Delta Zeta Sorority

The Story of Delta Zeta

Excerpts from The Story of Delta Zeta (1934), by Grace Mason Lundy Ε

Miami University

The Mother of Fraternities

When Miami University was organized in Oxford, Ohio, which was deliberately planned to be the "the Athens of the West", it shortly became the founding site of three secret societies of men, now known as "The Miami Triad" and consisting of Beta Theta Pi (1839), Phi Delta Theta (1848) and Sigma Chi (1855). Other fraternity groups came in later years, and in 1904, Miami was again the scene of a newly formed national fraternity, Phi Kappa Tau.

After a difficult period following the Civil War, Miami prospered and by the opening of the twentieth century was in good repute, though not a large institution. A marked advance was noted with the 1902 inauguration of a new President, Dr. Guy Potter Benton. Two new acts he immediately took were of lasting influence. He began the publication of a regular news-bulletin to keep the citizens informed about the University, and he planned for the admission of young women to the full academic course in addition to the normal school training it had offered them since 1892. An encouraging response met his invitation, and in the Fall he welcomed those adventurous young women who were to write a new chapter in the history of Miami University.

A Sorority is Founded

Soon after college opened, these alert young women decided that they would organize a YWCA to offer them the kind of friendship and activity which the existing YMCA provided the men. The new organization announced itself with an all-campus party. Talking it over afterward, several girls expressed a wish for continued enjoyment of social affairs, and some with friends or relatives in the fraternities commented a bit enviously of the advantages those societies could offer. Miami had not provided any dormitory living for its recruited women, and they lived in boarding houses or with friends in town.

Alfa Lloyd, whose home was Oxford, entertained a small group of friends with a Welsh rarebit party. Here some more serious talk took place, and led to a meeting in which their wishes crystallized into the decision to form a sorority. (Though obviously these girls did not know much of the women's Greek-letter groups on other Ohio campuses, they did know that word, "sorority", which had been coined for the name of Gamma Phi Beta, when it was formed some years earlier at Syracuse University.) "It shall be the Alpha Delta Zeta," they decided, and went on to ponder flowers, colors and a suitable emblem. Their favored flower was a new hybrid rose, becoming very popular, the Killarney rose. Logical colors would be those of the rose, but in fairness, they did try a number of combinations with "baby ribbon" in the Oxford store. Rose and green won, however, and were adopted.

Dr. Benton Offers Advice

Early in their discussion they realized they needed expert, friendly counsel and had no hesitancy about going directly to President Benton about this. A member of Phi Delta Theta himself, he was immediately sympathetic, full of wise inspiration and practical guidance. Wasting no time, the group of six made a public debut by marching in the parade of Street Fair, which was a traditional Fall event in Oxford. The University students were expected to participate, and this year the public had its first view of "the Miami women" when our little group, obviously enjoying this experience, marched in the parade, carrying not only the red, white and blue canes which were standard Fair equipment, but long streamers of rose and green breezing from each cane. To make it all official, more meetings were held, a most important one being with Mabelle Minton, at which time they made the important decision of selecting their first pledge. They chose one, "Bess" Coulter, who was already making a name for herself as a capable and active coed, being one of two women admitted that Fall to the staff of the Student. She was quick to approve the idea and accepted the invitation with enthusiasm.

Incorporating the Sorority

The formal announcement shortly appeared in the campus newspaper; "On September 19, six of our progressive coeds organized a sorority. It is a local organization at present but the girls hope to have sufficient success to warrant them putting in chapters in other schools.

"The society is known as the Alpha Delta Zeta and their colors are Nile green and old rose. The members of the society at present are Misses Collins, Lloyd, Minton, Keen, Simmons and Bishop."

Proceeding in a businesslike way, they applied for and received Articles of Incorporation from the Department of State of Ohio. The date it shows is Alfa Lloyd's birthday and its choice was a tribute to her. Her home was the scene of an elaborate "Rose Reception" which was the formal announcement to the student body and the town of the new organization.

In an institution of the size of Miami was then, no such undertaking could go unnoticed by the other members of the student body. The activities of these six girls came to the notice of the "Senators," an organization of men from the various fraternities and a sort of self-constituted Board of Regulators. They took it upon themselves to discipline these presumptuous young women, who would fain assume for themselves the honor of emulating the men's fraternities and many were the tricks they played on the harassed girls. One stole the constitution from the very hand of the secretary of the newly formed organization as she walked out of the president's office. It is with much delight that the Founders tell of the pursuit of the villain by Dr. Benton himself and his winning back the precious document, not because of his sprinting ability, but by virtue of his official position.

