Convention Sites
 

Do you know where your organization's Conventions have been held? If so, I'd love to see them! I'm betting we'll see some interesting trends.

Here's Theta Phi Alpha's:
1. Detroit, Michigan, September, 1919
2. Ann Arbor, Michigan, June, 1920
3. Champaign, Illinois, June, 1921
4. Columbus, Ohio, February, 1922
5. Athens, Ohio, August, 1923
6. Cincinnati, Ohio, August, 1924
7. Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, June, 1925
8. St. Louis, Missouri, June, 1926
9. Estes Park, Colorado, August, 1928
10. Chicago, Illinois, August, 1930
11. Toronto, Canada, June, 1932
12. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July, 1935
13. Detroit, Michigan, June, 1937
14. Cincinnati, Ohio, July, 1939
15. State College, Pennsylvania, August, 1941
16. Swampscott, Massachusetts, September, 1946
17. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August-September, 1948
18. Syracuse, New York, August, 1950
19. Chicago, Illinois, June-July, 1952
20. Cincinnati, Ohio, June-July, 1954
21. Burlington, Wisconsin, June, 1956
22. Port Huron, Michigan, June, 1958
23. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June, 1960
24. Cleveland, Ohio, August, 1962
25. Detroit, Michigan, June, 1964
26. Chicago, Illinois, June, 1966
27. Cincinnati, Ohio, June-July, 1968
28. Lexington, Massachusetts, June, 1970
29. St. Louis, Missouri, June, 1972
30. Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, August, 1974
31. Akron, Ohio, August, 1976
32. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August, 1978
33. Chicago, Illinois, August, 1980
34. New Orleans, Louisiana, August, 1982
35. Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, June-July, 1984
36. Dearborn, Michigan, June, 1986
37. Chicago, Illinois, June, 1988
38. Orlando, Florida, June, 1990
39. Indianapolis, Indiana, June, 1992
40. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June, 1994
41. Buffalo, New York, June, 1996
42. Cleveland, Ohio, June, 1998
43. St. Louis, Missouri, June, 2000
44. Fort Lauderdale, Florida, June, 2002
45. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June, 2004
46. Atlanta, Georgia, June, 2006
47. Chicago, Illinois, July, 2008
48. Nashville, Tennessee, July, 2010
49. Ann Arbor, Michigan, July, 2012
50. New Orleans, Louisiana, July, 2014

Alpha Sigma Tau's:

1. Detroit, Michigan 1925
2. Detroit, Michigan 1927
3. Buffalo, New York 1929
4. Denver, Colorado 1931
5. Cleveland, Ohio 1934
6. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1936
7. St. Louis, Missouri 1939
8. Cincinnati, Ohio 1946
9. Detroit, Michigan 1949
10. Chicago, Illinois 1952
11. Roanoke, Virginia 1955
12. Buffalo, New York 1958
13. Washington, D.C. 1960
14. St. Louis, Missouri 1962
15. Detroit, Michigan 1964
16. Cincinnati, Ohio 1966
17. New Orleans, Louisiana 1968
18. Toronto, Canada 1970
19. Virginia Beach, Virginia 1972
20. Detroit, Michigan 1974
21. Birmingham, Alabama 1976
22. Natural Bridge, Virginia 1978
23. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1980
24. Nashville, Tennessee 1982
25. Washington, D.C. 1984
26. St. Louis, Missouri 1986
27. New Orleans, Louisiana 1988
28. Richmond, Virginia 1990
29. Tulsa, Oklahoma 1992
30. Buffalo, New York 1994
31. Phoenix, Arizona 1996
32. Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor, Michigan 1998
33. Birmingham, Alabama 2000
34. St. Louis, Missouri 2002
35. Savannah, Georgia 2004
36. Orlando, Florida 2006
37. Chantilly, Virginia 2008
38. Birmingham, Alabama 2010
39. Indianapolis, Indiana 2012
40. Atlanta, Georgia 2014

