Badge Trends?

[FSUZeta]

very pretty, but i wish she had the trident guard, which i have always loved!

[DDDlady]

Originally Posted by AzTheta

^^^Wow. What a beautiful badge! and look at the chasing (isn't that what it is?) on the crescent. I can't see clearly enough; what is the jewel inside the stars? Is it pearls? (forgive me if I blunder here and TriDelta has rules governing use of jewels in the badge that I've forgotten or don't know). How much larger in size was that badge, do you estimate?

The jewels are aquamarines I believe. They are part of only 3 variations in the badge. The others are emeralds, executive board members badges, and diamonds, national president. The badge is probably a third to half again bigger than the standard badge. The chasing is really pretty in person.

[nittanygirl]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I am actually scheduled to have the weekend completely off! I plan to set my printer back up, and scan a lot of these pictures, because I'm not so sure what some of them even are. So much of PSU looked the same when I was little & even more so when my great-aunts were there (same quarry, everything built in stone!). I hope to still come across the one of a fraternity, an ice T-Rex on Whipple Dam, and 4-year-old me! I'll probably start a new thread when this happens, so not to muck up this one, though.

OOPS! Yes, my father had three aunts who went to Penn State, either for their undergrad or for their teaching certification after going to a teachers' college. As I said earlier, one died young (she was bitten by a brown recluse spider), and another (the one whose namesake I am) was a part-time art professor there. I have fond memories of learning to throw pots when I was about 5-6 years old, and we all went to the art hall (I have no idea of the names of the halls, other than Old Main) at 11pm to do that!

There's also an A.D.S. mentioned - does that ring any bells?

I feel like so much has changed & so much has remained the same. There have been a lot of renovations on campus since back then. The outward appearance of a lot of building remains the same. I can't think of anything A.D.S. right now but I'll keep it on my mind, something might come to me.

[ShyViolet]

Ok - I'm jumping in with some badges.


The first picture is my two badges, my young alumna pin and my collegiate dangles on a bracelet. Please excuse the rubbish quality - my camera doesn't like close-ups. My badge is the one with the guard and Circle Degree dangle - the other one I managed to save. It's the standard close-pearl.


This one is a bit special - it has a diamond at the top of the indented triangle. It's not that old (the clasp is pretty modern), but it's got a special place in my heart. My guess is that the diamond was added at some later date to the initial make of the badge. (Again, sorry it's so fuzzy!).

What you see below includes some gratuitous photoshopping. You've been warned. I have some old photos of badges in cases at our National Headquarters, but they're fuzzy and indistinct, and you can see me reflected in the glass, which isn't ideal. So I've taken a few liberties and photoshopped some of our badges to give an idea of what some non-standard ones look like.


This is a composite of special badges (from L-R). Top Row:
1) Executive Council (there's a better photo from convention earlier in this thread). They've got amethyst points and can be worn as a pendant or a badge. They're slightly bigger than the normal badge.
2) National President's pendant/badge. This is veeeeeeery different from what I remember seeing years ago. But it's bling-tastic. (Photo taken from the Triangle magazine).
3) Our normal full-pearl badge to compare
Bottom Row:
4) I've never actually seen the all-ruby badge. I've heard about it though - I don't know if it's an urban legend, lost, or tucked away in a safe-deposit box somewhere, but it sounded amazing!
5) This is what I remember Mabel Lee Walton's badge looking like. It was passed from president to president. One of our past National Presidents, Mary Kay Barbee, visited our chapter when I was a collegian (summer of 2002) and wore a badge like this. She mentioned being scared of losing it. I tried to find a historic photo but was unsuccessful - and our history only says that Mabel Lee was presented with a "diamond badge" (but doesn't say if it was any bigger or had additional engraving). Likely the original was retired some time ago.
6) This is like one of several badges at National Headquarters with different coloured points (I think there was another with sapphires?). The real version of this badge, if I was reading the very fuzzy tag in my original photo right, belonged to an alumna who's still living, who was initiated 70 years ago and just attended her 22nd convention! She used to be a National Officer, and I think it was used to initiate the Alumna Honour Initiate (anyone who was at convention remember?).


This is like one of the more interesting ones they've got in National Headquarters. Instead of having pearls on the tips, it's got them in the indents. I couldn't make out the tag next to it to get the date - sorry. But it did specify that it was made on special permission of the sorority.


Now I couldn't remember if the famed opal and ruby badge from Mu Chapter that sold on the site-we-do-not-name just had ruby tips, or alternated, so I went for the latter. I remember it being absolutely stunning, though. It was early 20th century and if anyone has a photo of the real thing, I'd be dying to see it! I spent many hours drooling over its loveliness.

Hope you enjoyed - even if most had to be photoshopped (I'll try to get proper photos whenever I'm back - I've been wanting to go visit again for awhile, so maybe this is the push I need ).

[OleMissGlitter]

Originally Posted by ShyViolet

Ok - I'm jumping in with some badges.


The first picture is my two badges, my young alumna pin and my collegiate dangles on a bracelet. Please excuse the rubbish quality - my camera doesn't like close-ups. My badge is the one with the guard and Circle Degree dangle - the other one I managed to save. It's the standard close-pearl.


This one is a bit special - it has a diamond at the top of the indented triangle. It's not that old (the clasp is pretty modern), but it's got a special place in my heart. My guess is that the diamond was added at some later date to the initial make of the badge. (Again, sorry it's so fuzzy!).

What you see below includes some gratuitous photoshopping. You've been warned. I have some old photos of badges in cases at our National Headquarters, but they're fuzzy and indistinct, and you can see me reflected in the glass, which isn't ideal. So I've taken a few liberties and photoshopped some of our badges to give an idea of what some non-standard ones look like.


This is a composite of special badges (from L-R). Top Row:
1) Executive Council (there's a better photo from convention earlier in this thread). They've got amethyst points and can be worn as a pendant or a badge. They're slightly bigger than the normal badge.
2) National President's pendant/badge. This is veeeeeeery different from what I remember seeing years ago. But it's bling-tastic. (Photo taken from the Triangle magazine).
3) Our normal full-pearl badge to compare
Bottom Row:
4) I've never actually seen the all-ruby badge. I've heard about it though - I don't know if it's an urban legend, lost, or tucked away in a safe-deposit box somewhere, but it sounded amazing!
5) This is what I remember Mabel Lee Walton's badge looking like. It was passed from president to president. One of our past National Presidents, Mary Kay Barbee, visited our chapter when I was a collegian (summer of 2002) and wore a badge like this. She mentioned being scared of losing it. I tried to find a historic photo but was unsuccessful - and our history only says that Mabel Lee was presented with a "diamond badge" (but doesn't say if it was any bigger or had additional engraving). Likely the original was retired some time ago.
6) This is like one of several badges at National Headquarters with different coloured points (I think there was another with sapphires?). The real version of this badge, if I was reading the very fuzzy tag in my original photo right, belonged to an alumna who's still living, who was initiated 70 years ago and just attended her 22nd convention! She used to be a National Officer, and I think it was used to initiate the Alumna Honour Initiate (anyone who was at convention remember?).


This is like one of the more interesting ones they've got in National Headquarters. Instead of having pearls on the tips, it's got them in the indents. I couldn't make out the tag next to it to get the date - sorry. But it did specify that it was made on special permission of the sorority.


Now I couldn't remember if the famed opal and ruby badge from Mu Chapter that sold on the site-we-do-not-name just had ruby tips, or alternated, so I went for the latter. I remember it being absolutely stunning, though. It was early 20th century and if anyone has a photo of the real thing, I'd be dying to see it! I spent many hours drooling over its loveliness.

Hope you enjoyed - even if most had to be photoshopped (I'll try to get proper photos whenever I'm back - I've been wanting to go visit again for awhile, so maybe this is the push I need ).

Oh these are all so beautiful. Thank you so much for posting. I was in need of some badge picture therapy!

[KSUViolet06]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again:

I am seriously considering making a run for National President JUST SO I can wear that awesome diamond pendant. Pictures don't do it justice.

[jessica.lanelle]

Originally Posted by ShyViolet

Ok - I'm jumping in with some badges.


The first picture is my two badges, my young alumna pin and my collegiate dangles on a bracelet. Please excuse the rubbish quality - my camera doesn't like close-ups. My badge is the one with the guard and Circle Degree dangle - the other one I managed to save. It's the standard close-pearl.


This one is a bit special - it has a diamond at the top of the indented triangle. It's not that old (the clasp is pretty modern), but it's got a special place in my heart. My guess is that the diamond was added at some later date to the initial make of the badge. (Again, sorry it's so fuzzy!).

What you see below includes some gratuitous photoshopping. You've been warned. I have some old photos of badges in cases at our National Headquarters, but they're fuzzy and indistinct, and you can see me reflected in the glass, which isn't ideal. So I've taken a few liberties and photoshopped some of our badges to give an idea of what some non-standard ones look like.


