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Alpha Iota
ΑΙ
FoundedOctober 21, 1925; 99 years ago (1925-10-21)
American Institute of Business (Des Moines, Iowa)
TypeProfessional
AffiliationIndependent
StatusActive
EmphasisBusiness
ScopeNational
Motto"Study to Show Thyself Approved"
Colors  White and   Royal blue
SymbolCup, Sphinx, Rose, Ionic Column, Two Stars, Open Book, and Roman fasces
FlowerAmerican Beauty Rose
PublicationThe Notebook
Chapters1 active collegiate, 14 alumnae
Members62,000+ lifetime
Headquarters3219 SE 18th Court
Des Moines, Iowa 50320-1901
United States
Websitewww.alphaiota.org

Alpha Iota (ΑΙ) is a national collegiate professional sorority for women in the field of business. It was established in 1925 at the American Institute of Business in Des Moines, Iowa.

History

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Alpha Iota was founded on October 21, 1925, by Elsie M. Fenton at the American Institute of Business in Des Moines, Iowa.[1][2] Fenton's goal was to promote friendship among the students of that school. The mission statement of Alpha Iota is:

The purpose of Alpha Iota is to make each member a better businesswoman through the development of self-confidence, leadership, and awareness of responsibility to herself and her community. A spirit of loyalty, friendship, participation, and education, is fostered among all members.[3]

On April 11, 1930, Alpha Iota was incorporated in the State of Iowa as a non-profit organization.[4] The sorority established 28 chapters that same year.[5] Its first national convention was held in 1930.[6] Fenton served as the sorority's first national president.[1][7] The first alumnae chapter of Alpha Iota was organized on May 28, 1930.

The sorority held its second national convention in Des Moines on November 18, 1931.[8] One of Alpha Iota's early traditions was selecting a member who represented the "ideal secretary" at the convention.[6][9] Later, the award winner was called the "Ideal Girl".[10]

A review of the schools that hosted chapters shows that the initial focus of the sorority was secretarial or stenography schools, but was expanded during the Great Depression and World War II era with chapters at teachers colleges and full universities. The sorority's focus shifted with the expansion of opportunities for women in business.

By 1932, it had over 4,000 members, growing to 8,000 by 1936.[4] The society reached 10,000 members on June 19, 1937.[11] In 1940, it had grown to 155 collegiate chapters and more than 45 alumnae chapters.[12] A year later in May 1941, it had 96 active chapters, 65 alumnae chapters, and 18,000 initiated members.[13]

After a period of quick growth, the sorority's membership dwindled in the postwar period. A significant driver of this trend was the closure of many early business schools as junior, technical, and four-year colleges displaced them. For its 50th anniversary conclave held in Washington, D.C. in 1975, there were 140 active chapters in the United States and Canada.[14] It had initiated 62,000 members.[15] At that conclave, Elsie Fenton-McGee stepped down as the organization's president, having served in this capacity since 1925.[16][4][17] She was replaced by Laura Tallone.[18][4] Fenton-McGee was given the title founder and grand president emeritus.[17]

Today, the sorority is divided into five districts, composed mostly of alumnae chapters, with groups throughout the United States and Canada.[19] It was recognized by the National Association of College and University Business Officers.[20]

Symbols

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Alpha Iota badge with optional chapter guards and center stones

The sorority's badge is a square shield with an Elizabethan, three-lobed base and an eared, twice-engrailed top. At the sides and bottom, it has a wide gold border. The center is a field of black enamel, divided into three, two uppermost, with the Greek letters Α and Ι, italicized in gold, each standing alone in the two uppermost fields. The shield is plain or surmounted with seven seed pearls, six more of which mark the border between the three fields, and an emerald or a ruby at the center.[21] The lower field bears a cup, in gold. The badge may carry a chapter guard. Alpha Iota also had a gold scholarship key or charm, presented annually to students with the highest grade point average.[22][23][24]

The Alpha Iota coat-of-arms includes these symbols: a sphinx, a rose, the Ionic column, two stars, an open book, and a Roman fasces. At the bottom of the coat-of-arms are the words, Alpha Iota. The sorority's colors are white and royal blue.[25][26] Its flower is the American Beauty Rose.[27] Its open motto is "Study to Show Thyself Approved". Its quarterly publication is Notebook, first published in 1931.[4][28]

In 1934, the sorority published the song, "The Sweetheart of Alpha Iota", written by Margaret D. O'Connor with music by Mary Alice Mullin.[29] The Alpha Iota ritual includes each member placing a lit candle, symbolizing friendship, on an altar.[27]

Activities

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Alpha Iota holds national and district conventions biennially.[4] It presents a scholarship key, an award to the collegiate member with the highest scholastic average at each collegiate chapter.[4] It also awards scholarships to collegiate members and to the daughters and granddaughters of members.[21]

Heartspring (formerly known as the Institute of Logopedics) in Wichita, Kansas was adopted as the Alpha Iota international service project in 1949.[30][14][31] It continues to be one of the sorority's philanthropy. In 1967, the sorority started Operation Green Thumb, a project to help children with disabilities explore nature and grow plants.[32][17]

During World War II the sorority set a goal of raising $1 million in war bonds for the purchase of a B-29 Super Fortress bomber.[33] They raised $1,227,161 ($21,239,860 in 2022 money) in November and December 1944, which paid for a $600,000 B-29, a $250,000 heavy bomber, and an additional $377,161 to help rehabilitate wounded servicemen.[34] Beta Omicron chapter led this effort.[33] The sorority and its alumnae chapters also donated 95 radios to Army, Navy, and veteran hospitals across the United States.[35]