And just announced yesterday: Our 41st Convention in 2016 will be in Jacksonville, FL

A couple interesting things to note:

- Even though we were founded in 1899, our first convention wasn't until 1925

- From 1925 through 1931, we held a convention once every 2 years, then there was a 3 year span, then back to 2, then after 1939 we didn't have another convention until 1946, then it was every 3 years, then in 1958, we went back to every 2 years, which is what we still do today

Alpha Phi Alpha National Conventions

Alpha Phi Omega National Conventions

Gamma Xi Phi's first national convention was in Newark, New Jersey in 2013. The second will be in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2015. They are still very small affairs.

I'm really curious about the 7 year gap. I'm assuming it's due to WWII, though AST doesn't appear to have had any other wartime gaps. Do you have any insight on this?

I thought Alpha Phi Alpha's list was particularly interesting--are they entirely moving away from having host chapters, or has that been coincidental?

Alpha Xi Delta National Conventions

1903 Galesburg, IL
1904 Alliance, OH
1905 Mt. Pleasant, IA
1907 Morgantown, WV
1909 Syracuse, NY
1911 Madison, WI
1913 Champaign, IL
1915 Berkeley, CA
1918 Boston, MA
1920 Excelsior, MN
1922 Lexington, KY
1924 Chicago, IL
1926 Glacier National Park, MT
1928 Bigwinn, Lake of Bays, Canada
1930 The Greenbrier, White Sulpher Springs, WV
1932 Pasadena, CA
1934 Swampscott, MA
1937 Yellowstone National Park
1939 Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC
1941 Troutdale-in-the-Pines, CO
1943 Cancelled
1945 Cancelled
1946 Cancelled
1947 Murray Bay, Quebec, Canada (50th Anniversary Convention)
1949 French Lick, IN
1951 Cancelled
1953 Pasadena, CA
1955 Swampscott, MA
1957 Gulfport, MS
1959 Glenwood Springs, CO
1962 Bedford Springs, PA
1965 Houston, TX
1968 Sun Valley, ID (75th Anniversary Convention)
1971 Hollywood, FL
1974 Chicago, IL
1976 Minneapolis, MN
1978 Denver, CO
1980 Arlington, VA
1982 West Palm Beach, FL
1984 Dallas, TX
1986 Oconomowoc, WI
1988 New Orleans, LA
1990 Baltimore, MD
1993 Scottsdale, AZ (100th Anniversary Convention)
1995 Tarpon Springs, FL
1997 Houston, TX
1999 Desert Springs, CA
2001 Washington, DC
2003 Orlando, FL
2005 Tucson, AZ
2007 Indianapolis, IN
2009 Denver, CO
2011 Atlanta, GA
2013 San Francisco, CA
2015 Boston, MA

I love this. French Lick is near where I grew up. The small Indiana town has quite an interesting history besides being the hometown of former NBA player Larry Bird. It had sulphur hot springs and a beautiful hotel and spa were built. In the 1920s, it was a bustling "resort" area. It had lots of visitors from nearby cities like Louisville and Chicago. It is rumored that well known figures in organized crime spent time there on occasion. West Baden which is what the spa was called is even mentioned in the Great Gatsby. The hotel fell into disrepair and was restored about 15-20 years ago and it's gorgeous. If you're ever nearby check it out.

I don't know the reason, but I can try to find out!

Since we were running on the 'once-every-3-years' system at that point, the next convention after 1939 would have been in 1942, which didn't occur. And interestingly...

Coincidence?

WWII caused rationing, among other hardships. Everyone stateside contributed to the war effort in ways that we just can't imagine. It makes sense that no conventions were held.

The 1943, 1945, and 1946 Alpha Xi Delta conventions were canceled because of WWII.

There are still host chapters. The person who edits the page probably didn't have access to a primary source which listed them.

