National History

“No sorority is better than the individuals who compose it; no matter how high may be its ideals, the chapters compose the sorority and the individual members the chapters, and it rests with each and everyone of us to make or mar this work we have undertaken.
Let us highly resolve that our founders shall not have given so freely of their strength and brains in vain, but that we may prove their worthy successors in thought and deed.”

Ellen Leib in Volume I, Number I of the Alpha Xi Delta


lpha Xi Delta was founded in 1893 by ten young women at Lombard College, Galesburg, Illinois, who shared a vision and a dream of a national organization dedicated to the personal growth of women.

One of the oldest women's fraternities, Alpha Xi Delta is proud of its rich history. As one of the ten founding fraternities of the National Panhellenic Conference, it was Alpha Xi Delta's first NPC Chairman who wrote the Panhellenic Creed, which is still recited on college campuses today.

Since that time more than a 100 years ago, the spirit of Alpha Xi Delta has enriched the lives of thousands of women throughout the world with its emphasis on lifelong learning and lasting friendship. Now a national fraternity with more than 120,000 initiated members, Alpha Xi Delta has grown into a progressive and forward-thinking organization with college chapters and alumnae associations throughout the United States.

The ideals envisioned by our Founders are timeless and have remained constant throughout the years, inspiring pride in each member to pursue individual excellence.

Our Founders left us a great legacy--they taught us the value of education because it would free us to achieve our goals and give us the power to be whatever we choose to be. They taught us to support one another through shared experiences and understanding. They taught us to serve others--to reach out to those less fortunate to make their lives better.

It is these ideals of personal development, scholarship, friendship, and civic responsibility that we embrace and bring to every Alpha Xi Delta member.


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Local History

u Chapter, the twelfth chapter of Alpha Xi Delta nationally, was founded in 1907 at the University of Washington by the following amazing women:

  • May Chambers
  • Lillian Esary
  • Hazel Estes
  • Pearl Gilkey
  • Margaret Harris
  • Ethel Latham
  • Olive Mueller
  • Lela Parker
  • Myrtle Parr
  • Mary Smith
  • Marian Schneider
  • Elsie Waddingham
  • Magdalene Williman
  • Ava Young
Our centennial is approaching soon in 2007, so watch for this section to be developing much more. We are so excited to be reaching this milestone!

If you are interested in working with our preparations for the centennial celebration, please contact Erin Shields, Public Relations Vice President, at ehs3@u.washington.edu.


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Symbols

The Coat of Arms-The Coat of Arms of Alpha Xi Delta consists of a shield supported by two griffins. In the golden band across the center of the shield is the Quill. Three conventional roses are at the top of the shield, and a broken sword is in the lower portion of the shield. Above the shield on the knight's helmet is a twist of ribbon in alternating blue and gold, and a blossomed rose.
Colors-The colors of Alpha Xi Delta are double blue (light and dark) and gold.
Flower-The Fraternity flower is the pink rose, as chosen by our Founders.
New Member Pin-Alpha Xi Deltas wear this pin during their new member period.
Colony Pin-The colony pin is used in place of the new member pin for founding members of a colony. A new chapter of Alpha Xi Delta is called a colony during its initial pledging period.
Quill-The Quill, which is worn by initiated members of Alpha Xi Delta, represents our open motto "The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword."

The Fraternity has a recognition Quill, which is a miniature Quill that may be worn on coats, suits or other appropriate outer clothing where the badge may not be appropriate. Learn more about the history of the Quill.

Mascot-The Fraternity adopted Al Fuzzie teddy bear as a mascot in 1974. BetXi Bear mascot (left) was adopted in 1989.
Flag-The flag bears the coat of arms; ten gold stars, one for each Founder; and the Fraternity name written out. The flag is often used in chapter meetings and for display purposes.
Banner-The top bar of the banner bears ten gold stars, one for each of the Founders; the middle bar, the Fraternity letters; and the bottom bar, a gold Quill.
National President's Medallion-The National President's Medallion, a gold disc, is worn by each National President during her term of office. On one side is the name of the Fraternity, the Coat of Arms and the Gavel. On the other side is the Oath of Office by which each elected member of the National Council pledges her loyalty and service. The links


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Symphony

Our Symphony is our open creed, or public statement of belief.

The Symphony of Alpha Xi Delta
These things do we earnestly desire:

A clear vision of life that with gracious and kindly hearts we may share both joy and sorrow, and bring into living reality the sisterhood of women.

An appreciation of real merit and worth, steadfastness of soul, that without bitterness or defeat we may encounter misfortunes and with humility meet success.

These things Oh Lord, help us to instill within our hearts, that we may grow in courage, graciousness and peace.


