Alpha Chi Omega Fraternity Second Soiree Musicale Program, October 20, 1887

Collection: Archives Collection
Date: Oct 20th, 1887

Bertha Deniston Cunningham Scrapbook, late 1940s

Founder Bertha Deniston Cunningham compiled 12 scrapbooks that are part of Alpha Chi Omega's archives collection. This scrapbook includes clippings about MacDowell found Marian Nevins MacDowell (Zeta, New England Conservatory of Music), many U.S. national current events, greeting cards received by Mrs. Cunningham from Alpha Chi sisters and National Convention programs. 

Collection: Scrapbook Collection
Date:

Winifred Byrd Continues Her Sensational Pianistic Success Flier, 1923

This flier contains positive reviews for concerts by pianist Winifred Byrd (Zeta, New England Conservatory).

Collection: Archives Collection
Date: 1923

Marian MacDowell, 1951, photograph

Marian Nevins MacDowell (Zeta, New England Conservatory of Music), founder of MacDowell, enjoys musical entertainment, 1951. 

Collection: Archives Collection
Date: 1951

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:

Estelle Leonard Portrait Photograph, c. 1910

This portrait of Estelle Leonard (Alpha, DePauw University) would have been taken during her music teaching years at Union City Public Schools. The back of the photo is inscribed with "For Frances Koch, May 31, 1910. Estella Leonard Music (Piano) Teacher"

Collection: Archives Collection
Date: May 31st, 1910

Martha Baird Portrait Photograph, c. 1916

Martha Baird (Zeta, New England Conservatory) was initiated in 1915. She placed first in the conservatory’s annual piano competition and then graduated summa cum laude from the conservatory's soloist program. That same year (1917), she made her debut in recital at Jordan Hall in Boston on November 17, garnering solid reviews from the arts sections of major newspapers, including The Boston Globe. She then pursued further advanced studies in Berlin, Germany with the legendary pianist Artur Schnabel. Her third and final marriage – to John D. Rockefeller Jr. – enabled her to take her philanthropic work to even greater heights. On the day of her marriage (August 15, 1951) she was given a sizable trust fund by Rockefeller, which she used to establish the Martha Baird Rockefeller Fund for Music in 1957. When her third husband died in 1960, she then redirected a significant portion of her $48 million inheritance to that fund. In operation until 1982, the Martha Baird Rockefeller Fund for Music provided critical scholarship and grant support to solo artists and ensembles for a quarter of a century before it was dissolved.

Collection: Archives Collection
Date: 1916

Willie Kate Travis Petitioner Information Sheet, c. 1911

This sheet includes information and a photograph of Willie Kate Travis (Tau, Brenau University), one of the women petitioning to affiliate with Alpha Chi Omega at Brenau University.

Collection: Archives Collection
Date: 1911

Anna Allen Smith Portrait Cabinet Card

Anna Allen Smith (Alpha, DePauw University) lived her entire life in Greencastle, Indiana, and was childhood friends with Bessie Grooms Keenan (Alpha, DePauw University and Olive (Ollie) Burnett Clark (Alpha, DePauw University). She was always interested in music and was the youngest student to do advanced work at DePauw's School of Music. She was just 15 years old when Alpha Chi Omega was founded. Anna was the Founder most associated with Alpha chapter and until her untimely death in 1932, she knew every initiated Alpha (all 700 of them).

Collection: Archives Collection
Date: 1885

Marian Nevins MacDowell, 1956, photograph

Marian Nevins MacDowell (Zeta, New England Conservatory of Music), founder of MacDowell, in 1956

Collection: Archives Collection
Date: 1956

Founders' Bells at DePauw University Photograph, Fall 1975

A set of bells, dedicated to the founders of Alpha Chi Omega, sit on the ground as they wait to be installed in the Founders' Bell Tower in the new performing arts center at DePauw University.

Collection: Archives Collection
Date: 1975

Ann Burnett Clark Massachusetts State Day Speech Section, April 26, 1952

In a portion of a speech given at the 1952 Massachusetts State Day, Ann Burnett Clark speaks about her grandmother, Founder Olive Burnett Clark (Alpha, DePauw University).

Collection: Archives Collection
Date: Apr 26th, 1952