FarmHouse at Illinois: 1914-2000

Jonathan S. Coit, Graduate Assistant Greek Housing History Project November 1, 2000

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.

 2001 The Society for the Preservation of Greek Housing and the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. All rights reserved. 2

Abstract: Illinois FarmHouse was the third chapter founded of FarmHouse Fraternity, and from the beginning played a crucial role in the creation of the national FarmHouse organization. From its earliest days at Illinois its members have been known for their academic record and involvement with school activities. The chapter has relocated once since 1923, moving from 105 E. Daniel St., Champaign, to 809 W. Pennsylvania Ave.,

Urbana, its present location, in 1940. Although the chapter closed during part of both World Wars, members managed to reopen the fraternity both times, soon after each war’s end. This history follows the story of the chapter from the foundation of the national fraternity in 1905 through the end of the twentieth century.

Foundation of FarmHouse Fraternity Different histories of FarmHouse Fraternity trace its founding to different moments. Within these stories lie particular conceptions of the central ideals of the fraternity. For example, founder D. Howard Doane dated the founding moment as the time when, in fall 1905, seven University of Missouri undergraduates decided to continue their association, after an elaborate plan for a club for Agriculture students failed. Founder Henry H. Krusekopf suggests that the academic success of and growth of friendships among an unusually large freshman class at the school’s College of Agriculture were the initial experiences on which FarmHouse is based. The fraternity has always celebrated its founding moment on an entirely different date: April 15, 1905. On that day, Doane, Krusekopf, and nine other College of Agriculture students at the University of Missouri agreed on a plan to found a residential club for College of Agriculture students. Doane had first suggested the idea of forming an exclusive organization for Agriculture students at the University in Bible study meetings at the campus YMCA. According to Krusekopf, the agreement to form a club 3

was the end result of several factors. First, in 1904, the College of Agriculture had an entering class of 34 students, larger by a factor of ten than any class which preceded it.

This large group of students entered a campus environment where they “were tolerated but hardly recognized as on a parity with those of other departments.” These students apparently took this atmosphere as a challenge. Krusekopf recalls that professors in Zoology, a course required for Agriculture majors even though the field’s professors felt they were not up to the work, were made to eat crow as “the farmers were leading their Academic brothers . . .” by the end of the course. These experiences fostered the growth of significant friendships among the students, most significantly between Doane and the Rusk brothers, Earl and Henry. 1 In the spring of 1905 Doane and the Rusks conceived of forming a residential club for Agriculture students. Henry P. Rusk came up with the group’s name, “FarmHouse,” and the three selected eight other men with whom they agreed to rent a house the following year. Their plan was quite ambitious; each of the men was to return in the fall of 1905 with a roommate in order to fill the 22 spaces available in the house. When in September the group found itself with only seven men instead of 22, they reached what Doane saw as the turning point in the organization. Instead of abandoning their fledgling fellowship, they elected to fulfill the contract and run the house as a boarding house. The first two years they rented rooms to non-members as well as members. By the third year the house was occupied only by FarmHouse members. 2

Unless otherwise specified, all cited material comes from the University of Illinois Student Life and Culture Archives FarmHouse Fraternity Records, RS 41/37/71. There are two series of The Farmstead , the first ended in summer 1939, and the “New Series” began with the December 1939 issue (which coincidentally announced the purchase of 809 W. Pennsylvania). For brevity, “New Series” is not in the citations for the publication. Minutes of specific chapter meetings are cited as “Minutes” followed by the date, and can be located in the Minute Books in the FarmHouse collection.

1 Doane, D. Howard, “The Origin of FarmHouse,” n.p., n.d. (ca. 1935), in “Chapter History”; Krusekopf, H. H., “The Genesis of FarmHouse,” in R. E. Holland, ed., The FarmHouse Record, 1921 , p. 11. 2 Doane, “The Origin of FarmHouse,” p. 1-4; Krusekopf, “The Genesis of FarmHouse,” p. 11-12; Krusekopf, Henry H., “The Founding of FarmHouse Fraternity” in Snyder, Darl E., ed., The Pledge and Membership Handbook of FarmHouse Fraternity , Winter 1967, p. 48-49. 4

What kind of organization had these men founded? Or, as Doane asked in his own history, “Why did this handful of men want to stick together?” Their motivation was certainly not to found a fraternity. As founder Claude B. Hutchinson stated at the 1955 Conclave, “no one among the little group of founders had any thought that he and his fellows were founding a fraternity nor had they any intention of doing so. . . . The basic point in our minds was to find a place where we could . . . promote our mutual interests in stimulating companionship and fellowship.” 3 It is important to note that FarmHouse was founded during a period of intense suspicion and criticism of fraternities.

Hutchison noted that some, if not all, of the founders had previously received invitations to join Greek-letter fraternities. That they refused should not come as a complete surprise, as the belief that “fraternities fostered drinking, gambling, poor scholarship, undemocratic attitudes, and sexual immorality among students,” was widespread in the first decades of this century. 4 However, the purposes to which the new organization was dedicated strongly resonate with the positive aspects of fraternities that supporters highlighted. These supporters praised the institutions’ devotion to Christianity, service to others, and development of responsible, productive members of society. 5 These same goals motivated the founding of FarmHouse: to provide “a real home founded upon the basis of brotherly love,” which encouraged their members to conscientiously work so that “he himself may advance and that the welfare of others may be promoted,” and to

produce men “who recognize their duties to their fellow men and to their community, men who are willing to give freely of their time and effort in order that the welfare of their college may be promoted and the lives of their brothers broadened and enriched by their mutual association and relations.” These are the same ideals that serve as the basis

3 in Snyder, Darl E., ed., The Pledge and Membership Handbook of FarmHouse Fraternity , Winter 1967, p. 49-50. 4 Finnegan, Terence, “Promoting ‘Responsible Freedom’: Administrators and Social Fraternities at the University of Illinois, 1900-1931,” History of Higher Education Annual 1989, p. 33. 5 Finnegan, p. 36-37. 5

of the histories of the founding of the fraternity: commitment to scholarship, supported both by a sense of communal benefit and obligation, and by respect of the organization towards the duties and obligations imposed on it by the larger society. 6 The founders and subsequent members of FarmHouse allowed their dedication to these principles to determine their attitude towards the expansion of the organization. The belief that expansion ought only to be sought when commitment to FarmHouse principles is clear is expressed repeatedly in FarmHouse literature. D. Howard Doane himself reaffirmed this belief in the wake of the 1927 withdrawal of the Wisconsin chapter from the organization. Noting that FarmHouse “has always stood squarely for the maintenance of certain ideals,” Doane said at the 1929 Conclave, “Those ideals may hamper more rapid expansion but who of us would lower our standards for the sake of greater numbers.” 7 One can see this concern evidenced in FarmHouse’s expansion, especially its early expansion. The Nebraska chapter of FarmHouse was formed in much the same way as the Missouri chapter. A group of Nebraska students in the College of Agriculture had formed an organization along the lines of FarmHouse without knowledge of the Missouri group’s existence. This Nebraska group became the second chapter of FarmHouse after some of their members visited Missouri to learn about the University of Missouri Farmers Fair, a program originated by a FarmHouse member. After learning of FarmHouse the Nebraska group decided to affiliate with it. 8

Illinois FarmHouse The Illinois chapter of FarmHouse grew directly out of FarmHouse’s Nebraska chapter. Nebraska alumnus James W. Whisenand ‘14, at the time a graduate student in

6 Hutchison, Claude B., “FarmHouse Traditions and Ideals,” FarmHouse Record 1921 , p. 8-9. 7 Doane, D. Howard, “Message of the President to the Seventh Annual Biennial Conclave, FarmHouse Fraternity,” in E. I. Pilchard, ed. The FarmHouse Record 1929 . The Wisconsin chapter claimed they had difficulty recruiting members because of the organization’s non-Greek name, and had unsuccessfully proposed the name be changed to a Greek-letter name at the 1926 Conclave. 8 Doane, p. 4, Hutchinson, C. B., “Nationalization,” in FarmHouse Record 1921 , p. 7. 6

Animal Husbandry at the University of Illinois, had discussed FarmHouse with Illinois student George F. Hedrick. Hedrick, along with Frank W. Farley, Charles H. Rehling, and Arthur T. Semple, called the first meeting of the infant Illinois chapter on October 15, 1914. At that meeting, Hedrick, Farley, Rehling, and Semple, along with fellow

Illinois Agriculture students Raymond L. Reese, William R. Jones, Berthier W. Fairbanks, William C. Kolmer, W. W. Wilson, Leslie L. Hunt, and J. L. Munson learned

