Submitted by Vicki Cooper
Phi Beta Psi, Delta Chapter
The first installment about Delta’s history took us to 1955, and now we want to continue starting with the 1960s; however, writing about the ’60s and ’70s has been tough because there has been a lapse in any written history for this period and the minutes after the 1950s until the 1980s are missing.
Our country was going through the throes of the Vietnam War from Feb. 28, 1961, through May 7, 1975, with constant pictures from that ugly conflict coming to us on the evening news every night. It became a very unpopular war, and unfortunately those who served there were not welcomed home when they did make it home. One bright spot during this period was that on July 20, 1969, NASA landed two U.S. astronauts on the moon and brought them back safely!
But back to Delta’s history with some facts about Delta Chapter we’ve been able to glean.
Zooming through ’50s & ’60s
In 1957 and 1958, Delta had 31 members, and in February 1959, Janice Clifford Stoops Fisher joined. She is a current member, still going strong after 64 years!
From 1963 until 1982, we took in 25 new members and lost five members to inactivity, we know for sure.
The first mention of a rummage sale was in October and a bazaar in Cicero on Nov. 2, 3, and 4, and in Arcadia on Nov. 17 and 18, 1961. At the bazaar, Delta sold candy wreaths (which was done for a lot of years at Christmas until candy got so expensive, we weren’t able to make enough funds to make it worth the time it took to put them together). In 1964 and 1965, the first mention was made of a Style Show in September and a Dress Club in October.
Delta’s 50th Year
At the celebration of Delta’s 50th year in 1973, 29 active members made up Delta’s Chapter, and donating to the National Project of Cancer Research was mentioned. That Cancer Project started nationally for Phi Beta Psi in 1941 and is still our National Project. Other fundraisers were mentioned like a hat show, card parties, raffles of various kinds, merchandise clubs of many items, and bake sales. Each year at the Cicero Fall Festival, Delta worked for the American Legion selling tickets in concession booths. It was a good money maker for the Chapter. Surprised to see Delta members in those booths, at first local people thought Delta gals had joined the carnival!
So even though minutes of the ’60s and ’70s are missing, we know Delta gals were a busy, enterprising group as they raised funds and donated many dollars to all kinds of charities besides cancer research. Locally we gave to folks after a fire, school events, helping pay bills, buying glasses, clothes, or whatever people needed.
Tasting Parties & Major Milestones
Tasting Parties started very small but don’t know exactly when. The first one was a salad party and cookbooks were small with construction paper covers. (My first cookbook before I ever joined Delta is from 1981 and was more than a construction paper cover, so surely the Tasting Parties started sometime before then.) As the parties grew larger, Delta went to school gyms taking their own card tables and chairs which, of course, had to be carried back home again! Finally, Delta was able to host at Hamilton Heights cafeterias where tables and chairs were already there!
Cicero celebrated its sesquicentennial in 1984 and Delta took part in the parade with a float pulled by one of Delta’s husbands. As the parade progressed, Delta members boosted the National Project by distributing Cancer Society pamphlets to those along the parade route. Also in 1984, Delta had a food booth at the Hoosier Dome, and in 1985, the Chapter worked a concession stand at several Colts games.
In November 1985, Phi Beta Psi National President and National Editor were present at a meeting to observe a mock initiation. It is always an event when a national officer is present at one of Delta’s meetings. Little did they know that in 30 years or so, one of Delta’s members would be National 2nd Vice President and National President.
Ever vigilant, Delta’s members were on top of what could have been a disastrous event when a beautiful centerpiece for an Initiation Tea at a member’s home went up in flames before the guests’ arrival. The fire was put out quickly, damaging only the centerpiece, which wasn’t so beautiful anymore.
In November 1988, Delta began making plans to host Phi Beta Psi’s Indiana State Convention in October 1991.
In 1989 at a May meeting, each member brought three sacks – one held a dress, one a hat, and one a pair of shoes. The bags were mixed up and each member had to buy three bags and wear whatever they purchased at the next meeting. Profit was $94 and a lot of fun was experienced at the next meeting, plus some sore feet!
Keep reading The Reporter this summer for Part III of the history of the Delta Chapter of Phi Beta Psi Sorority.