Peanuts In My Pocket

While doing research on my paternal grandmother, I learned she was a member of Beta Sigma Phi, a non-collegiate sorority founded during the Great Depression.

Beta Sigma Phi is a sorority founded in 1931 for women unable to attend college due to the economic climate of the time. We are a non-collegiate, non-sectarian, and non-political organization. The organization offers women of all backgrounds, ages 18 and up, the opportunity for friendship development, cultural enrichment, and community outreach. We have a rich history that has evolved over time and affected not only our members but the cultural and social structure of society. An international organization, Beta Sigma Phi chapters are located throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries. Source: BSP

I found this information through research on Newspapers.com, a research site I find helpful enough to pay for. My grandmother Ruth was awarded the Ritual of Jewels degree on October 30, 1957, at the South Gate Auditorium. The degree shows a prolonged commitment to the organization.

A pledge must complete six months of Pledge Training to be eligible to receive the Ritual of Jewels degree, the second degree of Beta Sigma Phi. When she completes four years (48 months) of program study and active chapter participation, the Ritual of Jewels member is ready to progress to the Exemplar degree. Source: The Strawberry Patch – A Brief Overview of the Degrees of Beta Sigma Phi

I knew my grandmother. She never mentioned anything like this to me, nor have I seen any physical evidence, so I’m taking this fact as provisional until I find more proof. Plus, I’ll have to ask my sisters and extended family if they know anything.

My grandmother was a child of the Depression. In many ways, I learned about life during the Great Depression from her and from my great-grandmother, also named Ruth. Both lived through that time and passed along their wisdom to us in the form of food and stories. They also taught by showing us how they lived. One thing I never saw myself was community involvement. I may have missed that phase of their lives.

It’s hard to tell if Beta Sigma Phi is still active. The website looks like it was designed in 1996. The most recent content appears to be from 2012. Wikipedia has an article. I’ll have to read it when I have some time. I find rabbit holes like this all the time; aspects of history I know nothing about and file away for future research. One question I have is, “Why was this organization created?” I have the official story, but what were the social issues at play here? How does it fit with my understanding of history? I’ll eventually figure it out.

If you know anything about Beta Sigma Phi or can point me to resources, please drop a comment below.