However, in practice, I'd say the host chapters have little on-the-ground work to do for conventions these days, and they pretty much help where the national office and Director of Conventions asks (securing local vendors, planning the ladies' activities, etc).

I wish there was a link I could've posted like Sen, but alas.

I noticed no one (so far) has listed a conference in NYC. We have! I don't see us doing it ever again, sadly. How I'd love to be a host city!

A smattering of our Boules over the years. The gaps are the ones I couldn't find or remember.

2014 - Washington, DC (OK, DMV area - counting the days down!)
2012 - New Orleans
2010 - Palm Springs, CA
2008 - Detroit, MI
2006 - Dallas, TX (I think it was moved there from NOLA post-Katrina)
2004 - Memphis, TN
2002 - Miami
1998 - Las Vegas, NV
1996 - Houston, TX
1988 - St. Louis, MO
1984 - San Antonio, TX
1980 - Oklahoma City, OK
1978 - New Orleans
1974 - Los Angeles
1972 - Indianapolis, Indiana (Golden 50th Anniversary)
1965 - New York City
1963 - Denver
1961 - Philadelphia
1951 - Los Angeles
1938 - Houston, TX
1936 - Frankfort, KY
1935 - Richmond, VA
1934 - St. Louis, MO
1933 - Chicago (no 1932 Boule)
1931 - New York City
1930 - Gary, IN
1927 - Louisville, KY
1925 - Indianapolis, IN

No Boules hosted between 1941-44 due to WWII.

Interesting! I assume it would be cost prohibitive at this point? Syracuse and Buffalo get love, at least.

Today's Pi Phi blog has a post about the cancelled 1917 convention, Pi Phi's 50th anniversary convention. It was cancelled because of WWI. Many, if not almost all, fraternity and sorority conventions were cancelled during World War II. Some organizations put the funds towards "war work."

I, for one, am fascinated by the old hotels which were host to fraternity and sorority conventions. Someone mentioned French Lick. NPC met at the French Lick hotel as did Kappa Kappa Gamma at its Centennial in 1970. It is not the easiest place to get to. (I am reading Herman B Well's book and he talks about the railroad that took people to French Lick.) Kappa Alpha Theta had an early 1900s convention at West Baden Springs Hotel, which is on property adjoining the French Lick Hotel.

Chi Omega had a series of conventions at the Greenbrier, decades worth as I recall.

Pi Phi's Centennial Convention in 1967 took place at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. It was the site of the 1936 convention. The story I've heard is the hotel cashed our check in 1967 and promptly closed. It was torn down shortly thereafter.

I think I'm confused - did you mean no one has listed a conference in NYC?

I'm still waiting for us to have a convention in Boston.....

ETA: I asked around, and as expected, we didn't have a convention between 1939 and 1946 due to WWII.

Super cost-prohibitive. Many Sorors plan Boule attendance as vacation time - from work, but also as a trip with their families. Cost for the membership (specifically travelling to NYC) AND the organization is considered (though I'm sure this is considered for ANY conference).

Also, though the NE Region has the largest membership, I don't see NYC as a high-membership area for our organization.

Yes, that. LOL

AOII's centennial convention in 1997 was in NYC since we were founded there. Marriott Marquis. 😉

Here's our list. I love the conventions in Meadville, Pa. I can't even imagine where they might have stayed! I also have no idea what was happening in 1935 but that's how sites are listed on our website.