“of the workings and principles of the FarmHouse” from Whisenand, Nebraska alum Rutherford J. Posson ’15, and Nebraska member S. H. Whisenand. Reese was elected temporary chair of the group. 9 This group held two subsequent meetings, on November 10 and 23, to iron out their constitution, and to petition Dean of Students Thomas A. Clark for permission to form a FarmHouse organization at Illinois. Farley and Rehling met with Dean Clark, and College of Agriculture Dean Eugene Davenport and Assistant Dean Fred Rankin between the two meetings to discuss the formation of a FarmHouse chapter. The chapter minutes record that all three “seemed highly in favor of supporting the FarmHouse.” At Davenport’s suggestion, freshmen were in effect prohibited from pledging, by increasing the number of credit hours required for membership from 12 to 30 hours. 10 Certainly the organization, its purposes and principles, must have appealed to Dean Clark. He was in the midst of a long campaign to transform relations between fraternities and the university administration, in part by changing how fraternities were perceived. He hoped to return fraternities to the ideals on which most were founded—ideals which closely resembled those of FarmHouse. 11

9 Minutes, 10/15/14; “History of Illinois Chapter,” FarmHouse Record 1921 , p. 18, . S. H. Whisenand was listed in the minutes as a FarmHouse member, but does not appear listed as an alumnus in either the 1921 or 1929 FarmHouse Record . 10 Minutes, 11/23/14. 11 Finnegan, passim . See also Miller, R. E., “The FarmHouse - - Why and How,” FarmHouse Record 1921 , p. 19-20. There Miller, a 1917 Missouri FH alumnus, summarizes the complaints made about fraternities’ secrecy, elitism, and immorality and notes that FarmHouse was founded “to obtain the benefits and advantages of fraternal life without incurring the liabilities which so frequently go with it.” 7

The fledgling organization spent the rest of the 1914-15 academic year on three main tasks: inducting members, securing lodgings for the following year, and contributing to the discussions on nationalization of the fraternity. Eleven men had signed the November 1914 petition to Dean Clark: Hedrick, Farley, Rehling, Fairbanks,

Hunt, Kolmer, Jones, Semple, Reese, Samuel C. Skemp, and J. A. Andrews. By the end of the academic year J. A. Andrews had apparently withdrawn, and eight more members had been approved by the chapter: Philip C. Shearer, Earl V. Bruington, John E. Shields, Benjamin H. Questel, Warren R. Horney, George A. Cross, Ben C. Eade, Herbert S.

Hinrichs, and David F. Merker. 12 All eight were voted in after two different banquets were held. Professor H. P. Rusk, an alumnus from the Missouri chapter and in 1915 a member of the College of Agriculture faculty, was invited to the first, held between the February 16 and 23 meetings. The chapter discussed finding more new members at the April 26, 1915 meeting and “the sentiment was in favor of some kind of a ‘feed.’” 13 A banquet was held in the smoking room of the YMCA on May 11 after “suitable refreshments had been obtained.” 14 No mention was made of inviting Rusk to the second dinner. The chapter expanded its social activities in the two years prior to World War I by hosting several dances as well as continued dinners to meet prospective pledges.

12 Minutes, 10/15/14, 11/10/14, 11/23/14, 2/23/15, 5/17/15, and p. 9, 1914-1920 Minute Book. The initial membership of the chapter is a little confusing. Page 9 of the first ledger, which appears to be list the oath initiates signed to become members, lists the 19 names given above as “Charter Members.” J. A. Andrews, although he participated in all the 1914 meetings, signed the petition to Dean Clark, and was one of the three men assigned initially to draft the chapter’s first constitution, does not appear on the p. 9 list of “Charter Members,” and is missing from a ca. 1915 photograph of those charter members (the photograph itself is of curious vintage—it probably was taken in preparation for an Illio page on FarmHouse and never used. The 2/23/15 minutes record that a committee was appointed to “see if it were still possible to get our picture in the Illio,” and the 3/1/15 minutes state that L. L. Hunt of that committee reported that the Illio staff “decline to accept picture this late.”). Two other names that were approved by the chapter for membership in 1915 are a Strong and a Warren (no first names given). Neither of these appear on p. 9 or the 1915 photo. A Milton W. Warren ’21 was elected to membership on 10/22/17 and appears in the 1921 FarmHouse Record as an alumnus, but there is no mention of a previous offer of membership. Strong does not appear further in the records. Also, Samuel C. Skemp, who first appears as an attendee of the 11/10/14 meeting, was apparently never voted in for membership, no doubt in much the same way as the other original members were. John E. Shields was either approved for membership twice or the chapter approved two different men with the same name; as he was voted in both on 11/10/14 and 2/23/15. 13 4/26/15 minutes. 14 5/10/15 minutes. 8

Housing proved to be more difficult for the new chapter than obtaining members. For their first year the chapter apparently had no house. They had held their 1914 meetings in room 117 of the Agriculture Building, but alternated their spring 1915 meetings between two places, 809 S. Wright St., Champaign, and room 232 of the

University YMCA. The house search began at the March 23 meeting when Hedrick, Questel, and Shearer were appointed to the “House Hunting Committee.” After several unsuccessful reports by the committee, the fraternity finally found a home on June 1 when they agreed to rent the house at 606 S. Mathews, Urbana. 15 The fraternity wasn’t

able to stay there, however. Although records do not indicate their reasons for moving, the chapter relocated twice more before becoming inactive during World War I. The chapter lived at 1306 Springfield Ave. in Urbana from June, 1916 to September, 1917, when it moved to 1014 S. Sixth St., Champaign. 16 The new chapter also participated extensively in nationalizing FarmHouse. Claude B. Hutchinson, first president of the National organization (1917-1925), wrote in 1921 that although the Nebraska chapter had been installed with little thought to the future of FarmHouse on a national scale, “the Illinois FarmHouse was deliberately and designedly organized as such accompanied by a lurking notion of nationalization.” 17 From its earliest meetings in 1915 the Illinois chapter involved itself with the drafting of a national constitution for the organization. The chapter began working on the

constitution at its February 23, 1915 meeting. Letters were exchanged between the three chapters on the subject of nationalization as well. Apparently each chapter drafted a

15 6/1/15 minutes. A 1988 letter from alumnus George S. Curtiss lists 809 S. Wright as a residence of the fraternity. However, there is no mention of the renting of a house in the fraternity’s minutes until May 1915, when they agreed to rent the house then standing at 606 S. Mathews. Moreover, they only held three of their 15 meetings that spring at 809 S. Wright, and Curtiss himself notes that he was “dismayed at the lack of records and info” for his research, making it likely that this is an error. 16 . Minutes 6/5/16, 7/19/17. Curtiss’ letter lists 502 E. John, Champaign as their residence from June- September 1917, but it appears they actually lived in 502 E. John from 1919-1922. See note #27 below. 17 Hutchinson, “Nationalization,” FarmHouse Record 1921 , p. 7. 9

constitution and by-laws in the spring of 1915, and exchanged copies for discussion. 18 Up until the chapter approved the national policies on February 7, 1916, the chapter

frequently discussed them. The chapter’s most significant amendment was to “recommend that all ‘horse play’ in initiation be strongly discouraged.” 19 The other

chapters not only concurred, but enthusiastically so, as the final wording was significantly stronger: “There shall be no rough work or ‘horse play’ in the initiation.” 20

The national organization established by the chapters’ approval and by-laws was initially put into action at the first FarmHouse conclave. Benjamin W. Fairbanks represented the Illinois chapter at the conclave, held at the University of Missouri in Columbia, April 19-20, 1917. The delegates voted on several measures, including an initiation ritual and a coat of arms, and made amendments to the constitution and by- laws. Most important were policies which forbade FarmHouse members from belonging to other social fraternities, and slightly altering the fraternity’s membership qualifications. The delegates approved an amendment that, instead of requiring new members to register in a College of Agriculture, allowed students specializing in the study of agriculture but of a different major to join FarmHouse. Upon returning to the chapter, Fairbanks gave a glowing report of the conclave. “Bro. Fairbanks reported that he had spent a very enjoyable trip, and suggested that the future delegates pay their own expenses since there was a large amount of profit to be derived from attending the conclave.” 21

World War I Even as the conclave occurred, events which would result in the temporary closure of the chapter were set in motion. The declaration of war by the United States on

