Mary Love Collins of Chi Omega

[oldu]

NutBrnHair reminds us that there was another sorority alumna who was a significant figure in developing the sorority world as we know it today -- Mary Love Collins.

Her involvement with Chi Omega began in 1910 shortly after graduating from law school (in itself a real rarity in those days). She first became business manager for the sorority and then executive secretary...and ruled Chi Omega with an iron hand for more than sixty years! Intimidating and a smart no-nonsense business woman, she had many officers and boards of directors over the years but there was never any question as to who ran the organization. To the good fortune of Chi Omega she took what was at best an average sorority and made it into the largest and one of the most prestigious odf all NPC groups.

In 1947 because of her thrifty business management and shrewd negotiating ability, she moved the Chi Omega executive offices into a spectacular estate overlooking the Ohio River on the east side of Cincinnati where she resided with her long-time assistant, Elizabeth Dyer, until she died in 1972 at the age of 90. She held the title of executive director for 57 years, a record unequalled by any other fraternity or sorority member. I think I am correct that she was also Chi Omega's NPC representative for a record 64 years.

It is safe to say that Chi Omega can credit its envious standing to this one fanatically ardent sister.