The Soronian Society, also known as Iota Kappa Omicron (ΙΚΟ), is a local sorority at the University of Olivet in Olivet, Michigan.[1] It began as the first women's literary society in the United States in 1847.
The Young Ladies' Literary Society was started by seven Olivet College students on October 14, 1847, as a literary society.[2][3] It was organized by Mrs. Oramel Hosford who was the wife of an Olivet professor.[4][3] The society held monthly meetings that were open to the public and featured music and the reading of papers written by its members.[3] It was the first women's literary society in the United States.[5]
In its second year, both male and female students participated in the society but it soon separated into two groups.[4][3] The Young Ladies' Literary Society declined and was reorganized as the Erodelphian Society in 1856.[2][3] After a few years, the society became domant.[3]
It was revived on January 26, 1868, under the suggestion of student Henrietta P. Dennis.[3] A committee was established to draft a constitution for the new literary society; the constitution was adopted on May 6, 1865.[3] Dennis served as the society's first president.[3] The organization was renamed the Soronian Society with the Greek letters of Iota Kappa Omicron.[2][4][3]
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Soronian Society became known for its annual public exercises that featured its members performing music, literary presentations, and harmonic gymnastics.[6][7][8][9] The society also held an annual prize declamatory contest in June.[10][11] Other society activities included reunions for its alumnae.[12] In 1897, members of the Soronian Society formed baseball clubs that played during the summer.[13]
The sorority called both Soronian Society and Iota Kappa Omicron today.[2] The fraternity Phi Alpha Pi is its brother society.[6]
Professor John M. Barrows named the society; soror is Latin for sister.[5][3] Soronian Society's motto is "Strong in Love, Firm in Right".[5][14]
The society's colors are red and white.[5] Its flower is the red rose.[5] The society uses an Old English font "S" as its symbol.[6]
In June 1871, the Soronian Society moved into rooms on the fourth floor of Ladies Hall.[4][3] The college trustees gave the society $315 toward furnishing this space.[3] In 1882, Ladies Hall burned, and Soronian Society lost its library, furnishings, and records.[3] The society was rehoused in Shiphard Hall, with a dedication taking place in June 1883.[4][3] Phi Alpha Pi fraternity and the Aldephics donated funds, helping to raise $700 to furnish the society's new quarters.[3]
In June 1901, the college trustees agreed to give the society land to construct a house, provided it could secure $2,500 in pledges toward construction.[3] The new house was designed by Edwyn Bowd and built between 1905 and 1907.[2] Its construction cost around $20,000 ($678,222 in today's money).[15] It was named Sperry Hall for Williard G. Sperry, president of Olivet College (1893–1904) who contributed toward the house's construction.[5][4]
Sperry Hall includes an audience hall, cloakroom, dinning room, kitchen, parlor, sleeping rooms, and bathrooms.[16] The exterior of the building has stained wood shingles and broad front porches across both it first and second stories.[16] It has a foundation in Cyclopean masonry constructed from fieldstone.[16] Sperry Hall is located at 123 W. Cottage Street in Olivet.[17] It became a Michigan State Historic Site on May 17, 1978.[5]
The members of Soronian Society raise funds for the University of Olivet Women's Board Scholarship.[5] Other activities include co-hosting a Christmas party for underprivileged children with Phi Alpha Pi.[18]
In September 1997, a fight involving twelve non-students broke out at a Soronian Society party.[19] Six people were treated at the hospital for injuries, alcohol poisoning, and intoxication; one individual was comatose for two hours.[19] A resident assistant who tried to break up the fight was also injured and treated at the hospital.[19] As a result, Olivet toughened its policies on alcohol on campus.[20][19]