chronological evolvement of sororities

[ClioDeb]

One of the recent (2003?) sisters at the Clio reunion at McKendree April 6 did her senior research paper on the history of Clio - I bet if you contacted Clio c/o McKendree University they could put you in touch with her.

[LainaIsPHIMU]

3/4/54 at Moores Hill College (now University of Evansville): Sigournian Literary Society, to Gamma Epsilon Sigma in 1929, to Chi Omega in 1951

I go to UE and i didn't know we were called Moores Hill at one point. thats fun to know.

[melongirl]

My sister in law went to Olivet and Soronian is still alive and well and is a strong sorority on campus.

I know as recent as the early 1990's the still made their pledges wear red beanies with a white "s" very reminiscent of the early 20th century. I though it was a cute tradition.

Here's their myspace: http://groups.myspace.com/index.cfm?...upID=100429688

[SWTXBelle]

I know it would be a colossal undertaking, but I really wish Baird's could publish an up-to-date and comprehensive manual for today. It would be great to read the histories of locals, and it would be nice to have something that listed all the newer groups.

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by oldu

10/4/70 at S. U. N. Y., Brockport: Sigma Gamma Phi (aka Arethusa), died in 1939

Sigma Gamma Phi (Arethusa) has a chapter at SUNY Geneseo still active.

[ClioGirl06]

Arethusa is still active at SUNY Fredonia, and SUNY Potsdam as well.

[barbino]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I know it would be a colossal undertaking, but I really wish Baird's could publish an up-to-date and comprehensive manual for today. It would be great to read the histories of locals, and it would be nice to have something that listed all the newer groups.

I'll second that. I have often thought the same thing - a newer version of Baird's would be a great resource.

[oldu]

I have made inquiries about an updated version and the answer I get is that it is unlikely to ever be done in print again. They still have many unsold copies of the last one. Typical of NIC, they haven't figured out that it was so poorly done and incomplete that no one wants it. I have much more complete information than the last one that I have volunteered to share with them but it appears that there is no interest. Maybe we should create our own on G.C.!

[SWTXBelle]

I'd buy one!

[honeychile]

They must have been poorly marketed, because when a Baird's Manual comes up on ANY of the book sellers, they sell like hotcakes! I think I paid about $100 for my copy.

[Trey_P-I_47]

I think an updated GLO Reference Manual would be absolutely wonderful, and with the rise of technology (ven just from the late 80s to the early 90s has been astonishing) it should probably be some sort of electronic data base type thing.

I know of a few people who would be great for this and one includes a gentleman whom i believe owns all editions of Bairds.

The great thing about an electronic version is also the amount of information you could include. Especially a more expansive history of each group. It could also be sorted easily..i.e. founding dates, alphabetically by org or schools, etc etc.

[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.

[Soronian07]

I believe the reason there isn't much information is because again we are private (not sure how that affects our existence in the "Greek" world, ). Olivet is a very small campus, our school in general is not well known, let alone Soronian. Even for us to look up our houses history is hard because in 1852 there was a fire which destroyed most of our documents prior to that time. What we have documented is the history the school and alumni have provided over the years. As far as being the first "sorority" that is just what we have always been told. Please if I am mistaken let me know ( in a nice way please ) I did not and do not mean to offend anyone. I'm just repeating a bit of our history.
I will look into the sorority vs. society thing because again I didn't realize there was much of a difference, ( maybe being naive) that is interesting though.

[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.