theUy •ttsraon
ith Hey v 0 < > d Wymm
Hold fast ! Hold fast to what is fair ! Tin beautiful be ours !
O, beaut/ lit our pennant bear
Among its scarlet flowers,
And all the world that beauty share. Hold fast! Hold fast to what is fair!
%And fairest, Most beloved, 'Beneath the white and blue, To Barnard, Alma Mater, Let us be ever true.
Hold fast! Hold fast to what is fair ! The beautiful for ever !
Our college life, its jo? and cote.
Its every fond endeavor
Through all theyears one message bear,
STELLA
GEOEGE STERN
Program
Class Sang.
Class Song.
xAnd fairest, Most beloved, 'Beneath the white and blue, To Barnard, Alma Mater, Let us be ever true.
Hold fast ! Hold fast to what is fair ' The beautiful be ours !
O, Love that years shall not impair Hjjoict in these last hours,
And bind us with the will to dare
Hold fast ! Hold fast to what it fair t
Jkndfairest, Most beloved, 'Beneath the whits and bine, To Barnard, Alma Mater, IVe will be ever true.
xarex* r<* uaXer.
Hold fast I
Hold fast to what it fair !
MUSIC BY HELEN ST. CLAIR
C , ^ofl897Co
mm
59
en
Cem
e n t


Alpha Omicron Pi had three chapters and 37 members in 1900. The quick growth into a national organization demanded much attention to each of the very different and versatile chapters. The challenges that came with growth required the young organization to unify its thinking and still hold to its ideals and purpose. Many exciting developments for the fraternity took place during this time. The fraternity's Executive Committee of the Grand Council was created and became operational; chapter traditions were developed; the fraternity magazine To Dragma was first published; and the first convention took place.
The first full slate of Grand Council Officers was elected at the Grand Council meeting held on December 3, 1901. The Executive Committee of Grand Council was added to the Constitution of AOIl and was "to meet at least once a month during the academic year and have the power to act for the Grand Council in all administrative matters." It consisted of all Grand officers except the Grand Door Keeper and the Grand Historian. The first meeting of the Executive Committee took place on March 20, 1903.
In 1902 Alpha Omicron Pi chartered its second Southern chapter, Omicron, at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. The first collegiate chapter installation Ritual was developed by Florence Lucas Sanville, Alpha, and Helen St. Clair Mullan, Alpha (Barnard College, New York, New York), as they planned to install Omicron Chapter. The installation Ritual was simply the original Ritual that was enlarged and made more general. They asked that the installations of all new chapters follow the new installation Ritual.
It already was apparent that the efforts of the alumnae were being felt and the development of alumnae chapters would be the next step which was heralded by discussions about the need for a New York alumnae chapter. It turned out that most members of Alpha Chapter and Nu Chapter (New York University, New York, New York) preferred to put their time and money into their own collegiate chapters rather than into an alumnae chapter. The Grand Council voted not to pursue the start up of alumnae chapters unless a group petitioned for a charter.
Recognizing the need for alumnae support, every active (collegiate) chapter was directed to appoint an adviser immediately from among those who had been associate (alumnae) members for more than one year. It would be the adviser's duty to attend chapter meetings and serve as a working member of the Entertainment Committee. Subsequent advisers would be chosen at the annual election of chapter officers each year.
The fifth chapter of AOn, Kappa, was chartered at Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, Virginia on April 13, 1903. One of the charter mem- bers, Minnie Woodward, was inspired by her Omicron Chapter cousin to start the Kappa Chapter. In this same year, A O n made its first move to the West with the installation of Zeta Chapter at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska.
A petition for the chartering of the New York Alumnae Chapter, AOFI's first 60


alumnae chapter, was received in 1904. The chapter was for alumnae of any chapter who resided within the surrounding area of New York City and New Jersey.
For the first time, the annual meeting of the Grand Council, held during the 1904 Christmas week, was made an occasion of a general gathering of the members of the fraternity. It was held in New York, New York from December 27 to 31. The facilities used for this meeting were the Alpha Chapter apart- ment, Nu Chapter room, and facilities on the Barnard and New York University campuses. The first To Dragma reported. "Heretofore the yearly meeting has consisted of one business session, at the close of which the mem- bers of the Council have scattered to their homes." Along with the business sessions, time was made for purely social events such as luncheons, dances, and going to a play. The program was printed and a copy was sent to every member of the fraternity encouraging them to attend all events except the business sessions. A committee consisting of one member of the Executive Committee and one representative from each of the New York chapters was put in charge of the arrangements for this meeting. Although there were not as many delegates in attendance as the Grand Council had wished, the meet- ing was enjoyable for all who attended and it was decided the same format would be used for all following meetings.
Items discussed at the meeting included: the Inter-Sorority Conference (which later was called the National Panhellenic Congress and the National Panhellenic Conference), the financing of To Dragma, social service work as proposed by Kappa Kappa Gamma, and the raising of dues for collegiate chapters and alumnae members.
In 1905 Alpha Omicron Pi became a member of the Inter-Sorority Conference. This move had been under consideration by the Grand Council since 1902. The main objectives of the Inter-Sorority Conference were to improve the methods of rushing and pledging. Other issues the Conference dealt with were the challenges of co-education, unsatisfactory scholarship standards, inadequate female facilities, and unsatisfactory chaperones. The
Nu Chapter charter members, 1900
The World about Us
United States President William McKinley was shot and killed dur- ing a reception at the Pan-Amer- ican Exposition in Buffalo on September 6.1901.
Thanks to the women's suffrage movement, women were assert- ing their rights in politics and sports. Colleges and universities began offering competitive sports to female students.
Ice cream cones, iced tea. and ham- burgers were introduced at the St. Louis W orld's Fair.
The city of San Francisco was rav- aged by an earthquake in 1906.
Only four percent of the population had acquired college diplomas.


FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1899 - 1900
Stella George Stern, Alpha
Grand President
Helen St. Clair, Alpha
Grand Secretary
1900 - 1901
Stella George Stem, Alpha
Grand President
Helen St. Clair Mullan, Alpha
Grand Secretary
1901 - 1902
Stella George Stern, Alpha
Grand President
Katharine Van H o m e , Alpha
Grand Vice President
Agnes Lillian Dickson, Alpha
Grand Recording Secretary
Helen St. Clair Mullan, Alpha
Grand Corresponding Secretary
Margaret May Burnett, Nu
Grand Treasurer
Jessie Wallace Hughan, Alpha
Grand Historian
Jessie Ashley, Nu
Grand Doorkeeper
Helen Van Tych Arthur, Nu
Chairman of Committee on New Chapters
Florence Lucas Sanville, Alpha
Chairman of Committee on Fraternity Magazine
1902 - 1903 1903 - 1904
Stella George Stem, Alpha
Grand President
Jessie Ashley, Nu
Grand Vice President
Agnes Lillian Dickson, Alpha
Grand Recording Secretary
Helen St. Clair Mullan, Alpha
Grand Corresponding Secretary
Elizabeth Heywood Wyman, Alpha
Grand Treasurer
Jessie Wallace Hughan, Alpha
AOn Delegate was Helen St. Clair Mullan, Alpha (Barnard College, New York, New York), and the Alternate Delegate was Jeanette Magdalen Wick Abdullah, Alpha. When Jeanette resigned in 1906, Lula Ellis King Bigelow, Alpha, became the Alternate.
A fraternity magazine had been dreamed of since the beginning and a Committee on Publications had been appointed back in 1901, but a lack of funds prevented the first edition of To Dragma from appearing until January 1905. Helen Katherine Hoy of Nu Chapter (New York University, New York, New York) was the first Editor. The issue included articles on the founding of Alpha Omicron Pi, the history of the Grand Council, a report of the Inter- Sorority Conference, songs, chapter news, and a membership directory. The first To Dragma contained 68 pages and measured 6 x 9 inches, a popular format of that time. The original plan was to publish three times per year.
Grand Historian
Bessie Swan Nelson, Alpha
Grand Doorkeeper
Helen Van Tych Arthur, Nu
Chairman of Committee on New
Chapters
"As to the magazine's name, the symbolism of which nowadays needs no elu- cidation to any member of Alpha Omicron Pi, it is amusing to read in old records that there was some objection to it, when it was first proposed, on the ground that it was not sufficiently dignified!" wrote Founder Stella Perry in the 1925 Silver Anniversary edition of To Dragma. "The counter suggestion was made that The Alpha would be more practical. You see, for the first 10 years or more of the life of Alpha Omicron Pi, the fraternity was known famil- iarly on campuses as 'Alpha' - not as 'Alpha O' or 'AOIT as is now usual; and, I believe, the oldsters still prefer to hear us called simply, 'Alpha.' In the end, those of us with more imagination prevailed, and our lovely, symbolic name, To Dragma, was chosen by the Grand Council. We had a name for it long before we had a magazine."
Editor Helen Hoy wrote the following editorial in the first edition: "The appearance of this first number of To Dragma marks the fulfillment of a hope long deferred. It has, indeed, seemed that of making a magazine there is no end, and each edition is a weariness of the flesh. However, here the little mag- azine is at last, and as it starts out in life let us say with heartiness: Here's a health to you, To Dragma! May you live long and prosper!"
Grand Council was busy with operational details of a growing national frater- nity. At the request of Kappa Chapter (Randolph-Macon Woman's College, Lynchburg, Virginia) they began the development of a fraternity examination
Florence Lucas Sanville, Alpha
Chairman of Committee on
Fraternity
Magazine
•
Kappa Chapter, 1908
4
62
\


for new members. They enlisted the help of Zeta Chapter (University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Nebraska) in the development of this exam. In 1906 this formal examination of new members on fraternity matters was made a requirement during their first year of membership. This exam was assigned to the third week of November each year under the supervision of an exam- ining officer. Also in 1906. the lyrics to the Alpha Omicron Pi "Grace" were written by Mae Knight Siddell, Sigma (University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California). The pledging Ritual became compulsory for all chap- ters, the first song book was printed, and certificates of membership were developed.
MBH wt
pha Omicron Pi
;•»- ,",„':",'-•; >
I, ,1'TM"'
In 1906 Alpha Omicron Pi adopted its first national work, aid for the National Committee for the Abolition of Child Labor. The Executive Committee sanc- tioned Founder Stella George Stern Perry's efforts to interest the chapters in the work of the Child Labor Committee in 1908. Many of the chapters retained their membership for several years. Since this work did not allow for personal contact for the chapters, several of the alumnae chapters chose to do work for the handicapped, the homeless, and the hospitalized as their philanthropic endeavor.
The first official convention of Alpha Omicron Pi was a meeting of the Grand Council that was held in New York City, December 27-31, 1906. This is con- sidered the first because of the program used and the number of delegates present. Adelma Helene Burd, Nu (New York University, New York, New York), gave this account of her attendance at the first convention: "On Wednesday, December 26, the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the founding of Alpha Omicron Pi was inaugurated by the annual dance of Alpha Chapter at Barnard College. This was a delightful occasion as every one pre- sent agreed. Only one of our delegates from out of town arrived in time to attend this affair, but when on Saturday, December 29, the Grand Council held its annual business meeting at Alpha Chapter apartment, New York City,
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1904 - 1905
Stella George Stem, Alpha
Grand President
Jessie Ashley, Nu
Grand Vice President
Agnes Lillian Dickson, Alpha
Grand Recording Secretary
Helen St. Clair Mullan, Alpha
Grand Corresponding Secretary
Adelma Helene Burd, Nu
Grand Treasurer
Jessie Wallace Hughan, Alpha
Grand Historian
Elizabeth Jackson Moss, Nu
Grand Doorkeeper
Margaret Clark Sumner, Alpha
Left: First issue of 7b Dragma, first copy printed Above: Barnard College, circa 1905
Right: Page 9 of the first issue of To Dragma
63
Chairman of Committee on New Chapters
Margaret Clark Sumner. Alpha
Chairman Fraternity
of Committee on Publications