18 Minutes 2/23/15, 3/1/15, 3/8/15, 3/22/15, 3/27/15, 4/12/15. 19 Minutes 4/19/15. 20 “By-Laws of the FarmHouse,” p. 29, 1914-1920 Minute Book. 21 Minutes 4/23/17. 10

the Central Powers on April 6, 1917, indirectly placed two main obstacles in front of the chapter: service in the Armed Forces, and, surprisingly, a brief period of agricultural prosperity. Many of the chapter’s members and alumni enlisted during the war. 22 However, the chapter first felt the pinch, not due to the military, but instead due to a widespread economic boom in the US which occurred as the result of trade with the belligerents. During a long period of overall decline in the agricultural economy, during

World War I agricultural products were in high demand both in foreign markets and from American industry and the military. Because FarmHouse men came predominantly from farming families in this period, their labor was needed on the farm. At the April 30, 1917 chapter meeting, business manager Ben C. Eade named sixteen men, both pledges and actives, who had withdrawn from the University to farm. As the chapter only numbered 25 men during the 1916-17 academic year, the loss of the men created a major problem in the chapter’s finances. At the previous house meeting Eade reported that “our financial standing was unfavorable . . . board would probably be discontinued after the perishable food-stuffs had been consumed unless some new arrangement could be made.” In the end, the chapter dismissed their waiter and dishwasher and offered their cook $10 per week to continue. 23 After some extended work with the finances, the chapter resumed business as usual in September of 1917. In support of the intensifying American war effort, the chapter voted to have a wheatless and meatless day each week in support of the war

22 An undated list in “Chapter History” folder, entitled “Men in the Service,” shows 34 Illinois chapter FarmHouse men as having been inducted into the military during World War I. When taken out of the 67 men listed as alumni in the FarmHouse Record 1921 this is a rather impressive number, especially given the US’s late and small military mobilization relative to population, even at the height of their WWI involvement. However, given the absence of information on the list about who produced it, when it was written, what the sources were etc. it should not be considered authoritative. 23 Minutes 4/23/17, 4/30/17. The chapter was also forced to restructure their payment plan on a $400 loan from a local bank due to the income shortfall. They eventually borrowed the $400 from member Gilbert S. Willey, and furnished their new house only through a $100 loan from member David. F. Merker’s mother. Even with these measures the chapter was able to stay solvent only by charging a $2.50 special assessment in the summer and having the returning members from 1916-17 pay their first month’s rent in advance. Minutes 9/19/17. 11

effort. 24 But it was not long before FarmHouse men, pledges, and potential pledges began to enter the service. At the April 8 chapter meeting it was noted that a prospective pledge could not accept because he was drafted, and the members discussed whether or not they should break their promise to College of Agriculture Dean Davenport not to pledge freshmen. While “the urgency of getting good men who will be back next year” was clear, the members emphasized “the fact that it were [sic] better to let numbers decrease than to lower the standards of the organization.” 25 It seems clear that the organization as a whole had little notion that the chapter was in danger of closing. This is surprising, as 17 of the 21 actives listed in the 1917-18 Illio ended up serving in the military during WWI. 26 With no notice in the minutes of special preparations being made, the chapter closed for the summer of 1918 and did not reopen until January 1919. The members began the work of re-assembling the chapter in early 1919. It is not clear where this occurred. Twelve members rented a house together for spring semester 1919; however, there is no record of its location. Members make references to the house several times in their minutes—most notably in the January 6, 1919 minutes, which stated that Albert T. Mighell “was appointed, as part of the duties of a pledge,” to supervise the house’s furnace. 27 The chapter almost immediately started looking for a new house, and after several weeks of searching and negotiations it settled on 502 W. John St., Champaign, where it resided from Fall 1919 to Spring 1922. 28 The chapter also started what would become a FarmHouse tradition—a gathering of FarmHouse men at the International Livestock Show in Chicago. While the chapter had resumed normal

24 Minutes 11/5/17. 25 Minutes 4/8/18. 26 “Men in the Service”; Illio 1919 , Champaign: Twin City Printing, 1918, p. 326 . 27 Minutes 1/6/19. 28 Minutes 6/9/19. See also photos of the house on the FarmHouse page in the 1921-1924 Illio . The same house appeared in all four editions, and the 1924 Illio identifies the house as 502 W. John St. Curtiss’ document states that residence at 502 W. John began on June 9, 1917, but he gives no source for this information—it is most likely there was an error in the transmission of this information, since the actual date of the lease signing was June 9, 1919. 12

operation—sponsoring dances, having exchanges with Alpha Gamma Rho, participating in homecoming activities—it lacked a permanent home. The chapter’s “House-Hunting

Committee” worked diligently to find an acceptable house, but it wasn’t until over four years after the chapter’s 1919 reopening that a lasting solution was found. On May 21,

1923 the chapter agreed to rent the house at 105 E. Daniel St., Champaign, for three years. It was the longest lease the chapter had signed to that point, and, as it turned out, the chapter would remain at that address until 1940. 29

The Twenties and the Thirties The 1920s and 1930s saw Illinois FarmHouse men expanding the activities of the chapter. But academic achievement came first. The chapter always ranked in the top four Illinois fraternity chapters with the highest average grade point average during the two decades. It frequently boasted possession of the scholarship cup. Members were routinely inducted into campus honor societies (Alpha Zeta, Gamma Sigma Delta, and Phi Eta Sigma) as well. With this strong base, FarmHouse members participated in a wide variety of campus activities. Their greatest impact came, as one would suspect, in College of Agriculture activities. FarmHouse men served as officers in the Hoof and Horn club, the Field and Furrow club, the College of Agriculture Dance committee, and the Illinois Agriculturist . The chapter also placed men every year on various judging teams. 30 The brothers also sought a new kind of recognition during this period by participating extensively in all-campus and interfraternity activities. Throughout the period, FarmHouse men contributed to campus politics and event committees. Following

29 Minutes 3/21/23. See also Minutes 3/7/23 and 3/18/23. 30 FarmHouse Record 1921 , p. 44; FarmHouse Life 1925-26, p. 7, 8, “FarmHouse Life – An Annual”; FarmHouse Record 1929 , p. 48; FarmHouse Life 1929-30 , p. 3, “FarmHouse Life – An Annual”; Farmstead , 2:4, 3:1, 4:1 (Nov. 1934 and Nov. 1935), 4:3 (April 1936), 6:1, 7:1, 7:3, New Series 1:3 (April 1940). 13

in the footsteps of Walter Goelitz ’18, the first FarmHouse man to letter in a varsity sport, several brothers won letters in the thirties, including Verne Eckert, chapter president in

1934-35 and “I” man in track and field. 31 Additionally, the fraternity was finally recognized by its peer organizations. The chapter became a member of the campus men’s Pan-Hellenic (later Interfraternity Council) in the 1921-22 academic year. 32 They excelled in intramural sports, competing in cross country, track and field, wrestling, and

even horseshoes. But their most outstanding achievement in intramural sports was their “fourpete”; the chapter won the intramural basketball “A” team championship four times

from 1931-34. The emphasis on activities outside the chapter didn’t draw the brothers’ attention away from brotherhood. The chapter welcomed alumni back for Homecoming, Mother’s Day, and Dad’s Day celebrations, and held several dances a year, including the Alumni dance and a Spring Formal. For S. Dean Sims, ’40, “Mother’s Day Weekend was something my mother really looked forward to and I think she always felt proud that her sons were in FarmHouse.” 33 The Illinois chapter hosted two conclaves, in 1921 and 1933. 34 The interwar period also saw the start of a lasting FarmHouse tradition: the Little Sisters program. The program has changed considerably from its beginnings as the “Sister-Daughter Dinner.” It was started sometime in the late 1920s, and originally was a small dinner held at the chapter, only for sisters or daughters of FarmHouse men. 35

Informal house traditions complemented and supported formal events. Brothers who became engaged or became new fathers provided “seegars” to the chapter. A particularly memorable occasion occurred after Gordon Grose ’39 became a father on

31 The FarmStead 4:1 (November 1934). 32 Illio 1923. 33 S. Dean Sims survey response, 6/5/2000. 34 FarmHouse Record 1921 ; FarmStead , 2:4 (June 1933). 35 FarmHouse Life 1929-30 , p. 4; FarmHouse Life 1930-31 , p. 11, “FarmHouse Life – An Annual” folder, unprocessed SLCFH. The dinner does not appear in either the 1925-26 or 1919-20 editions of FarmHouse Life . 14

September 21, 1938. Alumnus and former chapter president Harold S. Morine, Jr. ’40, recalls that some of his best FarmHouse memories came courtesy of Grose and his “Slush

Pump,” Grose’s trombone. On the 21st Grose came to the chapter house with his “Slush Pump” and a box of cigars to celebrate fatherhood with the brothers. 36 An unexpected

houseguest also brought the brothers closer together. Scarlet fever placed the house under quarantine in 1926 and three times in 1935-36! In 1926 all brothers were

forbidden from leaving the house while under the week-long quarantine. In the “idle hands” department, the FarmHouse Life from that year contains the following note: “Say,

