Phrateres
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| Phrateres (Φ) |
|
|---|---|
| {{{crest}}} | |
| Founded | December 10, 1924 University of California (precursor to UCLA) |
| Type | Social |
| Scope | International |
| Motto | Famous for Friendliness |
| Colors | Blue & Gold |
| Flower | Yellow Tea Rose |
| Publication | The Thetan |
| Philanthropy | multiple |
| Chapters | 1 active |
| Free label | Phis |
| Headquarters | University of British Columbia Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
Phrateres is a philanthropic-social organization for female college students.
Contents |
[edit] History
At one time Phrateres existed at higher level learning institutions across North America. It was founded at the University of California (now UCLA) in 1924 by the Dean of Women. Members included those who lived in dorms, commuted to campus, as well as members of sororities. The club not only allowed female students to socialize with each other, but also allowed them to volunteer for various philanthropic causes. Word spread to other colleges and Phrateres grew.
However, due to a downturn in student participation as well chapters being forced to turn co-ed, chapters shut down at a high rate in the 1980s. By 2000 there were only two chapters left, Lambda at the University of Arizona and Theta at the University of British Columbia, as well as the Phrateres International Board based in Los Angeles. That same year the Arizona chapter closed due to low membership and the International Board of Trustees decided to disband in 2001. The Theta Chapter still exists at UBC in the form of an AMS (Alma Mater Society, UBC's student society) club.
[edit] Phrateres International
The international governing board was comprised of Phrateres alumnae living in the Greater Los Angeles area. It collected fees from each chapter, as well as published a regular newsletter, "The Phraterean" with notices from each chapter. The Lura Heeter Award was a scholarship given to one collegiate member each year (began as a memorial award within the Zeta Chapter in 1985).
When the board disbanded, it gave its remaining funds to the Theta Chapter. Monies from the Lura Heeter Award were given to the Zeta Alumnae Chapter.
The board was lead by a Grand President:
- Helen Matthewson Laughlin, 1924 - 1957 (Dean of Women at UCLA in the 1920s)
- Lynne Love, ? - ?
- Marjorie Chilstrom, ? - ?
[edit] Theta Chapter
[edit] 70+ Years
In 2006, Theta celebrated 70 years of Phrateres at UBC with a gala celebration. Contacting alumnae proved difficult, unfortunately. Many members had married and taken new names. As well, records often only included the street address of the woman while she had been a student. Collegiate and alumnae members of the Theta Chapter were joined by spouses, parents, and a Rho Chapter alumnae, who had never been to Canada before.
[edit] History
The only remaining active chapter was often the largest during the heyday of Phrateres. In the mid-1930s, Clare Brown Harris (President of the Women's Student Society) petitioned Mary Bollert (Dean of Women) to bring Phrateres to UBC. The Theta Chapter was installed on February 1, 1935. It was the first Canadian chapter of Phrateres.
During the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, membership was large enough to support as many as 12 Sub-Chapters. Each Sub-Chapter had its own president and council, with all Sub-Chapters falling under the control of the executive council. Each Sub-Chapter also had a faculty advisor. Since the 1980s, membership has not exceeded 100.
[edit] Philanthropy
The Theta Chapter organizes and participates in various philanthropic events throughout the year. Each September they organize a Terry Fox Run on the westside of Vancouver. The 2005 Run commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope. That year, the run organized by Phrateres raised $26,000.
[edit] Sweethearts
Since 1951, seven members of the Theta Chapter have been elected as the Sweetheart of Sigma Chi for the Delta Omicron chapter of Sigma Chi at UBC. (Delta Omicron was chartered in 1949.)
[edit] Collegiate Chapters
| Chapter | University | Founding date | Inactive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | University of California (precursor to UCLA, home of the Rho chapter) | 10 December 1924 | ? |
| Beta | University of Washington | 18 February 1929 | 1970s |
| Gamma | University of Oregon | 1948 | 1961 |
| Delta | Los Angeles State College (now California State University, Los Angeles) | March 1950 | ? |
| Zeta | ? (records unclear) | ? | ? |
| Eta | Arizona State University | March 1958 | 1990s |
| Theta | University of British Columbia | 01 February 1935 | Still active |
| Kappa | Fresno State College (now California State University, Fresno) | May 1936 | ? |
| Lambda | University of Arizona | December 1937 | 2000 |
| Nu | University of California, Santa Barbara | January 1939 | ? |
| Omicron* | San Jose State College (now San Jose State University) | February 1964 | ? |
| Omicron* | Augustana College | 30 January 1941 | 27 February 1945 |
| Rho | University of California, Los Angeles | April 1942 | ? (evidence of activity in 1985) |
| Sigma | University of Texas, El Paso | February 1945 | ? |
| Tau | Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, B.C.) | ? | ? |
| Phi | Centennial College (Toronto) | ? | ? |
| Psi | University of California, Irvine | April 1967 | ? |
| Omega | Victoria College (now the University of Victoria) | October 1961 | ? |
- There is some confusion as to the "true" Omicron Chapter. Theta Chapter Handbooks from the 1960s state it is at San Jose, while an Augustana College library link states that Omicron was at that school in the 1940s.
[edit] Alumnae Chapters
The collegiate Theta Chapter hosts an annual "Alumnae Tea" each February (celebrating date of installation at UBC). Theta alumnae, some of whom are from the established Theta Alumnae Chapter, are always present. The collegiate Theta Chapter is interested in hearing from any other Alumnae or Alumnae Chapters in existence.