Another incident relates that when the ritual was about to suffer the same experience, Anna Keen, from whose hands it had been snatched, resorted to tears (supposedly), which so melted the heart of the would-be confiscator that he humbly returned the papers, only to see the sly young damsel walk off, laughing at his simplicity!

However, in spite of the persecutions of these tormentors, the organization was prepared: a whistle, grip and motto adopted, and the Delta Zeta Sorority was formed, and was incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio.

The Articles of Incorporation outline the purpose of the sorority: "To build up the character and cultivate the truest and deepest friendship among its members; to stimulate one another in the pursuit of knowledge and the attainment of a high standard of morality; to inculcate elevated sentiments and noble principles, and to afford each other every possible assistance and to incite all to the attainment of a memorable fame."

Soon the men's fraternities, seeing that the members of Delta Zeta were indeed serious about the business of forming a sorority, ceased to poke fun at the group, but instead looked upon it with pride. Probably without realizing the competition that must have inevitably come from the sororities already in the field, the Delta Zetas went about laying the foundation for a national Greek-letter organization from the very beginning.

Delta Zeta Grows

The first Delta Zeta patronesses were Mrs. Benton and Mrs. Hoke, wife of the newly-elected professor of Natural History. There were four members added to the roll: Elizabeth Coulter, Noble Miller, Lillian Minton, and Luella Crugar. All four were members of the Miami girls' basketball team, and prominent besides in YMCA and other college activities.

The initiation of these new girls was duly celebrated with what the chapter termed a "banquet" and doubtless from the standpoint of menu it well deserved the name. Anna Keen Davis, pointing to the picture of the six Founders, however, reminded us that their strong-mindedness might be well evidenced in founding a sorority and resisting obstacles.

In its first year they gave no formal social affairs. Their one party was a big sleigh ride to the home of Mabelle Minton, twenty miles in the country. Their attentions this first year were occupied in perfecting their organization, making the group a strong unit within itself and developing its members. The end of the college year found Delta Zeta upon a firm financial basis, with members well organized and plans laid for the future of Delta Zeta as a national organization.

Thus it was that six of the first coeds on the Miami campus issued this formal statement: "Grateful to God for His bountiful gifts, rich blessings, and tender mercies, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the Delta Zeta Sorority." Delta Zeta was founded.

Rushing with Horse and Buggy

In the fall of 1903 only two of the members were back in college to carry out the plans of the preceding year. Four had accepted teaching positions and three were claimed by home cares. But Julia Bishop and Luella Crugar were not alarmed by the unexpected turn of things and went to work with good spirits and soon added five members to their ranks. As Miss Crugar's work was so heavy as to prevent her from giving much time to the affairs of Delta Zeta, Julia Bishop was practically THE sorority and had the pleasure of doing the rushing, using a horse and buggy to take her prospectives for long trips around Oxford and finally, the honor of being the treasurer and paying the bills from her own pocket! With good success in organizing the new members, the chapter again began a happy and profitable year.

Although these girls did not give much thought to the matter, sororities were not a rarity in Ohio colleges at this time. There were twelve chapters of six national sororities in Ohio by 1902, most of them national chapters which had originated in various colleges in the Midwest.

The prominence of fraternities and sororities in Midwestern states should be noted, for as colleges and college education became more in evidence in these states, it is noteworthy that many of them welcomed fraternities and sororities, and in fact this area has led in both numbers and prominence, fraternally, ever since five national sororities had been founded in Illinois and Indiana before 1900. The girls of "Alpha Delta Zeta" could not know that Delta Zeta was the second national sorority to be formed in the 20th Century, but a number of others followed in succeeding years, proving that the sorority had proven itself of vital importance in the lives of college women, nationwide.

The important thing about Delta Zeta is that in its early years it came face-to-face with the problem of deciding whether it might be quicker and easier to become "national" by seeking a charter from one of the already established national groups, or to stand by its original intent to form a national of itself. Because they decided after a period of uncertainty to persist in making Delta Zeta a national sorority, it is ours to share, enjoy and perpetuate, today.

Our Founders

Julia Bishop Coleman

1881-1959

Julia Bishop Coleman's contributions to Delta Zeta, from the earliest moments and continuing throughout her life, are unique among the Founders. She was the only one to marry a college sweetheart who witnessed the events leading to the Sorority's founding; she is the only one to have daughters who both became Convention initiates; and she was the only one to return to school in that critical year, 1903. She was part of the plan to found a sorority with the intent that it become a national organization from the first moment, and her enthusiasm, talent for expression and organizational skills served that goal. A lifelong diarist, she provided many of the stories about Delta Zeta's first year that have been handed down for a century. A reproduction of Julia's diary was given as a Convention favor in 1985.

