Badge Trends?
 

I've been more a lurker than a poster over the years, but I find my way back here every once in awhile just to drool over pins. Thought I'd share some lovely Adelphean/ADPhi/ADPi pins:


Adelphean badge that showed up on the auction site a couple years ago (man I need to win the lottery!):
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...353be538_w.jpg


Very rare ADPhi badge that showed up on the auction site last year (I really really really need to win the lottery!! But I heard it went home to a Sister, so I'm thankful for that!)
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...d2d111a2_w.jpg


1916 ADPi with pearls and diamond points. Note the guard attachment on the left! Up until the late 80s/early 90s the guard loop on most ADPi badges was on the right, then in the late 80s/early 90s it moved to the bottom. There seems to be a couple of years in the 19-teens that the guard loop was on the left; it reminds me of the pictures of Adelphean pins with their Wesleyan Female College stick guards coming from the left.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...779b7197_w.jpg


1939 large pin with pearls and ruby points and 1946 small pin with alternating emeralds and pearls. Love all the gem options and yellow vs white gold! Sadly, with last year's rebranding, they decided to narrow options down to white or blue stones only.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...60344aba_w.jpg


1959 sapphires with pearl points. Such a pretty gem combination!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e48067d9_w.jpg


Modern badge with raised hands and bottom guard loop
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...61afd23b_w.jpg

All very lovely!

I did not know that the Alpha Delta Pi pins are now only available with white or blue stones! The daughter of friends of our went ADPi, and since she was born in July, I think she needs to have one of my ruby point pins!

There is lovely sister of Alpha Delta Pi who has THE most awesome collection of pins. She does NOT want her name publicized! My understanding is that she will leave them to our Executive Office.

I do a lot of photos of some of her collection, and I'll try to post them. They are in my files; does anyone know how to paste a photo without an URL address?

Is this something true across greek life? And if so, at what school?

Yeah they didn't really advertise it. I happened to notice that the new brochure contained no rubies, emeralds, or amethysts, and I reached out to EO to see if something had changed. They told me they'd had over 200 badge options before so between streamlining and the rebranding, they wanted to simplify options to fit within the rebrand. I was surprised amethyst wasn't included since purple is part of the rebranding color scheme and our flower is the violet. And ultimately, I'm not sure why the number of options matters since HJ Greek has all those stones anyway, and it's just a matter of using whatever stones are ordered. EO did tell me if there was something I truly wanted that wasn't on the brochure, I could get special permission to get it, but it honestly disappointed me because we'd had so many ways to individualize our pins before. Not that modern pins are anywhere near the same quality as vintage ones, but I always loved the variety in our pins.


Btw, the milestone pieces also were changed, and also not really advertised. I have a province director friend who knew nothing about it, but they're very very different now and also go along with the rebranding. I hit 25 years a couple years ago and wanted to treat myself with the 25 yr pin, but the new one is so different and doesn't even have the letters on it. They told me cost had been a barrier to some getting the pins and they also wanted to make them easier to put on (?). Given they were available in silver and gold plate and not just 10k gold and in cubic zirconia for the 50 year pins, I'm not sure cost was that big an issue.


If her first name starts with M, I know her! I don't know if there's a way to post a photo without the url address, but if she's ok with you using her photos without revealing her name/site, you could create a free Flickr account and post them from there so they're not connected to her.

Changes in ADPi milestone pieces this past year:

Old 10 year pin:https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...cea6fc29_o.jpg New 10 year pendant:https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...498e3ae1_o.jpg


Old 25 yr pin/pendant: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...82fa21f6_o.jpg New 25 year pin: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...5fb70bf5_o.jpg


Old 50 year pendant/pin: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1d0d6999_o.jpg New 50 year pin: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...93bc804a_m.jpg
Old 60 year pin (the old 50 year pin fit inside an outer ring of sapphires): https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...dcac0a91_m.jpgNew 60 year pin: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e07dcba7_o.jpg

Resurrecting this thread to share a badge that I rescued from that site earlier this year. The badge is from the early 1950s

https://i.imgur.com/QartXKZ.jpg

I'm just seeing this today (April was a blur to me!), and I am horrified! Frankly, I'm not thrilled with the new branding to begin with, but when they start messing with the pins, I'm incensed!

The only one I like even a little bit is the 60 year pin. Yikes!!