Membership

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Potential members were recruited based on superior scholarship, leadership, personality, and character.[36] The sorority has two levels of membership—first and second degree. The first degree is earned by active collegiate members, while a second degree is given when a first-degree member transfers to an alumnae chapter.[27]

Governance

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Alpha Iota is overseen by its board of governors.[37] It was incorporated as a nonprofit organization.[37][4]

Chapters

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Main article: List of Alpha Iota chapters

Alpha Iota has chartered at least 155 chapters.[12] It has collegiate and alumnae chapters, and previously had professional chapters. It currently has one active collegiate chapter and fourteen active alumnae chapters.[19]

 See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Sorority Head City Visitor". The Evening Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. 1932-11-19. p. 11. Retrieved 2024-04-26 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Sorority to Dine on Founders Day". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. 1965-10-20. p. 15. Retrieved 2024-04-28 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Home". Alpha Iota. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "History". Alpha Iota. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  5. ^ "Items of Interest". The Journal of Business Education, vol. 21, no. 3 (1945), p. 39. doi.org/10.1080/08832323.1945.10115224 via Taylor & Francis Online, accessed 13 Sept 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Ideal Secretary". Dayton Daily News. 1934-10-24. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-04-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Sorority Choses President--And a Queen". Reading Times. 1938-04-18. p. 15. Retrieved 2024-04-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Alpha Iota Sorority Holds Weekly Luncheon". Argus-Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. 1931-09-24. p. 16. Retrieved 2024-04-26 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Ideal Secretary Picked by Group". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. 1935-07-10. p. 13. Retrieved 2024-04-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Ernst, Ora Ann (1972-10-04). "Alpha Iota Business Sorority Gathers for 28th Annual Conclave". The Morning Herald. Hagerstown, Maryland. p. 6. Retrieved 2024-04-28 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Items of Interest" The Journal of Business Education, Vol 13, Issue 2 (March 1937) pp. 37-38. doi.org/10.1080/00219444.1937.10771839 via Taylor & Francis Online, accessed 13 Sept 2020.
  12. ^ a b "Charlotteans Back From Chicago Meet". The Charlotte Observer. 1940-07-14. p. 22. Retrieved 2024-04-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Shurtleff Girls Join Alpha Iota". Alton Evening Telegraph. 1941-05-27. p. 18. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  14. ^ a b "Sheri Conner is Delegate to Alpha Iota Convention". The Chinook Opinion. Chinook, Montana. 1975-07-02. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-04-28 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Laura Tallone Leads National Sorority". The Hanford Sentinel. Hanford, California. 1975-08-02. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-04-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Laura Tallone Leads National Sorority". The Hanford Sentinel. Hanford, California. 1975-08-02. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-04-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b c McCraw, Ethel (1977-08-10). "Sorority Formed in 1924". Beckley Post-Herald. Beckley, West Virginia. p. 10. Retrieved 2024-05-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Laura Tallone Leads National Sorority". The Hanford Sentinel. Hanford, California. 1975-08-02. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-04-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b "Chapters by District". Alpha Iota. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  20. ^ "Carolee Lash is New President of Alpha Iota". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. Colorado Springs, Colorado. 1960-02-07. p. 50. Retrieved 2024-04-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ a b "Membership". Alpha Iota. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  22. ^ "Honor Charm is Given Sapulpan at Fall Banquet". The Democrat News. Sapulpa, Oklahoma. 1965-11-02. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-04-28 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "SHS Grad Wins High Key". Sapulpa Daily Herald. Sapulpa, Oklahoma. 1967-10-25. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-04-28 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Businesswoman". Record-Journal. Meriden, Connecticut. 1977-07-05. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-04-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Alpha Iota Party". Springfield Leader and Press. Springfield, Missouri. 1939-01-30. p. 6. Retrieved 2024-04-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Buffet Supper Given Monday by Sorority Group". The Wichita Eagle. 1939-04-20. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-04-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ a b c "Altoona Iota Initiates New Members". Altoona Tribune. 1939-02-23. p. 4. Retrieved 2024-04-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "News & Events". Alpha Iota. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  29. ^ Item noted for sale on eBay, 12 Sept 2020.
  30. ^ "Heartspring - About Us". www.heartspring.org. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  31. ^ "Holiday Prelude". Anaheim Bulletin. 1966-10-28. p. 11. Retrieved 2024-04-28 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Laura Tallone Leads National Sorority". The Hanford Sentinel. Hanford, California. 1975-08-02. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-04-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ a b “Items of Interest.” The Journal of Business Education vol. 20, no. 7 (1945): 35. doi:10.1080/00219444.1945.10532667., via Taylor & Francis Online, accessed 13 Sept 2020.
  34. ^ "$1,227,161 in Bonds Sold by Alpha Iota". The Des Moines Register. 1945-02-22. p. 16. Retrieved 2024-05-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ "Sorority Presents Radio to Hospital". Des Moines Tribune. 1946-06-13. p. 15. Retrieved 2024-05-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Area Girls in Business Sorority". Sullivan County News. Blountville, Tennessee. 1965-09-02. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-04-28 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ a b "Alpha Iota Sorority". Calgary Herald. Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 1943-09-04. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-05-07 – via Newspapers.com.
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