On a cold night in December 1909, five women on the campus
of old
Albright in Myerstown, Pa., bound together by friendship and unity
of
purpose, began a battle with the College administration.
According to the 1917 Speculum, it was this night that “the
Phi Delta Sigma sorority first opened its drowsy eyes
to an unappreciative world – an infant organization, battered,
buffeted, misunderstood – and driven to greater
fidelity and determination by the persecutions of the ‘powers that
be.’”
The College’s administration and faculty were not
in favor of the sorority. They did not believe the women could
live up to the ideals they set for themselves. Barriers to equality
between the sexes still existed, even though four
years prior, in 1905, the Themisian Society, the first female
literary society, was established. But the Themisians,
who included some of the same women as those who founded Phi
Delta Sigma, were still not treated equally.
Unlike their male counterparts in the Neocosmian and
Excelsior literary societies they were required to have a
pater familias, the male dean at the time, at all functions.
Despite the challenges presented by the administration,
the five kindred spirits never gave up. Phi Delta Sigma
became a sanctioned college organization in 1913.
Mabel Woodring ’12, “a rosebud set with willful
little thorns;” Pearl
Bowman ’11, “a phantom of delight;”
Frances Sampsel ’12, “Dr. Gobble’s old standby in
the Latin classes;” Ruth Shaffer ’11, “nature’s
calm restorer;”
and Sara Grace Gobble ’10, daughter of Aaron Gobble, Albright
professor and president, cherished the ideals of
truth, virtue, love, loyalty and chivalry. They believed in service
to
alma mater and a high degree of scholarship, and their friendship
and
dedication bound them together even after graduation.
Founding members of Phi Delta Sigma,
Pearl Bowman and Ruth Shaffer.
Women of determination and leadership, they finally turned
the once skeptical faculty and administration into
believers. The 1917 Speculum states, “…Phi Delta Sigma Alumnae
Sorority plumed her wings for her flight
straight into the hearts of the once unkind ‘powers’ and basked
in the benign smile of a truly placated and
admiring faculty.”
Today, there are approximately 400 active Phi Delta Sigma
members living in all parts of the world. Membership
is offered to senior students who during their years at Albright
have upheld the ideals that the founding members
treasured. Candidates pledge during their senior year and are inducted
on Alumni Day in May.
Phi Delta Sigma member Sandra L. Stump ’75, said, “Whenever
we repeat this story about our founders, I think
it is with a sense of pride. Just the very fact that they attended
college at a time when those doors weren’t always
open to women is reason enough to be proud. But I have always
liked the idea that our founders had some
renegade blood, taking on the administration. I think that spirit
has helped us over the years as we have tried to
increase our visibility on campus.”
One of the objectives of the sorority is to promote the
social and intellectual welfare of the College. Phi Delta
Sigma does this is by supporting the Gingrich Library through
endowments and gifts, and by providing several
scholarships and awards.
This year, in honor of the College’s Sesquicentennial
Celebration, the sorority will host an afternoon tea on
Saturday, May 6 during Alumni Weekend. Hostesses will wear vintage
dresses depicting the past 150 years, and
food and beverages will represent traditional afternoon tea delicacies.
“The College has changed in innumerable ways since
Phi Delta Sigma began, from student demographics to
subject offerings and campus activities,” said member Ralia Vardaxis ’87. “Society
in general has also undergone
changes in the methods of communication, etiquette, roles for
women, etc., but Phi Delta Sigma continues to
honor the same universal ideals, which are as important today
as they were 90 years ago - loyalty, character and
service.”
- Jennifer Post Stoudt
