Founders of ESA

In 1930, ten outstanding women signed the original charter making Epsilon Sigma Alpha a national sorority. While the first chapter was organized in Jacksonville, Texas in 1929, the original charter was issued to ESA in the state of Missouri on February 11, 1930. First to sign was Mary Redfield Plummer on February 19, 1930 with Adelia Prichard signing last on February 22, 1930.

We point with pride to the women composing the Founders’ Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority listed in order as their signatures on the original charter:

§ Mary Redfield Plummer, Chicago, Illinois, was first to sign the charter on February 19, 1930. She was an organizer, a publisher and an author. Since she taught parliamentary law at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois she was acknowledged as an authority on parliamentary law; her membership contributed constructively to the growth and development.

§ Pearl Kinman of Sheridan, Wyoming was second to sign the charter. As a teacher she realized the value of our program: as a business woman she saw it’s need in the life of the busy woman; and a friend, she valued the women of this sorority and sympathized with their needs. Her experiences gave her a sincere appreciation of our educational programs.

§ Susan M Rebham of Cleveland, Ohio, third to sign the charter was America’s foremost woman judge on the Ohio State Supreme Court bench having graduated with honors from the University of Ohio’s Law College. She provided incentives to the sorority members for accomplishment of things worthwhile

§ Phoebe Kerrick Warner of Claude, Texas, fourth to sign the charter was internationally recognized for her contribution as National Chairman of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs Rural Co-operation. Her writings and articles concerning the economic condition of rural women were published in “What Women of the World are Doing.” She passed her experiences, ideals and ideas to others.

§ Althea S. Terry of Bartlesville, Oklahoma was the fifth to sign the charter. She was a member of the Business and Professional Club of Oklahoma. As Oklahoma State President her business sense and organizational experience made things profitable and worthwhile for our members.

§ Florence M. Sterling of Houston, TX came with an understanding of women and their problems, since she was a writer, author, editor, and speaker. She was a national figure of the Woman of Today because of her contributions to the Women of Texas. She was the sixth to sign the charter.

§ Clara Leach of Wellington, Texas, the youngest of the women was the seventh to sign the charter. Her contribution was in the building the program and assembling the materials which gave it stability and growth.

§ Daisy Birchfield of Wellington, Texas another of the younger members was a Home Economics teacher in an Amarillo, Texas junior high School. She endeavored to meet each situation with fairness, loyalty and eagerness. She was the first to take an active part in our program and was eighth to sign the charter.

§ Florence Crawford of Denver, Colorado had a broader look on life and an understanding of the problems of busy women since she was a business woman. She was an active member, serving on both the state and ational levels of several women’s organizations in Colorado and was ninth to sign the charter.

§ Adelia Prichard of Portland, Oregon was Epsilon Sigma Alpha’s first National Director. Her years of experience in the business and education gave her the vision of a definite educational program for the busy women. While serving as National President of the BPW Club she gained understanding of the problems of busy women. Her works as General Chairman of the convention committee proved women’s abilities as managers and financers as this was the first convention to be solely financed and managed by women. She chose the Open Book to represent “The Wealth of Knowldege and Strength of Wisdom” as our national emblem. She has been given credit for the founding of Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority and was tenth and last to sign the charter on February

Besides these 10 women other important woman were:

First National President: Freeda Lotz Kellogg, MD

First National Vice President: Lillian Johnson, RN

First National Treasurer: Vera Howarth, Accountant