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277:(1852–1924), Alice Virginia Coffin (1848–88), and Suela Pearson (1851–1920). The sisterhood was founded after some of these seven girls were invited to join a chapter of I. C. Sorosis organized in Mount Pleasant a month earlier. But they would not join without their other friends and decided to organize their own sorority.
419:— A nationally ranked, fully accredited, independent, liberal arts/sciences college for women located in Nevada, Missouri, has been owned/supported by P.E.O. since 1927 and offers baccalaureate and associate degrees in a variety of majors. Cottey College, a debt-free institution, welcomes women from around the world.
525:
In the 1920s, the P.E.O. commissioned a set of portraits in oil of its seven founders from Marion Dunlap Harper. The paintings were unveiled in P.E.O. Memorial Hall in Mount
Pleasant on September 23, 1929. They are composites sourced from a collection of sketches, portraits and photographs: those of
432:
Although always officially nonsectarian, P.E.O. has evolved over recent generations into a deliberately diverse, community-based organization with 5,632 chapters and some 197,000 dues paying members. It has chapters in each of the 50 United States, District of
Columbia and in six Canadian provinces.
428:
Membership in P.E.O. is by invitation but is not secret. In 1966, the
Sisterhood had 130,000 members. At that time membership was open to women over the age of eighteen, who believed in God and had lived at their present address for a least a year. It was said to appeal to "Protestant women of some
344:
At her initiation, every member receives a P.E.O. emblem, a five-pointed star. Members are encouraged to wear their emblems on
January 21, Founders' Day. The emblem is lent to the individual for as long as she remains an active member of a chapter. On her death, it may be buried with her if she has
320:
For much of its history, the meaning of "P.E.O." in the organization's name was a closely guarded secret and was never made public. In 1924, it was said that "These letters are 'mystic'. None save the initiated know their meaning." The organization's avoidance of publicity, and the secrecy of its
355:
Membership in P.E.O. is by invitation but is not secret. Meetings for members are, however, highly guarded and a secret password must be used to prove membership. They are opened with prayers and with inspirational readings chosen by members, but P.E.O. meetings and activities do not require any
368:, an independent, liberal arts and sciences college for women. Five programs provide assistance to women for higher education: P.E.O. Educational Loan Fund, P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship Fund, P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education, P.E.O. Scholar Awards, and P.E.O. STAR Scholarship.
328:
In 2005, the
Sisterhood unveiled a new logo and an "It's OK to Talk About P.E.O." campaign, which sought to raise the public profile of the organization while nonetheless maintaining its traditions of secrecy. In 2008, it revised its website to indicate that "P.E.O." now publicly stands for
371:
As of April 2023, The P.E.O. Sisterhood is a nonprofit organization that has helped more than 122,000 women pursue educational goals by providing over $ 415 million in educational assistance, making a difference in women’s lives through six philanthropies and a foundation:
411:— Established in 2009 to provide scholarships for exceptional women in their final year of high school to attend an accredited postsecondary educational institution in the U.S. or Canada in the next academic year. Has given $ 20 million in scholarships.
395:— Established in 1973 to provide need-based grants to women in the U.S. and Canada whose education has been interrupted and who find it necessary to return to school to support themselves and/or their families. Has given $ 70 million in grants.
287:
Further chapters were founded, and in 1883 local chapters of the P.E.O. founded a "Supreme
Chapter" to coordinate the Sisterhood on a national level. The first International chapter (i.e. outside the United States) was established in
329:"Philanthropic Educational Organization". However, the Sisterhood acknowledges that "P.E.O." originally had a different meaning that continues to be "reserved for members only", and so the public meaning is not the only one.
403:— Established in 1991 to provide substantial merit-based awards for women of the U.S. and Canada who are pursuing a doctoral-level degree at an accredited college or university. Has awarded $ 34 million in scholarships.
299:
Although P.E.O. began as a collegiate sorority at Iowa
Wesleyan, tensions developed between that original chapter and the wider body. In 1902 the Iowa Wesleyan chapter left P.E.O., to be reconstituted as the
356:
particular religion or religious practice, except for a belief in God. Meetings follow a structured agenda, but do not involve religious rites, and do not meet any formal definition of "ritualistic".
1165:
1150:
387:— A fund established in 1949 to provide scholarships for international women students to pursue graduate study in the U.S. and Canada. Has provided $ 48 million in scholarships.
1170:
1160:
544:
1125:
1130:
1155:
1145:
379:— A revolving loan fund established in 1907 to lend money to qualified women students to assist them in securing a higher education. Has loaned $ 243 million.
532:
571:
1135:
221:
of about 197,000 members, with a primary focus on providing educational opportunities for female students worldwide. The
Sisterhood is headquartered in
843:
1021:
A Woman of the
Century: Fourteen Hundred-seventy Biographical Sketches Accompanied by Portraits of Leading American Women in All Walks of Life
34:
595:
987:
Women of the West: a series of biographical sketches of living eminent women in the eleven western states of the United States of
America
1140:
556:
771:
Talking P.E.O.: How does an organization introduce a new identity to the public? By first reassuring itself that 'It's OK' to change.
659:
218:
583:
301:
829:
607:
695:
364:
P.E.O.'s core mission is to promote educational opportunities for women. It has six philanthropic projects, which include
774:
742:
289:
526:
Alice Coffin and Franc Roads are based on photographs taken at the same studio, and they are wearing the same cape.
894:
470:
332:
250:
56:
1071:
Moudry, Susan (October 2013). "'A society of our own': Methodists, coeducation and the founding of P.E.O.".
478:
429:
social standing and college education". Membership peaked in 1999 with over 252,000 dues paying members.
1025:
474:
345:
requested this in writing; otherwise, it is to be returned to her chapter or to the P.E.O. Executive.
513:
507:
442:
254:
646:
Wolf-Wendel, Lisa; Sheila Pedigo (1999). "Two-Year Women's Colleges". In Barbara K. Townsend (ed.).
229:, with chapters throughout the United States and Canada. Among other projects, it owns and supports
466:
501:
460:
266:
1019:
830:"Hide it Under a Bush, Hell No: Women's Volunteer Associations as Adult Education Initiatives"
816:
691:
687:
680:
655:
483:
448:
871:
293:
284:, which actively promoted women's rights and education in America during the 19th century.
234:
222:
175:
33:
1011:
454:
309:
270:
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in April 1867. The founding members were Mary Allen (1848–1927), Ella Stewart (1848–94),
261:. It was the second sorority to be founded in the U.S., after I. C. Sorosis (now known as
114:
1015:
365:
322:
305:
230:
1119:
1036:
998:
985:
809:
778:
495:
349:
337:
312:, Illinois). Since then, P.E.O. has been essentially a community-based organization.
124:
769:
489:
1085:
919:
743:"On its founding day, Alpha Xi Delta and its connection to the P.E.O. Sisterhood"
280:
The organization was originally rooted in the philosophy and institutions of the
562:
274:
262:
941:
651:
281:
246:
682:
The International Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Fraternal Orders
217:(Philanthropic Educational Organization) is a U.S.-based international
895:"Helping Women Reach for the Stars – The P.E.O. Sisterhood Turns 146!"
200:
1103:
331:
245:
The Sisterhood was founded on January 21, 1869, as a seven-member
1035:
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
997:
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
258:
226:
181:
577:
Suela Pearson Penfield (August 24, 1851 – September 20, 1920)
601:
Hattie Briggs Bousquet (October 10, 1849 – June 22, 1877)
1110:
550:
Mary Allen Stafford (December 30, 1848 – July 10, 1927)
781:(article by Sheree Clark in Feb./Mar. 2006 issue of
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158:
140:
130:
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110:
102:
94:
86:
78:
70:
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40:
21:
808:
679:
1090:. St. Louis: B. Herder Book Co. pp. 395–396.
538:Alice Bird Babb (May 8, 1850 – November 21, 1926)
1166:Women's organizations based in the United States
1151:Service organizations based in the United States
1064:Out Of The Heart: A Century of P.E.O. 1869–1969
718:
716:
589:Ella Stewart (May 8, 1848 – December 12, 1894)
16:Education organization based in Des Moines, US
1018:(1893). "Rogers, Mrs. Effie Louise Hoffman".
613:Alice Coffin (March 29, 1848 – July 28, 1888)
393:P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education (PCE)
8:
385:P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship (IPS)
632:
630:
628:
1087:A Dictionary of Secret and Other Societies
979:
977:
975:
973:
971:
969:
967:
965:
963:
961:
815:. Milwaukee: Bruce Publishing Co. p.
