chronological evolvement of sororities

[DoctorD]

Originally Posted by oldu

I am attempting to put together the earliest evolvement of our current sorority system. Here is what I have discovered to date:


?/?/55 at Baldwin-Wallace College (Ohio): Alethian Literary Society, to Alpha Kappa Sigma in 1918, to Alpha Gamma Delta in 1940



These are the earliest dates that I can find. Early history is a little dicey as some of those groups were probably literary societies more than they were secret sororities. I'll not split hairs and give them the benefit of the doubt. It is interesting that several sororities have chapters whose roots are earlier than that of the national.

Anyone with additions or corrections?

You threw me with this - so much that you had me googling, because I've never seen any connection to Alpha Gamma Delta that you have made here.

May 30, 1904 - Syracuse University. Theta Sigma Upsilon did merge with AGD in 1959, but their roots are later than Alpha Gamma Delta's.

Would love to see where you got this information, though.

[modorney]

?/?/56 at Troy Female Seminary (New York): Chi Theta Delta, died in 18??

Troy Female Seminary was renamed to Emma Willard, that may provide more info?

(trivia - Jane Fonda went there, as well as "Sara Lee")

[honeychile]

I have to admit, I've never heard of Soronian or Iota Kappa Omicron until I read this. Unless the reasoning is that IKO never became part of the NPC or NPHA (sorry if I have that wrong), I can't imagine why no one's ever brought this up before. ETA: Maybe because, over 150 years later, it's still the only chapter? OR, that's there is no mention of either Soronian OR Iota Kappa Omicron in Baird's Manual?

One correction that many people make is in spelling Adelphean. There are no "I's" in our Adelphean sisterhood!

[Soronian07]

Hi there, I am a current member of Soronian. We were first est. in 1847 as the Ladies Literary Society (first sorority in the U.S. ) We then evolved into Soronian (IKO) in 1868.We are located at Olivet College in Olivet, MI. We are not national, so there is only one of us. Not many have heard of us so its pretty cool to see some mention of Soronian. If anyone is looking for some great history on Greek life come to Olivet because we have have a long history dating all the way back in the early to mid-1800's.

Originally Posted by Soronian07

Hi there, I am a current member of Soronian. We were first est. in 1847 as the Ladies Literary Society (first sorority in the U.S. ) We then evolved into Soronian (IKO) in 1868.We are located at Olivet College in Olivet, MI. We are not national, so there is only one of us. Not many have heard of us so its pretty cool to see some mention of Soronian. If anyone is looking for some great history on Greek life come to Olivet because we have have a long history dating all the way back in the early to mid-1800's.

A lot of people will beg to differ with that statement.

There's a difference with "society," "sorority," and "Greek Lettered Organization." Several organizations will claim to be the first, and I've never heard of your organization ever being mentioned in that group.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by OTW

A lot of people will beg to differ with that statement.

There's a difference with "society," "sorority," and "Greek Lettered Organization." Several organizations will claim to be the first, and I've never heard of your organization ever being mentioned in that group.

Soronian very well may be the first "sorority" in history. Several NPC groups claim to be the first literary society or the first GLO, but I doubt that this statement extends beyond the NPC. There are lots of local sororities (to use an inclusive, though not completely correct term) that existed over the last century and a half. NPC just happens to be a selection of the most successful of these groups. Considering that the oldest NPC is ADPi which was formed in 1851, Soronian is technically older.

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Soronian very well may be the first "sorority" in history. Several NPC groups claim to be the first literary society or the first GLO, but I doubt that this statement extends beyond the NPC. There are lots of local sororities (to use an inclusive, though not completely correct term) that existed over the last century and a half. NPC just happens to be a selection of the most successful of these groups. Considering that the oldest NPC is ADPi which was formed in 1851, Soronian is technically older.

I don't doubt that at all.

I just threw it out there that there may be many who will disagree. That's all. Many groups are eager to claim "first" and they have the right to. After all, that's what sets themselves apart from the rest.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by DoctorD

You threw me with this - so much that you had me googling, because I've never seen any connection to Alpha Gamma Delta that you have made here.

May 30, 1904 - Syracuse University. Theta Sigma Upsilon did merge with AGD in 1959, but their roots are later than Alpha Gamma Delta's.

Would love to see where you got this information, though.

I haven't heard the AGD reference at BW, but I know one of the charter members (she is in her 90s). I can send her an email to see what info she can give me.