This is a composite of special badges (from L-R). Top Row:
1) Executive Council (there's a better photo from convention earlier in this thread). They've got amethyst points and can be worn as a pendant or a badge. They're slightly bigger than the normal badge.
2) National President's pendant/badge. This is veeeeeeery different from what I remember seeing years ago. But it's bling-tastic. (Photo taken from the Triangle magazine).
3) Our normal full-pearl badge to compare
Bottom Row:
4) I've never actually seen the all-ruby badge. I've heard about it though - I don't know if it's an urban legend, lost, or tucked away in a safe-deposit box somewhere, but it sounded amazing!
5) This is what I remember Mabel Lee Walton's badge looking like. It was passed from president to president. One of our past National Presidents, Mary Kay Barbee, visited our chapter when I was a collegian (summer of 2002) and wore a badge like this. She mentioned being scared of losing it. I tried to find a historic photo but was unsuccessful - and our history only says that Mabel Lee was presented with a "diamond badge" (but doesn't say if it was any bigger or had additional engraving). Likely the original was retired some time ago.
6) This is like one of several badges at National Headquarters with different coloured points (I think there was another with sapphires?). The real version of this badge, if I was reading the very fuzzy tag in my original photo right, belonged to an alumna who's still living, who was initiated 70 years ago and just attended her 22nd convention! She used to be a National Officer, and I think it was used to initiate the Alumna Honour Initiate (anyone who was at convention remember?).


This is like one of the more interesting ones they've got in National Headquarters. Instead of having pearls on the tips, it's got them in the indents. I couldn't make out the tag next to it to get the date - sorry. But it did specify that it was made on special permission of the sorority.


Now I couldn't remember if the famed opal and ruby badge from Mu Chapter that sold on the site-we-do-not-name just had ruby tips, or alternated, so I went for the latter. I remember it being absolutely stunning, though. It was early 20th century and if anyone has a photo of the real thing, I'd be dying to see it! I spent many hours drooling over its loveliness.

Hope you enjoyed - even if most had to be photoshopped (I'll try to get proper photos whenever I'm back - I've been wanting to go visit again for awhile, so maybe this is the push I need ).

Thank you so much for posting these gorgeous beauties! I would do almost anything for that opal and ruby badge.

[ShyViolet]

^ Me too! I wish a Sigma would have got it (who knows, maybe one did!), or someone at National Headquarters would have rescued it. It was so breathtaking - I'd never seen one with opals before!

[nittanygirl]

I am LOOVVING the Sigma badges.

I just ordered mine yesterday. Sadly, I can only afford the 3 pearl badge right now. I was really disappointed, but I need to eat (according to my mother...)
Soooo here's to hoping that one day I will have a close-pearl or other many-pearled badge.
I'm still REALLY excited to be getting a badge & that's what I came over to this thread to say in the first place!

[sigmaceli]

ShyViolet, you are a DOLL! And a Zeta Mu to boot! I love our badge so much. I may very well see if Jocelyn can pass down that diamond badge to me or vice versa - I'm gunning for the National President spot one day, too.

I've seen the all ruby badge and the one with ruby points at NHQ, and an amethyst point badge, too. They're locked away safely and under the custody of our Collegiate Services Coordinator, Dianna Jett, who likely would not be above cutting someone to keep them safe, lol.

I ordered an all-amethyst encrusted guard for my badge a few weeks ago - come on, HJGreek! Mama wants her guard ASAP!

[momof2sigma]

ShyViolet, nice job on the badges, they look beautiful. And go Zeta Mu and UAF! Haven't been back since graduation, but had a great time forming the colony and colonization!

[ShyViolet]

^^ No problem ladies. I can't believe you've seen the ruby badge, that's exciting! I'd love to see it one day. Did the amethyst point badge used to be kept next to the sapphire point one in the case? Or is it another one?

An amethyst guard?? That's new. Is it special order?

momof2sigma - you were a colonist at UAF? How cool is that! I'll PM you. Go Nanooks!

[sigmaceli]

I saw both the badges in the special locker for badges returned to Sigmas who have entered Omega chapter. I don't know if they've ever been in one of the cases, but I rescued a badge while I was a consultant and had it re-engraved. That's when Dianna let me pick from the locker, and that's where I saw the ruby badge and amethyst point badge. I remember the amethyst badge being from Psi chapter at Marshall, probably from the early years of the chapter.

Amethyst guard IS a special order - I can't wait!!

[ms_gwyn]

I will take another stab at that amendment for 2013....just points maybe...but only if the mood changes

[ShyViolet]

Sigmaceli - that's so cool about the amethyst guard! I'd never thought about customising one before.

And very cool about seeing all the badges - I'd love to see more historical badges at Walton House one day.