Our Founders' Words

By Sally Cutler (Alpha Chi, Butler University), historian and archivist

This Founders’ Day, we pay tribute to these seven exceptional women by letting their words speak for themselves. Following are quotes carefully collected during the early years of our Fraternity – offering a glimpse into the personality and perspective of each founding sister. You’ll find through their quotes that some of the Founders were at DePauw only a short time, some had a long involvement with the Fraternity, and all felt a deep and lasting connection to the sisterhood they created.  

Amy 

“As I left DePauw in 1886, I was not so fortunate in fraternity experience as those who remained longer, yet my heart was tuned to Alpha Chi loyalty in that one precious year and I find the old fraternity spirit strong within me.” – Amy DuBois Rieth 

Anna 

“I remember vividly when Professor Howe asked me to be a charter member of the Fraternity … It has been my good fortune to have lived in Greencastle the entire quarter of a century in which the Fraternity has been in existence. Hence I have been close to the ‘Mother’ all these years.” – Anna Allen Smith 

Bertha 

“I think back to my school days at DePauw as the happiest of my life. I was not steady and serious then, as some of my older Alpha sisters were. I did not realize that I must improve my time and opportunity – that it could not always last … My two years at DePauw were full of much benefit to me, and I made friends I will never forget. The burden of my song now, as then, is ‘Long live Alpha Chi Omega’.’” – Bertha Deniston Cunningham 

Bessie 

“How glad I am to … raise my voice in praise and love for the Fraternity that made possible so fine and strong a sisterhood as has been growing and developing so splendidly in the last quarter century … As I look back to the activities of those first days, I find many of the ‘little things’ brightly remembered, such as our first party, when we invited everybody out to the tables and nothing was in sight but a cracker and a hickory nut, which for some time we allowed them to think was all that was forthcoming … and how my father insisted on membership in our ranks or many services cheerfully performed, all of which were compensated by a piece of green ribbon only!” – Bessie Grooms Keenan 

Estelle 

“How well I remember when we celebrated our first anniversary on Friday night, October 15, 1886, at the home of Anna Allen, where we had a splendid banquet with Professor Howe at the head of the table, after which toasts and music followed … Twenty-five years ago we were only seven girls, admiring our badges of scarlet and olive green … Today, the seven girls are proud that there are many loyal members and that the colors of Alpha Chi Omega are known from ocean to ocean, the Fraternity having far outgrown our dreams.” – Estelle Leonard 

Nellie 

“It does not seem possible that twenty-five years have passed since a few girls started into action a Fraternity which they little knew or thought would meet with such success as Alpha Chi Omega. I am proud, yes, very proud to be a Founder of such a Fraternity, and while I cannot claim any of the honor of bringing it through the hard struggles of early life, I am truly glad that fate dealt so kindly with me as to make me one of its first members.” – Nellie Gamble Childe 

Olive 

“To be the Founders, the very first to lay the foundation of a Fraternity, is a privilege that comes to but few, so it is not surprising we accept so graciously the honor and courtesy bestowed on us. However, the real credit, the success and reputation belong to girls who have steadily and faithfully worked and built on that foundation year after year.” – Olive Burnett Clark 

Our Founders, while part of a very special group, each brought their own talents, goals and dreams to Alpha Chi Omega. Has learning a little more about their thoughts piqued your interest in hearing more directly from these sisters? You can watch this video about Alpha Chi Omega’s early years, which features audio recordings of several Founders!