Hmmm. Then maybe some combination of generational/regional and other factors?

I never realized it was a regional thing. My chapter is pretty hardcore about families, we're in the North. I've entered what I know onto a program called Family Tree Maker. My dad is big into genealogy, and the program works for Greek families, too!

We had to get 5 graduated family members to sign our paddles. A great grandbig, a twin, etc. I think when numbers were small it wasn't a big deal because you basically knew who everyone was but now your family might have 10 or 15 people in it at a time so it is good to keep up with it. I know people that don't know past their big but I kinda think it is important to know how you are connected to the organization.

I know my great great grandlittle and all of my (many many) many grand littles and MANY great grand littles and maintain a page where we can all keep in contact and try to get together as often as possible. They all know me and have met me in person, see me relatively often and can call me, etc. I only met my grand big once b/c my big was so "old" in the chapter by the time I got her that everyone was gone, but since I am so close to my littles, I made it a point to stay involved with theirs.

My chapter of Delta Sigma Pi is pretty big on families and lineages. We started the different families about twenty years ago, and the Historian (generally) keeps track. I managed to find my family's tree and I've been trying to update it since (it's been about three years since the most recent entry).

Our chapter is pretty large and updating the family tree has put in me contact with lots of brothers who are familiar with the chapter's history and old traditions.

I think the family tree was in a Word document. Not the best method, and I might look into genealogical software to better document the history.

I can't remember if it was the Alpha Xi's, or the DZ's aat our college that had family "names" (I think they were animals?), and pledges would post their family trees up outside their dorm room door. I always thought it was cool, because those family trees were HUGE!