History
Determined to make a democratic, unosten- tatious society, the four women, Stella George Stern, Helen St. Clair, Elizabeth Heywood, and Jessie Wallace climbed a little winding stair into the stackroom of the old Columbia Library. This little room was rarely used and stored Anglo-Saxon tomes and ancient vellum manuscripts. While the four sat in a deep window seat, pigeons outside and snow lightly falling, they pledged one another at the beginning of the year 1897. Barnard College welcomed the new fraternity and it was not long before the first chapter, Alpha, was flourishing. The fraternity became national with the installation of Pi Chapter at Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, New Orleans, on September 8, 1898. Over the next 100 years, AOII has added to the ranks 180 collegiate chapters and initiated over 126,000 members. Founder Stella Perry once wrote, “that which makes our bond is promise certain of success. Let us follow our ensign devotedly, utterly and bravely. For our purpose cannot fail.”
Heritage
For a history of Epsilon Chapter, please visit our Centennial Page. Barnard College, in the late 1890’s, was the first separate college for women to be affiliated with a great men’s university such as Columbia University. AOII’s four Founders were in the class of 1898, young, and unlike most of the women who had entered Barnard in previous years. They were friendly, adventurous, frank and merry, and enthusiastically devoted to each other and to the class of ‘98.
Symbols
Our badge is composed of the three initial letters of the three words of the Motto, superimposed one upon the next in order, which gives the Fraternity its name.
A sheaf of wheat indicates its usefulness in harvest, while recalling that we are stronger when bound by friendship.
Our jewel is the ruby, which resides in the apex of the Alpha of our badge.
Our only color is cardinal, the color of our flower and jewel.
The General Jacqueminot rose, with its overtones of courage and vigor, was selected for its richness of color and fragrance, combined with softness and modesty of bearing.
Our new member pin is a sheaf of wheat, symbolizing strength from the ties of friendship
Our magazine, To Dragma, has won numerous awards and is great to read!
The panda is our unofficial mascot, as it has no natural enemies.