Alpha Delta Pi History

Sigma of Alpha Delta Pi—1907-2002 Jonathan S. Coit, Greek Chapter Housing History Project June 5, 2002 Information courtesy of University of Illinois Archives and the Society for the Preservation of Greek Housing This history was produced as part of the Society for the Preservation of Greek Housing’s Greek Chapter History Project. The Society was founded in 1988, with the goal of preserving the historic buildings that embody the history of the nation’s largest Greek system, and educating the public about the historical significance of fraternities and sororities on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus. Dues paid by member fraternity and sorority chapters and donations from chapter alumni fund the Society’s work. In keeping with their mission, the Society began the Greek Chapter History Project in May 2000 in conjunction with the University of Illinois Archives. The GCHP aims for nothing less than producing a complete historical record of fraternities and sororities on the University of Illinois campus by employing a graduate assistant to research and write histories of campus chapters. Making the work possible are the extensive collections of the University of Illinois Archives, especially its Student Life and Culture Archival Program. Supported by an endowment from the Stewart S. Howe Foundation, the heart of the SLC Archives is the Stewart S. Howe collection, the world’s largest collection of material related to fraternities and sororities. 2002 The Society for the Preservation of Greek Housing and the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. All rights reserved. The national sorority now known as Alpha Delta Pi, the first recorded secret society for college women, spent its first half-century as one of the nations’ most prominent local fraternities. In 1851, six students of Wesleyan Female College of Macon, Georgia, founded the Adelphean Society: Eugenia Tucker, Octavia Andrew, Sophronia Woodruff, Ella Pierce, Mary Evans, and Elizabeth Williams. Tucker reminisced later that the idea of forming such an association stemmed from her peers’ focus on frivolous pursuits: “It is not long before acquaintances and friends initiate her into the ways of school life, but she finds that many of her class mates think more of mischevious enjoyment than their lessons. .could she influence her friends to join her in forming an association for improvement?” The Adelphean Society’s constitution reflected this sober interest, stating that the group “shall have for its object, the mental, moral, social, and domestic improvement of its members.” Edward A. Meyers, a professor of English at Wesleyan, suggested the name “Adelphian” and their motto, “We live for one another.” 1 Tucker’s emphasis on engagement with scholarship was reflected in the Adelphian practice of reading aloud “an original composition on some question of manners, moral, science or literature,” then “selections from history, poetry, something scientific or literary,” and ending with conversation about the readings. But while Adelphian meetings reflected the Founders’ interest in serious engagement with academics, an early historian points out that the group “had all the earmarks of the typical fraternity of their day.” At this point few fraternities had elaborate rituals or 1 Jessica North Mac Donald, ed., History of Alpha Delta Pi , Ames, Iowa: The Powers Press, 1931, p. 3-5; Virginia Lee Nelson, ed., Loyally: A History of Alpha Delta Pi , Atlanta: Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, 1965, v.1, p. 3, 5-6; Tucker is quoted in Nelson, v. 1, p. 12. Tucker’s evident seriousness came perhaps from her father, Dr. Nathan Tucker. Dr. Tucker was a prosperous slaveholder in Laurens County, Georgia, but voted 2 paraphernalia, but like its sister and brother organizations the Adelphian Society admitted new members only by invitation, with three “no” votes being sufficient to “black-ball” a bid; membership was secret, as was the handshake and motto; and members wore at first a special ribbon, and then a badge, at sorority functions. The Adelphians even had a serious rival to compete against during rush. In 1852 a second sorority was organized, the Philomathean Society, and until the first decade of the twentieth century the two groups tended to vigorously rush the same women. Eugenia Blount Lamar, an 1883 Wesleyan graduate, remembered the Adelphians and Philomatheans fiercely seeking her pledge. Generally the rush began with sorority members attempting “to impress the young thing with the great honor shown her” in being an object of pursuit. Eventually, though, pressure tactics were used to great effect. In Lamar’s case, a group of several Adelphians accompanied her home from school, only to meet a similarly large and eager group of Philomatheans in Lamar’s living room! Upon finding that Lamar’s father was the obstacle to her pledging, the Adelphians proceeded to visit him in his law office, where he gave his consent to her pledge. 