Quote:
Originally Posted by MysticCat
I know I've picked this nit before, so my apologies, but . . . .
Sir Thomas More used the word "sorority" in his writings in the early 16th Century. But it was never a common word in English prior to the founding of Gamma Phi. Who knows whether the professor at Syracuse was drawing on a knowledge of More's writings in suggesting the word "sorority" or whether he was unaware of the previous use of the word and just followed the example of others before him, went back to the Latin sororitas and anglicized it in a manner consistent with the anglicization of fraternitas.
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Nope, we will never know if the good professor was reaching into his memory or came up with it on his own. I've been trying to find a picture of Frank Smalley and am still holding out hope that there is one in the Syracuse Archives. I am not holding out much hope that we can find out what books he read or what was in his library. Smalley had a connection to the organization whereas we cannot draw any conclusions between Gamma Phi and Sir Thomas More. At least we know Honta Smalley Bredin, his sister, and his daughter were Gamma Phis.
I do appreciate your footnoting this.
Thanks for the reminder
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