1891 Greencastle, Indiana
1893 Albion, Michigan
1894 Evanston, Illinois
1896 Meadville, Pennsylvania
1897 Greencastle, Indiana
1898 Albion, Michigan
1900 Boston, Massachusetts
1902 Evanston, Illinois
1904 Meadville, Pennsylvania
1906 Greencastle, Indiana
1908 Champaign, Illinois
1910 Detroit, Michigan
1912 Madison, Wisconsin
1915 Long Beach, California
1919 Chicago, Illinois
1922 Colorado Springs, Colorado
1924 Swampscott, Massachusetts
1926 Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada
1928 Mackinac Island, Michigan
1930 Del Monte, California
1935 Greencastle, Indiana
White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
Washington D. C.
1937 Glacier National Park, Montana
1939 Siegniory Club, Montebello, Quebec, Canada
1941 Pasadena, California
1943 Chicago, Illinois
1947 Quebec, Canada
1949 Pasadena, California
1951 Roanoke, Virginia
1953 Banff, Alberta, Canada
1955 White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
1957 Pasadena, California
1960 French Lick, Indiana
1962 Bal Harbour, Miami Beach, Florida
1964 Colorado Springs, Colorado
1966 Portsmouth, New Hampshire
1968 Dallas, Texas
1970 Portland, Oregon
1972 Chicago, Illinois
1974 Atlanta, Georgia
1976 Minneapolis, Minnesota
1978 Scottsdale, Arizona
1980 New Orleans, Louisiana
1983 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1985 Indianapolis, Indiana
1988 Palm Desert, California
1990 Tarpon Springs, Florida
1992 St. Louis, Missouri
1994 Dallas, Texas
1996 San Diego, California
1998 Norfolk, Virginia
2000 Indianapolis, Indiana
2002 Denver, Colorado
2004 Orlando, Florida
2006 Chicago, Illinois
2008 Scottsdale, Arizona
2010 Washington D.C.
2012 St. Louis, Missouri
2014 Palm Desert, California

Sigma Kappa
2016 - Chicago
2014 - Las Vegas / Henderson, NV
2012 - Woodlands, TX (Houston vicinity)
2010 - Disney World
2008 - Palm Springs / Indian Wells, CA
2006 - Washington DC / Crystal City, VA
2004 - Cincinnati, OH
2002 - Phoenix / Scottsdale, AZ
2000 - Marco Island, FL
1998 - Washington DC ????

Okay, I'm dying to know.

"Delta Chapter in Meadville, PA was hostess for the Fourth National Convention, April 8-10, 1896. The delegates convened in the fraternity room....The social features were a reception and musicale at the home of Mrs. Walter Harper, receptions by Kappa Alpha Theta and Kappa Kappa Gamma in their fraternity rooms and a banquet at the Commercial Hotel."
1929 History

CHI OMEGA
 

1900 Memphis, TN; Peabody Hotel

1901 Little Rock, AR; Capital Hotel

1904 St. Louis, MO; Hamilton Hotel

1906 Washington, D.C., Shoreham Hotel

1908 Chicago, IL; Chicago Beach Hotel

1910 Lexington, KY; Morrison Chapel, Transylvania University

1912 Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada; Clifton Hotel

1914 "Camp Convention" Chautauqua Grounds near Boulder, CO

1916 Lynchburg, VA; Randolph-Macon Woman's College

1918 (No Convention due to World War I)

1920 Knoxville, TN; Whittle Springs Hotel

1922 Salt Lake City, UT; Pine Crest Inn

1924 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1926 Mackinac Island, MI; Grand Hotel

1928 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1930 Hot Springs, AR; Arlington Hotel

1932 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1934 Buck Hill Falls, PA; The Inn

1936 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1938 Lake George, NY; The Sagamore

1940 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1942 Buck Hill Falls, PA; Buck Hill Falls Inn

1944 Hot Springs, VA; The Homestead

1946 Spring Lake, NJ; The Essex and Sussex

1948 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1950 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1952 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1954 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1956 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1958 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1960 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1962 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1964 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1966 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1968 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1970 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1972 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1974 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1976 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1978 White Sulphur Springs, WV; The Greenbrier

