How Has Your Badge Changed?
 

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Ours has gotten pretty substantially smaller. And our stone options have changed- there's much less variation now.

ours did when we went from chi delphia to chi delta... circa 1990.

As far as I am aware, our badge has never changed, except possibly for a slight change in size.

True. There were no badge regulations until the 1940s (I think) so while the basic design (key shape, KKG on stem, AWO on the ward) was essentially the same, girls could have them customized any way they wanted. Our History 2000 book has some pictures of really gorgeous older badges with filigree and various gemstones. Now they are a standard length and there are only 3 stone options.

AOII Badge
 

The AOII badge has remained the same since its inception. The "closed" versus "crown-set" pearls were actually just an option. Prior to 1965, badges were individually made, and a wide range of options was available. At that time, it was decided to limit the number of options to the most popular. Closed-set pearls were not in this group. As far as I know, adding goldclad (plated versus 10K) badges was the last major change.
There is an excellent article in our magazine, To Dragma , that speaks to these very issues and it is available free on-line on our International HQ web page.
:)
PS-ariesrising, your Greek pages rock!
Silver

I noticed at our recent initiation that alumnae sisters who had been initiated in the early-mid 90s had badges that were flat. I was initiated in 1999 and since then, all the badges have been rounded. I also know that we switched jewelry companies a few years back and that might have had an effect.

From "Delta Zeta and You":

From our founding to the present, the Badge has changed very little from the original one designed by the Founders. The original Badge (found in the sorority archives) has no pearls, and the Badge of a Beta Chapter charter member (circa 1908) shows a variation in the design of the column and the size and location of the pearls.

The general ideas to be incorporated in the Badge were suggestions of our Founders, but the practical assembling of their ideas into a suitable design was the work of a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity associated with the Newman Jewelry Company.

Aside from the early addition of the pearls as jeweling, the only other changes in the present Badge are small refinements that would take place when jewelers are changed. One official jeweler suggested moving the pearls to the top of the column and this change was approved.

Our Badge remains as selected by our Founders. The official jeweling is a diamond in the flame and four pearls at the base of the lamp. The lamp bears the Greek letters DZ in black enamel. You may choose to have the diamond either in a Tiffany or flush setting.

Ours used to be an H.

Alpha Gamma Delta has actually had two badges. Our first badge--as it was worn on the day of our Founding (May 30th 1904)--was a monogram with the Alpha chased on the bottom, the Gamma plain in the middle, and the Delta on top set in pearls. If you can envision it, it was basically backwards from what our badge is today.

Our Founders disliked it, so they commissioned jeweler J.F. Newman to come up with several new designs. The new badge was selected by Alpha on November 19, 1904. That badge was the one Alpha Gams all know and love.

The Badge also used to be somewhat larger than what it is today, and members could choose what types of jewels could be placed on the Alpha. However, within the first 4 or 5 years, the Badge size was standardized and the only jewels permitted on it were pearls and/or diamonds.

The Badge of Alpha Sigma Phi is almost exactly the same design as that created by Louis Manigault in 1845. (The original Badge was, however, flat and non-dimensional.) It is the only fraternity badge that is rectangular with right-angle corners. The Badge of Alpha Sigma Phi may never be modified in size or jeweled in any way. Every member of Alpha Sigma Phi wears exactly the same badge. Inscribed on the back of each member's Badge is inscribed the Brother's name, initiation date, chapter name (in Greek letters) and chapter founding date.

The Badge is worn over the heart on shirt, sweater or vest; never on lapel or jacket. A chapter guard pin (shown attached to the Badge) may be added as well as officer insignia on the chain of the guard. No Brother ever allows any person not a member of the Fraternity to wear his Badge, except for the wife or fiancee of a brother. It is a tradition that the Badge of the Fraternity is willed at death to the Fraternity and returned to its archives.

Each chapter has a special President's pin that is a replica of the original badge and resembles the Delta Beta Xi key. A few chapters treasure an actual Badge used during the early days at Yale, gifts of the brothers who wore them as students.The President's badge is passed on within the Chapter from President to President, and remains the property of the chapter.

The current official badge: http://www.burrpatt.com/AlphaSigmaPh...hasigmaphi.jpg

The HSP (chapter president) badge (replica of the original Alpha Sigma Phi badge) : http://www.burrpatt.com/AlphaSigmaPh...badgeasphi.jpg

Our early badge (pre-reorganization) was a plain shield w/ a square top & pointed bottom. There was a crown attached to the top and "ASA" in diagonal Greek letters and a star in the top left corner. I'm not sure what metal this was as all I have is a black & white picture.

I've seen badges from the 70's and they are definitely smaller than the ones from the 80's till the present.

Phi Kappa Psi
 

Our badges were all over the map. We had different sizes, with jewels, without jewels, and a monogram of F and Y. We finally standardized on a single badge in 1914. It comes one way only. No jewels.

I noticed that our badges have gotten smaller. A member who left returned her badge to us and I was looking at it and noticed it was bigger than mine.

From the website:

History of The Quill

The Founders of Alpha Xi Delta gave much thought to the selection of an emblem that would symbolize the ideals of their new fraternity. The original Quill badges, smaller than they are today, were approximately seven-eighth of an inch long and were set on stickpins. Founder Lewie Strong Taylor designed the original stickpin Quill, which is on display at Fraternity Headquarters. The stickpins were later changed to clasp pins.

The first jeweled Quill was made for Cora Bollinger Block. It was set with three jewels in the shaft, a sapphire flanked on each side with a turquoise. During the early years, the badges varied slightly from each other in size, shape of feathers and choice of jewels. A few early badges were made with the initials in black enamel instead of burnished gold.

In 1911, a definite die was chosen for the official badge, and the choice of jewels was limited to pearls and diamonds. The Quill badge is a conventionalized quill of gold with the letters raised and burnished gold on the barbs of the feathers.

ETA: I just recently found out we can have our pearls replaced with diamonds...supposedly the nat'l president's Quill has all diamonds. I'd love to do that one day...when I can afford it! :D

What KillarneyRose said. I lost my "Delta Zeta and You" book. :( *sob*

I've seen pictures of older DZ badges, and they look a little...I don't know, curvier I guess, than the one I have.

This is from our website:

The Alpha Delta Pi Badge
The first badge was worn by the Adelpheans in 1851. It was a satin riband with ribbon streamers; the name "Adelphean" appeared on one end, and a design of clasped hands at the other end. In the center was the Open Motto—"We Live For Each Other."

http://www.alphadeltapi.org/imagelib/BothBadges.jpg

This is the official badge as we know it today. In 1906, during the Alpha Delta Pi's first convention, this design with the smaller gold badge with a black enamel center which pictures the clasped hands, the two stars, and the Greek letters was proposed.

****
In the beginning (1851), the Adelpheans had individual jewelers make their pins, which is why there is such a difference in size. But the clasped hands are there from Day One!

When I was getting ready for initiation, I had a choice between two sizes of pins: regular & minature. The regular has four pearls (or other jewels) between the points while the minature one has only three. As you already know, we have a vast amount of choices concerning our pins; yellow or white gold, plain, pearls, pearls with jeweled points, alternating pearls & jewels, etc. Our Grand President Eremitus has a pin with a double row of diamonds on it - it's amazing!

http://www.alphadeltapi.org/imagelib...nuHeritage.jpg

Awww, don't feel bad! If you really want one for a keepsake, you can buy one from National for a few dollars. I just bought my copy a couple of years ago to replace the one I lost in college. Back then it was the same book, but its title was the "Pledge Handbook". Scandalous! ;)

:eek: :eek: :eek: Wowie Zowie! I bet it is GORGEOUS!!! I would love to see that someday!

I wish we would have had an option of getting a "regular" or "miniature" pin when I initiated... I guess they only make them "miniature" now!

The essential design has never changed. In fact, our founders were VERY specific as to what the badge would look like. There have been ornamented badges over the years, and there's no problem with that. We also have a special badge for regents and other national offices.

Yup, I also seem to recall reading in WATCHWORDS that at an early DG convention, "standardizing" the badge was addressed, because of course there was no Burr Patterson and Auld and a jeweller who would have been local and close by to the various chapters would have created the badge which have resulted in variances. Not sure if it was still an "H" at that point or if they had switched it to the Anchor.....

the only difference I've ever seen is the original badge was just a sphinxhead with sapphire eyes. Now we have the option to chose the sphinxhead or the jeweled badged which is the pyramid with the sphinxhead - the pyramid has sapphires at each corer. Our chapter made the choice that all Iota Gamma sisters will have the jeweled badge - I just love my badge. I think when I get my masters next year I may break down and get the gold badge and have it inscribed with my initials and my initiation date.

Carolyn

Much like others, the ATO badge has remained the same over the years except in size. When Founder Glazebrook first designed the badge, the size was one inch by one inch and completely flat. You can still get one of these badges, known as the Founder's Badge, today. Many chapters get one for their president to wear. My father still has his, and it appears huge compared to the standard badge.

The standard badge is half an inch by half an inch and the center panel is raised slightly. Every member is given one of these with their badge number engraved on the back. You may also order jeweled versions of the standard badge. My parents bought me one as a Christmas present the year after I was elected president. Of course, I love it.

Jason

I'm not a member of Tri Sigma, but I do know that their badge has changed 3 times.

The first two had very prominent Skull and Cross bones theme.

The third and last design which I believe changed sometime in the early 1900s is what we see today of the indented triangle badge with pearls along the edge, a sigma in each corner and the skull and cross bone in the middle.

ms. gwyn

Phi Gamma Delta actually has an interesting page on its website that chronicles the changes made to the badge design from the founders to present day. Its been all over th map, from the simple design of 1848, to heavily jeweled versions in the late 1800's, to a very small one in the early 1900's. To promote equality among the brothers, jeweled badges were outlawed around the turn of the century.

Today's badge (since 1923) is identical and size, shape, and design to the original badge conceived by the founders in 1848. Balfour actually took a founders badge out of the archives and took a mold of it, to insure a match to the original. The whole story appears here:

http://www.phigam.org/history/Headquarters/exhibits.htm

Here's an interesting website I found that has a lot pictures of old pins and badges:

http://homepage.mac.com/sternjd/frat...es/Browse.html

I think its intended for use by collectors (blasphemy!) but can provide you with some historical insight on the badges of many GLO's.

In our Pre NPC days, the D Phi E badge was just the triangle with the pearls around it, without our motto at the bottom. I think after joining the NPC, we added the motto at the bottom, and it is still that way today. Denise D Phi E is much more knowledgable of our badge than I am :)

The Tri Sigma Badge has changed (I think) quite a but from its inception. Our first badge was a flat & skull shapped. It was 2 colors...moss green & purple with a banner in the top of the skull with our letters in it. The next badge that I can remember (I think this was like a few years after our founding) was a gold skull & cross bones with letters on it. (These are all very cool and in this neet display at Walton House). The indented triangle badge, smiliar to what we wear today came into existence in (I think) the early 1900s, except for the fact that they did not have the pearls surrounding them. I know pearls weren't an option when my chapter was founded 1929 or when my pledge mother's grandmother was initiated in the 40s. I'm not sure when they added the pearls around our badge. Now, you can get a badge that just has pearls in the points, versus around the whole triangle.

Ours has changed some, but not drastically.

This has been our official badge since 1910:

http://vintagefraternitypins.com/ima...phimualpha.jpg

The original badge looked like the current one except the Greek letters (and the lines separating them from the "S") were absent, and as a result the "S" was larger. This, of course, reflected the fact that our name originally was simply The Sinfonia Fraternity. I think that rubies may have been used instead of garnets.

In the early 1900's, a desire arose to include the Greek letters, which were being used in other contexts, in the badge. Around 1905 or '06, the triangle was turned point-down and separated into four triangles (formed by placing a point-up triangle in the center, its points touching the middle of the lines forming the larger triangle). An "S" was in the center triangle, F was in the upper left triangle, M was in the upper right triangle, and A was in the bottom triangle. (Sorry -- I couldn't find a picture on-line.)

In 1910, the triangle was turned point-up again, and the current design was adopted.

For many years, a non-jeweled badge was available, but the jeweled version remained the official badge. At our National Assembly last year, we voted to make the jeweled version the only one available. The placement of the pearls and garnets cannot be altered.

after looking at that pin collector's website, i would have to say that Sigma Chi wins for the most changed pin. there were like 5-7 pages of their pins, and they changed about every 2 years! yeesh!

Care to venture a guess on which GLO the collector is from?:rolleyes:

Really? :) I might see about that. I was kind of upset, because mine's been missing for about 2 years and I actually think it was stolen instead of lost, but a new one would be nice. Thanks for the info!

Sigma Kappa's original badge was our pledge pin design. But since it changed to the triangle, only the size has changed.