Excellent Historical Greek Book!

[AXiDTrish]

I recently read a book called "Bound By a Mighty Vow: Sisterhood and Women's Fraternities 1870-1920" by Diana Turk. I suggest reading this book if you have interest in the origins and development of sororities. The book primary follows the establishment of Kappa Alpha Theta, but also contains information on Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi plus a few others.

The author is not affiliated, but had access to Theta's Fraternity Archives. The book was very educational and shows the transitions the early sister's and their alumna had to make to keep their org's going. A note of interest is that as much as sororities are viewed as progressive....the truth is, they weren't...though individuals within their membership were. I was also suprised at how early sororities transitioned from an academic focus to a social one....1890's!!!

I was somewhat disheartened at the end on how it briefed readers on "touchy' subjects (pledging women of different ethnicities and the perception of conformity) but never went into depth. But as a whole, the author unbiasedly talks about early religious and financial issues that molded the org's at that time.

Has anyone else read this? What are your thoughts?

[PinkRose1098]

I also read that book and really liked it. It really helped me to understand where all of our founders where coming from and why they set about to do what they did. I would also love to see another book about how sororities evolved through the twentieth century but I think it too early to write the history for the entire century.

[AOIIBrandi]

Did you get this book from the Atlanta Public Library? I am interested in reading it, but just did a search of the library holdings and it is not listed...

[AXiDTrish]

I ordered the book from amazon.com I think for $15-$20. It was a little expensive, but I found it worth every penny.

[LoggerTheta]

I've heard about it because I'm a Theta, but I havent read it. I would like to though.

[ragtimerose]

I read the book sometime last summer, and it was quite enlightening. I remember reading that Theta, and other groups, emphasized academics before social aspects...that's what stuck in my mind.

Excellent book. I recommend it highly...borrowed it from my local public library.

[Tom Earp]

Also, if You can find a Bairds Manual it does give a lot of insight.

My earliest is 1932 and have the latest one. They are not cheep!

If you dig into each an everyones Foundings, there may maybe much more than you thought!

History is important to each of us!

[KatieKate1244]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Also, if You can find a Bairds Manual it does give a lot of insight.

My earliest is 1932 and have the latest one.

My school has a Baird's Manual from the early 1940's, which is kinda strange, since my school only had locals until the 1960's. But I've gone through it more than once, it's an amazing resource.

[Tom Earp]

Yep, Bairds is the Epitome of Total Greek History. I have 4.

If one reads and compares, the newest does leave things out.

I guess of course if they didnt, it would be 2 feet thick. Shipping would be a bitch!

Many Librarys should have them, and a font of Infornation.

They do do in the older issues, Locals, Professionals.


KatieKate1244


PM me, would be interesting to know where your school is and what the Greek Situation is there!

[ASTDD2002]

One of my sisters brought to my and our greek advisor's attention this book. We are currently planning a program this fall to teach not only our greeks, but all campus students about Greek Life. We are currently planning it, and will be working with our IFC to incorporate it, but it's quite exciting, because I never knew about this book, and I came up with a "vision" at a leadership conference I attended last month, which dealt with this very idea. I'm going to look in my area bookstores this next week to try to find it and buy it, and then put the program into action!