Alpha Rho Chapter History
The Alpha Rho Chapter of Delta Zeta was originally established on OWU's campus on May 25, 1924 after a local sorority, Kappa Gamma Delta, petitioned the Grand Council and Members of Delta Zeta "Fraternity" for a charter.
View the original petition
After being forced to close in 1936, Alpha Rho was again "pledged" on October 5, 1988 and recolonized on April 23, 1989. Charter members from 1924 are pictured above and articles published in Delta Zeta's National Publication, The LAMP, during the time of initial installation and the recolonization in 1989, have been reprinted with permission below.
View the original petition
After being forced to close in 1936, Alpha Rho was again "pledged" on October 5, 1988 and recolonized on April 23, 1989. Charter members from 1924 are pictured above and articles published in Delta Zeta's National Publication, The LAMP, during the time of initial installation and the recolonization in 1989, have been reprinted with permission below.
Installation of Alpha Rho Chapter - 1925
From The LAMP of Delta Zeta – 1925
There are many aspirations in life that do not materialize. It is fine to weave dreams but it is finer to have the dreams become realities. When, as a freshman student at Ohio Wesleyan University, I was privileged to become a member of Kappa Gamma Delta, next to the oldest sorority in school and numbering among its members girls whose families were all closely connected with the educational and religious history of the state, I rightfully thought the best there was was mine! But that was because I did not know what Delta Zeta had in store for me. A year or so later when I went to Miami University to take work in a department that Ohio Wesleyan at that time did not have, and became a Delta Zeta as well, I realized how much richer are the opportunities a national such as ours gives to a girl as compared with the best of locals. Right then and there I determined that if the time ever came when Ohio Wesleyan should open its doors to national women’s fraternities I would do all I could to have Kappa Gamma Delta become a chapter in our sisterhood of Delta Zeta. Time and seasons bring many things to pass. “If winter comes then spring is not far behind.” It was last spring that a wire from our Extension Chairman announced the installation of Alpha Rho chapter the week-end of May 23-25 and asking me to go. Delaware in spring time would be inducement enough but added to this the installation of our new chapter was all convincing. I was as excited in anticipation as I had been when on my journey there as a freshman. The old Hocking Valley from Columbus never did move so slowly and make so many stops, but when we came into Delaware and there were so many girls down to meet their mothers, I knew I was again fortunate as this particular week-end was Monnett Day, Ohio Wesleyan’s May Day, founded by one of our best beloved members of Kappa Gamma Delta, now Mrs. McAllister of New York. Truly I felt like Rip Van Winkle when I drove up to beautiful new Austin Hall; for while we all will love every rickety board in roomy old Monnett, I was dumb with admiration over the new girls’ dormitory, Austin Hall. The setting is truly perfect for this delightful Colonial building and it acted as though it really belonged there after all. The interior is as attractive as the exterior and this is where I became acquainted with my double sisters. What an enthusiastic, happy, attractive group of girls I found them to be! Several of them were on the Monnett Day program that afternoon. It was a pleasure, too, to meet and be with so many of their mothers who had come to be present for the day of days dear to Monnett girls’ hearts. The program itself was so elaborate and beautiful that I blushed to recall how ours was composed of mere kindergarten stunts compared with the finished grace and charm of this. Our Grace Mason joined me before the afternoon was over, then came “those two good looking Alpha girls” and soon Theta and Columbia alumnae came trooping in. Our girls at Delaware had previously told me how much they liked the girls from Theta and it was not long before Theta was telling me how much they liked their new sister chapter. After a jolly buffet supper we were soon in a very different frame of mind for our beautiful pledge service was held that evening. Next morning initiation started quite early with Theta in charge. After it was over we had to rush