D. V., did you ever notice those cracker crumbs I put in your bed when we were quarantined? We will arrange a little ink on the pages of history for that week won’t we?” 37 Orie Potts ’27 wrote years later that “the old horn radio . . . was our major entertainment during quarantine. This was operated from the battery of Jack Clayton’s Model T, outside the window (unknown to him).” 38 The 1935-36 quarantines were less extreme—only freshmen who had not been tested for the disease were barred from leaving the house. 39 As the chapter grew, however, alumni and actives alike saw the house at 105 E. Daniel St. strained to capacity. Over the 1920s and 1930s, several different plans were advanced to build the chapter a new home. Lots were purchased for that purpose both in the early twenties and during the thirties. Both times, however, circumstances led the chapter to purchase pre-existing homes. In 1925, interest in lots the FarmHouse Alumni Association had purchased motivated them to offer the lots for sale. In fact, the lots increased in value considerably even after sale discussions had begun. The Association originally voted to approve the sale if a price between $16,000 and $18,000 could be

36 Harold S. Morine, Jr. survey response, 6/1/2000; FarmStead 7:1 (November 1938), p. 3 37 FarmHouse Life 1925-26 , p. 9. 38 FarmStead , 22:1 (November 1959), p. 1. The issue has a great illustrative picture of the men in the house during the quarantine. 39 FarmStead , 4:3 (April 1935), p. 2, 4:2 (January 1936), p. 3, and 4:3 (April 1936), p. 1. 15

agreed upon. A few months later they sold the lots for $21,000. With the capital the Association realized from the sale, they began looking for a house to buy, eventually settling on 105 E. Daniel St., the house the chapter occupied. 40 Plans for building the chapter a new house were not yet abandoned, though. By

1929 the chapter had commissioned plans to construct a house. House plans designed in the “Pennsylvania FarmHouse” style were discussed by the alumni twice in 1928-29. 41

However, most likely due to the Great Depression, the Association had difficulty promoting to its members the prospect of constructing a new chapter house. 42 The first positive step was a vote at the 1935 annual meeting to sell 105 E. Daniel and acquire a new house. Negotiations began with Theta Upsilon concerning their house at 606 Iowa St., Urbana, and then, following the 1936 annual meeting, the Association initiated talks with the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity about 310 N. Stadium Drive, Champaign. As the chapter house filled to overflowing, the ΠΚΤ deal became increasingly complicated. Although the Association authorized its board to purchase the property in December 1936, the Association’s finances did not permit quick action. Negotiations with the owner of the ΠΚΤ property did not begin until May 1937. The house had been foreclosed on, and as the new owner appeared interested in selling the property to the Association, the way appeared clear for FarmHouse’s new home. However, in August 1937 the national office of ΠΚΤ intervened, tying up the property until August 1938. 43 The continuing setbacks apparently caused the alumni to revisit the prospect of constructing a house. At the 1939 annual meeting the Association gave their Building Committee permission to begin plans for building a new house for the chapter, after the existing blueprints were revised.

40 FarmHouse Life 1925-26 , p. 1, 10. 41 FarmHouse Record 1929 , p. 45-46. 42 FarmStead 3:1 (November 1933), p. 2. 43 FarmStead 4:1 (November 1935), p. 1, 5:1 (October 1936), p. 1, 6:1 (January 1938), p. 1. The October 1936 issue noted that the chapter then had 32 members, and the current house capacity for 30. 16

But again circumstances changed their plans. The “Oathout property,” at 809 W. Pennsylvania in Urbana, was being offered for sale. The chapter had looked at this

property before, but had found it too expensive. On June 30, 1940, though, the association met to discuss purchasing the now lower-priced home and property. At that

meeting it was voted to buy the current home of Illinois FarmHouse. The move from Champaign to Urbana proved difficult to sell to many of the actives. At the time

FarmHouse was located near what was then called “Fraternity Park,” and many actives had hoped that the new house contemplated would be located there as well. Fay Sims

recalled that after the house meeting in which the move was announced, a group of actives “got together and said, ‘We’ve got to stop this.’” However, Sims also noted that once the actives got a look at the Oathout home, a larger, more elegant building that 105 E. Daniel, they acquiesced to the move. 44

Once Again, War Intervenes The summer of 1940 saw FarmHouse making preparations for the move to their new house. Fay Sims and three other actives borrowed a truck and moved everything from the 105 E. Daniel house across town to 809 W. Pennsylvania. The new house also had more space for study desks. Alfred Welbourne ’38 created a desk design, and a volunteer from the Champaign Fire Department actually built all forty needed desks between July and September 1940. After an extensive redecoration and some minor repairs, the active chapter of Illinois FarmHouse moved into 809 W. Pennsylvania in September 1940. 45 They were not to stay long. A World War again closed the fraternity and drew most actives and many recent alumni into active service in the armed forces. The first hints of the effect of the World War came during FarmHouse’s 1940-41 rush

44 FarmStead , 1:1 (December 1939), p. 1, 1:2 (January 1940), p. 1, 1:4 (June 1940), p. 1, 1:5 (August 1940), p. 1.; Fay Sims interview, 10/22/2000. 45 Farmstead , 1:5 (August 1940), p. 2; Fay Sims interview, 10/22/2000. 17

program. The Rush Chair urgently appealed to alumni for help in the rush program in a February 1941 FarmStead article: “Not since the days of World War I in 1917 have

college fraternities faced as serious a crisis as the one which we believe is rapidly approaching.” Although the warning would prove correct, the 1941-42 chapter saw their

seven graduating seniors replaced by thirteen pledges. The University as a whole was initially unaffected by the campaign for national preparedness. The administration had

forecast a 15-20% drop in enrollment for 1941-42, but registration statistics showed only about 1200 fewer students, or 9.6% fewer, enrolled in that year. 46 All this, of course,

occurred well after the fighting had started, but well before direct US involvement was contemplated by many Americans. Several FarmHouse members from that period remembered the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, which, as Ralph Dralle ’42 later noted, “was a day that would change all of our lives.” 47 The chapter learned of the attack on the day it happened, December 7, 1941. Dralle writes, “It was about 12:45 p.m., 1941, when Harold Steele, Howard Hextell and I had just gotten off the kitchen crew. Tom Rice and Elmer Olson turned on the radio to learn of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.” 48 Dale Sinclair ’42 noted that the whole campus learned quickly of the attack and voiced their support for war with “a huge gathering on the Quad that December night,” which showed “the enthusiasm to retaliate for the bombing.” 49 It took more than two years for mobilization to close the house. Even as late as fall semester 1942 the house operated at full capacity. 50 But as the war effort intensified in 1942, the University and FarmHouse began to feel its effects. The chapter encouraged attendance at the 1942 Homecoming, “since limitations on transportation and travel soon predicted to take effect may make the 1942 celebration the last celebration for the

46 FarmStead 3:1 (October 1941), p. 2, 3. 47 Dralle, Ralph, “Illinois Chapter, FarmHouse Fraternity: Before and After World War II,” n. p., 1997, p. 1. Copy of a typescript draft in the FarmHouse Fraternity Records. 48 Dralle, “Before and After,” p. 1. 49 Dale H. Sinclar to Fay M. Sims, 10/18/97, letter in FHF records. 50 FarmStead 4:1 (October 1942) 18

duration.” 51 But although the University did celebrate Homecoming in 1943, Illinois FarmHouse did not. By the end of spring semester 1943 it was clear that 809 would have

to be shut down for the remainder of the War. Only seven men were likely to return in the fall, with no prospects for new pledges. All fraternities on campus, the FarmStead

noted, found themselves in a similar situation in spring of 1943: “the campus fraternities, including FarmHouse, continue to mark time, getting along the best they can with

reduced membership.” Only one house had closed to that point, and others had suspended meals. Sunday, October 3, 1943, Norman W. Tuttle ’43 closed the door on