—
Adelma Helene Burd, Nu Grand President 1905-1907
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1905 - 1906
Adelma Helene Burd, Nu
Grand President
Margaret Clark Sumner, Alpha
Grand Vice President
Jessie Wallace Hughan, Alpha
Grand Recording Secretary
Helen St. Clair Mullan, Alpha
Grand Corresponding Secretary
Jeannette Wick Abdullah, Alpha
Grand Treasurer
Edith Dietz Janney, Alpha
Grand Doorkeeper
Stella George Stern, Alpha
Grand Historian
Lula King Bigelow, Zeta
Chairman of Committee on New Chapters
May Stirling Parkerson, Pi, resigned replaced by Alice Smith Thomson, Alpha, resigned March 19, 1906
replaced by Agnes Lillian Dickson, Alpha, resigned April 23, 1906
replaced by Emma Howells Burchenal, Alpha, resigned June 5, 1906
replaced by Adelma Helene Burd, Nu Chairman of Committee on
Fraternity Publications
Adelma Helene Burd, Nu
To Dragma Business Manager
Helen Hoy Greeley, Nu
we were rejoiced to have with us delegates from Pi (H. Sophie Newcomb College, New Orleans, Louisiana) and Kappa (Randolph-Macon Woman's College, Lynchburg, Virginia). The usual business was transacted and annu- al elections held, and the meeting adjourned to Monday. On that day an infor- mal open meeting was held in the Nu Chapter Room, New York University Law School, at which many items of general interest were recommended for action by the Grand Council. The one of perhaps the most general interest was the advisability of changing the time of the annual meeting to some week in the late Spring, as Christmas week is a time so full of home interest for everyone that attendance at the Grand Council at that time is impossible for many who would otherwise attend. It was agreed and passed by the Grand Council that the time for the annual meeting should be changed to the third week in June 1908.
"A delicious buffet luncheon was then served by Nu Chapter, and about three o'clock the girls dispersed, only those remaining who were entitled to attend the second business meeting of the Grand Council which was thereupon held.
"On Wednesday, the second of January, a box party of Alpha girls attended a matinee at the invitation of Miss Miller of Nu Chapter, and late on this after- noon we said good-bye to the last of our delegates. We regret to record that the New York weather did not reflect our cheer this gala week."
Sigma Chapter, 1909


Alpha Omicron Pi established its first chapter on the West Coast, Sigma at the University of California-Berkeley in Berkeley, California in 1907. Sigma Chapter was the first collegiate chapter in AOFI to have a chapter house. Formed originally as a local sorority, Alpha Beta Sigma, the chapter was liv- ing in its second house when it was installed as an AOn chapter in 1907.
First AOn Chapter House. Sigma Chapter
A favorite story of the fraternity came from the Sigma installation. Helen St. Clair Mullan, Alpha (Barnard College, New York, New York), went to officiate at the installation of Sigma Chapter. When she arrived, the prospective members of the chapter met her and expressed great disappointment and concern because their badges had not arrived. Helen, dressed in the mode of the day, was wearing a suit with a vest. With great aplomb, Helen unbuttoned her jacket. There on the vest she had pinned all of the badges to be used for initiation.
AOn gained Theta Chapter at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana with the chartering of the JFF Club on August 23,1907. The name of the JFF Club, organized in 1903, stood for "Just For Fun."
The only absorption of another national fraternity by Alpha Omicron Pi took place in 1908 when Delta Sigma Sorority was absorbed. Delta Sigma Sorority had three collegiate chapters and 169 alumnae members. These chapters that became part of AOfl were Beta Chapter (Women's College (later Pembroke) of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island), Delta Chapter (Jackson College of Tufts College, Medford, Massachusetts), and Gamma Chapter (University of Maine, Orono, Maine).
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1906 - 1907
Add ma Helene Burd. Nu
Grand President
Jeannette Wick Abdullah, Alpha
Grand Vice President
Edith Fcttrctch Marsh, Alpha
Grand Recording Secretary
Helen St. Clair Mullan, Alpha
Grand Corresponding Secretary
Bertha Rembaugh, Nu
Grand Treasurer
Jessie Wallace Hughan, Alpha
Grand Doorkeeper
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha
65
Chairman
Grand Historian
Viola Clarke Gray, Zeta
of Committee on New Chapters
Jessie Ashley, Nu
To Dragma Editor
Adelma Helene Burd, Nu
To Dragma Business Manager
Dorothy Greve McAllister, Omicron
Examining Officer
Helen St. Clair Mullan, Alpha Grand President 1907-1908
1907 - 1908
Helen St. Clair Mullan, Alpha
Grand President
Edith Fettretch Marsh, Alpha
Grand Vice President
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha
Grand Recording Secretary
Elizabeth Iverson Toms, Alpha
Grand Corresponding Secretary
Edith Prescott Ives, Nu
Grand Treasurer
Jessie Wallace Hughan, Alpha
Grand Doorkeeper
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha
Chairman
Grand Historian
Viola Clarke Gray, Zeta
of Committee on New Chapters
Jessie Ashley, Nu
To Dragma Editor
Adelma Helene Burd, Nu
To Dragma Business Manager
Dorothy Greve McAllister, Omicron
Examining Officer


4?
Jessie Ashley, Nu Grand President 1908-1910
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1908 - 1910
Jessie Ashley, Nu
Grand President
Elizabeth Iverson Toms, Alpha
Grand Recording Secretary
Ruth Capen Farmer, Delta
Grand Treasurer
Susan Katherine Gillean, Pi
Grand Vice President
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha
Grand Historian
Florence Parmelee Hill, Zeta
Auditor
Lillian MacQuillin McCausland, Beta
Registrar
Kate Brown Foster, Sigma
Examining Officer
Carrie Green Campbell, Gamma
Chairman of Committee on New Chapters
Viola Clarke Gray, Zeta
To Dragma Editor
Helen Piper Hagenbuch, Zeta
A traveling team of fraternity officers managed to install three collegiate chapters in three days. Starting out in New York City, they went to Rhode Island where they installed Beta Chapter. Later that day, they installed Delta Chapter in Massachusetts. Two days later, they installed Gamma Chapter in Maine.
Unfortunately, Beta Chapter never became fully operational because Brown University ordered all Greek letter societies to cease. However, many won- derful women, who were members of Delta Sigma at Brown, elected to become alumnae of AOn. This group included one future Grand President, Lillian MacQuillin McCausland.
Epsilon Chapter at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York originated with Edith Dupre, Pi (H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, New Orleans, Louisiana), attending Cornell for graduate work. She found several other stu- dents not affiliated with a fraternity who she felt held the same ideals as her Pi sisters at Sophie Newcomb. The chapter was installed on April 23, 1908.
The annual meeting of the Grand Council, June 19-22, 1908, was the first Grand Council meeting during which all members of AOn were allowed to attend the business meetings. For the first time there was adequate space that afforded such a large meeting. Meetings were held on the campuses of Barnard College and New York University as well as at the residence of Stella Perry in New York, New York. Luncheons were held at local restaurants including Irvington on the Hudson (the historic home ofWashington Irving), the Woman's University Club, and the Nu Chapter's famous "sky lobby" chapter room. The plan to equalize the cost for all undergraduate members to attend convention was first used at this convention and was found to be satisfactory, which led to legislation establishing a permanent system.
Legislation passed by the Grand Council at this meeting included: reducing the Executive Committee to three members (Grand President, Grand Secretary, and Grand Treasurer); combining the offices of the Grand Corresponding and Grand Recording Secretaries creating and a new office, Grand Registrar, who was to keep the fraternity rolls and original copies of important fraternity documents; and adopting a system of equalizing the expenses of stated meetings.
Rho Chapter (Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois) evolved as a result of the efforts of Carolyn Piper (Dorr). After graduating from Northwestern she became acquainted with members of Omicron Chapter (University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee). Because of the chapter's many qualities, Carolyn was inspired to start AOn's 13th chapter when she returned to Northwestern to attend graduate school.
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AOns, 1908 (Founder Stella Perry is in top photo, tar right and bottom photo, tar left.)
COLLEGIATE CHAPTER INSTALLATIONS
Nu Chapter (New York University, New York,
New York). December 26. 1900
Omicron Chapter (University of Tennessee. Knoxville. T ennessee), April 14, 1902
Kappa Chapter (Randolph-Macon Woman's College, Lynchburg, Virginia), April 13, 1903
Zeta Chapter (University of Nebraska.
Lincoln, Nebraska), June 5, 1903
Sigma Chapter (University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California). February 6, 1907
Thcta Chapter (DePauw University, Greencastle. Indiana), August 23. 1907
Beta Chapter (Brown University. Providence. Rhode Island). April 13. 1908
Delta Chapter (Jackson College of Tufts College. Medford. Massachusetts). April 13. 1908 Gamma Chapter (University of Maine, Orono, Maine), April 16, 1908
Epsilon Chapter (Cornell University. Ithaca, New York). April 23, 1908
Rho Chapter (Northwestern University. Evanston, Illinois). June 11, 1909
ALUMNAE CHAPTER INSTALLATIONS
New York City Area Alumnae Chapter (New York), May 21.1904 San Francisco Alumnae Chapter (California). May 9,1908 Providence Alumnae Chapter (Rhode Island), October 8, 1908 Boston Alumnae Chapter (Massachusetts). October 31.1908
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1910-1919
By 1910 ALpha Omicron Pi had 794 members and 14 collegiate chapters. Each chapter was honored by a personal visit by the Grand President, Ruth Capen Farmer, Delta (Tufts College, Medford, Massachusetts). During this decade, the fraternity mourned the loss of Alpha Chapter (Barnard College, New York, New York), overcame the closing of a bank holding the fraternity's savings, and worked with panhellenic to solve criticisms of fraternity life. The main goals of the fraternity were to fund scholarships, increase the circulation of To Dragma, raise overall national standing, take steps towards establishing alumnae work (philanthropic projects), and determine whether there was any basis in Alpha Omicron Pi for the public's criticism of fraternities. Also at this time, Alpha Omicron Pi was considering the Frontier Nursing Service as a possible national philanthropy, but decided the fraternity was not financially stable enough for such a large project. It was decided that To Dragma must be self-supporting before attempting such an undertaking.
Alpha Omicron Pi made determinations about its policies, procedures, and projects. One very important procedure that was developed governed the addition of new chapters. Previously, all Alpha Omicron Pi chapters voted on whether a group deserved to affiliate with the fraternity. The voting process was very time-consuming, which led to pleas by some members for faster expansion (establishment of chapters). A proposal was made for a faster process for voting on petitions of possible new chapters. The fraternity's new policy was to only go onto Class A, strong or promising campuses that met the strict scholarship and accomplishment requirements.
The 1910 Convention was the first convention to be held outside of New York City. It was held June 16-18 at Tufts College in Medford, Massachusetts. The hostess chapter was Delta Chapter (Tufts College). All 88 delegates in atten- dance enjoyed meeting their sisters from all corners of the country. As Founder Stella Perry wrote, "Pi Chapter delegates from New Orleans, preem- inently fitted for evening gowns and looking as if they knew the reason why evening gowns were, snuggled up to Maine and Boston sisters, delighted to find them 'so very Southern,' so like themselves at a party...should spend days together bound by the closest ties of friendship." Part of convention was held in an historic house that once was a station of the Underground Railroad. At the dinners there were discussions on topics from college colors to anti-suffrage arguments. A Gift Committee was formed for members to make voluntary donations to help operate the fraternity.
The Walden Club, in existence since 1907, became our second California chapter, Lambda. It was installed on November 5,1910 at Stanford University in Stanford, California. A local sorority on the campus of the University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois, Delta Omicron, became Iota Chapter of AOIT on February 27, 1911.
The 1912 Convention took place in Evanston, Illinois, June 19-22, with Ruth Capen Farmer, Delta (Tufts College, Medford, Massachusetts), the Presiding Officer. The hostess chapters were Rho Chapter (Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois) aided by Iota Chapter (University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois), Theta Chapter (DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana), and Zeta
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Chapter (University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska). There were 200 dele- gates in attendance from the 14 different chapters of AOn. 100 Alpha Os were housed in the dorms on Northwestern's campus and another 100 in members' homes. All of the meetings and luncheons were held in Willard Hall. The entire delegation went to Chicago for a day of sightseeing, and the final event was a party on the beach at Lake Michigan, complete with row boat rides. They also had Stunt Night, during which the Founders, fraternity officers, and chapters performed.
Delegates, Convention. 1912
Alpha Chapter delegation and Stella Perry, Convention, 1912
Policies on reporting, initiation standards, panhellenic and scholarship were set. The office of Chapter Editor of To Dragma was added to the collegiate chap- ters and December 8 was made the official date for Founders' Day. The custom of draping the badge with a black ribbon was created to mourn the death of a national officer or chapter member. A charter was granted to Pi Phi Club at the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minnesota) to become Tau Chapter. The official installation of Tau Chapter took place on October 29, 1912.
In 1913 a special meeting of AOIT Grand Council Officers was held in Boston. The decision was made to postpone the next convention until 1915 in California (three years from the previous one in 1912) because the Panama- Pacific Exposition was to be held at that time. Alpha Omicron Pi expected the best attendance ever at this convention. Six NPC sororities would have con- ventions in the San Francisco area during the summer of 1915. Attendees would be housed in the chapter houses of all six sororities and the NPC groups were working together on this undertaking. Room and board Monday through Saturday and a trip to Stanford University cost $15. It was decided that future conventions were to be held on the third Thursday in June in odd numbered years.
The Alathea Society at Syracuse University (Syracuse, New York) was installed as Chi Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi on December 19, 1914.
Ruth Capen Farmer, Delta Grand President 1910-1912
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1910 - 1912
Ruth Capen Farmer, Delta
Grand President
Blanche Heard Hooper, Delta
Grand Recording Secretary
Lillian MacQuillin McCausland, Beta
Grand Treasurer
Viola Clarke Gray, Zeta
Grand Vice President
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha
Grand Historian
Gladys Courtian Britton, Sigma
Registrar
Anna Estelle Many, Pi
Auditor
Kate Brown Foster, Sigma
Examining Officer
Carrie Green Campbell, Gamma
Chairman of Committee on New Chapters
Viola Clarke Gray, Zeta, retired Virginia Judy Esterly. Sigma To Dragma Editor


FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1912 - 1915
Dorothy Safford Barker, Pi
Grand President
Anna Estelle Many, Pi
Grand Recording Secretary
Lillian MacQuillin McCausland, Beta
Grand Treasurer
Edith Dietz Janney, Alpha
Grand Vice President
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha
Grand Historian
Gladys Courtian Britton, Lambda
Registrar
Ada Donaldson Montgomery, Kappa
Auditor
Melita Hamilton Skillen, Epsilon
Examining Officer
Ruth Capen Farmer, Delta
Chairman of Committee on New Chapters
Virginia Judy Esterly, Sigma, resigned Mary Ellen Chase, Gamma ToDragma Editor
Ruth Henderson Honeywell, Sigma
To Dragma Business Manager
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Dorothy Safford Barker, Pi Grand President 1912-1915
Iota Chapter, circa 1914
The 1915 Convention was held June 28-July 3 in Berkeley, California. The hostess chapters were Sigma Chapter (University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California) and Lambda Chapter (Stanford University, Stanford, California). The Presiding Officer was the Grand Recording Secretary, Anna Estelle Many, Pi (H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, New Orleans, Louisiana), for Grand President Dorothy Safford Barker, Pi. Most of the busi- ness sessions and meals were held at the Century Club. Stunt Night, with the theme "Refined Family Vaudeville," was held at the Sigma Chapter house. The "Awful Oh! Artists" and several chapters performed. The delegation was ferried across the bay to the Lambda Chapter house for a box lunch and a banquet was held at Hotel Oakland.
For the first time A O n was divided into districts. Four districts were creat- ed, each with a Superintendent who was to investigate and keep in touch with the chapters of her district and report annually to the Executive Committee.
In affectionate recognition of Founder Jessie Wallace Hughan's service to the world, Founder Stella George Stern Perry offered a trophy to be called the Jessie Wallace Hughan Cup. The cup was to be awarded biennially to the chapter which, in the estimation of the fraternity's Executive Committee, had most successfully accomplished some service of real worth to its college. The award was to be made during the regular biennial meeting of the Grand Council. The first JWH Cup was presented to Kappa Chapter (Randolph- Macon Woman's College, Lynchburg, Virginia).
A local sorority, Alpha Upsilon at the University of Washington (Seattle, Washington) became Upsilon Chapter of AOn. The installation was held on September 18, 1915.
Also at the national level, fraternities were concerned about opposition to them that was being shown by college authorities and state officials. The secrecy aspects of fraternities were criticized by many people and examples of the public's skepticism about fraternities showed up in many ways. For example, chapter houses at Cornell University (Ithaca, New York) were taxed at a higher rate than other property. Panhellenic represented a united
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front to combat this criticism. Alpha Omicron Pi joined the other national fraternities in appropriating $25 to assist a study of the situation.
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Tau Chapter, circa 1913
The National Panhellenic Congress (later called the National Panhellenic Conference) established plans and policies that were designed to help strengthen the fraternity system and withstand criticism. Among their deci- sions, the 19 member groups agreed that a member who broke her pledge to one fraternity could not be asked to join another for one calendar year.
The challenges facing fraternities were reflected in To Dragma. The magazine featured articles on the peace movement, problems at colleges where A O n had chapters, changing times, and Greek women in professions.
The difficulties facing some chapters were exemplified in the chapter report of Alpha Chapter (Barnard College, New York, New York) which appeared in the September 1915 issue of To Dragma. In publishing it. To Dragma Editor Mary Ellen Chase, Gamma (University of Maine, Orono, Maine), wrote, "I'm publishing Alpha's report in full, partly because it gives briefly the fraternity situation at Barnard, mostly because it may prove to be our dear mother chapter's "swan-song." The following is Alpha Chapter's report:
"The three years since the last convention has been the period of anti-frater- nity agitation at Barnard, and it is therefore necessary that this report consist entirely of a statement of the conditions which led to the suspension of fraternities there.
"In the early part of 1913 a few prominent nonfraternity students through the channels of a Barnard publication severely condemned the fraternity system as it existed at Barnard, and made an earnest plea for investigation and reform. In the spring of that year a committee was formed purely for the pur- pose of studying the question, but with no legal power of enforcing any regu- lations that its findings might seem to justify. This committee consisted of the Dean, the Provost, four members of the faculty, four alumnae, one of whom was Mrs. Helen St. Clair Mullan, and four undergraduates, two of whom were fraternity members and two non-fraternity. This committee met weekly for several months, and at these meetings testimony was invited from any member of the faculty, alumnae, or undergraduates of Barnard. After weighing the testimony which had been thus received, the committee presented two recommendations to the faculty. The majority report
The World about Us
The passenger ship Titanic sunk in 1912 after hitting an iceberg. 1,517 passengers drowned.
On June 28,1914 the assassination of Austria's Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo in Bosnia brought on a crisis in Europe. The assassinations were the spark that touched off the explosion of World War [, which was a new kind of war with rapid fire guns, chemicals, airplanes, and tanks. November 11, 1918, Armis- tice Day, led people worldwide to celebrate the war's end.
Woodrow Wilson was elected Pres- ident of the United States and served from 1913 to 1921. He was a man of academic background, austere manner, and self-righteous moral fervor. He was an advocate of a new world order, but he could not persuade his own country to join the League of Nations.
The United States Federal Revenue System was established and the first nationwide income tax went into effect. The filing deadline was midnight March 1, 1914.


