Our Ivy In expansion:
The Ivy Leagues
Harvard to Howard:
The Ivy Leagues
John Harvard, the founder of the oldest American University, planted a clipping of this bit of nature which today covers the oldest building on Harvard’s Campus. It literally is the same ivy planted at Harvard and 2 other ivy leagues schools and from other international world acclaimed spots.
These very sprigs were also the ones that John Harvard planted at the famed Harvard University and inspired the term “Ivy League”.
The ivy from that sprig is our ivy and covers portions of the ivy from Harvard as well.
Carnegie Library
Rankin Chapel
Ivy covered halls
The next planting of ivy by the group became the first official "Ivy Day" .
This event was held in in collaboration with Howard University & was inaugurated by AKAs of the Alpha Chapter, it was soon adopted as a university custom.
By inviting the campus to participate in the practice on May 25, 1909, it forever unified the campus and the sorority by utilizing both the rites of the service and the service of the campus beautification project .
Many significant spots on the campus of Howard University which are now covered by a luxuriant growth of beautiful ivy, are reminders of other Ivy Day services in the years following.
Our ivy are the highest in Rankins
Jeremiah Rankin, former president of Howard University planted a sprig of ivy around Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel.
The building was constructed in 1894-95 and was dedicated in 1896. The Chapel was named after Jeremiah Rankin’s brother Andrew, whose widow contributed $5,000 to the building fund.
The Ivy around Andrew Rankin chapel came from Abbotsford, Scotland, the famous county seat of Sir Walter Scott; and also named the chapel after his deceased brother Andrew.
Our ivy & its purpose
Dean Miller delivered an address. After complimenting the sorority and their spirit aud enthusiasm, he proceeded to speak of the importance of Howard as it now stands and the absolute necessity* of its expanding till it will stand on a level with the greatest institutions in the land.
Dean Moore of the Teachers’ College spoke of the value of fraternal organization in universities in creating the enthusiasm and spirit that goes to bind the love aud interest of the alumni and - serves to make an institution great in the eyes of the world. He then spoke of the sovereignty' of man and said that the chief function of an institution is to make men strong physically, mentally and morally. He spoke of the absolute importance of college spirit and force of harmonious co-operation in any institution. He urged the students to strive after the highest culture: manhood and womanhood, and the spirit for service.
Ivy Day Traditions Exercised by Seniors of other Ivy League Universities.
Class Day at Columbia College, New York Times, 15 June 1875.
↑ Columbia University Quarterly Review, Volume 8, Pg. 442. It is unclear what precisely was being revived, since Ivy Orators were still being selected as early as 1898, see e.g. Columbia University Bulletin, March 1898, Pg. 145. Perhaps 1906 marked the revival of a planting ceremony in addition to an oration. The reference to yew trees is also interesting since the 1875 mention is of ivy.
↑ Columbia University Quarterly Review, Volume 9, Pg. 413.
↑ COLUMBIA '13 GIVES ITS CLASS RECORDS; Seniors Like the Turkey Trot -- Find Barnard the Best Girls' College., New York Times, 3 June 1913 [1]
↑ The American Education Review, Volume 30, Oct 1908 - Sept 1909, pgs. 537-538.
↑ Give Up Steps At Barnard., New York Times, 4 June 1913.
↑ Columbia University Quarterly Review, Volume 16, Pg. 413.