to the reception at one of the fraternity houses. The faculty, old and new, turned out and representatives from all the fraternities. I thus had an opportunity to see what delightful hostesses Alpha Rho could be. As it was so near the season of roses and the white rose of Kappa Gamma Delta was blended into our own beautiful rose of Delta Zeta it seemed fitting that our toast program at the banquet that evening should be “The Rose Garden” and I think it worked out quite happily and appropriately. I wish I could give you a little sketch of each one of our new sisters, from their capable, retiring and new presidents on down to their adorable pledges, but you all must know every one of them and they you, for we now have the best there is added to the best there was. Ruth Gaddis Jeffries, Alpha View the PDF version of this article Alpha Rho charter members - 1924 Irene Bancroft Mary Halfhill Ruth Trafter Helen Rainier Amelia Lane Frances Hannett Marie Buell Louise Zurmehly Margaret Johnston Mary Bartter Anna Ruth Fulton Louise Jordan Florence Honnold Virginia Fleming Sara Fife Dorothy Lank Pledges Jane Ellis Eudora Dye Dorothy James Elizabeth Allen Dorothy Doxsee |
Alpha Rho Returns to Ohio Wesleyan - 1989
From the LAMP of Delta Zeta – Fall, 1989
Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, was founded in 1842. A liberal arts college, students are recruited from all over the United States. Delta Zeta’s Alpha Rho chapter was first installed in 1924 but was forced to close in 1936. As of April 23, 1989, however, Alpha Rho is alive and well again at OWU. The Alpha Rho colony was officially pledged on October 5, 1988 and immediately charted a program to earn recognition from other campus groups. They received the Red Cross outstanding participation plaque for both fall and spring. They won first place at the Panhellenic All Pledge Bash and donated their $30 prize to the Delta Zeta Foundation. In campus-wide athletic competition they placed first in volleyball. Activities include fall and spring sisterhood retreats, a Christmas semi-formal, a spring formal with Delta Delta Delta and Pi Beta Phi and a Delta Zeta snapshot party. The colony placed first and second in two fraternity philanthropic events and received an Award of Merit from Panhellenic. They also participated in a Panhellenic-IFC sponsored staining of the Social Service Building and donated cans of food to People in Need and toys for Toys for Tots. The long-awaited initiation was performed by Gamma Kappa chapter members from Kent State University and was followed by an installation luncheon at Sheraton Inn North in Columbus. National Director Lynnda Wolf Hoefler served as toastmistress for the luncheon and the installation service was conducted by National President Norma Minch Andrisek. Others sharing in activities include Past National Officer Connie Teaford Wilt; PCD Sandra Sebrell Bailey and Field Representatives Wendy Myers, Deanna Bardsley and Leann Danner. University officials included Provost Dr. William Benz and Mrs. Benz; Mrs. David Warren, wife of the president of the university; Nancy Ruthowski, Coordinator of Greek Affairs, and Judy Macky, Professor of Nursing. Also present were Alpha Rho Golden Rose member Margaret Monnett Barrett, alumnae from Cleveland Eastside and Columbus chapters and collegiate members from Ohio State-Theta chapter. Alpha Rho of Delta Zeta joins Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi on the Ohio Wesleyan campus. In appreciation of their Panhellenic support and interest, Delta Zeta presented a new award, Delta Zeta/Panhellenic Outstanding Pledge Program, to the OWU Panhellenic Association. Alpha Rho Charter Members - 1989 Kristen Lee Adamo Michele Tara Alkon Kimberly Kay Bannerman Michelle Lee Bleamer Melissa Ann Brundjar Sarah Norton Camp Deborah Elizabeth Carpenter Julie Anne Clemo Cristin Dee Cooley Christia Lenae Detwiler Kimberly Sue Evans Elisabeth Allison Ewald Karen Christine Ferrall Laura Jeanne Geis Karyn Dove Hardy Lindley Elizabeth Higgins Lauren Elizabeth Hoke Christy Rene Hurless Pamela Louise Jones Yvonne Ann Keenan Chatherine Allerton Kniffin Debora Marie Mischler Leanne Pease Kimberly Jo Pfahler Darcy Stiles Pennoyer Luci Lynn Regrut Jenni Lynn Riedlinger Christina Margaret Schalish Tara Lynn Shepherd Karen Ann Smith Frances Ann Thompson Rebecca Leigh Wagner Deirdre Anne Warren Sarah Ann Yukevich Pledge Karen Crossman View the PDF version of this article |