Historic photograph help needed

[Benzgirl]

My best guess is the college is somewhere in the upper Midwest. At that point in time, this is where a lot of Scandanavian descendents settled. And, based on their names, I would say most of the ladies would be of that heritage.

One thing I did consider is maybe this is the Delta Nu chapter of XYZ sorority. Not knowing how every sorority names their chapters, I don't know if this is possible. For example, in 1912, my sorority would still have been designating single-letter for chapters.

[Kedzman]

The oldest national sorority (I think) is Alpha Delta Pi (1851). Their Delta Nu chapter is http://www2.semo.edu/adpi/chapterhistory.asp and founded in 1959.

The largest national sorority (I think) is Chi Omega (300,000 initiates), but they were founded only in 1895. No way were they prolific enough to get to Delta Nu by 1912.

Therefore, I definately think you are dealing with a local sorority.

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by Kedzman

The oldest national sorority (I think) is Alpha Delta Pi (1851). Their Delta Nu chapter is http://www2.semo.edu/adpi/chapterhistory.asp and founded in 1959.

The largest national sorority (I think) is Chi Omega (300,000 initiates), but they were founded only in 1895. No way were they prolific enough to get to Delta Nu by 1912.

Therefore, I definately think you are dealing with a local sorority.

My dear Watson, I think you've got it!



by the way that's terrible deducting skills to decide that because Chi-O has the most people they didn't make it to Delta Nu until later. At least one sorority (AOPi...who chooses chapter designation, I believe) doesn't follow that pattern of Alpha Beta, Alpha Gamma, Alpha Delta, etc. Likewise several fraternities don't do this either. So clearly a sorority with far less initiates could make it to Delta Nu in possibly their first year.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Kedzman

The oldest national sorority (I think) is Alpha Delta Pi (1851). Their Delta Nu chapter is http://www2.semo.edu/adpi/chapterhistory.asp and founded in 1959.

Remember, though, that despite having been founded in 1851, Alpha Delta Pi didn't establish its Beta chapter until 1905. From 1851-1905, it was the Adelphian Society at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia.

I agree, though, that it's likely to be a local sorority, especially since they are holding a Delta Nu banner and the photograph simply refers to members of Delta Nu on the back. Seems likely that if it was a chapter of a national sorority, the banner would be of the national sorority, and the back would say "members of Delta Nu [Chapter] of ABG."

And yes, Mywak, it might be helpful if you could post the picture.

[Leslie Anne]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

My best guess is the college is somewhere in the upper Midwest. At that point in time, this is where a lot of Scandanavian descendents settled. And, based on their names, I would say most of the ladies would be of that heritage.

One thing I did consider is maybe this is the Delta Nu chapter of XYZ sorority. Not knowing how every sorority names their chapters, I don't know if this is possible. For example, in 1912, my sorority would still have been designating single-letter for chapters.

Okay, just checked and it's not any of the current NPCs. I'll check the formers but I have a feeling it was a local. It may have been picked up by an NPC though. Will continue searching.

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by Leslie Anne

Okay, just checked and it's not any of the current NPCs. I'll check the formers but I have a feeling it was a local. It may have been picked up by an NPC though. Will continue searching.

Don't forget, though, that some sororities have changed the way they name chapters. Pi Phi currently uses a system by naming each chapter by state (for example, my chapter was Virginia Theta). BUT early in Pi Phi's history, there were Alpha, Beta, Gamma, chapters, etc., which switched over to the current system at some point (which occurred pretty early).

Between the names, genealogy stuff, definitely looks like you're looking at something in the upper midwest.

Another thing to think about: could it have been a high school sorority?

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by breathesgelatin

Another thing to think about: could it have been a high school sorority?

Good idea! I didn't even consider that part. I spent about an hour & a half on some good genealogical sites, only found what I posted.

[Leslie Anne]

Originally Posted by breathesgelatin

Don't forget, though, that some sororities have changed the way they name chapters. Pi Phi currently uses a system by naming each chapter by state (for example, my chapter was Virginia Theta). BUT early in Pi Phi's history, there were Alpha, Beta, Gamma, chapters, etc., which switched over to the current system at some point (which occurred pretty early).

Aha! Good thinking. I'll do a recheck.

Originally Posted by breathesgelatin

Another thing to think about: could it have been a high school sorority?

Another good idea. Somewhere around here I have a book on secondary school GLOs. I'll try to find it tomorrow.

[Kedzman]

Not to throw a wrench in the gears, but this may be a possibility also...

Sometimes a local will affiliate with a national and the national will allow them to keep their local letters as their national chapter designation. For example, the Sigma Nu chapter at Knox College in Galesburg, IL was founded in 1861 as Delta Theta. They affiliated with Sigma Nu and were chartered 30 years later in 1891. Even though Sigma Nu was in its "Beta series", (after Beta Beta and before Beta Gamma) they allowed the chapter at Knox to keep Delta Theta as its chapter designation. Sigma Nu would not have reached Delta Theta until 1909 at the earliest...

http://www.sigmanu.org/groups/underg...rs/listing.php

If the Sigrid Jesperson in the info I posted is the same Sigrid Jesperson in the photo, it can't be a high school sorority because Sigrid would be 23 in that photo. This also leads me to wonder about when HS sororities first started.

Benzgirl mentioned something about Scandinavians settling in the Midwest, and that's what I thought too. My 6th grade teacher was Sister Agnes Iten, CSJ -- and she was very proud of her Minnesota roots!