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Alpha Chi Omega

DIGITAL HISTORY
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Search Term : Founders

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Nellie Gamble Childe, Founder Burial Marker
Nellie Gamble Childe, Founder Burial Marker

DATE OF BIRTH: May 12, 1867 DATE OF DEATH: June 7, 1960 CEMETERY City Cemetery Martinsville, IL City Cemetery is behind 233 W. Cumblerland Street in Martinsville, IL

Collection: Archives Collection
Date:

Bessie Grooms Keenan, Founder Burial Marker
Bessie Grooms Keenan, Founder Burial Marker

DATE OF BIRTH: April 28, 1866DATE OF DEATH: November 4, 1920CEMETERYOak Grove CemeteryLeRoy, IL 61752Bessie Grooms Keenan (Alpha, DePauw University) shares a headstone with her husband, Luther Courtland Keenan. Her daughter's stone lay next to hers, Hannah Kennan (Alpha, DePauw University).

Collection: Archives Collection
Date:

Alpha chapter, 1920, including Hannah Keenan, photograph
Alpha chapter, 1920, including Hannah Keenan, photograph

Alpha chapter (DePauw University, 1920. Hannah Keenan, daughter of Founder Bessie Grooms Keenan, is pictured in the fourth row, far right. Hannah went on to become director of central office from 1937-66 as well as archivist. Hannah identifed the chapter members on the back of the photograph. 

Collection: Archives Collection
Date: 1920
Nellie Childe to Hannah Keenan Letter, April 19, 1953
Nellie Childe to Hannah Keenan Letter, April 19, 1953

Founder Nellie Gamble Childe (Alpha, DePauw University) writes to Hannah Keenan (Alpha, DePauw University) about the new Alpha Chi songbook she recently received and laments that she cannot attend the upcoming national convention because the arthritis in her knee makes travel difficult.

Collection: Archives Collection
Date: Apr 19th, 1953
DePauw University Soiree Musicale Program, 1886
DePauw University Soiree Musicale Program, 1886

Alpha Chi Omega was formally celebrated in a Soiree Musicale performance on February 6, 1886 in the DePauw University Music Hall. Dean James Hamilton Howe performed, with the assistance of Founder Amy DuBois (later Rieth), soprano. 

Collection: Archives Collection
Date: Feb 6th, 1886
Alpha Chi Omega Golden Jubilee Program, June 26, 1935
Alpha Chi Omega Golden Jubilee Program, June 26, 1935

This program is for Homecoming Day of the 1935 National Convention, which took place at DePauw University where the Fraternity was founded. It includes a poem by Founder Olive Burnett Clark (Alpha, DePauw University), the words to the Toast and a program of the day's events.

Collection: Archives Collection
Date: Jun 26th, 1935
Bertha Deniston Cunningham Scrapbook, 1930s
Bertha Deniston Cunningham Scrapbook, 1930s

Founder Bertha Deniston Cunningham compiled 12 scrapbooks that are part of Alpha Chi Omega's archives collection. This scrapbook includes numerous event programs, handwritten notes by Mrs. Cunningham, newspaper clippings, memories of State Days, and tributes to Past National President Alta Allen Loud (Beta, Albion College). 

Collection: Scrapbook Collection
Date:

Nellie Gamble Childe Portrait Cabinet Card, c. 1886
Nellie Gamble Childe Portrait Cabinet Card, c. 1886

Nellie Gamble Childe (Alpha, DePauw University) studied piano from an early age and, after much deliberation, chose DePauw. She was described variously by her sisters as being gentle, energetic, earnest and friendly, leading a life of “quiet influence for good.” Later in life, she cultivated roses and loved to garden. She said that Alpha Chi Omega had a small beginning, but was built by loyal women with high standards who have achieved “marvelous results.”

Collection: Archives Collection
Date: 1886
Olive Burnett Clark Portrait Cabinet Card
Olive Burnett Clark Portrait Cabinet Card

Olive Burnett Clark (Alpha, DePauw University) grew up in Greencastle, Indiana before eventually moving to Indianapolis, Indiana. She set the example for grace, civility and dignity that defined the Fraternity.

Collection: Archives Collection
Date: 1885
Bertha Deniston Cunningham Portrait Cabinet Card
Bertha Deniston Cunningham Portrait Cabinet Card

When Bertha Deniston Cunningham's (Alpha, DePauw University) parents decided their musically advanced daughter should continue her studies at DePauw, she had to play for Dean Howe to determine just how advanced she was. She went on to become the envy of the school’s music students because of her composing skills. She also was an accomplished performer and successful teacher in the School of Music for 10 years. Hers is the only one of five original badges that exists today.

Collection: Archives Collection
Date:

Bessie Grooms Keenan Portrait Reproduction Photograph
Bessie Grooms Keenan Portrait Reproduction Photograph

Bessie Grooms Keenan (Alpha, DePauw University) began studying music as a young child and was an accomplished pianist by the time she entered DePauw. Near the end of her first year there, she strained the muscles of her left hand from over-practice and had to give up the ambition of her life. However, she gave much of her time to help build Alpha Chi Omega. Her daughter, Hannah Keenan, eventually became director of Alpha Chi’s central office, today known as headquarters.

Collection: Archives Collection
Date: Jan 1st, 1886
Amy DuBois Rieth Portrait Cabinet Card
Amy DuBois Rieth Portrait Cabinet Card

Amy Dubois Rieth (Alpha, DePauw University) was only 15 when she entered DePauw. She studied both voice and pianoforte. She was known as “the little girl with the big voice,” and was selected to sing important roles in school productions. Amy had a quiet and straightforward manner, which belied her fondness for pulling pranks on her Fraternity sisters. Her influence on the Fraternity endured long after she left to teach music in Kansas.

Collection: Archives Collection
Date: Dec 12th, 1885