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Famous Sisters

Entertainment
  • Jane Henson - Wife of Jim Henson and co-creator of the Muppets. Fozzie Bear was created for Jane and Alpha Xi Delta. He originally had pink roses on his bow. The first Kermit the Frog puppet was made out of Alpha Xi Delta curtains. Fozzie Bear was named after Alpha Xi Deltas (Fuzzies).
  • Kim Webster - "The West Wing," "The Glass House,"
  • Carol Lawrence - Broadway "West Side Story" Original Cast, as Maria, "General Hospital," "Saved By The Bell," "Sex and the City," "Touched By An Angel," Murder She Wrote," "Blossom," and others.
  • Gail Kobe - "The 10 Commandments," "Gunsmoke," "Bewitched," "The Outer Limits," "The Twilight Zone," and others. Executive Producer of "Guiding Light".
  • Megan Blake - "The Young and the Restless," "The Opposite of Sex", "It Takes Two", and others.
  • Jen Schefft - "Winning" bachelorette with Andrew Firestone on ABC's "The Bachelor" and star of her own "Bachelorette".
  • Sharron Walton - 1986 World National Show Twirling Champion
  • Priscilla Lindsay - ctress in commercials and theater productions
  • Mary Decker - Olympic Track competitor
Media
  • Leslie Zuk - Producer of PM magazine
  • Betsey Johnson - Illustrator for Mademoiselle Magazine, designs clothes for Puritan Fashions and Alley Cats fashion line
  • Karen Tumulty - Time magazine correspondent
Writers
  • Patti Bazel Geil - The White House Cook Book
  • Angela Carcione Huston - Looking Through Rose-Tinted Bifocals
  • January Riddle - The Bridge Called Respect
  • Dr. Karen Casey Elliot - Each Day a New Beginning along with 12 other books, Alpha Xi Delta Woman of Distinction
  • Joyce Stolley Gauck - Betty Crocker's Cooking Basics, Betty Crocker's Cookbook
  • Anne Beiser Allen - Coralville: A small Town Grows Up, An Independant Woman
  • Katherine A Edward - The New Dynamic Project Management: Winning Through the Competitive Advantage
  • Janet Jean Johnson - The Courage to Let Go: A Mother and Daughter in Transition
  • Nance Lucas - Exploring Leadership: For College Students Who Want to Make a Difference
  • Grace Catanio Rovozzo - Published several scientific research papers and a few hundred abstracts
  • Janet Farrar Worthington - The Ultimate College Survival Guide
Professionals
  • Diana Tonegal - Glamour Magazine's Top Ten Collegiate Women of 1985
  • Elizabeth Lyles - Chairperson of Lyles Diversified, 1987 Professional Women of the Year, California
  • Verna Kay Gibson - Former President and CEO of Limited clothing stores
  • Mary Holtman - Fashion designer
  • Susan Binder - First woman president of a US banking company
  • Fay McGrath - Owner of Aunite Fay Inc., a domestic placement service
  • Kathy Spetz - Creator of mascot costumes, including BetXi Bear
  • Mary Doremus - President and Founder of Challenge International
  • Susan Loehr - First woman Commercial Loan Officer in New Orleans
  • Nora Stine - Organizer of Orange County Meals on Wheels, Director of Sunny Acres Skilled Nursing Facility
Education
  • Elixabeth Korn Grossman - Former Dean of Indiana University school of Nursing, National Commission of Health Services - appointed by President Regan
  • Dr. Ruth Patrick - First woman Chairman of Academy of natural Sciences, Philadelphia
  • Dr. Frances Kinne - Chancellor of Jacksonville University, founder of JSU's College of Fine Arts
  • Wendy Nelder - 1984 President of Board of Supervisors in San Francisco
  • Catherine Anderson - Professor Emeritus of English, Lane Community College
  • Marilyn Raptakis Swierk - 1993 National Home Economics Teacher of the Year, 1994 Presidential Service Award nominee
  • Carol Winthrop - Dean of the University of Georgia
Government and Military
  • Real Admiral Marianne "Mimi" Blackburn Drew - US Navy Reserve, first female Naval reserve Flag Line Officer and Senior Fleet Support Officer in the Naval Reserve, Alpha Xi Delta 2001 Woman of Distinction, Nu Chapter Alumna
  • Mary Burt Nash - Retired juvenile court judge, past president of Arkansas AAUW
  • Jan Davis - Astronaut for NASA
  • Rita Prescott - First woman judge in Court of Common Pleas, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
  • Judith Moss - Appointed by President Regan to National Advisory Council of Women's Educational Programs
  • Jan Marshal Spears - Member of West Virginia House of Delegates 1974 - 1980, West Virginia Senate 1980 - 1988
  • Melanie Berney - Managing Editor of White House News Summary Office
  • Mary Josie Cain Blanchard - Received the Distinguished Service Award from the US Department of Interior - the highest honor given by the department
  • Gladys Godfrey MacKay - One of first 2 women to fly in the Navy anti-sub patrol
  • Beverly Rodgers - First woman Mayor - Holdenville, OK 1984


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