Submitted by Vicki Cooper
Phi Beta Psi, Delta Chapter
As Hamilton County celebrates its bicentennial, plans are underway in Arcadia for a centennial celebration in September for Delta Chapter of Phi Beta Psi Sorority.
Chapter beginnings
Delta was installed as the 15th chapter of Phi Beta Psi on Sept. 6, 1923, with the sponsorship of Pi Chapter in Kokomo. The founding members were Bonnie Karr Hill, Harriett Walker King, Frieda Drumm, Grace Gwinn, Nelle Ryan, Martha Gwinn Cox, and Helen Sowers Rodenbeck. Perhaps someone in our area currently can claim relationship to one of these ladies!
After installation by the National Sorority, Delta Chapter held their first meeting on Sept. 10, 1923, and elected their first officers. At this time, each chapter was expected to pay $35 a year to the National treasury. Nowadays each member pays $35 a year. In October 1923, this small group initiated five new members and were now 12 strong.
The National Phi Beta Psi organization started in February of 1904, two years after JCPenney was founded, which means our sorority is older than the Boy Scouts of America, Feb. 8, 1910; Kiwanis Organization, Jan. 21, 1915; and the American Legion, March 16, 1919. We are a philanthropic sorority whose National Project is Cancer Research, which was adopted in 1941. Since that time, we have donated $11,057,853 to research doctors all across the country.
Please note that every penny given to our National Project goes to cancer research. There are no upfront costs – it all goes to cancer research!
First projects & early growth
Delta’s first project was to plan and carry out a Christmas party for the children of Arcadia. Another project in Delta’s first year was the showing of a movie Mighty Lak’ a Rose at the Bee Pint theater in Arcadia costing them $22.50: $7.50 to rent the theater and $15 for the film. Delta’s ninth meeting as a chapter of Phi Beta Psi was, of all things, a slumber party at Frieda’s house! By 1925, they had 15 members and seven inactive members.
In 1926, this young chapter of Delta hosted the first Indiana State Convention. Since Arcadia had no hotel, the sisters made use of their friends’ homes for all the delegates. Everything went well until a bad storm came through which knocked out the electricity all over town. There was nothing to do but use candles.
In the fall of 1927, the Arcadia girls branched out to include girls from Cicero and Tipton. This growth led to Theta Delta chapter in Tipton being installed in May 1930. Delta became a mother!
When the 25th anniversary of National Phi Beta Psi was celebrated at the National Convention in Ohio, Frieda Drumm was again honored by being Grand (Natl.) Treasurer after having served as Grand Inspectress the year before.
The Great Depression
Financial standing of Delta during the Depression was much the same as the country in general. For instance, on Jan. 2, 1934, there was $14.99 in the treasury. However, lack of money didn’t hinder the enthusiasm of Delta Chapter. They’d been building a Scholarship Fund for a while and $150 was given to one girl and $50 to another.
In 1936, the Grand Inspectress visited a Delta meeting. The bill for the party after the meeting was $4.58. In 1937, the Chapter started buying things for the hospital, first purchasing a chair for $18.75. Later in 1939, Delta bought a steam table and two more chairs for the hospital.
World War II & post-War years
In June 1942, Delta bought its first $100 bond and hosted in November the State Convention at the Lincoln Hotel. After the convention, they presented an oxygen tent to the hospital and $200 to National Project of cancer research.
In October 1945, Delta started the Kathryn Sumner Achievement Award of $25, presenting it to a high school senior girl each year. This award is still given to a Hamilton Heights High School graduating senior each year but is now $400.
The chapter assumed the responsibility of the Cancer Drive in 1947. The final report showed $1,092.08, which made the Delta sisters very proud! The building of the new Riverview Hospital, which opened in May 1950, was important to Delta because they worked and saved for several years to make enough to furnish a room and were able to present a check for $500 to the hospital.
In April 1955, Delta became a grandmother when their daughter chapter Theta Delta in Tipton sponsored a new chapter, Theta Alpha Alpha of Sheridan. In June 1955, Delta discontinued a project they had been doing for several years of baking cookies for the Service Men’s Center in Indianapolis. The need wasn’t so great then, it was said.
A new moneymaker was tried in 1955 when each Phi Bete was given $1 from the treasury to grow it. After six months the treasury received $205.34. Joanna Wise and Eulanda Sumner made candles. Georgia Day got the change her husband left in his pockets. Pat Shaffer bet hers on a dog race in Florida – and her dog won! Delta ended 1955 planning a surprise party for Frieda Drumm, one of Delta’s founders.
Keep reading The Reporter this summer for Parts II and III of the history of the Delta Chapter of Phi Beta Psi Sorority.