Phrateres

Phrateres was founded at UCLA in 1924 by the dean of women, Helen Matthewson Laughlin.[1] The intention was to bring "independent" women students (i.e. those not in dormitories or sororities) into a collective group for the purposes of socialization and philanthropy. However, the new group proved popular and soon membership was extended to any female student who wished to join. Members now included those who lived in dorms, commuted to campus, as well as members of sororities. Word spread to other colleges, especially those on the West Coast. The Beta Chapter[2] was installed at the University of Washington in 1929. The 1930s saw the installation of ten more chapters: Gamma[3] & Delta[4] in 1930, Epsilon[5] in 1931, Zeta[6] in 1932, Eta[7] in 1933, Theta[8] & Iota[9] in 1935, Kappa[10] in 1936, Lambda in 1937, and Nu in 1939. Phrateres now had chapters in seven states and one province in Canada (Theta at the University of British Columbia would remain the only Canadian chapter from 1935 to 1961). The 1940s brought four more chapters: Xi[11] & Omicron[12] in 1941, Rho[13] in 1942, and Sigma in 1945, for a total of sixteen active collegiate chapters (the most ever at one time). However, from 1945 until the late 1950s, three of those chapters closed: Delta, Eta, and Omicron. Their chapter names were later reused for newly installed chapters at different schools in 1950 (Delta), 1958 (Eta[14]), and 1964 (Omicron). Along with those, the final four chapters were installed in the 1960s, including three more in Canada: Omega[15] in 1961, Tau[16] in 1966, Phi in the mid to late 1960s, and Psi in 1967.

From the 1930s to the 1990s, conventions were held every one to two years, with members of the host chapter housing delegates from other chapters. Chapters could win awards, such as "Most Active Chapter" and "Best Scrapbook."

The earliest known date of a chapter closing was the first Omicron in 1945[17] Only one other chapter closing is known with certainty: Lambda in 2000.[18] Beta closed sometime in the 1970s[19] and the second Eta chapter is known to have closed in the 1990s[20] (the first Eta Chapter was closed by 1958, but evidence of activity has only been found up to 1949[21]). Conflicting evidence either has Zeta closing in 1943[22] or the 1980s.[23] Gamma also has two possible years: 1961[24] or 1968.[25] Based on found documentation, the following chapters were active as late as the year given: Xi[26] in 1945, Iota[27] in 1949, Epsilon[28] in 1951, Kappa[29] in 1956, Sigma[30] in 1968, Omega[31] also in 1968, Psi[32] in 1969, Tau[33] in 1970, Alpha[34] in 1974, and Rho[35] in 1985. Unfortunately, for five chapters, the closing year is unknown due to an almost total lack of documentation. The first Delta chapter was closed by 1950, when the second one was installed. As for the second Delta, Nu, the second Omicron, and Phi, the only chapter records are those of installations (but it is known that none of them were active as of 1990).[36]

In the 1990s, only three active collegiate chapters remained: Theta, Lambda, and the second Eta (the former in Canada; the latter two in Arizona, both of which were co-ed by this time[37]). Eta closed during that decade and Lambda closed in 2000. Now, the only active collegiate chapter was Theta at the University of British Columbia (UBC). The Phrateres International Board saw little purpose to its own existence (being that only one active chapter remained) and disbanded in 2001. As of 2015, the Theta Chapter still exists at UBC in the form of a self-governing AMS (Alma Mater Society, UBC's student society) club.

The International consisted of the board of trustees: 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 in 2001, 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 led by a Grand President:

• Helen Matthewson Laughlin, 1924–1957
• Marjorie Chilstrom,[38] 1957–1972, officially retired in 1972 but remained grand president until Phrateres International disbanded when the Lambda (University of Arizona) chapter closed
• Cynthia Johnson, co-chairman of board of trustees with Lynne Love, 1973–1976
• Lynne Love, chairman of board of trustees, 1976-? Remained as a board of trustees member until the 1990s
• Laurie Smith, executive director, -1988
• Betsy Weisman, executive director, 1988–2001

At present, records for 26 collegiate chapters have been found. Twenty-three were in the United States, with Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Wisconsin, Utah, and Ohio each having one chapter; Arizona having three, Illinois, and Washington each having two; and the remaining nine all in California (three of which were in Los Angeles alone). The remaining four were in Canada, with one in Ontario and three in British Columbia, including Theta, the sole remaining active chapter.

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.

Despite the short life of the collegiate Zeta Chapter at Carroll College, a strong Alumnae Chapter grew and is still in existence.

All women are encouraged and welcomed to join the organization. Pledgeship involves a year where members get to participate in the organization's events and get to know what the girls and organization are about. Pledges often form strong bonds with their pledge classes and enjoy this period of flexible fun. Pledges will also have the opportunity to take on leadership roles by running to become their Pledge President, and organizing a pledge project together.

Irma Schoennauer Cole (1920-2003) (Beta), one of the United States' premier swimmers in the late 1930s and early 1940s.

Joy Coghill (1926–Present) (Theta), Actress, director, artistic director, theatre producer, teacher, playwright, PAL founder.[46]

Beth McCann (1917-1986) (Theta), UBC Nursing professor. President of the Theta Alumni chapter in the late 1940s-1950s.[47] [48]

Betty Masumi Inouye (1935-2014) (Theta), Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal award winner. Her love of contributing to the community began as a member of Phrateres in the 1950s.

Mary Alice Kellogg (Phi Lambda), award-winning journalist

Phoebe Noble (1915-2010) (Founder, Omega chapter), former professor and Dean of Women at the University of Victoria. Organized and chartered the Omega chapter at the University of Victoria in 1961.[49]

• Theta Chapter