Isabelle Stewart Babson, Sigma Grand President 1915-1919
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1915 - 1917
Isabelle Henderson Stewart Babson, Sigma
Grand President
Helen Natalie Henry, Sigma
Grand Recording Secretary
Lillian MacQuillin McCausland, Beta
Grand Treasurer
Jean Loomis Frame, Alpha
Grand Vice President
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha
Grand Historian
Lucie Marie Vick Swanson, Rho
Registrar
Helen Dickinson Lange, Lambda
Auditor
Linda Best Terry, Kappa
Examining Officer
Viola Clarke Gray, Zeta
Chairman of Committee on New Chapters
Mary Ellen Chase, Gamma
7b Dragma Editor Marquerite Pilsbury Schoppe, Gamma
recommended that fraternities continue at Barnard provided their purpose and a few points of organization be not kept secret. The minority report rec- ommended that for a period of three years fraternities take in no new mem- bers. It was this latter report which was accepted by the faculty committee on Student Organizations, the members of which put into effect legally the recommendations made in that report. According to their report the flagrant evils of the fraternity which were responsible for this action were secrecy, national affiliation, and undemocracy. The final action which we believe per- manently vitiates any chance of the reestablishment of fraternities at Barnard was a straw vote of the undergraduates taken last year which resulted in a majority of over 100 against fraternities.
"For the past two years Alpha Chapter has had a very devitalized existence. Its own activity and its enthusiasm were lessened by the realization that its career was about to end. The chapter affiliated with its alumnae in its meet- ings and activities, and continued as far as possible to represent not only Barnard but Alpha on every occasion.
"During the past year particularly we realized that the national fraternity of which we are so proud to be a part has had little reason to be proud of us. We can only hope that our sisters in other chapters will think not so much of the things that the younger members of Alpha chapter have left undone, but rather of the beginning of our fraternity, and of the many splendid things accomplished by the first members of Alpha Chapter, the Founders of our fraternity.
Respectfully submitted, Constance Mary Geraty, President of Alpha Chapter"
On a brighter note, several chapter installations took place during the 1915- 1917 biennium:
Nu Kappa Chapter was installed at Southern Methodist University (Dallas, Texas) on September 25, 1915. AOIT was the first of six sororities to start the Greek system at SMU that year.
Beta Phi Chapter, which was started by Juva Covalt and Vedah Covalt, trans- fer students from Theta Chapter (DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana), was installed at Indiana University (Bloomington, Indiana) on June 3, 1916.
At the invitation from the local panhellenic at the University of Wisconsin, (Madison, Wisconsin), Shirley McDavitt, Kappa (Randolph-Macon Woman's College, Lynchburg, Virginia), and Vera Riebel, Rho (Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois), selected women strong in college life and activities to
To Dragma
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Alpha Phi Chapter began as a local sorority at the University of Montana (Bozeman, Montana) at a time during which national sororities were not allowed on campus. Members of the local sorority, being well-respected stu- dents, convinced the faculty to allow them to become the first national fra- ternity on campus. The A O n chapter was installed on February 23, 1917.
become a chapter of AOn. on January 29, 1917.
After much hard work, Eta Chapter was installed
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A local sorority, Alpha Alpha, was created as the first step in establishing a chapter of AOFl at Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tennessee). Mary D. Houston Sarratt, Omicron (University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee), brought together four women to form Alpha Alpha. The following year, A O n became the third fraternity at Vanderbilt when Nu Omicron Chapter was installed on April 28, 1917.
Challenges created by World War I led to many demands on individuals and organizations, and to many changes of plans. The 1917 Convention that was to celebrate the fraternity's 20th anniversary, was cancelled. Instead, a spe- cial Grand Council meeting was held and most officers continued. Members of Greek letter organizations were urged to consume less sugar to help the government send 100,000 tons to France. The Alpha Omicron Pi War Work Committee requested donations for an Alpha O ambulance to be sent to the front line. Chapters bought U.S. Liberty Bonds and War Saving Stamps. They adopted eight French and two Armenian orphans and knitted an amazing number of sweaters, socks, and other clothing items.
While devoting time and energy to helping with the war effort, Alpha Omicron Pi also was busy internally. Grand Treasurer Lillian MacQuillin McCausland, Beta (Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island), stated that the rapid growth of the fraternity had increased expenses, especially for trips of inspection, for which dues had not been raised. There was a need for greater compactness in AOITs internal organization, for the sake of both economy and efficiency. Other economic considerations included the need to amend and print the constitution, and funds would be required to carry on any war work as a national organization. The Life Subscription for To Dragma was $10.
From 1918 until 1925, the office of Registrar was combined with the office of the Grand Secretary on Grand Council. The first person to hold this dual role was Helen Natalie Henry, Sigma (University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California). She received a $600 honorarium for her work.
While there were national policies, AOn also depended on collegiate chapters to develop some requirements and standards for membership. For example, each chapter had in its bylaws what a pledge (new member) was required to know about fraternity facts and history. Also, each chapter was expected to establish the time to study and discuss history, development, and inter-fra- ternity and collegiate questions. Chapter mem-
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1917 - 1919
Isabelle Henderson Stewart Babson, Sigma
Grand President
Helen Natalie Henry, Sigma
Grand Secretary
Lillian MacQuillin McCausland. Beta
Grand Treasurer
Jean Loomis Frame, Alpha, resigned 1918 replaced by Daisy Gaus. Nu
Grand Vice President
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha Grand Historian
Lucie Marie Vick Swanson. Rho Registrar
Helen Dickinson Lange, Lambda, resigned 1918
replaced by Helen Natalie Henry, Sigma Auditor
Linda Best Terry, Kappa, resigned 1917 replaced by Lucy Somerville Howorth, Kappa Examining Officer
Viola Clarke Gray. Zeta
Chairman of Committee on New Chapters Mary Ellen Chase, Gamma
To Dragma Editor
Marquerite Pilsbury Schoppe, Gamma, resigned 1918
replaced by Carolyn Fraser Pulling, Delta
bers and pledges were to agree on the approved time.
Two-year-old local sorority Psi Sigma was excited to become the third national fraternity on the campus of the University of Pennsyl- vania (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) when Psi Chapter was installed on April 13, 1918. Beta Gamma, another local sorority, was installed soon after at the University of Kansas (Lawrence, Kansas) as Phi Chapter on May 4, 1918. Phi was the 25th collegiate chapter of AOn to be installed.
Psi Chapter members, River Trip, 1919
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To Dragma
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COLLEGIATE CHAPTER INSTALLATIONS
Lambda Chapter (Stanford Universit>-. Stanford. California). November 5. 1910
lota Chapter (University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois), February 27. 1911
Tau Chapter (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota), October 29, 1912
Chi Chapter (Syracuse University, Syracuse. New York), December 19. 1914
Upsilon Chapter (University of Washington. Seattle. Washington). September 18. 1915
Nu Kappa Chapter (Southern
Methodist University. Dallas. Texas), September 25, 1915
Beta Phi Chapter (Indiana University. Bloomington. Indiana). August 3, 191(5
Eta Chapter (University of Wisconsin. Madison, Wisconsin), January 29, 1917
Alpha Phi Chapter (Montana State College. Bozeman, Montana). February 23. 1917
Nu Omicron Chapter (Vanderbilt University.
Nashville. Tennessee), April 28, 1917
Psi Chapter (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Pennsylvania). April 13, 1918 Phi Chapter (University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas). May 4, 1918
Omega Chapter (Miami University, Oxford, Ohio). January 4. 1919
4
Alpha Omicron Pi made plans for its 1919 Convention and sent special letters to the Founders, inviting them to attend the five-day convention. Plans called for a permanent Memorial Service at convention for those who had died since the fraternity's founding. Lucretia How Jordan Bickley. Omicron (University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee), was asked to prepare for and conduct the service. Active (collegiate) chapters would display exhibits at convention for the first time. Proposed amendments to the Constitution, Bylaws, Rules & Regulations were multigraphed (duplicated) and sent to each Grand Council member before convention. Speakers during convention included Neva Boyd of the Chicago School of Civics and Philanthropy who spoke on opportunities in social work.
In the midst of convention plans, war efforts were not forgotten. The $500 U.S. Liberty Bond owned by the fraternity was transferred to the War Work Fund. An Honor Roll of members in war service was published in To Dragma.
Kappa Tau Sigma, a local sorority at the University of Miami (Oxford, Ohio), became Omega Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi when it was installed on January 4, 1919.
The 1919 Convention was held June 23-28 in Greencastle. Indiana. Theta Chapter (DePauw University. Greencastle, Indiana) served as the hostess chapter. The Presiding Officer was Isabelle Henderson Stewart Babson. Sigma Chapter (University of California, Berkeley. California). The entire reconstruction of the constitution took place at this convention. To make this task possible, many of the social functions were cut short and several of the committees worked through late night hours preparing for the business of the next day. Even so, there was time made for merriment, as this conven- tion was known as "the singing convention." At all meal functions the chap- ters sang their various AOIT and chapter songs. On the opening evening. AOn held a reception for the faculty and the people of Greencastle. Since this was the first convention to be held there, much interest was shown by the townspeople. The usual vaudeville show was presented at a local high school gymnasium, and the closing had more than 300 in attendance.
The Vocational Guidance Committee was created to provide AOITs with career advice. The committee gathered data from alumnae about their careers, obtained pamphlets from placement agencies and Bureaus of Occupations, and provided information to members.
Phi Chapter, circa 1919
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"Just some seniors," Omega Chapter, 1919
ALUMNAE CHAPTER INSTALLATIONS
Lincoln Alumnae Chapter (Nebraska). January 14,1911 Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter (California), June 15,1912 Chicago North Shore Alumnae Chapter (Illinois), October 26,1912
Indianapolis Alumnae Chapter (Indiana), May 1,1915 New Orleans Alumnae Chapter (Louisiana), June 24,1916 Minneapolis/St. Paul Alumnae Chapter (Minnesota). October?, 1916
Bangor Alumnae Chapter (Maine), November 18,1916 Portland Alumnae Chapter (Oregon), December 16,1916 Savannah Alumnae Chapter (Georgia). March 8,1917 Seattle Alumnae Chapter (Washington). March 8,1917 Knoxville Alumnae Chapter (Tennessee), October 13,1917 Lynchburg Alumnae Chapter (Virginia), October 29.1917 Washington, D.C. Alumnae Chapter. January 19,1919 Dallas Alumnae Chapter (Texas), February 1,1919 Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter (Pennsylvania), February 8,1919
Greater Kansas City Alumnae Chapter (Kansas-Missouri). December 27.1919
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li1 Convention, June 23-28, 1919. Greencastle, Indiana
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1920-1929
Recognizing the past and preparing for the future were hallmarks of the fra- ternity's life during the 1920s. AOn had 2,767 members and 26 collegiate chapters in 1920. Highlighted by AOITs 25th anniversary, the focus of the decade was on organizational issues as the fraternity came of age. The selec- tion of a national philanthropic project, often referred to as "alumnae work" or "national work," was the fraternity's number one priority.
To prepare the support that would be necessary to have an organized nation- al work effort, the Executive Committee voted to have the November issue of To Dragma be an "alumnae number." In hopes that extra contact would help the fraternity gain support for national work when it was developed, that edition of the magazine was sent to all alumnae, whether or not they had subscribed to To Dragma.
The 1921 Convention was held June 20-25 in Syracuse, New York. The host- ess chapter was Chi Chapter (University of Syracuse, Syracuse, New York) and the Presiding Officer was Lillian MacQuillin McCausland, Beta (Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island). The compulsory life subscription plan to To Dragma was adopted and arrangements to charge all chapters equally for convention was created. The money collected would be used to not only pay all convention expenses, but all travel expenses incurred in sending a del- egate to convention. Also put into effect were plans for better organization of alumnae, national work, and for a national project at a later date. Kappa Chapter (Randolph-Macon Woman's College, Lynchburg. Virginia) obtained permission to initiate a pledge during convention week, which was the first time an initiation was held during convention. Also, a Field Day Committee planned to hold races, tennis, swimming, baseball, and other sports competitions. "Don't Forget Your [gym] Bloomers" became the pre- convention slogan.
Fraternity traditions continued to be established and maintained. To ensure that traditions would be understood by members and that new ones would be in keeping with the fraternity's heritage, the Committee on Fraternity Traditions was created. It included the four Founders, Examining Officer, Grand Secretary, and two members chosen by the Founders from a list of older alumnae. According to the Grand Council minutes, the Committee on Traditions "will have no executive power but should serve as advisors and expositors in matters of tradition. The purpose of this committee was to have a group of members who, after the Founders and older alumnae passed away, could explain such basic traditions as our fundamental democracy and sim- plicity, why we have no shields and coats of arms and elaborate rituals, why fraternity jewelry and all other ostentation is opposed to the spirit of Alpha Omicron Pi, what was meant by the sheaf, etc."
Increasing the Endowment Fund was deemed to be a worthy project to com- memorate the 25th anniversary of the fraternity's founding. The Grand Officers approved the launching of a movement to increase the fund, which was designated as the Anniversary Endowment Fund. The December 8, 1922 Founders' Day was to be the official national kick-off for this program.
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ToDragma subscriptions were another source of income for the Endowment Fund. A portion of the $15 collected from each member for a subscription was paid to the trustees of the fund. The principal was to be used as loans for building chapter houses, National Alumnae Work, and other fraternity work. The interest was to be used to fund To Dragma.
While the fraternity made plans to assure that funds would be available for its future projects through the Anniversary Endowment Fund, A O n did not forget the needs of others. The War Work Committee sent $2,050 to a section in war-damaged France to rebuild homes and buy tools.
Convention, 1921 pictures from Psi Chapter scrapbook
Founders .Stella Pern,', Helen Mullan, and Bess Wvman
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Lillian MacQuillin McCausland. Beta Grand President 1919-1921
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1919 - 1921
Lillian MacQuillin McCausland, Beta
Grand President
Merva Dolsen Hennings. Rho
Grand Secretary
Viola Clarke Gray, Zeta
Grand Treasurer
Rochelle Rodd Gachet, Pi
Grand Vice President
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha
Grand Historian
Rose Gardner Marx Gilmore, Sigma
Extension Officer
Lucy Somerville Howorth, Kappa
Examining Officer
Avaline Kindig Scifres, Rho
Examining Officer
Etta Phillips MacPhie, Delta
To Dragma Editor
Carolyn Fraser Pulling, Delta
To Dragma Business Manager
Left: Southern and Western delegates Above: Montana and Stanford University delegates
Lower left: Psi Chapter delegates


Omicron Pi Chapter (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan), installed on October 8, 1921, was the first chapter to be installed in three years. Omicron Pi, a local sorority, had been founded in 1919 with the purpose of petitioning AOFI to become a chapter.
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Merva Dolsen Hennings, Rho Grand President 1921-1923
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1921 - 1923
Merva Dolsen Hennings, Rho
Grand President
Laura Alice Hurd, Upsilon
Grand Secretary
Viola Clarke Gray, Zeta
Grand Treasurer
Mate Lewis Giddings, Iota, resigned 1921 replaced by Katharine March Thomas, Kappa Grand Vice President
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha Grand Historian
Rose Gardner Marx Gilmore, Sigma Extension Officer
Gladys Courtian Britton, Lambda, resigned 1922
replaced by Edith Edna Goldsworthy, Tau Examining Officer
Lillian MacQuillin McCausland, Beta NPC delegate
Elizabeth Hiestand Smith, Rho
To Dragma Editor
Margaret June Kelley, Gamma
To Dragma Business Manager
Omicron Pi Chapter members in their chapter house
The 1923 Convention took place June 25-30 at Whittle Springs in Knoxville, Tennessee. The hostess was Omicron Chapter (University of Tennessee, Knox- ville, Tennessee) and the Presiding Officerwas Merva Dolsen Hennings. Rho (Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois). Sessions were held in an open air pavilion. The A 0 Pizette (convention newspaper) was first printed. During the convention's "Mardi Gras" ball, prizes were given for the best cos- tumes and a "king and queen" were crowned. A Jewelry Committee was formed to develop policies regarding jewelry.
Many programs for National Work were created during this convention. An annual $500 fellowship, the Alpha Omicron Pi Fellowship, was established in memory of Ruth Capen Farmer, Delta (Jackson College of Tufts College, Medford, Massachusetts) who had served as Grand President during 1910- 1912. The first fellowship was to be given in 1924 to a graduate or doctoral student working in social welfare or public health. The student would be a graduate of a college or university having an Alpha Omicron Pi chapter. To collect money for National Work of a permanent nature, sinking and revolv- ing funds were established. Twenty-five percent of the money collected was to go in the sinking fund which would build interest for a permanent fund to endow national philanthropic work. The remaining 75 percent was to go in the revolving fund to be used for constructive work for the handicapped or to aid any member needing hospital care, but unable to pay for it.
Various philanthropic projects were conducted by alumnae chapters. The Child Welfare Association in New Orleans had been aided by Alpha Os for sev- eral years. The association ran an exchange for children's clothing and main- tained health and dental clinics. The first unit of Alpha Omicron Pi's National Work for Crippled Children was established in Seattle, Washington. A bed at
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the Children's Orthopedic Hospital was named through the cooperation of the National Work Committee and the Seattle Alumnae Chapter. The first $250 would maintain the bed until the next October. The establishment of a bed meant one or a number of children who would occupy the bed would be
<•<//
ChildrerVs Orthopedic Hospital. Seattle. Washington
given free care. The Seattle Alumnae Chapter hoped to keep the bed named permanently.
The Vocational Guidance Committee announced plans to aid members in developing their careers. They completed a survey of the membership which indicated A O n had members in more than 50 different professions. The Vocational Guidance Committee began work on devising a means "from which to secure information and advice as to openings in various fields in dif- ferent sections of the country and abroad," according to the Chairman of the Committee, Helen N. Henry, Sigma (University of California-Berkeley. Berkeley, California).
In other fraternity business, the fraternity jewelry situation was discussed by the AOIT Grand Council. They emphasized that members could help protect the badge by only buying from the fraternity's official jeweler. Royalties from the sale of the jewelry were set aside for fellowships for graduate research and aid for the National Philanthropic Work Fund. Thelma Brumfield, Epsilon (Cornell University, Ithaca, New York), was the recipient of the first Graduate Fellowship.
The first AOFI elected to serve as chairman of the National Panhellenic Congress was Lillian MacQuillin McCausland, Beta (Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island). Unfortunately, she died before taking office. AOIT Grand President Laura Alice Hurd, Upsilon (University of Washington, Seattle. Washington), filled the office in 1923. Laura presided over the NPC meeting held at the Parker House in Boston, Massachusetts, October 17-20, 1923. Topics of addresses were: the League of Women Voters, vocational information, expansion of college fraternities, health of college women, fraternities, humor, and service.
imuir
The World about Us
The boys returning from military service in World War flooded the campuses, bringing the "Roaring Twenties" with them, complete with emancipated "flappers," bath- tub gin, and raccoon coats at foot- ball games. The 1920s were seen as a period of escapism, a breaking away from the conservative older generation. Many women liked to dance the Charleston, and with their new corsetless form, they were able to bop around a dance floor while their loose-cut dresses swiveled around them. The crusade against alcohol continued and the United States "went dry" in 1920.
Capt. Charles A. Lindbergh made the first successful nonstop trans- Atlantic airplane flight when he flew from New York to Paris in May 1927.
The Stock Market crashed on October 29, 1929, ending post- war prosperity and beginning the United States' worst economic Depression.
The favorite silent movie. "The Sheik," starred Rudolph Valentino. The first talking motion picture, "The Jazz Singer" starring Al Jolson. and the first Mickey Mouse cartoon, which became an immedi- ate success, were released. The most popular songs included: "Blue Moon," "Tea for Two," "Yes, We Have No Bananas," and "Button Up Your Overcoat."


