Convention 1887: Madison, Wisconsin
The fifth Convention was held November 11, 1887, at the Gamma Chapter (Wisconsin-Madison) hall in Madison, Wisconsin. The delegates were surprised when Beta Chapter (Michigan) presented them with Gamma Phi’s first printed songbook. A slim volume bound in black cloth, it was compiled by Ruth Guppy (Michigan, 1894), Violet Jayne (Michigan, 1884) and Honta Smalley (Michigan, 1885) – the sister of Frank Smalley who coined the term “sorority” – and contained the words and music of 20 songs contributed by Alpha Chapter (Syracuse), 16 by Beta Chapter (Michigan) and two by Gamma Chapter (Wisconsin-Madison). Also introduced at the 1887 Convention was the newly installed Delta Chapter of Boston University.