| After
a group of courageous and enthusiastic your woman received
permission from the University of Cincinnati, Edwinna Wooyard, Beta
Chapter, was instructed to establish the sixth chapter in Delta’s
chain, Zeta Chapter. In
October, 1920, seventeen undergraduates and graduates were inducted
into charter membership of the first Negro fraternal organization on
the campus of the University of Cincinnati.
These included:
Undergraduates:
-
Blanche Dixon
Belsinger
-
Beatrice Morton
-
Ida Mae Rhodes
-
Louise Penn
Sandipher
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LaVerne Friason
Watson
Graduates:
-
Ethel LaMay
Calimese
-
Jennie Austin
Fletcher
-
Edith Howard
-
Cleo Hall Perry
-
Maude Ragan
-
Neola Woodson
Robinson
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Martha Hall
Ross
-
Marie Belsinger
Ryder
-
Mary Holloway
Weatherly
-
Sarah White
The first President
of Zeta Chapter was Ida Mae Rhodes, LaVerne Friason, Corresponding
Secretary, Beatrice Morton, Recording Secretary, and Blanche Dixon,
Treasurer.
Gamma Sigma Chapter
was established as the first graduate chapter in January 1922, and
Beta Psi Chapter was organized in June 1945.
In 1959 both graduate chapters dropped the Greek nomenclature
and united to become the Cincinnati Alumnae Chapter.
Throughout the
years, Cincinnati sorors have been involved in the National
Organization. The
sorors entered activities of the Grand Chapter as they attended the
Third National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1921.
Ida Mae Rhodes became the first and only national
Representative, as the office was abolished when sectional vice
presidents were established. Ethel
LaMay Calimese was elected treasurer during the same convention, and
Martha Hall Ross became the Second Vice President in 1922.
In 1926 Zeta and
Gamma Sigma Chapters hosted the Sixth National Convention in
Cincinnati. Ethel LaMay
was elected Grand President and Beatrice Morton was elected
Secretary. In 1939
Elsie Austui became the eighth Grand President and Reber S. Cann,
who helped establish the National Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
served as national Secretary from 1944-1952, and National First Vice
President from 1951-1954.
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