Omicron Chapter (Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Omicron Chapter was installed at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in Urbana, Illinois, on May 24, 1913.
Omicron Chapter (Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) has the distinction of being founded by a Gamma Phi Beta Founder, Frances E. Haven Moss (Syracuse, 1874). The local group, known as Phi Beta, was organized in 1907 and encouraged to petition Gamma Phi Beta by Frances E. Haven Moss and her husband Charles Moss. Violet Jayne Schmidt (Michigan, 1884) was Dean of Women at the University and urged acceptance of the group. The charter was granted and the Installation ceremonies were conducted by members of Epsilon Chapter (Northwestern), Beta Chapter (Michigan) and Gamma Chapter (Wisconsin-Madison). A portrait of Frances E. Haven Moss hangs in the Omicron Chapter facility and is a memorial to her deep interest in the chapter until her death in 1937.
Omicron Celebrates Golden Anniversary
Nine charter members from several states were present for the golden anniversary of Omicron Chapter of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, which was observed over the weekend of May 24 to 26.
The Omicron Chapter facility before 1927.
Hosts for the event were members of Champaign-Urbana Alumnae Chapter and the collegiate chapter. The celebration began Friday evening with a welcome at the chapter house, with Van C. Norman in charge. On Saturday morning, a memorial service was conducted in honor of the 17 charter members, of the original 51, who died.
On Saturday afternoon, a tea service took place at the chapter house for Gamma Phis, 50-year members of other sororities, deans of women, Panhellenic officers, presidents of the other sorority chapters and presidents of their alumnae associations. That evening, a charter members’ dinner was held at the Urbana-Lincoln Motor Inn. On Sunday, the chapter house was the scene of the Golden Crescent dinner.
Gifts and memorials were presented during the weekend. One was a silver punch bowl given to the chapter in memory of Nina Gresham. She taught for years at Champaign High School as an English teacher and was a charter member of the chapter.
The above excerpt is from the September 1963 issue of The Crescent, pages 4-5. To learn more about Omicron Chapter, visit GPBArchives.org > 1900-1929 > 1913 > October (pages 327-332 and 359-360), GPBArchives.org > 1900-1929 > 1920 > October (pages 398-399) and GPBArchives.org > 1930-1959 > 1953 > September (page 16).