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Swarthmore College: an instrumental founder of Mortar Board The seed that has grown prosperously into national Mortar Board was planted nearly 93 years ago. Eliza Ulrich Ullman recalled that chance meeting in these words, “It was on the campus of the University of Chicago in the fall of 1915 that a titian haired coed from Ohio State University greeted me by saying, ‘I see you’re a Mortar Board.’ I must have looked very blank for she pointed to my pin and repeated. Now I was a member of the senior honor society at Swarthmore know as Pi Sigma Chi, while she belonged to a Mortar Board organization at Ohio State University, but our pins were very similar, in fact almost identical, and our methods of election, ways of working, ideals and traditions seemed to be one.” Ullman quickly wrote back to her Swarthmore classmates regarding the coincidence, expressing her belief that many of these similar groups likely existed across the nation, and thus the inspiration for nationalization was spawned. Following a year of discussions debating the pros and cons, the chapter sent a questionnaire regarding national formation to numerous colleges. Eagerly, they waited, and finally the “Conference for Nationalization of Honorary Societies for Senior Women” was held on February 15, 1918 with representatives of five local honor societies meeting because of their close geographical proximity:
Ester Holmes, the representative from Swarthmore, was elected the first national president of Mortar Board and presided over the convention. Over a two-day period, the group decided on a Greek motto, a black enamel mortarboard-shaped pin, the initiation ceremony, a constitution, dues, and a list of nearly two dozen other groups to invite into the national organization. Notably, a few things they didn’t decide were a formal name for the organization and a grade or scholarship standard. The name debate, which weighed whether or not “Mortar Board” or a Greek letter name was preferred, was so controversial that it led to one of the founding chapters dropping out, never again to affiliate with the organization. At the conclusion of the conference, the sentiment of the group was that it preferred a Greek letter name (3-2). Ester Holmes was among those, but after returning to campus she changed her mind and cast a new vote by mail and began using “Mortar Board” on official letters. Syracuse, a favorer of a Greek letter name, withdrew from the organization. Their Eta Pi Upsilon local chapter, however, continued to prosper for many years. As a result of their withdrawal, they have not been recognized as a “founding chapter.” Celebrating 90 years - some landmarks
Interested in this historical information? Be sure to update your address or start your subscription so you can receive the 90th anniversary celebration edition of the Mortar Board Forum, out this May. Historical book in research stages Share your memories for the national magazine Does your family have three generations of members? |
Like what you see? Are you interested in the historical information found in this newsletter? Then be sure to update your address or start your subscription so you can receive the 90th anniversary celebration edition of the Mortar Board Forum, out this May. Members receive a print version free for their first five years out of college, if they have donated or if they are an alumni sustaining member. All other members can read online for free or can subscribe for just $5 a year using this online form. Note to members The Mortar Board National Office wants to know all about you - awards, accomplishments, new jobs, life events, and more! Update us using an easy online form or by sending an e-mail.
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| Distinguished Mortar Board alumni | ||||||
Steven Bishop graduated from Purdue University in 1986 with a degree in agricultural economics. At that time, Steve was recognized as the outstanding senior male student at Purdue, winning the G.A. Ross Award. He joined Proctor & Gamble in 1986, first working in purchasing for the foods division. From 1989 to 1994, he worked as an assistant brand manager and brand manager. In 1994, Bishop briefly left P&G and worked as vice president of marketing for the Christian Music Group of Sparrow Records/EMI, in Nashville, Tennessee. He returned to P&G in 1995 in the position of U.S. marketing director, first for dish products, then home care products, followed by laundry products. Today, he serves as president of North America market operations. Bishop serves on the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of OKI Partners in Cincinnati and northern Kentucky. Additionally, he is active in Lakeside Christian Church in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, where he has participated on various committees and teams including missions, decision counseling, hospitality and children’s ministry. |
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Steven Bishop