809 and on the chapter’s pre-war history. That Tuesday morning work began to convert the house into a women’s rooming house for the duration of the War. It wasn’t until after the War that the returning actives found out the renters had continued work during the War; they had grown red geraniums in the urinals! 52 The FarmStead continued to be published throughout the war, and kept actives and alumni as informed as possible of the doings of FarmHouse men in the service. Alumni kept the newsletter afloat through donations, and members both in the service and out sent in letters. Men on active duty who could receive mail got the FarmStead . This amounted to quite a number—by June of 1945 (after V-E Day but before V-J Day) there were nearly 100 Illinois FarmHouse men in the service, or about one-third of the total number of initiates. Those who could write home always expressed their wish to be

back at 809 W. Pennsylvania. George Richter, ’41 wrote in early 1945, after having landed in Normandy, and driving with the Allies toward Germany, “Am eagerly looking forward to the ‘one big Homecoming’ and swapping of ‘Battle Experiences’ in one big bull session. Keep the home fires burning.” 53 When FarmHouse men began returning to the University in the fall of 1946, they visibly illustrated the sacrifices the war demanded. Wounded men were among both the returning members and soon-to-be pledges. Ralph

51 FarmStead 4:1 (October 1942), p. 1. 52 FarmStead 6:1 (November 1943), p. 1. Ralph Dralle to Fay Sims, 8/20/1997, FHF records. 53 FarmStead 7:3 (April 1945), p. 3. 19

Johnson ’42, an Army 1 st lieutenant, had needed a stainless steel plate to repair the damage a German explosive had done to his skull. Several brothers remembered that

Johnson frequently suffered headaches as a result. 1946 pledges Fred Slife and Ralph Burnett also returned with wounds; Slife was still recovering from grievous injuries to his

chest and ribs, while Burnett had been held as a POW in Europe. The privations and sacrifices of the War only fueled the men’s desire to re-form

the active chapter and return to 809 W. Pennsylvania. The chapter house had been rented to the women roomers for the 1945-46 academic year, but the FarmStead announced that

the “directors of the association are in agreement that the chapter should be revived by at least the second semester of the coming school year,” in preparation for a move back to 809 in the fall of 1946. A group of FarmHouse actives got cracking quickly. The group, which was composed of Ralph Dralle, Ralph Johnson, Dale Sinclair, Max Foster (all ’42), and Ernie Stevenson ’40, were able to secure lodgings at a former student rooming house at 305 E. Daniel St., Champaign—not far from the pre-809 digs of the chapter. Negotiations with the property owner, George Grimes, were difficult. Grimes was a bit of an eccentric, and repeatedly regaled Dralle with stories of how his wife had tried to poison him in 1927. Once Dralle finally felt he had the deal secured, he, Johnson, and Association representative Jerry Cash met with Grimes to sign the papers. The men were all committed to reestablishing the fraternity, so when Grimes began to question whether or not the men would keep current on the rent, Cash “got out his checkbook, opened his fountain pen, and asked Grimes how many months of rent he wanted in advance.” 54 Grimes settled on one month advance rent, and the brothers moved in.

54 Ralph Dralle, “Reopening of FarmHouse,” n.p., 2000, p. 2. Grimes told Dralle that his wife had tried to poison him in 1927, and that he then kicked her out, along with all the students who had been rooming on the second and third floors. Dralle recalled that it looked as if the upper floors had not been touched since, with the study desks and beds still in place, although covered with nearly 20 years worth of dust and grime. Grimes loved to play ragtime hits on his player piano, and subjected Howard Hedtke (the youngest of the new pledges at 17, elected “food tester” by the brothers) to his awful cooked rhubarb. 20

Recruitment for the chapter started almost at once. Five pledges—Robert Brandes, Ralph Burnett, Howard Hedtke, Kent Ryan, and Fred Slife—moved into 305 E.

Daniel St. with the actives before spring semester 1946. 55 When the chapter moved back into 809 W. Pennsylvania Ave. in the fall of 1946, they added twenty-two pledges. 1946

also marked the resumption of the fraternity’s traditional summer picnic, and saw as well a huge homecoming feast attended by 119 actives, alumni, and guests. 56 They also resumed their success in academics. First semester of 1946-47 the chapter won all three trophies, for active, pledge, and combined scholarship. They were able to continue to hold onto the combined scholarship trophy for two more semesters, ensuring that the traveling trophy would stay permanently on the mantle at the chapter house. 57

The Postwar Period Tensions within the fraternity as an institution, and the momentous changes occurring in college life after World War II, made their presence felt at Illinois FarmHouse. In many ways, the chapter quite successfully re-established its pre-war traditions in the late 1940s and early 1950s. At the same time, though, larger changes in education created new challenges for FarmHouse. The University of Illinois, like most American post-secondary institutions, experienced tremendous growth as a result of the drastic increase in college attendance, spurred initially by the GI Bill.

Scholarship historically has been a strength of all FarmHouse chapters, and Illinois FarmHouse, through much of the 1950s, upheld this tradition. Illinois FarmHouse finished third in combined and actives GPA for fall semester 1955; fourth in combined and pledge GPA for fall of 1956; and second in pledge scholarship for spring 1957. 58 However, in the fall of 1959, the chapter fell below the all-fraternity GPA for the

55 FarmStead 8:4 (April 1946), p. 1. 56 FarmStead 9:1 (November 1946), p. 1. 57 FarmStead 9:4 (August 1947), p. 2, 10:3 (April 1948), p. 2 58 Minutes 2/13/56; 3/25/57; 10/27/58. 21

first time since the fraternity’s founding. 59 It seems as if an extremely busy social schedule had taken its toll on the chapter’s GPA. Throughout the late 1940s and 1950s

the chapters social commitments increase every year. After the brothers were re- established at 809 W. Pennsylvania they resumed their annual celebrations of

Homecoming, Mom’s and Dad’s Day, and Sister’s Day, and held summer picnics every year. Their biannual Founder’s Day celebrations were successes, boasting of attendances

usually around 80 actives, alumni, and guests. The chapter annually held pledge and initiation dances, as well as winter and spring formals. They also resumed having

exchanges with sororities, and established an annual picnic with the nearby sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha. College of Agriculture activities were high on the chapter’s list. FarmHouse men could be found on all the Ag. Clubs—Field and Furrow, Hoof and Horn, the Agriculture Education Club, the Agriculture Engineering Club, and the Student News Information Bureau (or SNIB), just to name a few. And while they didn’t top the 1930s chapter’s 4 straight intramural basketball championships, they did have success in intramural sports. In addition to winning the intramural basketball championship in 1955-56, and league championships in 1956-57, 1957-58, 1959-60, and 1963-64, Illinois FarmHouse also won the intramural sportsmanship trophy four times, including 1955-56. Jim Bowers ’56, who had gained national fame for setting a American high school record in the mile race at 4:12, pledged FarmHouse his first year and continually brought honor on the house with his races. Bowers set an Illinois record for the mile in 1958, then broke it the next year. 60 The postwar chapter was more active in campus activities than previously—and given the drop in grades towards the end of the 1950s, perhaps to their detriment. They decorated their house for Homecoming in elaborate fashion, winning first place in 1953

59 Minutes 3/7/60. 60 Scrapbook 1953-55; Scrapbook 1954-56; Scrapbook 1956-58; FarmStead New Series 20:3 (April 1958), p. 1. Minutes 1948-54, 1954-59, 1959-65, passim . 22

and honorable mention in 1951. 61 The 1953 decoration showed Illini coach Ray Eliot sharpening knives for his players to use—they were “skinning” Michigan Wolverines to

“fur” the alumni! The previous spring FarmHouse had placed third in the Spring Carnival with their skit “TV Under Pressure,” an underwater TV show, sponsored by

“Whish, the underwater deodorant.” 62 They routinely had members initiated into Sachem (Junior honorary), Ma-Wan-Da (Senior honorary), and Star and Scroll, and participated extensively in organizing Sachem Sing and the Star and Scroll ball. The house successfully campaigned for Jim Bowers ‘56, an outstanding miler and captain of the

Illinois track team, to be elected “Most Eligible Bachelor on Campus,” and serve as chair of Greek Week in 1958. 63 There was a concerted emphasis on socializing with sororities in the period as well. The chapter enforced a “two-date” rule, requiring each active to have two dates each month with a sorority member (coke dates didn’t count, and neither did dates with women from residence halls). This went hand-in-hand with an increase in the number of exchanges. In the spring of 1950, the chapter had one exchange. By the end of the decade, they were routinely participating in up to seven per semester, and serenading several sororities as well. 64 For all the activities, the chapter’s brotherhood did not suffer. They actively participated in the national fraternity, sending members to conclaves and participating in the installation of the Kentucky (1951) and North Dakota (1955) chapters of FarmHouse.

They also mourned the death of FarmHouse founder H. P. Rusk in 1954. At the time Rusk was recently retired as Dean of the Agriculture College, and had been a strong supporter of the Illinois chapter. They honored Brother C. W. “Duke” Weldon for his service to the fraternity and the community in 1964. Significant for the future of the chapter, they forged a strong friendship with their new neighbors, Dr. and Mrs. David C.