Julia graduated from Miami University in 1904, serving her class as vice president and poet. She served a term as National President from 1924 to1926. She entered the Flame Eternal in 1959.

Anna Keen Davis

1884-1949

Anna Keen Davis was the only Founder to enter Miami University right out of high school. She was elected the first Secretary of Delta Zeta and was part of the Sorority's reorganization in 1907. Anna helped organize the Cincinnati Alumnae Chapter, in which she held office. Although she was the only Founder who did not hold office on the Grand Council, she was much loved by her sisters, who honored her at the 1936 Convention. In 1949 she became the third Founder to enter the Flame Eternal.

Anne Simmons Friedline

1884-1949

Anna (later Anne) Dial Simmons graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1902, then went to Miami University that fall to pursue additional studies. A natural leader, she was outgoing and made friends, both men and women, easily. After one year at Miami, she took a teaching position in Lockland, near Oxford, so that she could remain close to the chapter. She also took classes and received a master's degree in 1904.

Anne married Justus Friedline in 1909 and moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado. She served as Alumnae Vice President during Julia Bishop Coleman's presidency and was elected National President in 1926. She refused a second term in order to care for her ailing husband, but following his death, turned her energies toward the blossoming Sorority she had helped found, serving as housemother to the Iota Chapter in 1929-30. She planned to take a similar position closer to her home in Colorado, but unexpectedly entered the Flame Eternal in September 1932.

Mary Collins Galbraith

1879-1963

Mary Jane Collins had some experience as a teacher when Miami University began accepting women in 1902. Alert to new opportunities, she enrolled and became friends with other young women destined to make history for the university. Following her year as a student at Miami University, she taught in Oxford and helped guide new initiates in the Sorority. In 1911 she accepted a position in Columbus, Ohio, and was responsible for the establishment of the Theta Chapter at Ohio State University. Her granddaughter, Carolyn Galbraith Thompson, was later an initiate of the Theta Chapter. An adventuresome person, she worked and studied in Wyoming and Michigan before marrying George Galbraith in 1919.

She served on the Grand Council as Parliamentarian from 1912 to 1914 and is well remembered for bringing a young boy and girl to the Silver Anniversary Convention at Bigwin Inn in Canada in 1928. The children were students at the school in Kentucky that Delta Zeta supported as its social service project. She became part of the Flame Eternal in 1963 at age 84.

Mabelle Minton Hagemann

1880-1929

Mabelle May Minton's first college experience was at Wheaton College in Illinois, where her parents met as students, but she transferred to Miami University in 1902 to be closer to her family. When classes resumed for the 1903-04 academic year, Mabelle had to return home to care for seven younger siblings after her mother's death. She continued her education at Teachers College of Columbia University, taught for a time and then went into business for herself as an actuary.

Especially interested in extension, she organized the Iota (University of Iowa), Omicron (University of Pittsburgh) and Xi (University of Cincinnati) chapters. After marrying Henry Hagemann, she became his partner in an insurance firm, continuing the business after his death in 1924.

One of four Founders at the Silver Anniversary Convention in 1928, Mabelle's address, "Hail, My Daughters," is remembered as an inspirational highlight. Her message became all the more poignant when she died in 1929, the first of the six Founders to enter the Flame Eternal.

Alfa Lloyd Hayes

1880-1962

Alfa Lloyd had already had a degree from the Oxford College for Women when she enrolled at Miami University in 1902, but her desire to be the best in one of the few professions open to women,?teaching,?led her to pursue a degree in pedagogy. A born leader and a resident of Oxford, Ohio, it was natural that she associated with women of similar ideals and goals. She was elected Delta Zeta's first President, serving from 1902 to 1912, and her birthday, October 24, was set as Founders Day.

She served as the Sorority's first National Panhellenic Conference representative and was Sorority Historian from 1912 to 1916. She presided at installations and initiations of early chapters, setting the tone for future generations, and she helped found the first alumnae chapter in Indianapolis. By special permission, her wedding to Orison Hayes in 1908 took place in an auditorium on the Miami University campus that had been built by her father. Her attendants were Delta Zeta sisters attired in rose and green. Alfa Lloyd Hayes became part of the Flame Eternal in March of 1962.