A History of the

Philadelphia Suburban Alumnae Chapter of Delta Gamma

 

Philadelphia area Delta Gamma alumnae met for the first time in 1903 at the home of organizer Emily Berry Howland, Chi.  There were seven women in attendance including Fannie Cole Speh, Kappa, Anne Hubble Roorback, Rho, Alice Kinnard Glenn, Theta, Henriette Stratton Jaquetter, Xi, Gertrude Nelson Buck, Chi, and Grace Dewey McMahon, Zeta.  Mrs. Howland and Mrs. Speh had just returned from the 1903 Convention in Madison, Wisconsin, and were full of spirit and enthusiam.  Mrs. Howland had also recently moved to Philadelphia from New York where she had been an active member of an alumnae group there.  Thanks in part to her enthusiasm, all of the women agreed to meet informally from time to time “as babies and careers permitted”.  Soon after this, Dr. Jeannette H. Sherman, one of the charter members of Psi chapter, joined them.  They functioned as an informal group until 1908, when a group of girls from Swarthmore College began petitioning Delta Gamma for a charter.

 

Their sponsorship of the petitioning girls at Swarthmore gave the alumnae an added incentive for existing as Emily Howland was appointed by Council to inspect the group at Swarthmore and Henriette Jaquetter became the sponsor of the petitioning group.  On February 18, 1911, the alumnae formed an association called Psi Phi and  plans were made to have lunch together the first Saturday of each month at Wanamaker’s Tea Room.  Years later, at Convention in 1912, the collegiate group at Swarthmore finally received its charter.  With the installation of Alpha Beta chapter at Swarthmore, the Philadelphia alumnae began a new era.

 

The Philadelphia alumnae appointed the first chapter advisory board to assist Alpha Beta in 1912.  The alumnae chapter’s main responsibility became the “bringing up” of the new collegiate chapter and the absorption of the alumnae of this group.  Then on November 14, 1914, the Psi Phi association became the Alpha Beta Phi alumnae chapter.  Alpha Beta was added since future membership would largely be drawn from the local Alpha Beta collegiate chapter at Swarthmore.  At this time the alumnae also participated in raising funds for the relief of Belgian children and for the founding of the Delta Gamma Orphanage in Marchienne during World War I.

 

            Following the 1922 Convention at Spring Lake, the Philadelphia alumnae chapter was authorized to organize a group at the University of Pennsylvania campus.  Although the alumnae and Alpha Beta collegians worked hard with a strong group of girls, a charter was not granted.  Once again, the alumnae chapter became absorbed in supporting the Swarthmore chapter.

 

            Starting in 1926, the alumnae chapter began the hard work of assisting the Alpha Beta chapter at Swarthmore with raising $10,000 to fund the cost of a lodge on campus. 

The lodges were ready for occupancy in 1928.  Unfortunately, several waves of anti-fraternity sentiment in 1931 and 1934 resulted in the relinquishment of the Alpha Beta charter at Swarthmore.  With the dissolution of the collegiate chapter, interest in the alumnae chapter also waned.

 

            Sometime in the later 1930s or early 1940s, the alumnae chapter was rejuvenated by Elizabeth Welch Ingerle, Iota, and her Fraternity Project, Work for the Blind.  Under her leadership, the chapter took a new lease on life and worked hard in raising money to furnish a lounge for the Overbrook School for the Blind.  Membership increased along with interest and enthusiasm.

 

            During World War II, the group volunteered as nurses’ aides at the Graduate Hospital of Philadelphia and assisted at the blind department of the Valley Forge Hospital for war casualties.

 

            In 1963 the chapter changed its name to Philadelphia Suburban and later hosted the 1988 Convention.  Joy Weidman Brown served as Convention chairman and Lorraine Keohler Biscoll was co-chair.

 

The office of Treasurer on the Delta Gamma Council was held by a member of the Philadelphia alumnae chapter for 17 years.  Hazel Brown served from 1930-36 and Edith Taylor Smith (who wrote an article on the alumnae chapter’s history for the January 1945 Anchora) served from 1936-47.  Edith also served as Fraternity President from 1947-50.