AOII is offering a limited edition All Ruby Badge for our upcoming 125th Anniversary. I love it. And I might treat myself to one since this fall will be my 25th anniversary as an initiated member in AOII!

https://www.hjgreek.com/product/show...roductID/68123
https://www.hjgreek.com/assets/image...arge/68123.jpg

https://www.hjgreek.com/assets/image...arge/68123.jpg


WHAT?!?! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:


YOU HAVE TO GET THAT.

So much red! That badge simply oozes.

Oooooh, fancy!

Honeychile, I just saw your post. I like the 10 year and 25 year updates, but the 50 and 60 year pins look like "cost savings" upgrades to me. :(

I really do like the 60 year pin. But I have a while to think about that! :)

That AOTT pin definitely seems like a must-have!

We don't even have a 60 year recognition. For 75 years, members get an embroidered handkerchief, which is very...practical.

We don't have ANY recognition pins for number of years of membership.

~~~ cries in AEPhi ~~~

That one is gorgeous! Naturally there are several tri delta pins that signify not only an alumni transition but also the amount of years you've been in the sorority. I especially love the diamond circle pin shown here.

https://www.tridelta.org/our-story/h...icial-jewelry/

It's pretty, but the most gorgeous NPC badge I've ever seen is a plain, white gold AOPi badge with a single ruby. It is just stunning in its simplicity. I would love to be an AOPi just to have that badge (shallow, I know)!! ;)

I really wish Tri Delta had variations of our badge. They do for Executive officers and traveling consultants, but not for other members.

The reason the handkerchief was gifted was because, at 93+ years old, it was thought that it would be too difficult for a sister to fuss with the little clasp on a little lapel pin. Also, they felt that sisters in their 90s typically weren't going to events and wearing pins. So, yes, practical, but I guess they meant well.

That said, did you know that the handkerchief was replaced? 75-year members now receive a stick-pin with a cubic zirconia "diamond". I think this is a decent compromise as, it's nicer then a handkerchief, but a senior sister will have an easier time with the stick pin. Ironically enough, the stick pin is meant to be an enhancer - the badge is supposed to be centered in the rays of the crescent. Though, senior sisters would have to fuss with the clasp on the badge. I believe, however, that the sisters can just wear the stick pin by itself as well. :cool:

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...922/6a2THf.png

I like the new 25 year and 60 year pins.

But I really liked the way that the previous 60 year pin complemented the 50 year pin and I think you could also wear it alone. Would have been cool if the new 60 year pin replaced the old 50 year pin and then they had an enhancer for it for 60 years.

But those are just my thoughts.

Gorgeous!

Love this design and how it is meant to complement the badge by placing it in the crescent!

Wow, I love it!!! Will you get one? You need to! For science! :D

And they are offering it in white gold & silver as well it looks like. Looking at them both, I’m not sure which I would choose if I were an AOII.

https://www.hjgreek.com/assets/image...arge/68123.jpg https://www.hjgreek.com/assets/image.../extra/839.jpg

Made me think of this gorgeous AOII badge you posted 10 years ago! Though I do hope the rubies on these new ones are more red than pink.

I didn't realize we had 4 levels of enhancer pins now. The 50 year pin used to be free, but there was a $4 charge for the certificate (I order these for our AC)...I wonder if members have to pay for the 50 year pin now. I notice there's a "shop now" for each enhancer.

Yes, my understanding previously was that the 50-year pin was free if being ordered by the AC to gift to the member. If a member wanted to purchase one for herself directly, then she could opt to do so for a nominal amount on the website. However, looking at the new website, it's not clear. It does appear that an AC is being directed to Herff Jones to purchase them even if they are being gifted. I'd have to check with the Alumnae Engagement Dept. to see if this policy has changed.

If you or any other Gamma Phi Beta sisters have a picture of this stick pin with the badge, I'd love to see it!

~~~ cries again in AEPhi ~~~

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/5fMulL.png


Awww....LOL These are the stick pins used as enhancers.



https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/lvkGGC.png https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/GOFeZC.png https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/j1KIUy.png https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/RvVRJt.jpg


75 year, 50 year, 25 year, and 10 year


The 10 and 25 year milestone pins were also recently changed. They used to look like this:

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...922/8FBZbc.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...922/9fHWjY.jpg

So pretty! :)

How lovely!

Enhancer Pins are a lovely concept. Do any groups outside the NPC do enhancer pins?

I figured I would contribute to this thread as seeing images on Google images from this thread is what introduced me to GC.

So my fraternity is Theta Tau, the first and foremost co-ed engineering fraternity. Pictured here is our member's badge which we have used since our first national convention in 1911. The main parts of our badge are the greek letters, the crossed hammer and tongs, the dark red garnet in the middle and pearls around the golden gear, the meaning of which is secret (Sorry for anyone who is curious ;) ).
https://i.ibb.co/jJznRtF/theta-tau-e...548d40d57b.jpg

Prior to this, we existed as the Society of Hammer and Tongs and used this badge which was changed to the current one as it wasn't distinctive and it made it unclear what our fraternity was about.
https://i.ibb.co/yFhYS4V/vintage-the...fb15796a4a.jpg

With that exposition out of the way, here is a picture of what my members badge currently looks like. I still don't know if my crowded badge is impressive or tacky but it certainly is unique among others in my chapter. My chapter does not wear guards or dangles, and when we get initiated, our chapter bulk orders the cheapest option for each member, so our pearls and garnet are fake and our badge is gold plate. Currently I have a dangle on here for even the smallest thing that I've done but I think that when I get a higher quality badge, I will only include dangles for ritual officer positions that I have held. I first saw people wearing guards and dangles at the 2021 National Convention last Summer, which got me wanting to put extra stuff on my badge.
https://i.ibb.co/gRyJXFY/IMG-8268.jpg

On that note, the mention of the National Convention brings me to the convention bars! When you go to a national convention or a Theta Tau Educational Foundation Leadership Conference, you get a new bar added to your 'ladder'. (Blacked out as the badge has my first and last name on it)
https://i.ibb.co/QcjT843/Inked-IMG-8275-LI.jpg

Both the national convention and the leadership conference happen biennially and alternating, so 2021 had a national convention and this summer will have a leadership conference and so on. So, in theory you can add something to your ladder each year, which leads to the older alumni having very long ladders. Pictured is past Grand Regent Dean Bettinger on the left who has the longest set of convention bars I've ever seen, and this is an older picture so it is even longer now.
https://i.ibb.co/tzKyy7m/6-3-980x653.jpg

The last thing that I have is just a bit of miscellaneous information. Below is a sister pin that I saved from fratpin. I don't know if it is still made but if it is, it is a very rare sight. It is just like the members badge except without the hammer and tongs and about half the size. This one in my collection is painted plastic which I didn't realize when I bought it and its missing a fake pearl, but whatever, it's not the end of the world.
https://i.ibb.co/Qc7xtJm/IMG-8271.jpg

If you all have any more questions feel free to ask. I love reading the posts on this thread. Apologies if any of the images are too big, that I my first time trying to embed images into my posts.

^^ VERY cool! Thank you!

For any ADPis here, there is going to be an interactive webinar with Maureen Calloway Carnevale on Tuesday, February 22 at 8 pm, EST. Maureen is an absolute treasure concerning Alpha Delta Pi ritual jewelry, and has an amazing collection!

I attended the last one, and it was a great (and informative!) time! You may want to have yours at the ready during the program.
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...MygHegUIARD5AQ

Thanks Honeychile. I'll most likely be back some time soon to post some badges that I'm about to rescue. Also, does anyone have good tips on how to take pictures of badges so that you can see the most detail and the shininess doesn't wash out the image?

So as promised, here are pictures of the first two members badges that I have saved. (Apologies for the photos, I'm very new to photographing badges.)



Pictured from left to right is our fraternity's gear pin designated to give to family members of significant others, the badge of Robert H. Von Stein from Cedar Rapids who went to Omicron chapter at the University of Iowa. He graduated in 1954 and served in WWII, so he must have been going to school using the GI bill. I saved his badge from fratpin. Next is the badge of William Edwin Bowers whose badge I saved from that website. He graduated in 1948 from Upsilon chapter at the University of Arkansas and he was the artist for the school's engineering magazine. Last is my personal badge.

