Soronian Society | |
---|---|
ΙΚΟ | |
Founded | October 14, 1847 Olivet College |
Type | Social |
Scope | Local |
Motto | Strong in Love, Firm in Right |
Colors | Red and White |
Flower | Red Rose |
Chapters | 1 |
Headquarters | 123 W. Cottage Street Olivet, Michigan 49076 United States |
Website | Official website |
The Soronian Society, also known as Iota Kappa Omicron (ΙΚΟ), is a local sorority at the University of Olivet in Olivet, Michigan. [1] It began as the first women's literary society in the United States in 1847.
The Young Ladies' Literary Society was started by seven Olivet College students on October 14, 1847, as a literary society. [2] [3] It was organized by Mrs. Oramel Hosford who was the wife of an Olivet professor. [4] [3] The society held monthly meetings that were open to the public and featured music and the reading of papers written by its members. [3] It was the first women's literary society in the United States. [5]
In its second year, both male and female students participated in the society but it soon separated into two groups. [4] [3] The Young Ladies' Literary Society declined and was reorganized as the Erodelphian Society in 1856. [2] [3] After a few years, the society became domant. [3]
It was revived on January 26, 1868, under the suggestion of student Henrietta P. Dennis. [3] A committee was established to draft a constitution for the new literary society; the constitution was adopted on May 6, 1865. [3] Dennis served as the society's first president. [3] The organization was renamed the Soronian Society with the Greek letters of Iota Kappa Omicron. [2] [4] [3]
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Soronian Society became known for its annual public exercises that featured its members performing music, literary presentations, and harmonic gymnastics. [6] [7] [8] [9] The society also held an annual prize declamatory contest in June. [10] [11] Other society activities included reunions for its alumnae. [12] In 1897, members of the Soronian Society formed baseball clubs that played during the summer. [13]
The sorority called both Soronian Society and Iota Kappa Omicron today. [2] The fraternity Phi Alpha Pi is its brother society. [6]
Professor John M. Barrows named the society; soror is Latin for sister. [5] [3] Soronian Society's motto is "Strong in Love, Firm in Right". [5] [14]
The society's colors are red and white. [5] Its flower is the red rose. [5] The society uses an Old English font "S" as its symbol. [6]
In June 1871, the Soronian Society moved into rooms on the fourth floor of Ladies Hall. [4] [3] The college trustees gave the society $315 toward furnishing this space. [3] In 1882, Ladies Hall burned, and Soronian Society lost its library, furnishings, and records. [3] The society was rehoused in Shiphard Hall, with a dedication taking place in June 1883. [4] [3] Phi Alpha Pi fraternity and the Aldephics donated funds, helping to raise $700 to furnish the society's new quarters. [3]
In June 1901, the college trustees agreed to give the society land to construct a house, provided it could secure $2,500 in pledges toward construction. [3] The new house was designed by Edwyn Bowd and built between 1905 and 1907. [2] Its construction cost around $20,000 ($678,222 in today's money). [15] It was named Sperry Hall for Williard G. Sperry, president of Olivet College (1893–1904) who contributed toward the house's construction. [5] [4]
Sperry Hall includes an audience hall, cloakroom, dinning room, kitchen, parlor, sleeping rooms, and bathrooms. [16] The exterior of the building has stained wood shingles and broad front porches across both it first and second stories. [16] It has a foundation in Cyclopean masonry constructed from fieldstone. [16] Sperry Hall is located at 123 W. Cottage Street in Olivet. [17] It became a Michigan State Historic Site on May 17, 1978. [5]
The members of Soronian Society raise funds for the University of Olivet Women's Board Scholarship. [5] Other activities include co-hosting a Christmas party for underprivileged children with Phi Alpha Pi. [18]
In September 1997, a fight involving twelve non-students broke out at a Soronian Society party. [19] Six people were treated at the hospital for injuries, alcohol poisoning, and intoxication; one individual was comatose for two hours. [19] A resident assistant who tried to break up the fight was also injured and treated at the hospital. [19] As a result, Olivet toughened its policies on alcohol on campus. [20] [19]
Soronian Society | |
---|---|
ΙΚΟ | |
Founded | October 14, 1847 Olivet College |
Type | Social |
Scope | Local |
Motto | Strong in Love, Firm in Right |
Colors | Red and White |
Flower | Red Rose |
Chapters | 1 |
Headquarters | 123 W. Cottage Street Olivet, Michigan 49076 United States |
Website | Official website |
The Soronian Society, also known as Iota Kappa Omicron (ΙΚΟ), is a local sorority at the University of Olivet in Olivet, Michigan. [1] It began as the first women's literary society in the United States in 1847.
