Because the Sigma Nus wanted to do something nice for their new Greek sisters to mark this special occasion, two of them outraced two Phi Delts to buy up the box seats for a performance of “Othello,” being presented at the Auditorium on April 25. The Alphas and the Sigs enjoyed the play immensely. The Quills were finally ready on April 26, and one of the Founders noted on the card to which these stickpin badges were attached, “too late for ‘Othello’.” Bertha Cook Evans recalled years later that the badges cost $1.25 each, dues were 25 cents a term, and each girl paid an equal share of expenses for parties. The parties were usually held at Alice Bartlett’s home because she was the only town girl in the group.
Bertha also told about a serenade at a Sigma Nu meeting, which was after 6 o’clock one evening. Young ladies were not permitted to be on campus at this hour. The next morning, telltale footprints made by the Alpha Xis in a patch of bare ground were noticed by a member looking out from the window of a classroom. A friendly Sig enlisted a kindly janitor to rake the ground before the footprints could be discovered by a faculty member. The Alpha Xis’ terrible crime remained a secret.
The ages of the Founders ranged from 15 to 26 years. It may be this diversity that explains the youthful enthusiasm coupled with mature wisdom displayed in the development of the enduring purpose, goals and organization of Alpha Xi Delta. In later years, Almira Cheney wrote that the Founders felt that the Universalist-Unitarian philosophy which seven of them embraced, and which stressed the individual worth of each human being, including women, had great bearing on the formation of the fraternity ideals, which have been enduring with the passage of time.
Only seven members returned to Lombard in the fall of 1893. Discussions were held about adding to their members and all agreed that they must choose carefully to assure that the ideals of the group would be maintained. Three new members were initiated that fall. Chapter growth was slow, with the chapter reaching a membership of only 23 even years later. The relationships of the young women were intense, primarily a sharing of friendship and pride. At the beginning of each school year, the Alpha Xi Deltas sponsored a party for all students at the college so that everyone could get acquainted, but especially to help the freshmen become comfortable in their new environment. The idea of joining a national organization was considered, but the members felt that they wanted to perpetuate the name of Alpha Xi Delta and the qualities that they felt were important for its members.
Edna Epperson realized that plans should be kept under cover if they were to be successful. She asked her father who among his group of attorney friends could be trusted to help. He referred her to J.J. Welsh, a Sigma Nu. Alice Bartlett was chosen to assist in the effort. During the fall, winter and spring of 1901-1902, the two young women visited Mr. Welsh about ten times to build the plans and write the preliminary constitution.
In February, Edna and Alice submitted their plans. Later, contacts began with the girls in the PEO chapter in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. They had indicated they were interested in becoming the second chapter in a new women’s Greek letter organization.
Marion recalled the thrill that she felt when she learned that Iowa Wesleyan had decided to become the Alpha Xi Delta’s Beta Chapter. “What a lucky break that was for us! This group was one of a widely known organization, and had the experiences we sadly lacked. Their enthusiasm was unbounded and their loyalty unquestionable.” It was with the addition of Beta Chapter that a gold ribbon was added to the double blue.
Gamma Chapter at Mt. Union College soon followed, holding their own with the other groups on their campus and having the respect and support of faculty members. With the cooperation of these two new chapters, the young women from Lombard felt that nothing could prevent even further growth.
If you’re interested in learning more about Alpha Xi Delta’s early history and founding, here are some things to check out from our digital archives:
There are times of great celebration—when the Fraternity expanded across the nation to truly create a national Sisterhood. We’ve also celebrated raising millions of dollars for causes we care about–not to mention the individual member and chapter accomplishments! Alpha Xi Delta, as members and as an organization, has much to be proud of.
However, there are times in Alpha Xi Delta’s history that remain a stain on our organization–times that we need to learn about and talk about so we understand their implications, times that we need to reflect on so that we are careful as to not recreate them.
At National Convention in 1947, an alumnae motion from the floor changed Alpha Xi Delta’s National Constitution to state, “members shall be selected from women students of white race whether graduate students or undergraduates of any college or university having a chapter of Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity.” The following National Conventions—the only time when our Constitution can be changed—were then cancelled until 1953 due to World War II and its aftermath. In the intervening years, a groundswell of opposition to the Constitutional race restriction adopted in 1947 had formed within the Alpha Xi Delta membership, particularly among the collegiate members, and at that very next Convention in 1953 the race restriction was eliminated. The language was changed to read “members shall be selected from duly qualified women students, either graduate students or undergraduates, of any college or university having a chapter of Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity.” Today, Alpha Xi Delta’s Constitution provides that “Members shall be selected from qualified women.”
The presence of this discriminatory policy in our National Constitution for six years is woefully regrettable. Alpha Xi Delta is poorer for having excluded women by implementing the Constitutional change in 1947. It is truly a period of time in our history that Alpha Xi Delta is sorry ever happened and to the women it impacted.
It is critical that we explore our past so our future can remain bright. Alpha Xi Delta strives to be a home for all women to feel safe and welcomed. choose.
Alpha Xi Delta’s Founders taught us the value of education because it frees us to achieve our goals and gives us the power to be whatever we choose.
They taught us to support one another through shared experiences and understanding, and to serve others to better the lives of those less fortunate. Because of them, Alpha Xi Delta continues to inspire countless bold and talented women to realize their potential.