2 The Adelphean Society had celebrated their fifty-year anniversary before even considering nationalizing the sorority. The histories written about the society tend to frame the question as “Why did they choose to nationalize in 1905?” rather than asking “Why did they not choose to do so before then?” However, the second question does deserve some attention. The Adelphians survived the nation’s Civil War due to the dedication of their members and the number of local alumnae. In the postbellum period the society’s reputation stretched over the entire South. Few Southern colleges other than against secession during Georgia’s secession convention in January 1861. See http://organizations.nlamerica.com/hardy/MilitaryHistory/TenCent.html , accessed April 30, 2002. 3 Wesleyan admitted women, which made the college the prestigious institution for Southern women. As historian Jessica Mac Donald notes, “with several hundred girls in attendance” and only one other competing sorority, it was relatively easy to maintain an active chapter of at most fifty members. More to the point, both the Adelphians and Philomatheans could be very discriminating in choosing members. Membership in one of Wesleyan’s local sororities became a much sought-after honor. As Eugenia B. Lamar ‘83 noted, “the mere fact that a girl might be asked to join [the Adelphians or Philomatheans] was one of the chief reasons for wanting to go to Wesleyan.” 3 This sense of exclusivity was probably heightened by the generally hostile climate towards fraternities in the postbellum period. Wesleyan appears unique in that the Alpha Delta Pi histories record no controversies on the campus regarding the existence of sororities. The hostile climate also helps explain why it was not until the first decade of the twentieth century that larger national sororities attempted to gain a foothold at Wesleyan. In the spring semester of 1904, the Adelphian collegiates and alumnae were abuzz with the prospect that nationals were attempting to recruit members to start chapters. Even Helen Roberts, the president of the Adelphian Society and daughter of the president of Wesleyan, had been approached. Jessica Mac Donald blamed Chi Omega, but Virginia L. Nelson later claimed “no one seems to be entirely certain whether it was Chi Omega or Delta Delta Delta.” The Adelphians acted quickly. By August 1904 they had received a charter for their organization from the state of Georgia. But this was not enough to protect the group from incursions, as members and (most importantly) rushees 2 Nelson, Loyally , v. 1, p. 7; Mac Donald, History , p. 4-5. 3 Mac Donald, History , p. 4. 4 clearly desired a Greek letter name. Thus the Adelphians officially changed their name to Alpha Delta Phi in July 1905. 4 The new national sorority was in an enviable position to be beginning nationalization. Alpha Delta Phi began the 1905-06 school year with forty-six collegiate members but around 3000 alumnae! Many of the first 15 chapters were located at women’s colleges, such as Brenau in Gainesville, Georgia; Salem College in Winston- Salem, North Carolina; and Florida State University in Tallahassee. By 1908 Alpha Delta Phi could also be found at large state-supported institutions like the University of Texas and the University of Alabama. However, Nelson states it was that year when expansion work began to flag. Leadership believed membership in the National Panhellenic Conference was the key, “if they were to succeed and take a place in the large cosmopolitan universities.” After securing Panhellenic membership in 1909, the sorority founded chapters at Duke University, Iowa State University, and Boston University before coming to Illinois. In the years immediately following Sigma chapter’s affiliation, new Alpha Delta Phi chapters were founded at the University of California (Berkeley), Louisiana State University, and University of Ohio. 5 Alpha Alpha to Alpha Delta Phi to Alpha Delta Pi Soon after the Adelphian Society became Alpha Delta Phi, and adopted a policy of expansion, three women at the University of Illinois founded what would become Sigma chapter of the sorority. Sisters Nina and Margaret Weinberg, (both ’08) and their friend Mary Rich ’08 founded the Alpha Alpha local sorority in April 1907. Very little is 4 ibid , p. 14; Nelson, Loyally , v. 1, p. 116-118. 5 recorded about Alpha Alpha. The group was founded at the end of Illinois’ second sorority boom; the campus’ first five sororities were founded between 1895 and 1900, and the next four between 1905 and 1907. Despite competing with eight other prominent national sororities, Alpha Alpha kept up its membership steadily in the years after its founders graduated. The Illio published in Spring 1908 records fifteen members; the 1909, eleven members; and the 1910, thirteen; and the 1911, twelve. 6 Dean of Men Thomas A. Clark, a supporter of fraternities at Illinois, appears to have given Alpha Alpha a nudge in the direction of affiliation.

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