Mary Love Collins of Chi Omega

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

There was an actual term for it - "Boston Marriages".

Yes! Thanks for reminding me of that term.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by exlurker

Not that it was or is anyone's business in particular, but am I correct in catching the implication that a) they were a long-term loving couple, and b) pretty much everyone in the sorority's "power structure" knew it? Just sounds like another of those (increasingly old-fashioned, but quite likely necessary at the time) don't ask, don't tell relationships.

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

There was an actual term for it - "Boston Marriages".

Just to be clear, as I understand it, Boston Marriages might or might not have included sexual intimacy. In other words, a Boston Marriage was two women living together and supporting themselves (in other words, not dependent upon men), typically with strong emotional intimacy. Some Boston Marriages were platonic, others included sexual intimacy.

[SWTXBelle]

Yes, MC - thanks for the clarification. Many women combined resources simply in order to be able to live independently. Because of the language used amongst friends in the 19th century, even reading journals or letters doesn't make it clear if a relationship was romantic/sexual or platonic.

[NutBrnHair]

Yes, Mary Love Collins and Elizabeth Dyer both lived at the Chi Omega Executive House on Grandin Road in the Hyde Park section of Cincinnati, OH, overlooking the Ohio River. It was indeed a "grand" house and became known as the White House of Chi Omega. Elizabeth was also a National Officer of Chi Omega and suceeded Mary Love as S.H. (National President) in 1952. Elizabeth also had an outstanding career as a professor at the University of Cincinnati, where a campus building was named in her honor. Upon Mary Love's death in 1972, at the age of 90, the property had to be sold because the home was in a residential area and not zoned for business. The office was moved to Carew Tower in downtown Cincinnati, where it remained for the next 20 years.

In 1992, plans were announced to relocate to Memphis, TN in the Southwind development. Our beautiful HQ is across the street from Pi Kappa Alpha and close to the Kappa Delta HQ.