61 Minutes 11/9/53; FarmStead 14:2 (January 1952) p. 3. 62 FarmHouse Scrapbook, 1953-55. 63 Scrapbook 1954-59. 64 On the “two-date rule,” see Minutes 11/5/51 (rule approved), 11/9/53, 10/4/54, and 2/20/56. On exchanges, see Minutes 3/13/50, 10/16/50, 9/29/58, 2/23/59, and 2/29/60. 23

Wimer of 807 W. Pennsylvania. Wimer became an associate member of FarmHouse in 1956, after years of chaperoning dances and attending meals at the chapter. In 1961 the chapter held an honorary tea for Wimer on the occasion of his retirement. 65 As noted above, the proliferation of activities, not just within FarmHouse but in the Greek system as a whole, did not go unnoticed. Assistant Dean of Men Eldon Park, after being asked by FarmHouse “to comment on the current picture of the fraternity system” both at Illinois and the country at large, issued a challenge to Illinois Greeks. Stating that he felt only a quarter of campus fraternities “have the attitude and record to prove that they appreciate and understand the educational objectives of the University,” he questioned fraternities’ allegiance to their mission: “fraternities were not founded to build better fraternities; they were founded to build better men.” 66 No doubt this had a special meaning for FarmHouse, since this was not only the fraternity’s stated purpose; they actively celebrated the “building of men” by annually giving the “Doane Award,” named for founder D. H. Doane, to an active who they believed did the most to carry forward that mission of the organization. Illinois FarmHouse rededicated themselves to their studies in the early sixties in obvious and subtle ways. The chapter clearly went out of their way to pledge good students, after falling below the all-fraternity GPA. Although they ranked 24 th out of fifty-seven fraternities in the fall of 1960, their pledge class for that year ranked tenth in fall and eleventh in spring. But the major achievements were to

come in the following year. The chapter was first in scholarship in the fall of 1962, and their three pledge classes from spring of 1963 through spring of 1964 bested all other fraternity’s pledge classes in scholarship. By the spring of 1964 the combined GPA of the chapter had risen back to fourth. But they also appreciated the contradictory tensions of fraternity and college life. For example, by 1962 they had not only repealed the “two- date rule” which had strained the chapter in the 1950s, they also emphatically told

65 Scrapbook 1953-55, Conclave Report Scrapbook 1962-64, Scrapbook 1956-58, Scrapbook 1961-62. 66 FarmStead 14:2 (December 1961), p. 4. 24

pledges in the 1962 pledge manual that “dating and activities are not required and remain one’s own personal business.” 67

In the fall of 1964 FarmHouse had much to celebrate. The occasion was the 50 th Anniversary of the Illinois chapter. The festivities which occurred November 6-8 symbolized the fellowship generated by the fraternity, as well as the hard work required over the years to maintain the organization. George Whitman ’20 expressed the gratitude of “old timers” (as they called themselves) to the active chapter for the celebration in a letter published in the FarmStead . “Probably never in the 50 years of history of Illinois chapter of FarmHouse Fraternity, have we had a more outstanding local chapter, than the brothers now residing at 809 W. Pennsylvania, Urbana,” he wrote, noting that the returning alums were “impressed” with the actives, “and pronounced them wide-awake, talented and a dedicated group, well-organized and informed on matters fraternal.” 68 The actives had spent over a year in preparation for the event, and spent days beforehand decorating the house. The centerpiece was a ten-foot high display in the shape of the FarmHouse badge, with the number “50” hanging from the center. Festivities started with an open house November 7, and gatherings of the graduation classes in the early evening. Whitman and about fifty other alumni from 1914-1930 spent the evening of November 7 reminiscing at the home of Frank Mynard ’28. The next night about 150 actives, alums, and guests whiled away the hours at the 50 th Anniversary dance. An anniversary banquet at the Urbana Lincoln Hotel followed at 1pm Sunday, with an open house for those alumni who could stay in town Sunday afternoon and evening. Photos of the celebration graced the FarmStead for two issues after the event. 69 Illinois FarmHouse entered its second fifty years with a secure basis of brotherhood among alumni, actives, and people and organizations in the wider University community. But this seemingly stable foundation, as always, relied upon continuing re-

67 Scrapbook 1961-62; Conclave Report Scrapbook 1962-64 (including pledge manual). 68 FarmStead 17:2 (February 1965), p. 2. 69 FarmStead 17:2, 3 (February, May 1965); 50 th Anniversary Scrapbook. 25

iterations of the FarmHouse ideals on occasions like the 50 th Anniversary celebration, and a continuing dedication to those ideals on the part of the active chapter. It should come as no surprise, then, that the deep divisions within American society which gave rise to the bitter conflicts of the 1960s had their affect on Illinois FarmHouse. The generation which fought World War II celebrated their victory in the construction of what historians have called a “consensus” about politics, the economy, and society in the 1950s. This consensus was based on the idea that American prosperity and freedom represented a model for the rest of the world’s development, and had a profound impact on American foreign and domestic policy in the postwar period. Beginning with the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s, protest movements challenged this consensus on a variety of fronts. As we have seen, the question of the fraternity’s role in American society has always preoccupied FarmHouse, and indeed the 1960s in some ways merely brought about a more sustained and focused discussion of this issue among actives, pledges, and alumni. However, the harsh criticisms directed at fraternities may have changed the nature of this debate within FarmHouse, and there are suggestions that a sense of demoralization with the institution affected the Illinois chapter in the early 1970s. The most immediate problems that the fraternity faced were financial. By 1968, the writing was on the wall. Although FarmHouse had managed to fill their house during formal rush both in 1967 and 1968, they were the only fraternity on campus to do so. This would not continue. By 1970-71 the chapter was running in the red due to difficulties with rush, and the chapter assessed every active and pledge $25 to help carry the chapter through the summer. The “summer deposit” was needed again in 1972, and there are continual references in chapter meeting minutes to difficulties in attracting rushees. 70

70 On the “summer deposit,” see Minutes 3/29/71, 5/3/71, 5/15/72. On rush difficulties, see Minutes 10/8/71, 12/6/71, 4/4/72, 4/10/72, 4/17/72, 10/2/72, and 4/30/73. 26

The problems facing the fraternity went deeper, however. In the spring of 1969 the chapter officers stepped down five weeks early. The reasons are unclear, but the national officer who prepared the chapter’s 1969 consultation report noted that it appeared the other actives believed their leaders had become too “autocratic,” and that there was excessive criticism of pledges. In another troubling sign, the 1970 report noted that although the chapter had been consistent in recruiting high-GPA pledges, the GPA among actives was consistently low. 71 Some traditional activities were also being neglected. The fraternity essentially stopped having exchanges by 1970, and at the

September 20, 1971 chapter meeting, “much laughter resulted due to humorous suggestions” by the representative from the Homecoming committee. He had suggested the chapter pair with a sorority for Block I and decorate the house for the occasion! There were also consistent reports of pledge dissatisfaction, and reports of a “lack of congeniality” in the house. It also appeared that some seniors attempted on several occasions to exempt themselves from house details and from rush recruiting. 72 Last, but certainly not least, the chapter began in the early 1970s to alter its house policy on alcohol. It had always been FarmHouse policy not to serve alcohol in the chapter house. It is difficult to say the extent to which this had been adhered to in the prewar period, although interviews suggest that what drinking any members did was kept away from the

house. This was also the case in the immediate postwar period. There are several admonishments in the chapter minutes during the 1950s asking the brothers to refrain from hanging around the house while inebriated, but no complaints were raised about men drinking in the house. 73 In spring semester of 1971, the chapter voted for the first time on record to suspend house rules and allow drinking in the house for a period of 24

71 Illinois FarmHouse Association, Consultation Reports 1969, 1970. 72 Illinois FarmHouse Association, Consultation Report 1970, Minutes 9/20/71, 10/18/71, 11/15/71, 2/5/71, 3/13/72, 4/10/72, 10/23/72, 4/24/73, and 4/30/73. 73 See for example, Minutes 11/13/50, 10/20/52, and 1/4/54. 27

hours, for a party the chapter had. This happened twice each year in 1971-72 and 1972- 73. There are some indications that this may have caused friction, at least in the eyes of the actives, with alumni. The February 21, 1972 meeting minutes note, after a vote to suspend the rules for alcohol fines for a party, that the chapter president asked the brothers to “exercise discretion” when the alumni came to the chapter house for a visit that Saturday morning, before the party. 74

