Two defunct Jewish sororities

[Benzgirl]

I spent one enitre afternoon reading what I could online. Would love to have a copy of the book; it is SO interesting.

[DEVODUDE]

I spent one enitre afternoon reading what I could online. Would love to have a copy of the book; it is SO interesting

BENZGIRL....I found the link of Amazon.com for you.....

http://www.amazon.com/Heres-Our-Frat.../dp/0874518792

I hope this helps.


ZBT:"Inspiring Today's College Men To Become Leaders Of Tomorrow."

[m65863]

Wow! That book is something. Going to have to get a copy.

Syracuse 1950 yearbook has a Pi Alpha Tau page. NYU does too. I requested a of the NYU pages. Can't believe they faded away into GLO obscurity.

[tallgreekalum]

Nice book but it claims that Tau Delta Phi ceased operations in 1973, which would be a shock to it's members, as it continues as I speak.

[aephi alum]

Interesting book. It does focus almost entirely on Jewish fraternities; sororities are little more than a footnote.

[Denise_DPhiE]

Originally Posted by tallgreekalum

Nice book but it claims that Tau Delta Phi ceased operations in 1973, which would be a shock to it's members, as it continues as I speak.

Baird's manual of college fraternities (1990 printing) mistakenly has them as defunct as well but then shows them as active NIC. i think there was some misinformation floating around!

[phisiglindsey]

It has Phi Sigma Sigma as a Jewish sorority. But in fact we are not. Our founders were Jewish, but we are founded on secular beliefs.

[Denise_DPhiE]

Originally Posted by phisiglindsey

It has Phi Sigma Sigma as a Jewish sorority. But in fact we are not. Our founders were Jewish, but we are founded on secular beliefs.

Us to but in those days eve tho we were secular, Jewish women were predominantly the ones who joined. Take a look at any alumnae directory for your org - it wasn't until the 1970s we started to see truly diverse membership.

[AGDAlum]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

I spent one enitre afternoon reading what I could online. Would love to have a copy of the book; it is SO interesting.

According to WorldCat (www.worldcat.org), at least 153 libraries own it.

Your tax dollars have already paid for interlibrary loan service!

[AGDAlum]

Originally Posted by AGDAlum

According to WorldCat (www.worldcat.org), at least 153 libraries own it.

Your tax dollars have already paid for interlibrary loan service!

I did get the book via ILL. It's most interesting. Though it was published in 2003, the author focuses on the years 1895-1945. Some of the Chapter rolls (an appendix) go to 1968, with the statement, "Economic challenges of the 1930s and 1940's, and, to an even greater extent, the impact of the Vietnam War, student protest, and general campus upheaval in the late 1960s helped to bring about the expiration or consolidation of several of these groups....Several that do survive were nonsectarian in spirit and ritual from their origins or else can no longer be considered specifically Jewish groups. For the most up-to-date information available, readers should consult the national headquarters of the surviving groups."

I also noted this (p. 80): the first Jewish college sorority was founded in 1903...Called at first by the initials J.A.P. (the "Jay-ay-peez" and by 1913 renamed Iota Alpha Pi. "If [the term Jewish American princess] was used in conjuncition with J.A.P., howeever, it would soon have become incongruous, for the group's seniority in the sorority hierarchy did not guarantee it a reputation for affluence or outstanding social prestige....In 1942 a young woman about to be initiated...awaited the moment when the true secret meaning of the initials J.A.P. would be revealed to her. 'We are "Just a Plain Sorority,"' she was finally told--...in other words, just a group of good friends." So much for mystic mottoes!