Thetas celebrate centennial at University of Oklahoma

Transcript Staff

A gathering of more than 700 women from 25 states and 36 Oklahoma cities honored six women from 1909 whose diligent work over a four-year period more than 100 years ago brought to Oklahoma the first women's fraternity -- Kappa Alpha Theta at the University of Oklahoma.

The Alpha Omicron chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta celebrated its 100th anniversary Oct. 3 in Norman with a centennial luncheon, tour of the Theta house at 845 Chautauqua Ave. with first-floor redecorating by master designer Charles Faudree and an evening dinner and dance featuring a six-foot long ice sculpture of the sorority house. All activities included the groups' active members and scores of alumnae.

Norman Women Serving on the Kappa Alpha Theta Centennial Celebration Committee were: co-chairman Helen Woodward, Amy Frederick, Jill Hughes, Alex Lewis, Suzanne McAuley, Anne McCurdy, Alissa Myers, Rachel Ratcliffe, Rita Ratcliffe, Ann Ryan, Stephanie Schmidt, Mary Sherman, Trudy Sickles, Carolyn Tharp, Kerri Tiedeman and Carol Trompeter.

A detailed, 100-year written history with reams of photos from the Alpha Omicron chapter was printed in booklet form. Each Theta guest received a complimentary copy.

The 32-page document was written and compiled by Elizabeth Prosser, Oklahoma City, with text from contributing writers who brought their designated decades to life. Text and photo sources also included national and local Theta archives, University officials, Sooner yearbook and dedicated sorority historians. The book will be placed in permanent files at the University of Oklahoma library.

The large crowd reacted with laughter and tears during the 16-minute historical video highlighting the chapter beginnings, the physical sorority house, Thetas on the college campus, community service and friendship. The video was created by Theta Ann Ryan of Norman. She spent months combing the fraternity's archives for facts which culminated in the presentation, "A Century of Excellence and Love."

During the luncheon program, dignitaries detailed Theta history and contributions to the campus life. Speakers included Nancy Mergler, Provost of the University of Oklahoma; Jill Tran, Panhellenic Advisor for the University of Oklahoma; and national, regional and local Kappa Alpha Theta members.

Oklahoma's First Lady, Kim Henry, and Oklahoma's former First Lady, Cathy Keating, were both in attendance at the luncheon as Kappa Alpha Theta alumnae.

The spotlight shone on Frances Herndon Chandler of Tulsa, who was president of the Kappa Alpha Theta house in 1946. A verbal recounting of times at the sorority house by Chandler included her stint as Hospitality Chair.

Chandler noted that during WWII there were no young men available for the usual dance event. With ingenuity and a patriotic spirit, she led the women of KAO to produce the War Bond Ballyhoo with the sponsorship of the Cleveland County War Bonds Drive Committee and the cooperation of the University. The event featured a huge carnival including "Kisses for War Bonds" by Theta pledge and football queen, Joan Earnest, plus the presidents of the other sororities. The donations began with a $75,000 contribution from Chandler's father. In all, the women collected more than $700,000 which proudly purchased a B29 bomber.

Co-chairing the 2009 Centennial celebration were Norman resident Helen Edwards Woodward, a former Grand President of Kappa Alpha Theta fraternity, and Oklahoma City resident Carol Franklin Joullian, a Theta district officer. They led a 26-women committee.

"We are humbled that Kappa Alpha Theta paved the way 100 years ago for other groups to charter their own sororities. Theta has always been a strong supporter of Panhellenic on campus as we all work together to strengthen and support each other in our common belief in the fraternity system," said Woodward. "The idea of fraternity is ever more important in college life today. In a world where few rituals and shared commitments exist, the women's fraternities continue to stand tall."

Joullian said Kappa Alpha Theta looks to its past and future at its centennial celebration.

"Scholarship, community responsibility, and the potential of women will remain a dominant force within the sorority for years to come," she said.

Nationally, Kappa Alpha Theta was the first Greek-letter fraternity for women, founded in 1870 at Asbury University, now Depauw University in Greencastle, Ind. The first women admitted to Phi Beta Kappa were Thetas. The first woman elected to the U.S. Senate on her own right was a Theta. Theta was the first sorority at the Ivy League's schools of Harvard, Yale, Cornell and Princeton.

In addition to scholarship, community involvement is important to the fraternity, and its national philanthropies are Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation.

For more information, visit www.OUTheta100.org.

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