1980 Dallas, TX; The Fairmont

1982 Scottsdale, AZ; The Camelback

1984 Scottsdale, AZ; The Camelback

1986 Scottsdale, AZ; The Camelback

1988 St. Louis, MO; Adams-Mark

1990 Desert Springs, CA; Marriott Desert Springs

1992 Orlando, FL; The Peabody

1994 Houston, TX; Hyatt Regency

1996 Tampa, FL; Innisbrook Resort

1998 Phoenix, AZ; South Pointe Hilton

2000 Orlando, FL; Marriott World Center

2002 Desert Springs, CA; Marriott Desert Springs

2004 San Antonio, TX; Marriott River Center

2006 Washington, D.C.; Crystal City Marriott

2008 St. Louis, MO; Marriott Renaissance

2010 Orlando, FL; Grande Lakes Resort

2012 Phoenix, AZ; JW Marriott

2014 Orlando, FL; Grande Lakes Resort

2016 Orlando, FL; Grande Lakes Resort

I'm interested in your convention in Puerto Rico. How did it go? Was it a success? Was there a big turnout?

I've thought a cruise could be a great convention option but I'm not aware of it ever having been tried for a sorority /fraternity.

At least one fraternity has done a convention cruise. I remember reading about it in their magazine. I suspect several other fraternities have it, too. I don't think any of the NPC groups have done a convention cruise.

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. Several pre and post convention cruises have taken place in conjunction with NPC conventions, but I do not believe that any NPC convention has taken place while on a cruise ship. Wish I could remember what men's group did the convention aboard the ship. (Anyone? Anyone?)

Gamma Phi Beta Convention sites
 

1883. Syracuse, NY
1884. Ann Arbor, MI
1885. Syracuse
1886. Ann Arbor
1887. Madison, WI
1888. Boston
1889. Evanston, IL
1890. Syracuse
1891. Ann Arbor
1892. Madison
1893. Boston
1894. Evanston
1895. Syracuse
1896. Baltimore
1897. Ann Arbor
1898. Madison
1899. Boston
1900. Evanston
1901. Baltimore
1902. Berkeley, CA
1903. Denver
1904. New York City
1905. Minneapolis
1906. Seattle
1907. Syracuse
1908. Ann Arbor
1909. Berkeley
1911. Boston
1913. Madison
1915. Asilomar, CA
1917. Baltimore
1919. Estes Park, CO
1921. Seattle
1924. Lake Placid, NY
1927. Mackinac Island, MI
1929. Kansas City, MO
1931. Bemidji, MN
1934. Colorado Springs, CO
1936. Victoria, BC
1938. Del Monte, CA
1940. Washington, DC
1946. Bretton Woods, NH
1948. St. Louis, MO
1950. Glenwood Springs, CO
1952. Coronado, CA
1954. Mackinac Island, MI
1956. White Sulphur Springs, WV
1958. Victoria, BC
1960. Gulfport, MS
1962. Spring Lake, NJ
1964. French Lick, IN
1966. Hot Springs National Park, AK
1968. Pasadena, CA
1970. Dallas
1972. Minneapolis
1974. Kansas City
1976. Seattle
1978. Nashville
1980. Denver
1982. Phoenix
1984. Chicago
1986. Dallas
1988. Palm Desert, CA
1990. Denver
1992. St. Louis
1994. Naples, FL
1996. Kansas City
1998. Newport Beach, CA
2000. Houston
2002. Washington, DC
2004. Chicago
2006. Phoenix
2008. Cincinnati, OH
2010. Walt Disney World, FL
2012. Denver
2014. Seattle

The pattern I see is: the first 1/3 were hosted by the oldest chapters, and the next 30 years tended to be held at picturesque summer destinations, with the most recent in accessible cities with large alumnae volunteer populations.

The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, specifically in 1935.

What's with White Sulphur Springs, WV? Is Chi Omega's HQ there or something?

The Greenbrier, "America's Resort," is in White Sulphur Springs, WV. No, it was never Chi Omega's HQ, but it was truly like our "home away from home," hosting 21 Conventions. It's still a magnificent place!