When questioned about the relevance of fraternities in a post-war era, National President Mildred Estabrook Scott stated: "Most colleges are too dependent on them for housing, group activities, campus leadership, cultural stimulation and scholastic achievement to do away with them."
Gamma Kappa chapter is established at Idaho State University.
Gamma Lambda chapter is established at Kent State University.
Gamma Mu chapter is established at Ball State University.
Gamma Nu chapter is established at San Diego State University.
Gamma Xi chapter is established at Western Michigan University.
Carry Me Back to Old Virginia was the theme at the Hotel Roanoke for convention attendees. Registration was $90 ($894 today) and included hotel fees. The post-convention tour of Williamsburg saw many participants!
Gamma Omicron chapter is established at Marshall University.
Ruth Tewinkel Suppes (Rho, University of Washington) serves as National President from 1953-57.
The National Altruistic Fund is created to further philanthropic efforts.
460 members attended the "Salute to Canada" convention, corresponding with the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Convention favors were English bone china with a picture of the queen in the bowl. The National Council appointed a vice president in charge of husbands, who arranged outings for the 40 husbands who attended.
A report is published indicating that cigarettes cause cancer.
The U.S. Supreme Court rules unanimously that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional.
Girls wear full skirts that require crinolines underneath, short shorts and pop beads. The boys wear pink!
Gamma Pi chapter is established at the University of Tampa.
Gamma Rho chapter is established at Texas Tech University.
The Award of Achievement is created to be presented to eminent Alpha Chis at each convention. The first recipients are: Helen Cheyney Bailey (Alpha Epsilon, University of Pennsylvania), Margaret Cousins (Alpha Phi, The University of Texas at Austin), Dorothy Thompson Kopf (Lambda, Syracuse University) and Lena Mulford Thompson (Alpha, DePauw University).
The number of television sets in the United States is at 32 million, up from just 3.1 million in 1950.
Charlene Moore Simpson (Chi, Oregon State University) is hired as the first traveling secretary to visit collegiate chapters. She visits nine chapters in her first year.
During the first four years of the decade, the Fraternity's focus on lodging for collegiate chapters resulted in 10 suites or lodges refurnished, 11 chapter houses remodeled or enlarged, four houses purchased and enlarged, and four new houses and two new lodges built.