Arethusa Eta Chapter

at NY State University at Oswego

Established 1925

Folded 1980

“ The aim of Arethusa is to foster honor in each of its members.

It creates situations in which ever girl is given opportunities to sacrifice her own selfish desires for he good of the sorority.  She learns to think of personal honor and of  the honor and advancement of her sorority. 

Thus through altruism she learns the true meaning of honor

 and builds it into her character.

The activities of the Arethusa  in the past have been many and varied. 

Everyone in the school will admit that Arethusa has spirit and enthusiasm. 

Besides the regular business meetings, which are held twice a month, there have been many parties and get togethers.” - The Oswego Normalia of 1926

Founding Sister of the Eta Chapter of Arethusa—1925/1926

Eta Officers of 1926

President - Dorothy Martin,

Vice President - Julia Maloney
Treasurer - Jane Rogers,

 Recording Secretary - Dorothy Davies
Corresponding Secretary - Jessie Milne,

Critic - Viola Mudge
Club Mother - Mrs. Marietta Odell,

Faculty Adviser - Miss Alice Easterling,

Faculty Adviser - Miss Adelaide Fitch

Thanks to the great efforts of Mr. Edward Vermue, Assistant Librarian of the Penfield Library at SUNY Oswego, the AUAA is discovering the history of our Eta Chapter.  Mr. Vermue has provided us with a copy of the annual summary o the Arethusa Sorority from the 1926 yearbook, The Normalia.  He has also sent us photo copies of other articles and pictures about the Eta chapters activities.  The pictures can be viewed in the Photo Gallery.

“ Back in 1925 when Fraternities were unknown in Oswego Normal, there existed at school, several honor societies.  One of these was known as Sigma Pi Beta, and was the first to become a fraternity by effecting its affiliation with the state Fraternity of Arethusa.  Since then the band of Arethusans have been adding steadily to its numbers those girls who have ideals of purity of the Nymph of the Fountain for which the fraternity is named, as well as having a high scholastic rating. 

  As Arethusa was the first to become a Fraternity, it is not surprising that she was the first and yet the only one, to provide a home for her girls.  The home is located on Normal Hill(282 W. Bridge St.) and was formally opened by a tea given for the Normal Faculty.

  … Our motto is ‘Honor not Honors’ and our aim is ‘Per Aspera ad Astra’.  ‘Through difficulties to the stars.’”  - Taken from the 1929 Oswego Normalia Yearbook.