Original 1888 DDD Constitution on eBay?
 

I have no idea if this is authentic or not. Check it out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...961912216&rd=1

The current bidder is a huge collector of all things Greek -- but not one to outbid someone if the item is from their org.

Panhellenically,

Leslie Anne :)

hmmm, wonder if EO knows about this...

Yes, your EO is aware of the auction.

VERY AWARE...I sent an email right away!

My response...

Thanks so much for the supportive email! We are aware of this and are trying to bring this item to our archives.

Yes, we have received a number of email about this--and it's been so wonderful to see the support we've received not only from our own members, but from other concerned Greek members as well.

Sincerely,
Beth Dees Applebaum
Archives Coordinator
Delta Delta Delta Executive Office
PO Box 5987
Arlington, Texas 76005-5987
Phone: 817/633-8001
Fax: 817/652-0212
bapplebaum@trideltaeo.org

Wow! How did someone get ahold of that! I love how they say it is a must have for Tri Delta but yet they have to sell it to us.

Although I wish this wasn't for sale on E-bay, at the same time, I'd like to thank the original poster for bringing it to our attention. It is very awe-inspiring to be able to look at this document- and I'm not even a Tri-Delt! It's the kind of thing where I'd probably never have seen it if it was in a Delta Delta Delta archival museum somewhere... so very interesting.

I feel sorry for the Thetas too...I was just looking at their forum and one of their RITUAL books from 1964 is on sale!! That's horrible!! How do people get ahold of these things???

Lots of different ways. Estate sales, antique shops, flea markets; you'd be amazed at what some people have in an old box sitting in their attic. When that person dies and the kids have to go through their stuff and don't know what any of the stuff is, it goes to a lot of different places. I'd hate to think how many important documents, Greek-related and otherwise, have been tossed in the garbage simply for lack of knowledge.

Education is key. If you have anything at all you feel is important to your org or school or anything, put it in your will to be donated to your org or school after your passing.

I called and they said they're trying to win it at all costs, so at least that is good news.

I hope so, because if that's really as advertised, then its worth several thousand dollars.

I've been watching this auction also. Is the current high bidder is a Tri-Delt?

ETA: Has anyone checked out the bid history? docroc's a notorious longtime Greek item seller. :rolleyes: indysage is a PHI MU.

Good luck, Tri-Delts!

Wow! That's so amazing. I hope your EO is able to secure the item.

i don't know if the highest bidder is a Tri Delt or not. If I had $$ I would be bidding on it right now; but I am volunteering for a year making a "living stipend" of $10,000.

I'm hoping the other person bidding, wmbakerjr is someone in EO or related to them. Its gonna be a tense 2 days.

I noticed that too. I know people collect GLO pins and such, but it really makes me sad that someone from another sorority is trying to get this. Mainly b/c it's such a historical piece.. maybe I'm just silly, but I think this should stay in the hands of Tri Delta.

Actually, that's entirely untrue. "docroc" has never sold a single item on eBay! This bidder does nothing but collect and preserve items from all GLOs. Would you rather have it that these things get thrown out?

I know it's the Greekchat way to bash first and ask questions later (if ever), but it would be nice to get your facts straight.

Taking it a little personal, are we? :rolleyes:

I really could give two shits if s/he is a preserver/collector or what not. All I know is that this person likes to hang on to things that rightfully belong to other, more worthy people.

That being said, I really hope that this item, as well as other historical items, goes back to the hands of those who will truly appreciate for what it stands for.

So do I. Which is why I started this thread in the first place!

Don't you people ever get tired of being on the attack?

Yes I am :) INDYSAGE. Note I emailed the Tri-Delta EO immediately and posted their response to me. If I could win, you know darned well it would be in Tri-Delta hands within mailing time.

My bet is the current high bidder is the archivist for Tri-Delta, as her name is Beth Dees Applebaum and the high bidder BDappeb. So I will not bid against her.

I only collect NPC badges for a project I am working on for our local college panhell office....do a search on cross stitch.

ETA: I have also taken the liberty of emailing other bidders on ebay to inform them of her identity, and ALL (without exception) have been Tri-Delta sisters who do not read GC and are very gracious and relieved to know who bdappeb is.

Still, I'm surprised that ritual books and constitutions are getting out there. I had always assumed that chapters and Nationals safeguarded these things. In ZTA (and I would assume the other PHC sororities as well), these important things stay locked up and only the ritual chair has access. If a chapter closes, these items go back to Nationals. The only thing I can think of is that these ritual book and constitutions that are on Ebay were once stolen and have somehow made its way into an Ebay seller's hands.

I hope that a TriDelta gets this item! As of now, it's going for only $255 which isn't bad when you consider how much some of the pins have gone for!

Yes, now we have all those safeguards in place so our history is kept intact, but way back when there were probably no archives and Headquarters and ritual safes. Most likely what happened was when the original Alpha chapter of Delta Delta Delta closed, all the items either got split between the remaining members or were all given to one person to keep. It got put away somewhere and forgotten about until now when someone found it, knew there was a market for it and decided to sell it.

Unfortunately, Kappa Kappa Gamma no longer has most of their original founding documents. Like many GLOs, our Alpha chapter was forced to close by College officials not long after our founding and much of the notes and records of those early meetings were either lost or destroyed by fire. About a year ago, a letter of the official dissolution of the Alpha chapter to Monmouth college came up on eBay. It's funny how things just show up and I agree, some of the more historical items could very possibly be stolen.

I sincerely hope that those collectors of GLO items understand this document absolutely needs to be returned to Delta Delta Delta for the sake of their heritage and not kept for personal gain. I also hope they are not bidding just to bid the price up as some are fond of doing on other items.

ISUKappa - that post was great!

I agree 100%!

This document is so precious. I hope that it becomes a part of the Tri Delta archives. Good luck!

I just noticed in the title of the item it says "This one's for real!"

Was there a fake one before?

holy crap! its now up to $610
"dragonfire" came out of nowhere with that bid!!

eeek- i hope this new person is a tri delt, or EO comes back on and bids higher!!

Judging from the other items she has purchased on ebay, I would say she is a DDD from Purdue (guess?)

I emailed her right away telling her that bdappeb is your national archivist. Several other bidding that I emailed responded with "thank god, I didn't realize, I will stop bidding now"

Hopefully your national archivist is skilled at sniping.... :)

It's also possible for dragonfire to retract her bids so the Tri-Delt Archivist hopefully won't have to pay so much. It's not a popular thing to do on eBay, but it can be done--unless there's not much time left on the auction.

:eek: it's up to $760!

I've beenw atching this with interest. Please advise the Tri Delta HQ member who is bidding on it NOT to bid on it until the last moment, as close to the ending as possible. Otherwise, it continues to drive up the price. It's a strategy called "sniping" and in this case it could save Tri Delta a lot of money. Please, bid wisely! AND PURCHASE INSURANCE and every safeguard possible for such an expensive piece. In fact, i'd look into an escrow option

how do you figure out what people have previously bought? by looking at their comments from sellers??

i ALWAYS snip (snipe?)

yep. if the link to the item number is active you can read the title/description of the other items the person has bought :)

it's 7 mins to go... (i'm watching it along side american idol ;)) i hope the tri-delt archivist will jump in @ the end!

maxsae is the winner. :(

Final bid was $810.

i'm really sad the tri-delta archivist didn't jump in :(

Wishful thinking?
 

Maybe he'll be wearing one of those spiffy dress shirts he's purchased on eBay recently when he presents the document as a gift to Tri Delta's HQ! Not sure whether he'll wear one of the new helmets, though. WTF?!??!

Seriously, I hope he's got some Tri Delta affiliation and loyalty. This would be a complete travesty if it doesn't end up in Tri Delta's archives. If anyone gets an update on this, please let us know!!!

She might have been...you never know.

I was watching the auction when it got to 2 minutes to go...and by the time it hit 53 seconds I was having trouble accessing the page. That could have easily happened to the others who were trying to be the final bidder. :(

that's so true.

even if this person has some kind of Tri-Delta connection (like a mom, girlfriend or wife) I still think it would have been better for the HQ to have it in their archives otherwise it might be sold at another estate auction later on. :(

I noticed a couple of cheerleading items in his winning history.. so it's possible he has some kind of tri-delta connection. it just really makes me sad it didnt land up w/ the HQ :(

Re: Wishful thinking?
 

He can also use the Gold Cheerleader Megaphone Necklace and charm as an accessory!!!

LOL OTW!

I am quite familiar and there's nothing that Tri Delta can do. First Sale Doctrine is the basic legal concept that governs, it's really a big long thing and i'm way too tired to explain it all.

Unless it can be proved that the item was stolen, which is quite doubtful, there's nothing that can be done.

:(

i'm very dissapointed that EO didn't get the item. hopeful EO will get it somehow from this guys, but i doubt that will happen. but this guy bought more shoes recently that i have, and thats kind of sad, and our fav author alexdra whatshername's book, the one about skull and bones. oh yeah, and a troll doll.

its times like this i wish i was a rich alum, cause i would have bought it

The best we can hope for is maxsae has some sort of Tri-Delt connection and will return it to your EO. By their bid history, I don't believe it is a collector. Possibly a husband/wife who share the same username. My husband bids on items under my ebay username, giving me a very odd bid history.

It is disappointing that your Archivist wasn't able to save it.

Here's what the seller had to say about how they obtained the book: