Do You Have a Favorite Founder?
 

In light of our Founders Day yesterday, I realized that I have a favorite Founder. Yes, I love the wisdom of Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald, who got the ball rolling for the Adelphean Society, and also love the photograph of Mary Evans Glass. Yet I've always been drawn to Octavia Andrew Rush.

"Little Occie," as she was known, was only 13 when she was deemed ready for Georgia Wesleyan. Maybe it's her age that draws me to her, but I was wondering - does anyone else have a Favorite Founder?


"Only 13 years old when she made the journey to Wesleyan, Octavia was the daughter of Bishop James Andrew who was the ranking member on the original Board of Trustees that started Wesleyan. After graduating, Octavia married John Wesley Rush, an Emory law student. They had ten children and John abandoned his law studies to become a Methodist preacher. During the Civil War, Reverend Rush went to defend the South and was captured in battle. Octavia remained a scholar and continued her involvement with Alpha Delta Pi until her death in 1917. Like Ella, many of Octavia's descendents are Alpha Delta Pi sisters."

Gamma Phi Beta
 

My favorite founder is Helen M. Dodge.

“Let us strive to make the utmost of the time allotted to us; then shall ‘life, death and eternity be one grand, sweet song.” -Helen M. Dodge Ferguson, 1932

From our history:

“The Scholar,” Helen Mary Dodge Ferguson was a member of the second class ever admitted to Syracuse and the first Founder to graduate. She was a talented musician and avid reader who loved to discuss and debate issues that arose in her studies. Helen often looked for avenues of service to others and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She also traveled to locations like the Middle East, France, Belgium, India and China to complete mission work for her church. Helen died in 1937, leaving a substantial bequest to Syracuse University for scholarships for members of Gamma Phi Beta.
Helen was always extremely committed to Gamma Phi Beta and was selected by the other three founders as the first president of Alpha Chapter (Syracuse). She is also responsible for drafting the initial constitution for the Sorority and wrote “List the Watchword,” the first official song of Gamma Phi Beta, in honor of the first anniversary of the Sorority. At each biennial Convention, Gamma Phi Beta presents the Helen M. Dodge Award to an outstanding collegiate chapter advisor. The criterion for this esteemed award is based on the traits Helen had as a mentor.

I have a favorite, probably the favorite of most AOIIs, Stella George Stern Perry. Stella gave AOII its heart. She wrote our ritual and served as the first Chapter President, first Grand President and Historian for life. She was personality plus. Almost all of the quotes we use from our founders come from her, and she was prolific.

I think many AOIIs understand that the only reason we have AOII is because of Stella. Stella was a jewish woman from New Orleans, LA. She was the only woman from the South in her class at Barnard and was apparently the life of the party. The founders were great friends, but only three were offered bids to another sorority on campus. Stella was not. The others turned down their bids and together decided to form their own fraternity to continue their friendships throughout their lifetimes. They were dear friends until their deaths. AOII gives out the Stella Perry Award yearly to the best collegiate president.

She went on to write many novels, mostly for children. I own about 10 of them, 2 signed by Stella. They are completely unreadable. LOL.

Chi Omega members go wild over anything about Dr Charles Richardson (We call him "Sis Doc") -- I'd say he's the #1 favorite, followed closely by Jobelle Holcombe... Maybe because she lived a long life and was involved at Psi Chapter/Univ of Arkansas for so many years -- or maybe just because her name is catchy & unique.

When I was a collegian playing intramural softball on the Chi Omega team, my Sisters would yell, "Do it for JOBELLE!" when I got up to bat!

http://www.blackpast.org/files/black...ene_kinkle.jpg

Eugene Kinckle Jones

Not only a "Jewel" but first Executive Secretary of the National Urban League.

Jack Mason, Lambda Chi's spiritual founder (a.k.a. ritualist). A brilliant yet modest man.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/46/15...39a128da_m.jpg

Mary Caffrey Low Carver. She was the first woman to study at Colby College, and for two years, she was the only woman.

When she graduated, she was Valedictorian, but since women didn't usually give speeches in that time, she was allowed to give the class benediction in Latin.

There is a dorm named for her at Colby, and I think she was a feminist before there were feminists. She and Helen Louise Coburn were strong advocates for co-education and felt that women shouldn't be restricted from studying the same things as men.

Basically, she kicked ass and took names.

I guess this is an easy question to answer when you have only one founder. It was Ossian Everett Mills, the Father of Sinfonia, who had the idea to bring together "old boys" and "new boys" at the New England Conservatory for what became the Sinfonia Club and, within two years, the Sinfonia Fraternity. Mills established the principles and values on which the Fraternity was built and was a guiding force in our first decades. He served as the first and fourth Supreme President and was elected "Honorary Grand Supreme President for Life" in 1904.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...rett_Mills.jpg

The 13 men who answered Mills' call to form the Sinfonia Club are referred to as the Charter Members.

Interesting aside: Mills' grandson, Arthur Mills, was initiated into our Alpha Alpha (national honorary) chapter in appreciation for his assistance in historical research efforts in preperation for our Centennial (1998). He was in his 70s at the time. In 2008, one of Mills' great-great-grandsons, Eric Mills, was initiated into Gamma Theta Chapter (U of N Texas); Eric's father was later initiated as an honorary member of that chapter.

My favorite founder is Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald, not only because she was the driving force behind the creation of the Adelphean Society but because she also is from the town directly south of my hometown in Rhode Island. The area and many things within it are named Tuckertown after her family. I didn't put the connection together until my mom explained it to me, but I think it brings me that much closer to my sorority since I've been in and around that area my whole life.

Here's the local fire department in that area:
http://www.unionfiredistrict.com/ima...ation-ttfd.jpg

Diggs. No doubt.

Clemsongirl--what a great story!

I love and admire our founders but I also truly love and appreciate Caraee Strock Stanard who wrote our creed. I think our creed is beautiful and I still have it hanging in my office to this day. My favorite part and the part that I reflect on the most:

I BELIEVE that the privilege of membership in Alpha Delta Pi brings the responsibility to do my best in whatever I undertake, always remembering that leadership requires confidence tempered with humility and courage blended with tolerance.
— Caralee Strock Stanard

Delta Gamma had only 3 founders and I've never really thought about a favorite. I guess I would say Mary Comfort Leonard because I know her grandaughter and feel a connection there.

Bettie Locke Hamilton. She was, from all accounts I've read, an incredibly strong-willed woman. A prolific letter writer throughout her life (I searched high and low in the Beta Delta/Arizona archives for any surviving letters from her - no luck). Honest. Outspoken. In other words, a woman of character who took action and made a difference.

From what I have been told by a coworker who went to Colby, there are dorms for all the founders. He said that the campus is still very aware that Sigma Kappa began there although Greek life is banned from campus. I really should get my stuff together and plan a New England alumnae trip up there... being we are in New England and all....