Do You Have a Favorite Founder?

[pshsx1]

My favorite founder is definitely William Lazell Phillips (Uncle Billy).



He virtually dedicated his entire life to the Fraternity and Greek Life as a whole from the day he joined until the day he died. And then, he left his estate to SigEp. I have to think that when it comes to people who helped ensure the success of the entire American college fraternity system, he's one of the many giants.

His extensive work history from our website:

Editor of the Journal, 1904-1912, 1919-1921;
National Interfraternity Conference, founder, 1909;
Business manager of the Journal, 1904-1911, 1919-1942;
Member, Ritual Committee, 1907;
Editor of membership directories, 1915 and 1921;
Trustee of the Endowment Fund 1925-1939, 1944-1949;
Trustee of the national Headquarters, 1927-1942;
Trustee of the Student Loan Fund, 1930-1940;
Grand Secretary, 1908-1942;
Grand Secretary Emeritus, 1942-1956;
Grand Vice President, 1943;
Grand President, 1944;
Vice Chairman, 1929-1930;
Member, War Committee, 1942;
A founder and Chairman of College Fraternity Secretaries Association 1939-1940.

[ColdInCanada11]

My favourite founder is Georgia Alberta Dickover. While I admire all of our eleven founders, I am endlessly fascinated with our ritual and I know that she played an instrumental role in developing it. She also taught history and English, so the historian in me loves her as well!

[StealthMode]

I have two! I share a love of language with Soror Madree Penn White and the pursuit of a doctorate degree with Soror Eliza Pearl Shippen.

[jenidallas]

I love Mary A Bingham - she embodies so much that I aspire to.

“To receive graciously the fidelity and friendly counsel of the sisterhood, and to give the best of ourselves and talents, loyally and faithfully to Gamma Phi Beta, is the fulfillment of our pledge…” -Mary Bingham Willoughby, 1912

“The World Traveler,” Mary "Minnie" Alice Bingham Willoughby graduated from Syracuse with a degree in fine arts. In addition to numerous endeavors to Europe,Mary led an active life and loved outdoor activities like hiking, boating and swimming. In the winter she enjoyed ice skating, sleigh riding (with her own pony!) or reading indoors for hours on end.

Following graduation, Mary married Edward Willoughby and they resided in Utica, New York, with their two children, a girl and a boy. Mary and Helen Dodge remained very close throughout their lifetimes, and while all four Founders wrote to one another frequently, Mary and Helen are the only Founders to have such frequent face-to-face interactions, as they both lived in Utica.

It was Mary who envisioned a crescent for the badge and secured a rented room for Alpha Chapter’s first meetings. Mary also was the first to celebrate the earliest versions of Founders Day. The most coveted Sorority award is the Mary A. Bingham Award, presented each Convention to the chapter demonstrating excellence in all areas of collegiate chapter life.

[LXA SE285]

Jack Mason, Lambda Chi's spiritual founder (a.k.a. ritualist). A brilliant yet modest man.

[BraveMaroon]

Mary Caffrey Low Carver. She was the first woman to study at Colby College, and for two years, she was the only woman.

When she graduated, she was Valedictorian, but since women didn't usually give speeches in that time, she was allowed to give the class benediction in Latin.

There is a dorm named for her at Colby, and I think she was a feminist before there were feminists. She and Helen Louise Coburn were strong advocates for co-education and felt that women shouldn't be restricted from studying the same things as men.

Basically, she kicked ass and took names.

[sigmagirl2000]

Originally Posted by BraveMaroon

Mary Caffrey Low Carver. She was the first woman to study at Colby College, and for two years, she was the only woman.

When she graduated, she was Valedictorian, but since women didn't usually give speeches in that time, she was allowed to give the class benediction in Latin.

There is a dorm named for her at Colby, and I think she was a feminist before there were feminists. She and Helen Louise Coburn were strong advocates for co-education and felt that women shouldn't be restricted from studying the same things as men.

Basically, she kicked ass and took names.

From what I have been told by a coworker who went to Colby, there are dorms for all the founders. He said that the campus is still very aware that Sigma Kappa began there although Greek life is banned from campus. I really should get my stuff together and plan a New England alumnae trip up there... being we are in New England and all....