The first Greek letter women’s fraternity, Kappa Alpha Theta was arguably the most prestigious of the women’s national sororities in the late 19th century when Mamah joined. Along with her friend Mattie Chadbourne she was a charter member of the “Eta” chapter from the University of Michigan when it was re-established at the Theta convention on the outskirts of Chicago’s 1893 Columbia Exposition.
Toastmistress
The importance of “Theta” for Mamah can hardly be overstated. A national network of influential society women, it used loyal alumnae like her to strengthen its membership. At the 1907 national convention in Chicago (attendees shown here), the organization confirmed its high regard for her by making her the toast mistress of the grand, closing banquet.
The Theta convention in 1909 was significant in a different way. The exact dates of the meeting in Chicago provide an important clue in understanding Mamah’s timing that year in leaving her husband for Frank Lloyd Wright. It coincided with the opening of the Theta convention in Chicago on June 28. She did not register but went to see friends for the last time.
Her departure to Europe with Wright entailed not just a break with society but inevitably a break with Theta. It would have been an especially sad loss for her. She was used to having lunch every third Thursday of the month with her Theta friends in their special corner of the elegant Tea Room at Marshall Fields. Thanks to Theta we know more about her in that period than we might otherwise because of its active network of correspondents.
Photo Credits: Archives, Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity.