Page 8 - 1911 February - To Dragma

TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 79

HISTORY O F EPSILON CHAPTER

One might think to hear Epsilon girls speak of Edith Dupre, that
hers is a name to conjure with, and perhaps the events which resulted
from her short stay at Cornell might justify the belief. In the fall
of 1907, Edith Dupre came to Cornell to do graduate work, and
among the girls who were not members of any fraternity she found
several whose character expressed the very ideals which she had
known and loved as the ideals of Alpha Omicron Pi. As she worked
with them in class-room and seminary and joined them in social func-
tions they reminded her more and more of the girls she had known
in Pi Chapter at her own Alma Mater; and when she felt sure that
they were just the sort to uphold the standards of her fraternity
she gathered into Alpha's bonds the charter members of Epsilon
Chapter. Splendid girls they were too, and her choice proved her
right to the love and esteem of all future Epsilons.

In May of 1908, Mrs. Mullan, A '98, came up from New York
and the installation of Epsilon Chapter took place at the home of
Mrs. Pritchard. The girls then initiated were Anna Allen, Catharine
Allan, Josephine Britton, Ethel Davis, Anna Genung, Margaret Gra-
ham, Lottie Ketcham, Roberta Pritchard and Isabelle Stone, and
late that spring, Mae Richards became one of the number. She was
the only one of the original group who did not return the next fall.

Epsilon competed very successfully with the chapters of other fra-
ternities in getting some of the best material in the entering class,
and also initiated several girls from other classes.

Throughout the whole time of early growth and expansion, in
times of discouragement and of good fortune alike, the new Alpha
girls found in Mrs. Schmidt a staunch friend. Ever ready with
practical suggestion and help, with sympathy and encouragement she
represented us and gave us her heartiest support, though she did not
become an active member until the next spring. In the meantime,
Mrs. Duggar joined our ranks and with these two members among
the faculty we felt that we had a good equipment for whatever con-
ditions we might meet. They lent dignity to all social gatherings,
entered into all the functions of the fraternity, placed their homes at
the disposal of the girls and never failed in any emergency.

Epsilon was constantly growing stronger and more able to cope
with the situations which present themselves to a new fraternity in a
community where there are already four long established chapters.
Her numbers increased, her bonds grew closer her fraternity spirit
developed and strengthened. Always the outlook was bright and now
as she looks ahead through the coming years she feels a happy assur-
ance that her position among other fraternities is secure. Her rela-
tions with other girls in the university are of the best and the loving
loyalty of her own girls will be never failing.