Alpha Chi Omega

DIGITAL HISTORY
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Bessie Grooms Keenan

(1866-1920)

“How glad I am to … raise my voice in praise and love for the Fraternity that made possible so fine and strong a sisterhood as has been growing and developing so splendidly in the last quarter century … As I look back to the activities of those first days, I find many of the ‘little things’ brightly remembered, such as our first party, when we invited everybody out to the tables and nothing was in sight but a cracker and a hickory nut, which for some time we allowed them to think was all that was forthcoming … and how my father insisted on membership in our ranks or many services cheerfully performed, all of which were compensated by a piece of green ribbon only!”

 

Something to know about Bessie:

Bessie’s daughter, Hannah, became an Alpha Chi Omega at DePauw University and went on to serve the Fraternity as director of central office and archivist.