Description: Iota Alpha Pi Jewish Sorority Delta Chapter New York University Pledge Letter Signed Fraternally Jane-Abbe Feldman Chancellor 6” x 8” Stationery 3.5” x 6” Envelope Iota Alpha Pi Iota Alpha Pi (ΙΑΠ) is an international collegiate sorority operating in the United States and Canada from March 3, 1903 to July 1971, when it ceased operations. It was then restarted when Alpha Chapter was rechartered at Hunter College in October of 2023. Iota Alpha Pi ΙΑΠ Founded March 3, 1903; 120 years ago Hunter College, New York City Type Social Affiliation NPC (former) Scope United States and Canada Colors Red Black Symbol skull and crossbones Flower red Rose Publication J.A.P. Journal/Bi-Annual[2] then The Heights Philanthropy Muscular Dystrophy Chapters 25 installed Status No successor; disbanded (1971); restarted 2023 History Iota Alpha Pi was the first national sorority for Jewish women. On March 3, 1903, on the campus of New York City, Normal College (now Hunter College), seven young women created a new sorority which they called the J.A.P. club, or "Jay-ay-peez", : 80–82 focused on religious education and settlement house work. The founders were: Hannah (Finkelstein) Swick Olga (Edelstein) Ecker Sadie (April) Glotzer Rose (Posner) Bernstein Rose (Delson) Hirschman May (Finkelstein) Spielgel Frances (Zellermayer) Delson : 309 Frances Zellermayer was a sister to Zeta Beta Tau founder Maurice Zellermayer and later married the brother of her fellow founder Rose Delson. In 1913, with the new name Iota Alpha Pi, the members began the traditional sorority expansion process. The original organizers grouped themselves as Alpha chapter and the succeeding group became Beta chapter. Early expansion was at other schools in the New York Area, Gamma at the Brooklyn Law School, Delta at NYU Washington Square and Epsilon at the New Jersey Law School The Sorority became international in 1929 with the founding of Kappa chapter at University of Toronto, University of Manitoba had a particularly prosperous chapter. In 1924, a Rotation Scholarship Fund was created, allowing money to be loaned to worthy students by the sorority on the expectation of it being repaid. In 1925 the sorority began creating its own semi-annual bulletin. Iota joined the National Panhellenic Conference as an associate member in November 1953 and became a full member on November 4, 1957. Although many chapters were planned, Iota Alpha Pi could not keep up with its rapidly growing competitors. Historian Marianne Sanua recounts the life of Iota Alpha Pi in her book, Going Greek: Jewish College Fraternities in the United States, 1895-1945. The sorority was "not for the especially popular, affluent, or snobbish, but just a group of good friends" (p. 81) The American Jewish Yearbook 5692 describes the sorority as Jewish in a positive way". This accolade probably stems from Iota's studies on women in the Bible. By 1966, Iota Alpha Pi had granted a total 23 charters. A report by Wilson Heller indicates that the sorority was strong until 1968. Heller posits that the sorority saw dramatic declines in membership, particularly with the cessation of the "Christians only" clause in non-Jewish organizations. As of June 1, 1967 an NPC report indicated that Iota Alpha Pi had 11 chapters , 8 Alumnae groups and 5,802 sisters and 13 chapters, 8 Alumnae groups and 6,204 as of June 1, 1969. In 1969, Iota Alpha Pi established new chapters at the University of Maryland College Park and Hunter College Park Avenue. In July 1971, the international headquarters voted to disband Iota Alpha Pi (Heller). Two chapters went on to affiliate into other national sororities. The Beta Alpha chapter at Penn State joined Alpha Epsilon Phi, while the Upsilon chapter at Rider University eventually affiliated with Delta Phi Epsilon. As of 2008, some alumni continue to hold reunions and other events. However, no formal organization exists to coordinate these gatherings. In October of 2023, Barbara Cardarelli and Cheyanne Weiner restarted Iota Alpha Pi's Alpha chapter at Hunter with the support of Alumni from multiple chapters.
Price: 25 USD
Location: New York, New York
End Time: 2024-10-30T21:14:09.000Z
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Return shipping will be paid by: Seller
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money back or replacement (buyer's choice)
Organization: Fraternity & Sorority
Year: 1950’s
Signed: Yes
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
California Prop 65 Warning: n/a