Alma College - Scotsman Yearbook (Alma, MI)

Page 78 text:

PHILOMATHEAN Philomathean Society was officially organized on November TO, 1909. Not till twenty years later, however, did this literary society assume its present status as a campus sorority. This year Philos again were active in campus life, both as a group and individually. During the first semester of the school year the Philos established the fact that they are patriotically inclined. Ruth Kolvoord, who was president of the organization at that time, made the necessary arrangements and acquired the names of a group of soldiers stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Each girl in the society was assigned one soldier to whom it became her responsibility to write. A thriving corres- pondence between Alma and the Fort was developed. ln Alma's Methodist Church the Philos held their annual Homecoming banquet. We've got 'em hooked was the slogan upon which their float for the Homecoming parade was based, with Alma football players supposedly hooking Adrian suckers . The implication was that the Homecoming football game was in the bag. An early winter social success was the sororityis girl-bid dance, Rendezvous in Rhythm , held on December 5. Fritz Carrier and his orchestra provided the swell music for dancing in the chapel recreation room and the decorations further carried out the rhythmic theme of this party. Under the stars, the milky way, the big dipper, and other heavenly hosts transferred to the ceiling of Wright Hall's recreation room, the Philomathean rushing party was held. Next on the calendar came a tea for the patronesses and freshmen girls. After their formal initiation banquet, a bridge party was sponsored by the patronesses, who are: Mrs. Don M. Howell, Miss Margaret Foley, Mrs. C. Carney Smith, Mrs. William Season, Mrs. Leontine Netszorg, Miss Katherine Ardis, Mrs. Ben Lobdell, Mrs. Albert Anthony, Mrs. Don Sullivan, and Mrs. Spencer Miller. The sorority concluded the social season with a dinner-dance at the Midland Country Club on May 23. The Philomathean chapel program showed both originality and wit. The girls imper- sonated outstanding faculty members to the amusement of the students and professors themselves. Betty McCulloch and Betty Pecsenye shone in the roles of Miss Foley and Miss Steward, respectively. Dr. Brokenshire's double was Kay Wilkie, and Irma Nieder- smith's interpretation of Dean Gillard was superb. Characterizations of Prof. Johnson and Miss Smith fell to Liz Miller. Her performances were excellent as were the por- trayals of other eminent Almanians. 86

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Top Row: left to right: Beverly Hopkins, Hannah Bach, Jean Huff, Virginia Loughead, Helen Olander, and Carol Paterson. Third Row: Ruth Kreulen, Betty Fischer, Dorothy Walton, Maryhelen Connolly, Prudence Taylor, and Wilma Lowry. Second Row: Norma Hass, Betty Cleland, Thelma Nachtweih, Mary Jo Furstenburg, Helen Milham, Sally Reed, and Mary Lou Williams. Bottom Row: Ann Wacker, Donna Jean Francis, Bettie Fee, Vera Pitcher, Marion Hass, Isabelle Purdy, and Mary Catherine Bell. During the fall semester of 1941, Sally Reed acted as presiding officer of Alpha Theta sorority. The dual role of first critic and vice-president was filled by Betty Cleland. Treasurer Beverly Hopkins handled the money matters, Secretary Donna Jean Francis the records, and Secretary Jean Wilson the correspondence. Vera Pitcher was second critic and Shirley MacGregor, sentinel. The spring semester election resulted in the promotion of Vera Pitcher to the presi- dential position. Marion Hass became vice-president and first critic, Ann Wacker, second critic, and Mary Ann Bowen, sentinel. Donna Jean Francis, Bettie Jane Fee, and Maryhelen Connolly were elected to the offices of treasurer, recording secretary, and corresponding secretary, respectively. 85

Page 79 text:

Top Row: left to right: Marian Metcalf, Ann Carter, LaVon Keenan, Ruth Reed, and Elizabeth Miller. Second Row: Florence McDonald, Ruth Kolvoord, Betty McCulloch, Carolyn Sanford, Emma Richter, and Catherine Wilkie. Bottom Row: Betty Pecsenye, Marjorie Kuehn, Eileen Carrier, Irma Niedersmith, ond Ann Fullerton. For the fall semester the Philomatheans elected Ruth Kolvoord to act as president and Anna Jean Sommerville as vice-president. Kay Wilkie became recording secretary, and Ann Carter took care of the correspondence. The sorority funds were under the control of Treasurer Irma Niedersmith. The second semester Eileen Carrier moved into the presidential position, with lrma Niedersmith taking over the vice-president's duties. Secretary Mariorie Kuehn had charge of the records, and Marian Metcalf and Mary Jane Slyfield tilled the offices of corresponding secretary and treasurer, respectively. 87