The chapter did recover over the course of the 1970s, however, and it appeared that several factors were involved. First, in 1968, the Little Sisters’ organization developed from a casual weekend affair (the “Sister-Daughter” day, as it was originally called) into a full-fledged organization. The group’s initial goals were “to help the pledges adapt to social life at the ‘big U,’ to counsel the pledges when asked, and to occasionally ‘drop in’ to liven house spirit.” 75 The Little Sisters of the Pearl, as the organization was named, inaugurated several new events into the chapter schedule. In addition to a rush and an initiation, the Little Sisters had an annual “slave day” where, for a fee, they would shine brothers’ shoes, mend clothes, or even serve as fourths for bridge, to raise money for the organization. The Little Sisters engaged in frequent informal activities with the chapter, ranging from church services to water fights. 76 The strength of the Little Sisters program no doubt helped the chapter refocus on its ideals. Additionally, in 1969 the National FarmHouse Fraternity inaugurated a formal

chapter consultation program. A national officer visited each chapter for a weekend every year, received written and oral reports from chapter officers, and generally watched

74 Minutes 2/22/71, 2/5/72, 2/21/72, 10/9/72, 2/12/73, and 12/3/73. The first such motion records exist for occurred at the 2/9/70 meeting, under “old business.” The motion failed 27-24. It proposed “To remove the power of the Executive Council to fine anyone for having liquor in the house or Annex.” The first such motion passed at the 2/22/71 house meeting, but the minutes were altered later. It reads that it was moved “to suspend power of the executive to levy fines [for alcohol in the house. Motion passed] from 6pm Friday to 12am Saturday. Motion passed.” The wording the brackets was crossed out and the wording after the brackets added to the end of the entry. What I think this indicates is a clear sense that the actives knew they were deviating from previous policies. 75 FarmStead 20:3 (April 1968), p. 4. 76 See Minute Book 1970-73 for breadth of Little Sisters’ activities. 28

the chapter in action for a weekend. One can see in some cases direct correlations between issues brought up by the consultation reports and discussions in the chapter. For example, the 1973 consultation report noted that the Little Sisters at times “did not feel welcome” at the house. The chapter subsequently discussed how to improve relations with the Little Sisters at their February 12, 1973 meeting. 77 The chapter took action, reviving exchanges, and on occasions in which misunderstandings occurred between

FarmHouse and sororities, took action to ensure these disagreements didn’t continue. The chapter also initiated an annual retreat on their pledge program in order to deal with some of the tensions that had developed. Executive Director Bob Off noted in the 1974 consultation report that this had been a success, noting that the chapter was “as tolerant and harmonious a group as I have encountered,” and that the emphasis on the pledge program “has affected the whole chapter as well as the pledges.” The chapter also reinstituted an old tradition to help scholarship—the “steak and beans” dinner, where brothers with GPAs above the house average ate steak and those below the house average ate beans. The renewed emphasis on scholarship clearly made an impact—the chapter was first in GPA for fall semester 1973. 78 Illinois FarmHouse did manage to pull together, but practical economic questions about the fraternity remained. To accommodate membership, the chapter had acquired two annexes to 809 W. Pennsylvania. The FarmHouse Association purchased the duplex at 807-809 W. Indiana St., Urbana, in 1967, and their neighbor Dr. Wimer’s residence in 1970. 79 Wimer’s house became known as “the Pad,” or more humorously “Pi Alpha Delta,” and generally housed seniors. But the condition of all the properties, which dated from around 1920, was a serious concern. In 1974 the Illinois FarmHouse Association appointed a Future Development Committee to discuss the issue. They did so in part at

77 Illinois FarmHouse Association Consultation Reports, 1969-71, 1973-76, 1978-87, Minutes 2/12/73. While there are earlier reports the 1969 report states that it was the first of a new program of consultations. 78 Illinois FarmHouse Association, Consultation Report 1974; Minutes 4/10/72; FarmStead 26:3, p. 1. 79 FarmStead 19:4 (June 1967), p. 1, 2; FarmStead 22:3 (July 1970), p. 1. 29

the prompting of the University. Through the Dean of Men’s office, the University had pressed all fraternities to take steps to increase their active chapter size to around 60 members in order to insure their long-term financial viability. After a series of meetings and correspondence, Association President Robert Caughey reported in the April 1975

FarmStead that the committee had tentatively decided a major building plan was in order. Several reasons motivated the decision. First, some of the renovations and repairs done

over the years had become safety concerns. For example, an edition of “FH Building News” noted that many alumni “were probably pleasantly delighted” to see that bad

plaster on the front stairwell had been replaced by walnut paneling. It was later learned, however, that “this same paneling was a prime contributor to the production of smoke in case of fire.” Moreover, building codes had changed considerably over the years. “Building News” informed alums that, for example, University and city policies once allowed members to sleep in the basement—“no longer.” The first step in the process, an architect’s appraisal of 809 W. Pennsylvania, was announced in April 1975. The next step, approval by the Association, illustrated that Illinois FarmHouse had left their earlier problems behind them. At the fall 1975 annual meeting the Association discussed the building program. Alumni noted “the present scholastic strength of the chapter and the fact that they have consistently filled the house with first-rate pledges,” and that “the Active Chapter has consistently met their obligations in the past as the Chapter grew and its physical plant expanded,” the Association voted unanimously to remodel the chapter house. It would be a huge task—the Association estimated the costs at $325,000—but the FarmStead noted that “a feeling of strong optimism pervaded the meeting.” 80 The approval of the program, however, only represented the beginning of the work. The plan the Association approved was made up of several steps. The first was to raise approximately $130,000 from the active and alumni membership in what was called the “Phase I” funding drive. At that point, the Association would then borrow the

80 FarmStead 27:2 (April 1975) p. 1; “FH Building News,” May 1977; FarmStead 28:2 (April 1976), p. 1. 30

remaining amount necessary, and construction would begin. Then the “Phase II” funding drive, begun after construction had started, would raise the money necessary to retire the debt. The Phase I drive was quite successful, and at Homecoming 1977 the Association held a groundbreaking ceremony at the house. Phase II proved more difficult. The nation as a whole was in the midst of an economic recession, and pledges did not initially come close to meeting necessary levels. The chapter faced a financial emergency in the winter of 1981-82. The principal of a $60,000 loan was due in January 1982, and due to the difficulties in raising money, the Association to that point had only been able to pay the interest on the loan. Luckily, a recently deceased alumnus, Al Culver, left the University of Illinois FarmHouse chapter a sizeable sum of money, which enabled the Association to meet the loan. 81 The beginning of the renovation project was both a symbol of the renewed vigor of the active chapter, and a spur to further achievements. Illinois FarmHouse maintained its presence in the 1970s and 1980s in all areas of the College of Agriculture, from livestock judging to college clubs, even including a FarmHouse-Little Sister king and queen at 1978’s Plowboy Prom. The chapter won the Atius-Sachem Mom’s Day Sing in 1976 with Kappa Delta sorority. FarmHouse remained active in intramural sports as well, and it resumed decorating the house for Homecoming. Traditions like Mom’s and Dad’s Day celebrations, and the FarmHouse summer picnic, remained important parts of the chapter’s annual schedule. The chapter had occasions to celebrate at the 1977 Homecoming, when the Alumni Association broke ground on the chapter remodeling project, and again in the fall of 1978, when the chapter occupied the newly renovated house. 82

81 Gary Luth form letter, September 1981, “FAA Financial—Treasurer’s File, 1981-82” folder, Box 35, FarmHouse Fraternity Records; Fay Sims Interview, 10/23/2000. 82 See FarmStead , passim ; also FarmStead 30:4 (June 1978), p. 2; 28:3 (June 1976), p. 2; 30:2 (January 1978), p. 1, 31:2 (January 1979), p. 1; Scrapbook 1976-78, and Scrapbook 1979-80. 31

The 1980s saw FarmHouse expanding its service to the community and social activities. The chapter regularly participated in blood drives, and became active in aiding the Special Olympics. A 1980 fundraiser with Kappa Delta, for example, netted over $1000 for the charity. Beginning in 1982-83 the chapter made their presence felt strongly in the Interfraternity Council, with several brothers serving on the Council and its various committees. In addition to the by then accustomed participation in intramural sports, the chapter enthusiastically participated in Block I. It also made strong efforts to increase participation in campus Greek social life. By 1987 the Social Coordinator announced that the chapter was “making large social leaps on campus,” and consistently the chapter had several exchanges and rack-outs (where they would visit a sorority, “rack them out” of bed, and make breakfast). FarmHouse broadened their horizons by hosting four international students during the decade, from England, Australia, Ireland, and Germany. Most importantly, though, they continued to build the fraternity. The annual retreats begun in 1970 were expanded. Beginning in fall 1980 the house held a retreat for all active members. The 1979 consultation report noted that relations with the alumni had improved, thanks in part to the success of Phase I of the funds drive. But the chapter continued to build in this area. In 1981, to aid the Phase II fund drive, they instituted an annual program of “regional roundups,” gatherings for actives, alumni, and prospective rushees at two or three sites in Illinois. The alumni responded to this renewed effort—the Illinois FarmHouse Association was named Outstanding Association at the 1978, 1980, and 1988 Conclaves. Actives also enthusiastically attended the conclaves, sending 13 actives and one Little Sister to 1984 conclave, for example. The chapter entered the computer age in 1985 by purchasing an IBM PC/AT for $3,000! Informal traditions, as always, supplemented formal activities. Actives formed three-man “basement hockey” teams and competed in their own tournament, complete with referees and a play-by-play announcer. 83

83 Scrapbook 1979-80, Scrapbook c. 1981-82, Scrapbook 1983-84; FarmStead , passim , and FarmStead 32

Alcohol Policy and FarmHouse in the 1990s The 1980s were a difficult period for fraternities, as national attention was repeatedly turned to hazing accidents, alcohol-related deaths, and other scandals. FarmHouse itself avoided these tragedies, but it could not remain immune from the criticisms leveled at the entire fraternity system as a result. And while the Illinois chapter had come a long way since the difficulties of the late 1960s and early 1970s, the practice of bringing alcohol into the house, begun in that period, remained with the chapter. The chapter had always led other fraternities in eliminating hazing. It had voted to eliminate paddling entirely in 1978, for example. However, through the 1970s and especially in the 1980s, the chapter increased the frequency with which they suspended house rules to allow alcohol consumption. This did not go unnoticed. During consultations, International Fraternity officials chastised the chapter routinely for violating alcohol policy. To be sure, this appears to have been a problem at many chapters, as the 1988 conclave voted to reaffirm the traditional FarmHouse policy prohibiting alcohol on chapter property. But it was not until 1991 that the chapter acted, banning alcohol and smoking entirely from the house. In effect it seems to have returned the chapter’s policy to its tradition—members that drink keep it away from the house. 1991 Chapter President Randy Wolf noted, in introducing the policy, that all social functions would take place outside the house. That FarmHouse did this without having first suffered a death or serious accident speaks to the strength of the fraternity’s ideals and the seriousness with which the members regard their commitment to FarmHouse. 84 The early years of the 1990s brought two major changes to Illinois FarmHouse. First, the University changed their housing policies in 1989-90 to prohibit fraternities and

32:3 (March 1980), p. 2, 36:2 (March 1983), p. 1; 40:1 (February 1987), p. 2; 33:2 (March 1981), p. 1; 38:2 (October 1984), p. 6; 39:1 (March 1985), p. 2; Consultation Report, 1989; Regional Roundup annoucement letter, 1981, in “Regional Round-Ups” folder, Box 33, FarmHouse Fraternity Records. 84 Consultation Report, 1979; For reactions of National officers to alcohol at the chapter, see Consultation Report 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1989. FarmStead 44:1 (Summer 1991), p. 6. The chapter won the IFC’s “outstanding fraternity” award that year—see below. 33

sororities from providing alcohol at parties. But while this did make waves among actives at the time, the chapter easily adjusted. Exchanges, parties, and rack-outs continued, mainly with the sororities FarmHouse has traditionally combined with for social activities—Kappa Delta, Delta Zeta, Pi Beta Phi, and Zeta Tau Alpha. It’s also possible this helped ease the transition to a dry house in 1992. Second, after some problems with other fraternities’ Little Sister programs, the Interfraternity Council in

1989 banned all fraternities from having such programs. Initially the chapter hoped to retain the program with some minor structural changes, since, according to the chapter’s

Little Sister chairman at the time, “the men in the house feel very strongly that our Little Sister program had been nothing but positive, and the girls in the program agree.” However, it proved impossible under IFC policy to retain the group, and it was reluctantly disbanded. 85 Despite the early bumps in the road, however, the chapter continued FarmHouse traditions in the 1990s. They especially excelled in academics. The chapter stayed in the top ten fraternities in terms of GPA throughout most of the 1990s, a special feat given the intense competition for grades, and placed first in GPA in fall 1993. 86 As in the past, the chapter balanced studying with a full schedule of social and academic activities. FarmHouse spent social time on exchanges, Block I, and ad hoc activities with Delta Gamma, Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Gamma Delta, and Delta Zeta among others. The chapter also participated in the Atius-Sachem sing, and celebrated Homecoming, Mom’s Day, and Dad’s Day. 87 FarmHouse men got involved in the College of Agriculture and its many clubs, including Field and Furrow, the Illini Agricultural Mechanization Club, and the American Society of Agricultural Engineers. 88 Their activities brought them a scale

85 FarmStead 43:1 (Spring 1990), p. 9. 86 FarmStead 43:1 (Spring 1990), p. 6; 45:1 (Summer 1992), p. 7; 46:2 (Spring 1993), p. 3; 47:1 (Spring 1994), p. 1; 47:2 (Fall 1994), p. 1; 48:1 (Spring 1993), p. 3; Fall 1995, p. 3; Spring 1999, p. 2. 87 FarmStead 43:1 (Spring 1990), p. 7; 44:2 (Winter 1991), p. 10; 46:3 (Winter 1993), p. 6; Spring 1995p. 3; Fall 1995, p. 3; Fall 1996, p. 5; Spring 1996, p. 1; Spring 1998, p. 3; 88 FarmStead Fall 1996, p. 5. 34

of recognition which the chapter had never seen before. It won awards at each IFC awards banquet in the years 1990-1993, bringing home the President’s Award, recognizing the chapter with the best overall achievements, in 1991. 89 The chapter also took home several top awards from the 1994 Conclave in Scottsdale, Arizona, including

“Outstanding Chapter Newsletter,” tops in Alumni Relations and New Member Recruitment, and the “President’s Trophy,” for the largest collective number of miles

traveled by a chapter’s members (travel distance multiplied by delegates). 90 1995 saw the chapter both revisit its past and look towards the future. April 22-23, 1995, the chapter held a celebration in honor of its 80 th Anniversary, during which it, for the first time, prepared a time capsule for future FarmHouse men. Members and alumni also began work on establishing a computer network for the house. By the fall of 1996, all house computers were connected to each other, and to the World Wide Web (and thus to the University). In the next year, the chapter really stepped forward by installing a direct fiber-optic connection between the house and the University servers, which eliminated the slow transfers rates and busy signals plaguing modem connections. 91 The chapter also continued some of the informal traditions that bound the chapter together in years past; former chapter President Chad Hensley noted that “Every evening before leaving dinner we would sing the same FarmHouse hymn.” 92

Conclusion That Illinois FarmHouse has managed to survive the years might surprise the Founders less than other members who have seen the challenges the twentieth century put in its path. Drastic changes in agriculture, two world wars, and challenges to the fraternity system resulting from major upheavals within the University, and from society

89 FarmStead 43:2 (Fall 1990), p. 6; 44:1 (Summer 1991), p. 1; 45:1 (Summer 1992), p. 11; 46:1 (Winter 1993), p. 9. 90 FarmStead 47:2 (Fall 1994), p. 1. 91 FarmStead 48: 1 (Spring 1995), p. 1; Fall 1995, p. 1; Fall 1996, p. 6; Fall 1997, p. 1. 92 Chad Hensley to Jon Coit, 6/25/2000. 35

in general, have forced FarmHouse members to continually re-evaluate their organization and its role in the lives of its members. While not necessarily always finding the same answers to these questions, Illinois FarmHouse has met the challenges that face it, and maintained the brotherhood that united its founders in 1914.

36

Note on sources This history benefitted greatly from the extensive collection of Illinois

FarmHouse records at the Student Life and Culture Archives, University of Illinois Archives. In particular the chapter meeting minute books, covering quite a bit of the chapter’s history, as well as copies of the reports from National FarmHouse consultants about the Illinois chapter, give an unusually close picture of activities inside the chapter.

The National publications, The FarmHouse Record and FarmHouse Life , both in the above record series, are useful for the twenties. Also important were the series of interviews with, and survey questionnaires from, FarmHouse alumni, which will eventually be processed in the FarmHouse record series.

Bibliography FarmHouse Fraternity Records, RS 41/71/37, and FarmHouse Fraternity Publications, RS 41/71/837, Student Life and Culture Archives, University of Illinois Archives, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Finnegan, Terence, “Promoting ‘Responsible Freedom’: Administrators and Social Fraternities at the University of Illinois, 1900-1931,” History of Higher Education Annual 1989.