T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History Collection

ABSTRACT

INTERVIEWEE NAME: Carolyn Simpson

COLLECTION: 4700.0303

IDENTIFICATION: [1931- ] Co-founder of Kappa Alpha Theta LSU chapter

INTERVIEWER: Melisse Campbell

PROJECT: LSU History -- Sororities

DATE(S): 30 June 1993

FOCUS DATES: 1958 - 1965

ABSTRACT: family background; decision to attend University of Texas; pledges Kappa Alpha Theta; memories of rush week; recalls traditions of Kappa Alpha Theta; moves to Baton Rouge; elected president of Baton Rouge Kappa Alpha Theta alumnae organization; decision to organize an LSU chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta; Kappa Alpha Theta colonizes LSU; Kappa Alpha Theta given a room in the Panhellenic building; two members from Connecticut arrive at LSU to help organize chapter; first rush occurs after other sororities pledge; charter pledge class selected; becomes member of the advisory board; permission granted to build a chapter house; receives house building manual; interviews architects; Dick Murrill chosen as architect; guidelines for structure of the house; helps choose exterior design of house; memories of Dean of Women Helen Gordon; difficulty financing the construction of the house; LSU gives a guarantee for loan on the house; establishment of chapter house rules; hurricane delays the finishing of the house; members move into the house; difficulty in planning parking; allotment of parking spaces; helps establish housemother qualifications; Mrs. Mobley chosen as first housemother; chapter purchases china and crystal for house; memories of Mrs. Mobley and housemother Bertha Craft; chapter hires cooks for house; problems with power outages; representative from Gulf States Utilities meets with chapter members to discuss electrical problem; strikes effects the timely completion of the house; Simpson in charge of decorating the house; Dr. Reich does the landscaping for the house; memories of other women in sororities; process of choosing lots; Kappa Alpha Theta chooses lot seven; decision to build a big chapter house; desire to add a chapter room to the house; university rules effecting the sororities; recalls dedication ceremonies for the chapter house; LSU is first Kappa Alpha Theta chapter in the Deep South; new house effects rush; Simpson's continuing involvement in Kappa Alpha Theta; receives award for service to the sorority; opinion of sorority life today; sorority members attend all the house dedications; first payment on the principal of the house loan.

TAPE: 425

TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 1 hour, 15 minutes

PAGES TRANSCRIPT/INDEX: 63

RESTRICTIONS: none