648:Two-Year Colleges for Women and Minorities
18:
1171:Student organizations established in 1869
802:
800:
1126:1869 establishments in the United States
984:Binheim, Max; Elvin, Charles A. (1928).
765:
763:
624:
528:
273:(1850–1926), Hattie Briggs (1849–77),
106:Women helping women reach for the stars
1066:. Des Moines, Iowa: P.E.O. Sisterhood.
866:
864:
673:
671:
233:, an independent college for women in
1161:Women's organizations based in Canada
1146:Secret societies in the United States
942:"About P.E.O. | P.E.O. International"
321:name, caused it to be regarded as a "
7:
565:(February 10, 1852 – August 9, 1924)
1131:International women's organizations
686:. New York: Facts on File. p.
1156:Women's clubs in the United States
377:P.E.O. Educational Loan Fund (ELF)
348:The P.E.O. official flower is the
14:
1136:Organizations established in 1869
1030:
992:
990:. Los Angeles: Publishers Press.
893:Becque, Fran (21 January 2015).
832:Patricia Moran (2007). ProQuest.
811:Handbook of Secret Organizations
606:
594:
582:
570:
555:
543:
531:
32:
510:, educator and newspaper editor
842:Fox, Joanne (6 January 2011).
741:Becque, Fran (17 April 2017).
409:P.E.O. STAR Scholarship (STAR)
1:
872:"Frequently Asked Questions"
1016:Livermore, Mary Ashton Rice
899:Fraternity History and More
807:Whalen, William J. (1966).
747:Fraternity History and More
401:P.E.O. Scholar Awards (PSA)
1187:
1141:Secret societies in Canada
1012:Willard, Frances Elizabeth
31:
26:
946:www.peointernational.org
520:
492:, academic administrator
471:Montana State University
251:Iowa Wesleyan University
57:Iowa Wesleyan University
1084:Preuss, Arthur (1924).
498:, school superintendent
46:; 155 years ago
1062:Clapp, Stella (1968).
678:Axelrod, Alan (1997).
341:
316:Symbols and traditions
1026:Charles Wells Moulton
844:"P.E.O. is no secret"
475:University of Arizona
335:
144:Educational Loan Fund
44:January 21, 1869
794:Preuss 1924, p. 395.
722:Preuss 1924, p. 396.
514:Rachel Irene Seibert
508:Effie Hoffman Rogers
479:Oregon State College
443:Laura Chenoweth Butz
308:(founded in 1893 at
219:women's organization
148:Continuing Education
920:"P.E.O. Membership"
731:Clapp 1968, p. 289.
521:Founders' portraits
469:, dean of women at
467:Kate Wetzel Jameson
340:, the P.E.O. flower
1028:. pp. 618–19.
848:Sioux City Journal
563:Franc Roads Elliot
502:Edith Allen Phelps
461:Iris Pavey Gilmore
342:
296:, Canada in 1911.
267:Monmouth, Illinois
1073:Methodist History
636:Clapp 1968, p. 1.
484:Jeanette Lawrence
449:Saidie Orr Dunbar
215:P.E.O. Sisterhood
211:
210:
203:.peointernational
171:3700 Grand Avenue
146:Peace Scholarship
22:P.E.O. Sisterhood
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282:Methodist Church
235:Nevada, Missouri
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152:STAR Scholarship
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141:Philanthropy
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1079:(1): 33–42.
1048:Clapp 1968.
516:, clubwoman
504:, librarian
457:, clubwoman
275:Franc Roads
263:Pi Beta Phi
131:Publication
74:Independent
71:Affiliation
1120:Categories
951:2020-04-16
697:0816023077
619:References
445:, educator
424:Membership
360:Activities
223:Des Moines
176:Des Moines
51:1869-01-21
926:6 January
904:6 January
878:6 January
785:magazine)
652:Routledge
290:Vancouver
853:14 March
775:Archived
486:, writer
463:, writer
247:sorority
87:Emphasis
1056:Sources
922:. P.E.O
874:. P.E.O
451:, nurse
241:History
196:Website
159:Members
66:General
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752:19 May
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121:Flower
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186:50312
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95:Scope
928:2019
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880:2019
855:2015
754:2019
692:ISBN
656:ISBN
336:The
325:".
259:Iowa
227:Iowa
213:The
205:.org
182:Iowa
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