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Laura Alice Hurd, Upsilon Grand President 1923-1925
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1923 - 1925
Laura Alice Hurd, Upsilon
Grand President
Melita Hamilton Skillen, Epsilon
Grand Secretary
Katrina Overall McDonald, Nu Omicron
Grand Treasurer
Josephine Southworth Pratt, Alpha
Grand Vice President
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha
Grand Historian
Rose Gardner Marx Gilmore, Sigma
Extension Officer
Octavia Chapin, Delta
Examining Officer
Dorothy Dalton Duggan, Rho, resigned 1924 replaced by Elizabeth (Betty) Bond, Tau To Dragma Editor
Kathryn Bremer Matson. Tau
To Dragma Business Manager
Laura Alice Hurd, Upsilon, resigned replaced by Rochelie Rodd Gachet, Pi NPC Delegate
Alpha 6&mirrxm^i (5r:mr» (£mmril
December 8th. 1921
On this, the twenty-fifth birthday of Alpha Omicron Pi, we are sending our love to your chapter, to every one of its members.
We are proud of you, humble before the wonderful growth and success that have been vouch- safed our order, profoundly grateful that it is a spiritual success, true to the ideals by which we are bound.
May the years to come fulfill thdr good promise and find us worthy in the Highest Service, guided by the Highest Wisdom, reflecting the Highest
Several local sororities became A O n chapters during this time. Alpha Sigma, a local sorority at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, was organized in the fall of 1921. On May 5, 1923 Alpha Sigma Chapter was chartered by Alpha Omicron Pi. Xi Chapter at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma, started as a local sorority, Omicron Pi. Xi Chapter was installed on March 22, 1924. Pi Delta Chapter at the University of Maryland (College Park, Maryland) originally was formed as a local sorority, Lambda Tau, in 1920. The members of the local petitioned A O n to become the first nation- al sorority on the University of Maryland campus. The chapter was installed on October 25, 1924.
The 1925 Convention took place June 30-July 6 at the Radisson Inn in Excelsior, Minnesota. The hostess was Tau Chapter (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota) and the Presiding Officer was Laura Alice Hurd, Upsilon (University of Washington. Seattle, Washington). Two hundred mem- bers of Alpha Omicron Pi attended the convention. Many athletic events were scheduled, including tennis and golf tournaments, a baseball game, and swimming and track meets. Those planning to attend the convention were promised "stunts to see, auto trips to take, track meets to run in, boat rides, picnics, receptions, banquets, Rituals and pageants." The Chicago Great Western Railroad furnished a special Alpha 0 Pullman for every 25 women. Between 70 and 80 delegates were expected to pass through Chicago. Railroad fare, one way, from New York City was $47.36. From Palo Alto,
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California, the fare was $67.45. The office of Registrar was re-established to ease the burden of work on the Grand Secretary. Also, a new $300 graduate scholarship was created to be given to a woman who was not a member of AOn. The Rituals Committee and the Traditions Committee were combined to form the Rituals and Traditions Committee.
The growing fraternity found the need to establish a permanent office, so the Central Office was created in 1925. Founder Elizabeth Heywood Wyman, Alpha (Barnard College, New York, New York), was appointed as the first Registrar. For a short time the office was in her home in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Soon a room was obtained in an office building at 50 Broad Street in Bloomfield. Sara Alice Cullnane, Beta Phi (Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana), was appointed Assistant Registrar. Records were organized and com- munications established. "The office had an air of unrestrained efficiency," the Summer 1973 To Dragma later reported.
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Founders Helen Mullan. Bess Wyman, and Stella Perrv. 1923
Psi Chapter, May Day celebration, circa 1920


Katrina Overall McDonald. Nu Omicron Grand President
1925-1927
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1925 - 1927
Katrina Overall McDonald, Nu Omicron
Grand President
Joanna Donlon Huntington, Epsilon
Grand Secretary
Rose Gardner Marx Gilmore, Sigma
Grand Treasurer
Josephine Southworth Pratt, Alpha
Grand Vice President
Stella George Stern Perry. Alpha
Grand Historian
Elizabeth Heywood Wyman, Alpha
Registrar
Margaret Vaughan Branscomb, Kappa
Extension Officer
Octavia Chapin, Delta
Examining Officer
Rochelle Rodd Cachet, Pi
NPC Delegate
Elizabeth (Betty) Bond, Tau 7b Dragma Editor Kathryn Bremer Matson, Tau To Dragma Business Manager
The 1925-1927 biennium saw the installation of five new chapters, all of which had started as local sororities. Tau Delta Chapter at Birmingham Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama, and Kappa Theta Chapter at the University of California-Los Angeles (Los Angeles. California) were installed on May 23, 1925. Tau Delta Chapter had begun as a local sorority in 1919. Kappa Theta Chapter also had begun in 1919 as a local sorority, Beta Chi Mu. On November 20, 1925 Kappa Omicron Chapter was installed at Southwestern University in Memphis, Tennessee. The chapter originated as a local sorority. Kappa Omicron, which had been started by AOn alumnae in Memphis who found young women on the campus interested in starting an
AOn chapter. Alpha Sigma Chapter at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, had its beginning in 1918 when three students tired of dormitory life decided to rent a house together. This lead to a secret organization which became the Alpha Sigma local sorority. The chapter's installation on June 5. 1926 saw the realization Alpha Sigma's dream of becoming part of a national fraternity. Chi Delta Chapter, started as a local sorority at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado in 1925, petitioned A O n because of the high ideals they believed AOfl to have. The chapter was installed on May 14,1927.
Beekman Tower, New York. New York
Members of the National Panhellenic Congress contributed to the construc- tion of a Panhellenic House, later known as the Beekman Tower, in New York City. It was designed to provide proper housing for young fraternity women and their friends in New York. The project was originated by the New York City Panhellenic Club, which formed the Panhellenic House Association in 1925. Common stock of the corporation, valued at $50 a share, was sold among the fraternities involved. Each group was allotted 112 shares, which were bought by chapters and individual members. "Alpha Omicron Pi was
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among the first three groups to subscribe fully her assigned shares of stock in the new Panhellenic building to be erected as a shrine for sorority women in New York City," said Marguerite D. Winant of Delta Gamma Sorority.
Also during the 1925-1927 biennium, the number of AOFI districts was increased to six. District Conventions began and proved to be very success- ful. The first Southern District Convention met in Nashville, Tennessee, June 22-25, 1926. The Atlantic District Convention met in Ithaca, New York, and the Pacific District Convention was held at Stanford University in Stanford, California, both during June 18-20, 1926.
COLLEGIATE CHAPTER INSTALLATIONS
Omicron Pi Chapter (University of Michigan.
Ann Arbor. Michigan). October 8. 1921
Alpha Sigma Chapter (University of Oregon. Eugene. Oregon), May 5, 1923
Xi Chapter (University of Oklahoma,
Norman. Oklahoma), March 22, 1924
Pi Delta Chapter (University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland), October 25, 1924
Tau Delta Chapter (Birmingham Southern College, Birmingham. Alabama), May 23, 1925
Kappa Theta Chapter (University of California-Los Angeles. Los Angeles. California). May 23, 1925 Kappa Omicron Chapter (Southwestern University, Memphis. Tennessee), November 20. 1925
Alpha Rho Chapter (Oregon State University, Corvallis. Oregon), June 5. 1926
Chi Delta Chapter (University of Colorado. Boulder, Colorado). May 14. 1927
Beta Theta Chapter (Butler University. Indianapolis. Indiana). October 1, 1927
Alpha Pi Chapter (Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida), May 6. 1928
Epsilon Alpha Chapter (Pennsylvania State University. University Park, Pennsylvania). April 6, 1929 Theta Eta Chapter (University of Cincinnati. Ohio). July 30. 1929
ALUMNAE CHAPTER INSTALLATIONS
Omaha Alumnae Chapter (Nebraska). January 10.1920 Tacoma Association (Washington), March 11.1920 Detroit Alumnae Chapter (Michigan), May 11,1921 Syracuse Alumnae Chapter (New York). April 30.1921 Nashville Area Alumnae Chapter (Tennessee). October 1.1921 Cleveland East Alumnae Chapter (Ohio). Decembers. 1921 Champaign-Urbana Alumnae Chapter (Illinois). May 13.1922 Miami Valley Association (Hamilton. Ohio). March 29.1924 Memphis Area Alumnae Chapter (Tennessee). .April 2.1924 Bozeman Alumnae Chapter (Montana), October 8.1924 Milwaukee .Alumnae Chapter (Wisconsin). October 15.1924 Beaumont Alumnae Chapter (Texas). October 24,1924 Birmingham Alumnae Chapter (Alabama). October 24,1924 Oklahoma City Alumnae Chapter (Oklahoma). May 18,1925
Chicago South Shore Alumnae Chapter (Illinois), January 23,1926
Madison .Alumnae Chapter (Wisconsin), December 11,1926 Bloomington Alumnae Chapter (Indiana). February 5.1927 Denver Alumnae Chapter (Colorado), May 16.1927 Cincinnati Alumnae Chapter (Ohio). March 4.1928 Tulsa Alumnae Chapter (Oklahoma). March 23.1928 Ann Arbor Alumnae Chapter (Michigan). June 14,1928 Fort Wayne Alumnae Chapter (Indiana). October 30,1929 St. Louis Alumnae Chapter (Missouri), November 17,1929
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The 1927 Convention was held June 27-July 2 at Moran School, Bainbridge Island, Seattle, Washington. The hostess was Upsilon Chapter (University of W ashington, Seattle, W ashington) and the Presiding Officer was Laura Alice Hurd, Upsilon (University of Washington, Seattle), for Grand President Katrina Overall McDonald, Nu Omicron (Vanderbilt University, Nashville. Tennessee). Information that went to convention attendees encouraged them to bring "a warm coat, pair of old shoes, tennis shoes and racquet, bathing suit - remember we will be encamped within a stone's throw of Puget Sound ~ informal evening frock for the dance, formal dress and costume for Stunt Night and your Kodak." The candlelighting ceremony was performed for the first time and a charter was granted to Beta Theta Chapter (Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana). The official chapter installation was held October 1, 1927. Business during this convention included the establishment of the office of Assistant Registrar. It also was determined that both of the $1,000 fellowships would be given in alternating years. Some pre- and post-conven- tion trips included a trip to Glacier Park and mountain climbing on Mt. Rainier.
Alpha Omicron Pi became a member of the College Women's Fraternity Group for securing advertising for the official magazine, To Dragma. Advertisements in To Dragma cost $12.50 per page and the magazine's circu- lation had reached 3,800. Four members were appointed to the Editorial Board to recommend features for To Droop-* ^
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Atlantic District Conference. Ithaca. New York, 1926
83


Rose Gardner Marx Gilmore, Sigma Grand President 1927-1929
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1927 - 1929
Rose Gardner Marx Gilmore, Sigma
Grand President
Joanna Donlon Huntington, Epsilon, resigned 1928
replaced by Edith Huntington Anderson, Beta Phi
Grand Secretary
Kathryn Bremer Matson, Tau Grand Treasurer
Octavia Chapin, Delta
Grand Vice President
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha
Grand Historian
Mary Neal Mcllveen, Beta Phi
Assistant Historian
Elizabeth Heywood Wyman, Alpha
Registrar
Edith Huntington Anderson, Beta Phi, resigned 1928
replaced by Joanna Donlon Huntington, Epsilon Extension Officer
Muriel Turner McKinney, Lambda
Examining Officer
Wilma Smith Leland, Tau
To Dragma Editor
Alpha Pi Chapter had begun in 1925 as a local sorority, Omicron Pi, at Florida State College for Women in Tallahassee, Florida. It became a chapter of AOFI on May 6, 1928.
During its meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, the National Panhellenic Congress commissioned Alpha Omicron Pi to publish and distribute copies of the "Survey on Cost of Fraternity Life and Fraternity Housing" which was pre- pared by Rochelle Rodd Gachet, Pi (H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, New Orleans, Louisiana).
The 1929 AOn Convention was held June 18-24 in Ithaca, New York. The hostess was Epsilon Chapter (Cornell University, Ithaca, New York) and the Presiding Officer was Grand Vice President Octavia Chapin, Delta (Jackson College of Tufts College, Medford, Massachusetts), for Grand President Rose Gardner Marx Gilmore, Sigma (University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California). A milestone was reached in the voting policy for new members. A single blackball could no longer prevent someone from being pledged. From then on, the person casting the single negative vote would have to declare herself to the chapter president and present her reasons to the Alumnae Advisory Committee or allow her vote to become invalid. Also dur- ing the convention, a fraternity life membership fee of $25 was established. An alumna who paid the fee would be exempt for life from Grand Council dues. Discussions began about incorporating the fraternity.
The Arete Club at Pennsylvania State University (University Park, Pennsylvania) had started in 1922. Installed as an Epsilon Alpha chapter of AOn on April 6, 1929, members named their chapter for Grand Secretary Edith Huntington Anderson, who had helped them petition AOn. Edith later served as A O n President (during 1933-1937).
Nu Omicron Chapter members, Convention, 1929
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mm**
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fi
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Founders Bess Wyman. Stella Perry, Helen Mullan. Convention, 1923
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1930-1939
The fortune and the history of AOFI follow an outline of world events. In the 1930s, A O n faced the economic Depression, shrunken funds, inactive chap- ters, and smaller memberships in college chapters. Some highlights for AOn during this difficult decade were becoming an international organization, the establishment of a international philanthropy, and the development of ifaining materials for members. AOIT began the 1930s with 41 collegiate chapters and 6,588 members.
AOIl guidelines and plans for improvement overcame many troublesome problems in the collegiate chapters. The collegiate chapter could, by seven- eighths vote, withhold voting privileges from members with low scholarship or those who flagrantly and persistently refused to cooperate with the chap- ter. When a member showed willingness to cooperate, the Senior Council (made up of the chapter's senior class members) and Alumnae Advisory Board could vote to restore privileges.
The fraternity became international with the installation of Beta Tau Chapter at the University of Toronto in Ontario, Canada, on September 27,1930. Beta Tau Chapter had begun in 1929 as a local sorority. Beta Tau Delta, which stood for "good fellowship within." Another local sorority, Alpha Tau Delta, found- ed in 1926 at Denison University in Granville, Ohio, became Alpha Tau Chapter of A O n on December 13, 1930. Alpha Tau Chapter felt they had "lucky 13" on their side being installed on the 13th day of the month with
13 members.
The A O n Central Office moved to State College, Pennsylvania, on September 1, 1930, where Grand Secretary Edith Huntington Anderson, Beta Phi (Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana), resided. After a brief period of service as Assistant Registrar by Winifred Margaret Steele, Zeta (University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska), Anne Jeter Nichols, Kappa (Randolph-Macon Woman's College, Lynchburg, Virginia), was appointed. The triumvirate of Edith, Anne, and Registrar Sara Alice Culnane, Beta Phi (Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana), functioned to Alpha Omicron Pi's great advantage for more than 10 years.
AOn's second Canadian chapter began as a local sorority, Alpha Sigma Alpha, in 1930 at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, British Columbia). On October 17,1931 Alpha Sigma Alpha became Beta Kappa Chapter of AOIT. Alpha Gamma sorority, founded in 1921 at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, was installed as Alpha Gamma chapter of AOIT on May 21, 1932.
The National Panhellenic Congress recommended the pledging of some junior college women each year to bring a closer feeling between the upper and lower divisions of education.
The 1931 AOn Convention was held June 21-26 at Troutdale-in-the-Pines, Colorado. The hostess was Zeta Chapter (University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska) and the Presiding Officer was Elizabeth Heywood Wyman, Alpha
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(Barnard College, New York, New York). Founder Stella George Stern Perry was elected Historian for life and the office of Grand Vice President was added to the Executive Committee. State Chairmen were appointed to form con- tacts with alumnae in their states. They were to help create alumnae organi- zations in all desirable cities and establish contact with alumnae living in iso- lated places so that all members who wished to keep involved in the fraterni- ty could have opportunities to do so. A two-year trial period began for the new office of State Alumnae Chairmen. The Frontier Nursing Service was chosen as the first international philanthropy for Alpha Omicron Pi. A $1,000 Fellowship for members of Alpha Omicron Pi was created in memory of Lillian MacQuillin McCausland, Beta (Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island). The fellowship was to be given biannually.
1
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The Director of the Social Service Department of the Frontier Nursing Service taking a mountain boy for treatment.
Alpha Omicron Pi was one of the first fraternities to put into practice work for the betterment of those less fortunate. A description of the purposes of the fraternity's major philanthropic beneficiary appeared in To Dragma: "The Frontier Nursing Service, Inc., was organized by its present voluntary direc- tor, Mrs. Mary Breckinridge, in 1925, to safeguard the lives and health of mothers and children by providing trained nurse-midwives for rural areas in Kentucky and elsewhere, as its means may permit, where there is inadequate medical service; to give skilled care to women in childbirth; to give nursing care to the sick of both sexes and all ages; to carry out preventive public health measures in cooperation with State and Federal authorities; to educate the rural population in the laws of health, and parents in baby hygiene and child care; to provide expert social service whenever necessary; to help obtain medical, dental and surgical services for those who need it at a price they can afford to pay; to ameliorate economic conditions inimical to health; to coop- erate with like-minded individuals and organizations in the pursuit of these aims, and through the fulfillment of these aims to advance the cause of social welfare in rural districts with the help of their own leading citizens."
Elizabeth Heywood Wyman. Alpha Grand President 1929-1931
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1929 - 1931
Elizabeth Heywood Wyman. Alpha
Grand President
Edith Huntington Anderson, Beta Phi
Grand Secretary
Kathryn Bremer Matson, Tau
Grand Treasurer
Octavia Chapin, Delta
Grand Vice President
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha
Grand Historian
Mary Neal Mcllveen, Beta Phi
Assistant Historian
Nell Fain Lawrence, Nu Omicron
Extension Officer
Muriel Turner McKinney, Lambda
Examining Officer
Wilma Smith Leland. Tau
si
To Dragma
Editor
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All of AOn's alumnae chapters were divided into classes, based on member- ship, and given a financial quota to meet. The Clothesline, a subcommittee of AOFI's philanthropic department, was the means through which the fraternity undertook to keep the flow of used, but useful, clothing moving rapidly into the mountains from chapters.
Kathryn Bremer Matson, Tau President 1931-1933
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1931 - 1933
Kathryn Bremer Matson, Tau
President
Muriel Turner McKinney, Lambda
Vice President
Edith Huntington Anderson, Beta Phi
Secretary
Helen Marie Haller, Omega
Treasurer
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha
Historian
Elizabeth Heywood Wyman, Alpha
Assistant Historian
Margaret Lewis Baskerville, Kappa
Extension Officer
Knoxie Faulk Johnson, Tau Delta
Examining Officer
Wilma Smith Leland, Tau
To Dragma Editor
The last official photograph of the four Founders together, Convention, 1933, Arlington Hall, Virginia. Standing are Jessie Wallace Hughan and Stella George Stern Perry.
Seated, Helen St. Clair Mullan and Elizabeth Heywood Wyman.
The first Manual of Information was published by AOn for pledges. Compiled by the members of Council, it contained fraternity information for pledges to use for their education and keep as a reference. The manual was revised frequently through the decades. Each initiate learned the initiation Ritual within three months after initiation.
To Dragma served to bind the membership together. In 1933 the magazine grew in size, from the small 6 x 9-inch format, the standard among sorority publications, to the enlarged size, 6 3/4 x 10 inches. In 1937 the magazine grew again to 8 1/2 x 11 inches. The larger size, with fewer pages, represent- ed economy. A two-color cover with a photograph as the central interest was an immediate success.
The 1933 Convention was held July 2-8 at Arlington Hall, Virginia. The host- ess was Kappa Chapter (Randolph-Macon Woman's College, Lynchburg,
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Virginia) and the Presiding Officer was Kathryn Bremer Matson, Tau (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota). First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt gave greetings to the AOris attending convention. This was the last convention attended by all four Founders. The Constitution and Bylaws were simplified to make them more useful and easier to understand. Council delet- ed "Grand" from the titles of officers on the Executive Committee. The office of Second Vice President was created to be in charge of Philanthropic Work. The office of District Alumnae Supervisor was abolished and the work was given to the State or Province Chairmen, which were made permanent posi- tions. Past national presidents were made permanent members of Council. Sadly, Xi Chapter at the University of Oklahoma (Norman, Oklahoma) report- ed that due to economic problems of the members, they would not have any- one returning to school the next year. The fraternity decided not to take the chapter's charter, but voted them inactive. Delegates were inspired by a speech about the Frontier Nursing Service by Mary Breckinridge, volunteer director of FNS. They were also able to meet Bland Morrow, the social service worker in charge of AOTI's social service department in the mountains.
AOn jeweler L. G. Balfour presented the McCausland Scholarship Cup to the fraternity to be given to the collegiate chapter with the highest scholarship average each year. If won three times in succession, the cup became the per- manent possession of the chapter. Mr. Balfour would provide a duplicate cup for the fraternity. If won once, Mr. Balfour would provide a small duplicate to the chapter. The original McCausland Scholarship Cup remains in the A O n archives. Mr. Balfour presented this cup to A O n because of his friendship with Lillian MacQuillin McCausland, Beta (Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island).
Two collegians and Founders Bess Wyman and Jessit Hughan, Convention, 1933
AOn continually cut expenses and did not add many new projects because of the economic Depression years. Despite financial problems of the time, the fraternity held together and supported the alumnae and the active (collegiate) chapters. This impressed the members. AOFI's international officers empha- sized the need to make the fraternity accessible to all desirable young women, even those with expense worries. Council tried to find more scholarship money for those who wanted to join AOIT but could not afford to do so.
A local sorority, Pi Delta Phi at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina, was founded in 1930. The group was installed as Delta Phi Chapter of AOIT on September 23, 1933. Beta Gamma Chapter had began as
The World about Us
The "crime of the century" was the kidnapping and killing of the 20- month-old son and namesake of aviator Charles Lindbergh in 1932. Convicted of the crime, Bruno Richard Hauptmann was executed.
Prohibition of alcoholic beverages ended in 1933.
On radio, virtually 50 soap operas chronicled the daily woes of a host of characters. Late afternoons were for children to follow the exploits of such heroes as the "Lone Ranger" and "Jack Armstrong, The Ail- American Boy." Orson Welles staged his radio play "War of the Worlds" on October 30, 1938, which created havoc and fear among many listen- ers who thought the earth really was being invaded by inhabitants of the planet Mars.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, who served as President of the United States from 1933 to 1945, introduced the "New Deal," which called for vast governmental administrative changes and the use of public funds for relief and public works.
At the New York W orld's Fair, whose theme was "The World of To- morrow," nearly 45 million people learned for the first time something about nylon, home air condition- ing, and television.
In Canada, raging winds swept away fertile topsoil, a plague of grasshop- pers devoured the crops, and a long series of droughts, hailstorms, and early frosts took their tolls.