https://i.ibb.co/kHcrXX8/IMG-8406.jpg

Here are the backs of each badge. Notice how the placement of the loop that your badge guard would attach to is different on Brother Bowers' badge, which is the oldest. on his badge it is on the back of the gear while on mine and Brother Von Stein's the loop is on the handle of the tongs. The back of each badge contains a brother's name, roll book number, and the year of their graduation. (My badge says I graduate this year which is inaccurate, I still have at least a year left. :p). Unfortunately, it seems as if brothers ordering their badges had the option to get their full name engraved on their badge, whereas if I wanted to order myself a new badge today, it only gives me the option to put my last name.

https://i.ibb.co/9303XFf/IMG-8408.jpg

Pictured here is the bird's eye view of the badges. Something interesting that I didn't even think about until I had the older badges in my hand is how much the thickness of the gear on the badge varies. Thinking about it, I can understand why my badge is thicker than the two older ones as mine is just stainless steel plated in gold, but I have no clue why or how the two old badges have different thicknesses. Perhaps it is due to different manufacturers or the type of gold used. Also odd is that only the gear and Greek letters vary in thickness, as the hammer and tongs have a consistent depth on each badge.

https://i.ibb.co/z4tTyfX/IMG-8410.jpg

Lastly, just for fun, here is all of the badges pictured pinned upon my shirt :D

https://i.ibb.co/CvfxqK7/IMG-8415.jpg

Of the two badges that I rescued, I absolutely love how Brother Bowers' badge looks. The pictures don't do it justice but it has an amount of aging that just makes the individual parts of the badge stand out more. I'm glad I could finally contribute to this thread and help keep it alive. :)

Yes, I noticed that too. Mr. Bowers' badge has a nice patina to it.

So I know this thread is long dead, but it’s full of very good info. I was wondering if anyone could help me with some history.

I spotted this miniature badge on EBay (which has sold, unfortunately) and I was very curious as to it’s history. https://i.imgur.com/DbIkBSl.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/b56YNYs.jpg https://i.imgur.com/uvmsxIt.jpg


I’d never seen miniature badges other than a stray mini Kappa key that isn’t a standard badge, rather more of an accessory I think. Did Kappa Delta have mini pins? Are they indicative of anything in particular? The badge has initials and chapter engraved on the back, along with a badge number. Not sure if that info is able to be looked up by any KDs? I had heard that miniature badges were stylish for a while, but what time period was that? Badge history fascinates me!

Interesting! When I was an active, we had the choice between ordering the standard size and the miniature size badge. I ordered the miniature. I don't thnk they currently have a choice, though. The miniature has three pearls/stones between each point, but the standard at the time had four. Neither of the photos are my pins, although I have a small collection.

The former standard: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/22...G?v=1507079014


The new standard/miniatrue: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...4FgsA&usqp=CAU

Alpha Chi has had some unique badge designs offered for sale, based on vintage badges created before the design was standardized. But I’m not aware of any miniature badges being sold in recent decades. I’d love to see one if I’m wrong, though!

KD doesn't have mini badges, but earlier badges were a lot smaller than current badges.

I can't look up the owner up by that information, but the National office could.

KD gives every member a member number that is your chapter's letters and your initiation number in consecutive order. (Eg. "ZB 101" would be the 101st member of the Zeta Beta chapter of Kappa Delta.) Member numbers are carved on the back of your badge with your initials. I can't tell read the number well enough to tell you a chapter, but if you can you can find a list of active chapters here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...Delta_chapters

Single letter chapters are older than double letter chapters. Lower numbers are earlier members.

The back of that KD badge has the initials "P.E.P." at the top. Then Sigma and 589 below.

There could be another Greek letter in front of the Sigma; but, it does not appear in a crisp imprint like the Sigma. So that could just be a stray mark on the back of the badge or trick of the camera. Looking at the list of chapters you gave, there is no Sigma single-letter chapter and there isn't a "____ Sigma" chapter that would immediately appear to fit the bill. Possibly Beta Sigma chapter from Univ. of So. Miss.?

At any rate, that's what I got from staring at the photo for a minute.

^^^ Wouldn't it be great if Gamma Phi did some kind of special 150th anniversary badge. I would love that!

eBay rescues
 

https://uc29235838115d474630af7f61fc...sqhOk4w/p.jpeg

I’m sorry about the large file!! Inversely, I hope the details and craftsmanship show through because I personally don’t care for the brand new HJ work.

I lost the first badge that I ordered over multiple state moves, but it was electroplated and the cheapest option, and did not weigh nearly to these vintage finds!