The Young Ladies' Literary Society was started by seven Olivet College students on October 14, 1847, as a literary society. [2] [3] It was organized by Mrs. Oramel Hosford who was the wife of an Olivet professor. [4] [3] The society held monthly meetings that were open to the public and featured music and the reading of papers written by its members. [3] It was the first women's literary society in the United States. [5]
In its second year, both male and female students participated in the society but it soon separated into two groups. [4] [3] The Young Ladies' Literary Society declined and was reorganized as the Erodelphian Society in 1856. [2] [3] After a few years, the society became domant. [3]
It was revived on January 26, 1868, under the suggestion of student Henrietta P. Dennis. [3] A committee was established to draft a constitution for the new literary society; the constitution was adopted on May 6, 1865. [3] Dennis served as the society's first president. [3] The organization was renamed the Soronian Society with the Greek letters of Iota Kappa Omicron. [2] [4] [3]
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Soronian Society became known for its annual public exercises that featured its members performing music, literary presentations, and harmonic gymnastics. [6] [7] [8] [9] The society also held an annual prize declamatory contest in June. [10] [11] Other society activities included reunions for its alumnae. [12] In 1897, members of the Soronian Society formed baseball clubs that played during the summer. [13]
The sorority called both Soronian Society and Iota Kappa Omicron today. [2] The fraternity Phi Alpha Pi is its brother society. [6]
Professor John M. Barrows named the society; soror is Latin for sister. [5] [3] Soronian Society's motto is "Strong in Love, Firm in Right". [5] [14]
The society's colors are red and white. [5] Its flower is the red rose. [5] The society uses an Old English font "S" as its symbol. [6]
In June 1871, the Soronian Society moved into rooms on the fourth floor of Ladies Hall. [4] [3] The college trustees gave the society $315 toward furnishing this space. [3] In 1882, Ladies Hall burned, and Soronian Society lost its library, furnishings, and records. [3] The society was rehoused in Shiphard Hall, with a dedication taking place in June 1883. [4] [3] Phi Alpha Pi fraternity and the Aldephics donated funds, helping to raise $700 to furnish the society's new quarters. [3]
In June 1901, the college trustees agreed to give the society land to construct a house, provided it could secure $2,500 in pledges toward construction. [3] The new house was designed by Edwyn Bowd and built between 1905 and 1907. [2] Its construction cost around $20,000 ($678,222 in today's money). [15] It was named Sperry Hall for Williard G. Sperry, president of Olivet College (1893–1904) who contributed toward the house's construction. [5] [4]
Sperry Hall includes an audience hall, cloakroom, dinning room, kitchen, parlor, sleeping rooms, and bathrooms. [16] The exterior of the building has stained wood shingles and broad front porches across both it first and second stories. [16] It has a foundation in Cyclopean masonry constructed from fieldstone. [16] Sperry Hall is located at 123 W. Cottage Street in Olivet. [17] It became a Michigan State Historic Site on May 17, 1978. [5]
The members of Soronian Society raise funds for the University of Olivet Women's Board Scholarship. [5] Other activities include co-hosting a Christmas party for underprivileged children with Phi Alpha Pi. [18]
In September 1997, a fight involving twelve non-students broke out at a Soronian Society party. [19] Six people were treated at the hospital for injuries, alcohol poisoning, and intoxication; one individual was comatose for two hours. [19] A resident assistant who tried to break up the fight was also injured and treated at the hospital. [19] As a result, Olivet toughened its policies on alcohol on campus. [20] [19]