Chapter History
The St. Louis Alumnae Chapter was chartered January 10, 1914, before the collegiate chapters at Westminster College, Southeast Missouri State University, Washington University and University of Missouri were founded. The only collegiate chapter in Missouri was at Drury College in Springfield, which was founded in November 1913, just two months prior. At the time, the alumnae chapter was called the St. Louis Alliance. Early alumnae chapter presidents included Tri Deltas from Northwestern, Syracuse, Millikin, Texas, Arkansas and Kansas State – it wasn’t until 1927 that a Missouri collegiate, Mary Winchester Johnson (initiated at Drury, then transferred to Mizzou), became St. Louis alumnae president. Since then, our list of presidents has included women from all over the U.S., as has our alumnae chapter membership.
The earliest records and scrapbooks for the alumnae chapter are from 1941, and over the years these show a wide variety of interests and activities. Early on, alumnae were members of the War Council of St. Louis Women, volunteering with the U.S.O. and the Red Cross. Over the years, chapter meetings included book reviews, and monthly outings took place in the late 80s and early 90s to tour historic buildings, parks, cemeteries, shops and outlying areas, always followed by lunch (of course!). Money was raised for Panhellenic through bridge parties or selling items such as magazines, blouses, flowers or calendars, as well as the occasional rummage sale. A favorite of many of us is the annual Founders’ Day celebration, which used to include a skit, performed by Tri Deltas in a variety of roles, but now includes a luncheon and speaker. Currently, we host quarterly luncheon groups, happy hours, wine tastings, DIY craft days and more – see Upcoming Chapter Events for what we have coming up!
The chapter was very supportive of the collegiate chapter at Washington University, helping with recruitment, Pansy Breakfast, and as advisors. Additionally, the members made initiation robes for the chapters at Mizzou, Drury and Southeast Missouri, sent baked goods for finals week, gifts at Pansy breakfasts and at one point had a collegiate emergency fund for members from the St. Louis area in need of assistance. Recently, we have started hosting a Pansy Breakfast in St. Louis to honor area graduates.
Philanthropically, the St. Louis Alumnae Chapter has always been very involved, from giving scholarships to fashion shows – yes, fashion shows! In the 1950s and 1960s the chapter hosted several fashion shows, including sponsoring a Christian Dior Fashion Show at the Chase-Park Plaza Hotel in 1963, which included a Champagne Premier Party on Friday evening and a Café du Matin showing the following Saturday morning, all of which benefited a local charity focused on helping mentally disabled children. Throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s, several more fabulous events were hosted – dinner dances, cocktail-theater parties, juried fine arts and crafts shows, concerts – all benefiting local children’s charities. Over the years we have sold Halloween candy, provided gift wrapping, sold note cards, donated books to libraries, knitted comfort blankets and volunteered at Ronald McDonald House. We now focus locally on supporting St. Louis Children’s Hospital, making activity bags at our annual Pine Party, as well as raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through the St. Jude Walk/Run each September and our annual Corks for a Cause wine tasting event. Additionally, our luncheon group collects money to donate to Tri Delta’s Foundation, generally in a local members honor.
Much of the joy of Tri Delta is to be found in the continuing bonds of friendship – if not for Tri Delta, would we have met and become friends? The best expression of this opportunity for lifelong friendships was stated by a former Tri Delta National President, Sara Gabbard, who said in her 1982 Convention address “As for the concept of friendship in Tri Delta, one point which must be made immediately is a recognition that the friendships offered by our Fraternity occur at all states of our lives. If you believe that Tri Delta’s close associations are meant only for college years, then you fail to understand the true meaning of our membership. I cherish my college friendships, but oh, those of you whom I have met since graduation – it is impossible to imagine my life without you. How much fuller my life is because of you, and what a personal tragedy it would have been if at graduation I had said ‘Well, that’s it for Tri Delta.’”
Adapted from our chapter history, written by longtime member and past President, Sanny Jackson Moore
Past Presidents:
1. Eleanor Hall Martin, Northwestern ’03 January 1914
2. Carrie Sprecher Munger, Syracuse ’13 April 1918
3. Edna Davis Garrison, Millikin ’12 June 1922
4. Sarah Miller Brodie, Texas ’12 November 1923
5. Mabel Constant Schalchlin, Arkansas ’13 November 1924
6. Mary Inez Mann (1), Kansas State ’15 November 1925
7. Mary Winchester Johnston, Drury ‘21/Missouri November 1927
8. Isabel Blodgett Plummer, Iowa ’17 November 1928
9. Martha Ammons Wengert, Iowa ’23 November 1929
10. Emily Sherry Curtis, Pennsylvania ’14 November 1930
11. Mary Inez Mann (2), Kansas State, ’15 November 1931
12. Helen McCaslin Williams, Washington U. ’27 November 1932
13. Esther Doty Cable, Illinois ’20 May 1935
14. Virginia Paulson Williams, Washington U. ’29 November 1936
15. Mary Lou Bright Miner, Missouri ’28 November 1938
16. Audrey Hickman Miller, Iowa State ’19 October 1940
17. Ruth Hanley, Washington U. ’26 October 1941
18. Alice Sager Bernero, Washington U. ’26 October 1942
19. Ethel Larson Birney, Washington U. ’27 October 1943
20. Lorraine Senn Welsch, Missouri ’30 January 1945
21. Harriet Shellenbarger Williamson, Missouri ’30 May 1945
22. Blanche Bales Brown, Millikin ’14 May 1946
23. Catherine Fahey Barnes, Washington U. ‘34/Missouri May 1947
24. Dorothy Osincup Edwards, Florida State ’34 May 1948
25. Rosemary Oliver, Texas ’35 May 1950
26. Maccie Lattimore Carmony, Kansas State ’40 June 1952
27. Kay Remeeus Korsan, Wisconsin ’36 October 1952
28. Wilda Stillion Searight, Miami (Ohio) ’47 June 1954
29. Barbara Hansen Gunderson, Wisconsin ’46 June 1955
30. Betty Lewis Baebler, Missouri ’43 June 1957
31. Gloria Dana Netherton, Illinois ’44 June 1959
32. Johanna Lichvar Sinks, DePauw ’48 June 1961
33. Lorraine Elswick Whitehead, Missouri ’38 May 1963
34. Shirley Petersen Sanders (1), Washington U. ’49 May 1965
35. Marjorie Best Schramm, Southeast Missouri ’57 May 1967
36. Joyce DesChamps Howlett, Missouri ’56 May 1969
37. Sanny Jackson Moore (1), Missouri ’52 May 1971
38. Susan Burkard Courtney, Southeast Missouri ‘58/Missouri May 1973
39. Molly Howard Duncan, Missouri ’61 May 1975
40. Susan Otrich Graham, Southeast Missouri ’58 May 1977
41. Suzanne Rust Hanpeter (1), Washington U. ’48 May 1979
42. Laurie Peters Althen, Missouri ’62 May 1981
43. Pattie Tynes Stolze, Southeast Missouri ’66 May 1983
44. Lynn Cavaness Nadler, Southeast Missouri ’76 May 1985
45. Sanny Jackson Moore (2), Missouri ’52 May 1987
46. Lea Englehart Morris, Missouri ’73 May 1989
47. Jodi Medoro Vaughn, Florida ’79 May 1991
48. Sue Neff Bolinger, DePauw ’77 May 1993
49. Shirley Peterson Sanders (2), Washington U. ’49
& Suzanne Rust Hanpeter (2), Washington U. ’48 May 1995
50. Laura Besher Outman (1), Southeast Missouri ’68 May 1997
51. Laura Besher Outman(2), Southeast Missouri ‘68
& Meredith Brennan Underwood, Missouri ’92 May 1999
52. Kim Jenne, Southeast Missouri ’95 May 2001
53. Danielle Beck Oser, Utah ’94 May 2005
54. Katie Outman Fazio, Southeast Missouri ’95 May 2007
55. Susan Mills, California Irvine ’94 2010
56. Julie Coyne Cassady, Wichita St. ’63 2013
57. Sarah Meinkoth, Illinois State ’01 2014
58. Laura Smith, Missouri '81 2015
59. Emily Alexander Harper '96 2021