Quote:
Originally posted by Lil' Hannah
Here's a question...I remember going through recruitment at Alpha Delta Pi and hearing that they were one of the first sororities/women's organizations/whatever (I know there are several organizations claiming to be "first" but that's beside the point). If they were founded before the word "sorority" came into use, why are they called a sorority?
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Ah...it depends on what criteria you are looking at.
The ADPi argument:
The Adelphean Society (now known Alpha Delta Pi) was founded on May 15, 1851, but they did not adopt the name Alpha Delta Pi until later, after 1900. So, arguably, going on the year 1851, Alpha Delta Pi is the first sorority (even though they were originally called Adelphean).
The Pi Beta Phi argument:
I.C. Sororsis was founded on April 27, 1867, and they change the name to Pi Beta Phi in 1888. This is BEFORE the Adelphean to Alpha Delta Pi name change. So, it could be argued that Pi Beta Phi was the first org to take a Greek letter name.
The Kappa Alpha Theta argument:
Kappa Alpha Theta is founded on January 27, 1870. This is AFTER the Adelphean and I.C. Sororis' foundings, but BEFORE their respective name changes. Kappa Alpha Theta was called Kappa Alpha Theta from Day One; no name changed involved. So I suppose they could be the first Greek letter org too, since they used a Greek letter name first. They are called Kappa Alpha Theta
Fraternity
The Gamma Phi Beta argument for being the first "sorority":
Gamma Phi Beta was founded on November 11, 1874, but they did not adopt the term "sorority" until 8 years later, in 1882. They adopted the term "sorority" first, so arguably, they can be considered the first "sorority". They were able to first hand knowledge of this word "sorority" first, because they were at Syracuse University [where Frank Smalley was...the man who invented the word].
The Sigma Kappa argument for being the first "sorority":
Sigma Kappa was founded November 9, 1874, so it cannot be argued that Sigma Kappa, is indeed older than Gamma Phi Beta. However, Sigma Kappa was not calling themselves Sigma Kappa Sorority at this point, it was just Sigma Kappa, or maybe Sigma Kappa Society. Sigma Kappa is technically older than Gamma Phi Beta, going on dates of founding, so I guess they could say that they are the oldest "sorority", but Gamma Phi Beta actually adopted the term "sorority" first.
As for your why question, apparently Professor Frank Smalley commented to the Gamma Phi's: "I presume that you young women are now members of a sorority." I guess they liked it and took on the term?!
Phew!