a local sorority in 1932 when A O n alumnae from the Ann Arbor Alumnae Chapter selected 13 women interested in starting a new sorority at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. Beta Gamma Chapter was installed as a chapter of A O n on September 22, 1934. With the help of sev- eral Atlanta, Georgia, A O n Alumnae, Lambda Sigma Chapter of A O n was installed on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, on April 27, 1935.
Alumnae chapters for many years had socials that included their husbands. To add to the merriment, they started nOA clubs for AOIT husbands that included fun-style initiations. This entertaining idea spread from chapter to chapter very quickly around this time. The TTOAs raised money for children served by the Frontier Nursing Service (FNS), AOFTs National Philanthropy.
Edith Huntington Anderson, Beta Phi President
1933-1937
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1933 - 1935
Edith Huntington Anderson, Beta Phi
President
Anne Jeter Nichols Ribble, Kappa
Secretary
Helen Marie Haller, Omega
Treasurer
Muriel Turner McKinney, Lambda
Vice President
Mary "Dee" Danielson Drummond, Alpha Phi
Second Vice President
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha
Historian
Elizabeth Heywood Wyman, Alpha
Assistant Historian
Wilma Smith Leland. Tau
To Dragma Editor
Helen Haller and Wilma Leland
Florence Goddard, Beta Tau First Canadian initiate
Glimpses of the results of the fraternity's philanthropic efforts were provided by FNS workers. The Social Worker from FNS wrote, "Christmas parties were held for the children. A thousand gingerbread men were made for the party. Two parties were held on Saturday and two on Monday. Each child was able to choose a toy. Weeks before Christmas, boxes and barrels began arriving. My amazement only grows as I realize anew that it is not we, who know and love these children at first hand, but you and others like you, who only know about them, who make possible this magnificent 'brought on' Christmas. Neither we nor the children will soon forget those beautiful big dolls, beauti- fully dressed (150 of them) sent by the Chicago AOns." The AOITs sent 150 whittling knives (at the cost of 10 cents each) to the Social Services Department of the Frontier Nursing Service. The annual salary of the social worker was $1,675. In 1934 AOns sold magazine subscriptions to raise money for the Frontier Nursing Service budget.
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The fraternity was deeply saddened on July 29, 1936 when Founder Helen St. Clair Mullan died after a long illness. During 1933-1934 Anne Richardson Hall Curdy, Alpha (Barnard College of Columbia College, New York, New York), AOFI's first initiate, was a National Recovery Act (NRA) official.
There were now eight districts in AOn. Each Alumnae Advisory Committee (AAC) was to meet with the college/university administration three or four times each school year.
In interfraternal news, the National Panhellenic Congress (NPC) member groups granted 27 charters which resulted in a total of 1,133 active collegiate chapters in NPC. There were 21 fraternities in NPC and two associate groups, which were later welcomed into full membership. NPC began to discuss the idea of establishing maximum quotas for rushing.
AOn daughters. Convention, 1935, Lake Forest. Illinois
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1935 - 1937
Edith Huntington Anderson, Beta Phi
President
Anne Jeter Nichols Ribble, Kappa
Secretary
Helen Marie Haller, Omega
Treasurer
Muriel Turner McKinney, Lambda
Vice President
Mary "Dee" Danielson Drummond, Alpha Phi
Second Vice President
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha
Historian
Elizabeth Heywood Wyman, Alpha
Assistant Historian
Wilma Smith Leland, Tau
To Dragma Editor
Cora Jane Stroheker, Iota
Auditor
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The 1935 AOn Convention was held June 30-July 6 at Ferry Hall in Lake Forest, Illinois. The hostess was Rho Chapter (Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois) and the Presiding Officerwas Edith Huntington Anderson, Beta Phi (Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana). Three hundred and fifty members were present at convention. Many social affairs were held, includ- ing a sightseeing trip to Evanston with tea served at Northwestern University, and visits to the gardens of Cyrus McCormick and Martin Ryerson, followed by tea at Lake Forest Academy. Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) mem- bers from Ft. Sheridan were invited to attend a dance with the AOFIs. The panhellenic tea was held at Arlington Hall. Dr. Mary B. Willeford reported about what the AOn work had meant to the Frontier Nursing Service. On the 4th of July a picnic was held which included Stunt Night, with delegates and international officers performing to the theme, "The Carnival of Nations." Less time was spent on general meetings to allow more time for round table
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COLLEGIATE CHAPTER INSTALLATIONS
Beta Tau Chapter (University of Toronto, Ontario. Canada), September 27. 1930
Alpha Tau Chapter (Denison University, Granville, Ohio), December 12, 1930
Beta Kappa Chapter (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), October 17, 1931 Alpha Gamma Chapter (W ashington State University. Pullman. Washington). May 21, 1932
Delta Phi Chapter (University of South Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina), September 23. 1933 Beta Gamma Chapter (Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan), September 22, 1934
Lambda Sigma Chapter (University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia), April 27, 1935
Sigma Tau Chapter (W ashington College. Chestertown, Maryland). May 14,1938
Alpha Omicron Chapter (Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana), November 5, 1938
Kappa Phi Chapter (McGill University. Montreal. Quebec, Canada). March 25, 1939
ALUMNAE CHAPTER INSTALLATIONS
Rochester Alumnae Chapter (New York), February 8.1930 Dayton Alumnae Chapter (Ohio), March 29,1931
San Diego Alumnae Chapter (California), June 13,1931 Central New Jersey Alumnae Chapter, December 10,1932 Buffalo Alumnae Chapter (New York). December 11.1932 Atlanta Alumnae Chapter (Georgia), February 8,1933 Baltimore Alumnae Chapter (Maryland), February 18,1933 Westchester County Alumnae Chapter (New York). February 23,1933
Toronto Alumnae Chapter (Ontario, Canada), February 10,1935
East Bay Alumnae Chapter (California), November 6,1935 Terre Haute .Alumnae Chapter (Indiana). September 3.1936 Lake County Alumnae Chapter (Indiana), November 7,1937 Toledo Area Alumnae Chapter (Ohio), February 2,1938 Columbus Alumnae Chapter (Ohio). February 4, 1938 Canton-Massillon Alumnae Chapter (Ohio), February 5.1938 Houston Alumnae Chapter (Texas). March 23.1938
St, Paul Alumnae Chapter (Minnesota). March 27,1938 Wichita Alumnae Chapter (Kansas), September 26,1938 Sacramento Valley Alumnae Chapter (California), October 23,1938
Greater Miami Alumnae Chapter (Florida), November 14,1938 Eastern Shore Alumnae Chapter (Maryland), December 8.1938
Pasadena Alumnae Chapter (California), January 30,1939 Mansfield Alumnae Chapter (Ohio), August 23.1939
discussion. Topics discussed included rushing, benefits, programs, personal development, scholarship, house management, finances, social service work, history and Rituals, pledge training, and panhellenic relations, including the quota system. Plans for state days were made.
An AOFI Fellowship, through the Fellowship Committee of the American Association of University W omen (AAUW), was given to honor Octavia Chapin, Delta (Tufts College, Medford, Massachusetts). Edith Huntington Anderson, Beta Phi (Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana), suggested that AOFI start a Friendship Fund that would aid members who were in need of a tangible expression of our love.
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Chi Delta Chapter, 1936 Omicron Chapter, 1936-1937
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Train from Chicago to the 1937 Convention
Convention, 1937
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The 1937 AOIT Convention was held June 27-July 3 at the Canyon Hotel in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The hostess was Alpha Phi Chapter (Montana State College, Bozeman, Montana) and the Presiding Officer was Edith Huntington Anderson, Beta Phi (Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana). There were about 250 members at convention and a special train was chartered to take delegates to Yellowstone. Trips were offered to the falls, the bear feeding grounds, a horse show, and around the canyon rim. Council established the appointive, salaried position of Executive Secretary and added the position to the Executive Committee. The Life Membership Fee was low- ered to $10. Extensive changes were made in the rules for the administration of the Anniversary Endowment Fund.
Delegates, Convention, 1937
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Mary "Dee" Danielson Drummond, Alpha Phi President
1937-1939
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1937 - 1939
Mary "Dee" Danielson Drummond, Alpha Phi
President
Ruth Cox Segar, Omega
Vice President
Dorothy Bruniga Dean, Rho
Second Vice President
Anne Jeter Nichols Ribble, Kappa
Executive Secretary
Helen Marie Haller, Omega
Treasurer
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha
Historian
Elizabeth Heywood Wyman, Alpha
Assistant Historian
Wilma Smith Leland, Tau
To Dragma Editor
Cora Jane Stroheker, Iota
National Auditor
Sara Alice Cullnane, Beta Phi
Registrar
District Conventions were planned for years during which international con- ventions were not held. They usually took the form of round table discus- sions, where ideas were exchanged and concrete suggestions made. While much work was done during the conventions, the fun of being together was an important aspect.
AOn sponsored a tour of Europe from July 2 to August 17. The fee for the entire trip was $802. The travelers visited London, England; Paris, France; Lucerne and Interlaken in the Swiss Alps; Vienna, Austria; Budapest, Hungary; as well as Florence, Venice, Rome, and Naples, Italy.
A local sorority, Sigma Tau Delta, was installed as Sigma Tau Chapter of AOIT on May 14, 1938 at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. Another new AOn chapter had its beginning when two members of Pi Chapter (H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, New Orleans, Louisiana) transferred to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 1937 they formed Alpha Omicron as a local sorority intent on becoming a chapter of AOIT. The chapter was installed by AOIT on November 5, 1938.
The 1939 Convention was held July 2-8 at the Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, California. The hostess was Kappa Theta Chapter (University of California- Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California) and the Presiding Officer was Mary "Dee" Danielson Drummond, Alpha Phi (Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana). A high tea was held for panhellenic representatives and guests from the women's colleges. Life Alumnae Dues (LAD) were raised to $15 for alumnae and $8 for undergraduates. The Alumnae Bulletin newsletter was planned to be sent twice annually to alumnae who had paid their LAD. The convention was followed by a Training School for District Superintendents. During convention, the following recommendations were made: have more convention awards, continue giving graduate scholarships, and establish a national home for elderly AOITs. (While the idea appealed to many, the retirement homes were not financially feasible.)
AOn's third Canadian chapter, Kappa Phi, was installed at McGill University (Montreal, Quebec) on March 25, 1939.
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Stella Perry and Nancy Leland, Convention, 1937
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Delegates, Convention, 1939
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he 1940s were a time of national recovery from the economic Depression. Many programs and policies were created nationally by A O n to prepare for —y future crisis situations. Many of the new polices were tested right away with the outbreak of World War II. A O n responded lovingly with aid for our European neighbors in addition to the Frontier Nursing Service project in the Kentucky hills. AOn had 49 collegiate chapters and 11,180
members in 1940.
Central Office moved on August 1, 1940 from State College, Pennsylvania, to 68 Washington Square South, New York, New York. The new location was larger and more accessible than the one in State College. Sara Alice Cullnane, Beta Phi (Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana), became AOITs new Executive Secretary.
AOn served as hostess at a tea and reception for delegates to the Interfraternity Conference in New York. The event was the first of its kind ever sponsored by the New York City Panhellenic.
Edith (Andy) Anderson Lawrence, Chi (Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York), became AOITs Social Service Director of the Frontier Nursing Service.
A vote by mail was provided for in the A O n bylaws so that business could be conducted even if a convention was postponed. All Council members for the first time received a written notice of when and where convention was meet- ing. The budget was prepared six weeks before convention. Council had the power to determine all budgets, programs, policies, and activities.
The 1941 Convention was held July 7-10 at the Roosevelt Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana. The hostess was Pi Chapter (H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial Col- lege, New Orleans, Louisiana). The Presiding Officer was Helen Marie Haller. Omega (Miami University, Oxford, Ohio). The Convention Co-Chairmen were Lucie Barber Walne, Pi, and Mary Bolton Brown, Pi. "Traditions" was the theme for convention. AOn was divided into 13 geographical districts. The smaller districts would allow each District Superintendent the ability to travel to all her chapters. The powers of the Executive Committee were expanded. Training was planned for the District Superintendents.
AOn installed its 50th chapter, Pi Kappa, on April 19, 1941 at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. Organization of the colony had began in 1939 with the help of Austin area alumnae and two AOITs from Nu Kappa (Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas) who transferred to the University of Texas.
The Central Office moved again in 1943 to Oxford, Ohio. The new office was located just outside the Miami University campus at the Phi Kappa Tau Central Offices. Their operations had been downsized because of the
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Mothers, Daughters, and Sisters, Convention, 1941
decrease in men's collegiate enrollment due to the war. AOFI used two offices and shared the board room with the fraternity.
The convention scheduled for 1943 was not held because of World War II. Instead, the AOTI President, Margaret Boothroyd Rasmussen, Tau (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota), held her Executive Committee meeting in Chicago with officers and committee chairmen.
The fraternity leaders encouraged AOITs to be more aware of citizenship responsibilities. Supportive of the concept, the alumnae chapters held chap- ter programs on subjects relating to public affairs. AOFI continued its War Relief Work through the Alpha Omicron Pi Friendly Aid program by volun- teering financial aid to the children of war-stricken countries. The American Friends Service Committee administered the aid.
During 1944-1945 the position of Traveling Secretary was added to the Central Office staff. The Traveling Secretary made visits to collegiate chapters to provide support and training. The first person to fill the position was Nancy Moyer McCain, Rho (Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois). (Nancy later served the fraternity as President from 1957 to 1959.)
Theta Psi (University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio) was installed on November 11, 1944, the first AOIT chapter to be installed in four years. It had been a local sorority, Pi Theta Psi, founded in 1920. After Stanford banned sororities on its campus in 1944, forcing the close of AOITs Lambda Chapter, plans were made to establish Nu Lambda Chapter at the University of Southern California-Los Angeles at Los Angeles, California. The chapter received all the furnishings from Lambda and was installed on June 26, 1945. Several of the members of Lambda Chapter transferred to USC to affiliate with Nu Lambda.
Helen Marie Haller. Omega President 1939-1941
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1939 - 1941
Helen Marie Haller, Omega
President
Ruth Cox Segar. Omega, resigned 1940 replaced by Margaret Boothroyd Rasmussen. Tau
Vice President
Dorothy Bruniga Dean, Rho Second Vice President
Anne Jeter Nichols Ribble, Kappa Executive Secretary
Ruth Percival Newton, Iota Treasurer
Stella George Stern Perry. Alpha
Historian
Elizabeth Heywood Wyman, Alpha
Assistant Historian
Wilma Smith Leland. Tau
7b Dragma Editor
Edith Huntington Anderson. Beta Phi NPC Delegate
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Margaret Boothroyd Rasmussen. Tau President
1941-1943
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1941 - 1943
Margaret Boothroyd Rasmussen, Tau
President
Carrie Bright Kistler, Sigma
Vice President
Dorothy Bruniga Dean, Rho
Second Vice President
Sara Alice Cullnane, Beta Phi, resigned 1942
replaced by Helen Jo Scott Mann, Omega Executive Secretary
Ruth Percival Newton, Iota Treasurer
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha
Historiari
Elizabeth Heywood Wyman, Alpha
Assistant Historian
Wilma Smith Leland, Tau
To Dragma Editor
Edith Huntington Anderson, Beta Phi
NPC Delegate
A third position was added to the Alumnae Advisory Committee of collegiate chapters. Responsibilities of the person in the new position were to direct rush programs, supervise the pledge training course, oversee the study plan program of the chapter, conduct fraternity examinations, and assist the scholarship officer.
One of AOITs most noteworthy members, famed photographer Margaret Bourke-White, gained acclaim as she covered World War II during 1943-1945. Bourke-White, whose photograph of Fort Peck Dam in Montana had been on the cover of the first issue of Life magazine in November 1936, covered the war by flying on bombing missions over Europe and following United States land-based troops in Italy. She also witnessed the liberation of prisoners from the Buchenwal concentration camp. Bourke-White, Omicron Pi (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan), had begun her career photographing industrial settings (including steel mills) and major construction projects, such as dams. She worked for Fortune magazine from 1929 to 1936 and for Life magazine from 1936 until 1957. Bourke-White died in her Connecticut home on August 27, 1971. She was posthumously presented AOITs Wyman Award for outstanding achievement in her profession in 1983.
No convention was held in June 1945 because of World War II. The war ended in August 1945 and a convention was planned for June 1946.
The 1946 Convention, the "Golden Jubilee Convention," was held June 23-29 at Gratiot Inn, Port Huron, Michigan. The hostesses were Beta Gamma Chapter (Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan) and Omicron Pi Chapter (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan). The Presiding Officer was Dorothy Bruniga Dean, Rho (Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois). For the first time our fraternity leaders came in early to discuss poli- cies and the upcoming convention. This proved to be valuable in streamlin- ing the convention business. Graduate fellowships were eliminated and the money that had funded them went into the Chapter Aid Revolving Fund. New
Convention, 1946


Mothers and Daughters, Convention, 1946
positions established included those of First Vice-President, to oversee the District Directors; Secretary, to take over the duties of the Executive Secretary since she was no longer on the Executive Committee;Traveling Secretary, a paid member of the Central Office staff who was to visit and report on all chapters; and Financial Secretary, also on staff, who was to act as a deputy of the Treasurer and handle deposits, keep track of accounts, pre- pare authorized checks, and serve as auditor of chapter and house accounts. The Resolutions of Courtesy had been presented at most conventions, but this is the first time they were given this official title.
Delegates with Founders Bess Wyman, Stella Perry, and Jessie Hughan. Convention, 1946
Dorothy Bruniga Dean. Rho President 1943-1946
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1943 - 1946
Dorothy Bruniga Dean, Rho
President
Grace Duerson Suhr, Rho, resigned 1945 replaced by Lasbeth Davis Clark, Epsilon Vice President
Hannah Blair Neal, Beta Phi
Second Vice President
Helen Jo Scott Mann, Omega, resigned 1945 replaced by Shirley MacLean Aiken, Omega Executive Secretary
Ruth Percival Newton, Iota, resigned 1944 replaced by Edith Cope Lockard, Omega, resigned 1945
replaced by Margaret Wolf Miller Danielson, Rho
Treasurer
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha
Historian
Elizabeth Heywood Wyman, Alpha
Assistant Historian
Margaret Boothroyd Rasmussen, Tau
NPC Delegate
Wilma Smith Leland, Tau
To Dragma Editor
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The World about Us
A report from the United States Census Bureau, aptly named "Tracking the American Dream," reported that more than one-third of the homes lacked a flush toilet, nearly as many had no running water, and 44 percent lacked a bath- tub or shower. Eighteen percent of homes needed major repairs, hav- ing suffered neglect during the eco- nomic Depression years. The medi- an price of a home declined to $2,938.
The Japanese Naval Forces attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, on Dec- ember 7, 1941 which led to the United States declaring war on Japan the next day and on Germany and Italy a few days later.
Padded shoulders, narrow waist- lines, and skirts that fell just below the knees were worn early in the decade, but with the onset of World War II, fashion changed. Function replaced fashion as women took over many "men's jobs" (although women were never paid the same as men). Women working outside the home chose trousers and one-piece coveralls.
The most popular songs were "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," "Don't Get Around Much Any- more," "White Cliffs of Dover," and "I'll Never Smile Again." The best novel was Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls.
President Harry Truman authorized the first atomic bomb to be dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945 and on Nagaski, Japan, three days later. The unconditional sur- render of Japan followed on August 15,1945.
Canada lost 45,000 citizens during the war. The country enjoyed a post-war economy in which export profits skyrocketed, industrial de- velopment flourished, and interna- tional trade boomed.
AOn leaders recognized that a philanthropic program was neither sound nor complete that provided only for others and allowed its own members to suf- fer. As a voluntary expression of love, the Ruby Fund was created to assist members who were in desperate financial straits.
In the spring of 1946 Central Office was on the move again to an apartment uptown in Oxford, Ohio when the Phi Kappa Taus, whose central office we had been using, returned from war. The new A O n office had two large rooms on the second and third floors. There also was a small three-room apartment in the back that was for rent. A O n was given first consideration in renting it.
Kappa Gamma Tau, a local sorority at Florida Southern College, was founded in 1925. On May 5, 1946 it was installed as Kappa Gamma Chapter of A O n . At the time it was the oldest sorority on campus.
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Kappa Chapter, Dance Committee, Convention, 1949
Rho Chapter and Tau Chapter delegates, Convention, 1947
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A national sorority, Phi Omega Pi, approached A O n during 1945-1946 about absorbing the Phi Omega Pi chapters. On campuses where both chapters cur- rently existed, the AOn chapters objected to this proposal. The Phi Omega Pi chapters were deemed to be weak, which led to concern about possible dan- ger to A O n through association with the group. A O n declined to absorb the sorority and Phi Omega Pi released all of its chapters. The Phi Omega Pi chapter at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama did become an AOIT chap- ter, Delta Delta. It was named for Dorothy Dean, Rho (Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois), who served as AOFI President from 1943 to
1946. The collegiate chapter president attended the 1946 AOn convention in Port Huron, Michigan, and was initiated there. Delta Delta Chapter was installed on August 10, 1946.
In 1947 A O n celebrated its 50th Founders' Day. A donation of $10,400 went to the American Friends Service Committee for feeding children in war- torn countries. On March 15, 1947 a State Day held in Indiana had 300 in attendance.
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Central Office Staff. Convention. 1949
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Omega Chapter, ribboning ceremonv, circa 1949
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Muriel Turner McKinney, Lambda President
1946-1949
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1946 - 1947
Muriel Turner McKinney, Lambda
President
Mary Paschen Lindrooth, Rho
First Vice President
Alice Reeves West, Theta
Second Vice President
Leonora Bloomquist Wolf-Martin, Rho
Third Vice President
Irene Fraser Jackson, Tau
National Secretary
Margaret Wolf Miller Danielson, Rho
Treasurer
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha
Historian
Elizabeth Heywood Wyman, Alpha
Assistant Historian
Margaret Boothroyd Rasmussen, Tau
NPC Delegate
Katherine Davis Carter, Theta
To Dragma Editor
Nancy Moyer McCain, Rho First Traveling Secretary
The 1947 Convention was held July 1-6 at Roanoke Hotel, Roanoke, Virginia. The hostess was Kappa Chapter (Randolph-Macon Woman's College, Lynchburg, Virginia). The Presiding Officer was Muriel Turner McKinney, Lambda (Stanford University, Stanford, California). The Convention Chairman was Sarah Hammer Lee, Kappa. The convention, attended by 350 AOris, climaxed the 50th anniversary of the founding of A O n . At sessions and meals the fraternity celebrated its heritage of youth, learning, history, humanity, leadership, democracy, strength, and love. Judge Dorothy Kenyon, Nu (New York University, New York, New York), spoke at the citizenship din- ner on American Independence Day. One of the two women to be appointed to the United Nations by the U.S. President, Judge Kenyon spoke on "Our Heritage of Democracy." Mary Breckinridge, Director of the Frontier Nursing Service, and Louise Fink, AOITs Social Service Secretary, drove to conven- tion from Kentucky in a Jeep identical to the one AOn had recently pur- chased for the FNS. Convention delegates decided to name the Jeep "Leo" in honor of AOITs Third Vice President, Leonora "Leo" Bloomquist Wolf-Martin, Rho (Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois), who supervised the
fraternity's philanthropic projects.
'Leo," the AOfl Jeep, Frontier Nursing Service 102


The panhellenic system of Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana, invit- ed A O n to establish a chapter on the campus. The alumnae in the area were organized to aid the new chapter. Members were selected and on May 25, 1947 Chi Sigma Chapter was installed. The Chi stands for Centenary and the Sigma for Shreveport. In 1947 San Jose State University at San Jose, California, opened its doors to fraternities. A O n immediately began plans for Delta Sigma Chapter, which was installed on March 14, 1948. When the University of Florida at Gainsville, Florida, opened its campus to sororities, AOn was among four other national sororities to install a chapter. The chap- ter, Gamma Omicron, was installed on September 11, 1948. Sigma Omicron Chapter at the University of Arkansas in State University, Arkansas, soon followed with its installation on February 27, 1949.
In 1948 Central Office moved to a new home on Campus Avenue in Oxford, Ohio. It was the historic home of David Swing who was an orator, preacher, and leader in the anti-slavery movement The house, which was built in 1857, provided larger space for the growing fraternity.
The Rituals, Traditions and Jewelry Committee approved the recognition pin of AOn, a small gold pin with A O n letters raised on the leaves of a gold rose. It could be worn as a bangle on a bracelet or as a locket on a chain. The pin could be worn on the collar, on the suit lapel, or fastened on a scarf. Founder Stella George Stern Perry told A O n s at convention that her friend, Olga Tritt, designed jewelry for the world's leading jewelers. Stella asked Miss Tritt to design a flat decorative rose to be used for recognition and, of course, told her that A O n would pay for her work. Miss Tritt replied that she charged prices that were too high for the sorority to pay, but that she would donate to A O n a rose design.
A new emphasis in AOFI's Alumnae Department was to set up state rush information plans. Recommendations (information provided by A O n alum- nae about potential members) were required for women wishing to go through AOn rush.
AOn contributed to many philanthropic projects, including a $3,700 dona- tion to the Social Service Department of the Frontier Nursing Service. Besides the purchase of a new Jeep for use by the FNS midwives1 school, deserving students in Kentucky received scholarships. A O n presented $1,000 to the American Friends Service Committee. All remaining monies in the philanthropic budget went the Ruby Fund to assist AOITs in dire financial need. AOI1 also gave after school lunches to 5,000 French children.
"Since Canada, because of restrictions, cannot share with us the Frontier Nursing Service program," reported the Fall 1949 To Dragma, "the Canadian chapters have taken the work with cerebral palsy patients as their special charity. The Canadian collegiate and alumnae chapters raised just under $1,000 for the project."
Many A O n alumnae attended a reception given by United States First Lady Bess Truman at the White House for panhellenic members in 1948. Seven states held inspiring State Days, which were becoming very popular. In 1949, J. Ann Hughes, Eta (University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin), began her duties as Executive Secretary in Central Office.
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
1947 - 1949
Muriel Turner McKinney, Lambda
President
Mary Paschen Lindrooth, Rho
First Vice President
Mary Louise Filer Roller, Alpha Pi
Second Vice President
Leonora Bloomquist Wolf-Martin, Rho
Third Vice President
Irene Fraser Jackson, Tau
National Secretary
Margaret Wolf Miller Danielson, Rho
Treasurer
Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha
Historian
Elizabeth Heywood Wytnan, Alpha
Assistant Historian
Margaret Boothroyd Rasmussen, Tau
NPC Delegate
Katherine Davis Carter, Theta
To Dragma Editor
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