Key Matters

We thought 1908 wasn't that exciting, but it turns out that it was! It's a Convention year and we are also treated to a quick snippet about ole' Mrs. Potter-Brown! Chapters are up to their usual Saturday shenanigans - you know, sewing around the fireplace and snacking on fudge. The exchanges get a little salty as magazine editors exchange gentle barbs - but hopefully it's all in good fun. See if you can spot where I artfully ruffle Dr. Oz's feathers over her least favorite old-timey actor. Mary Osborne from The Stewart House sure is a good sport 😅

Dr. Oz hits all the highlights of 1907 - PLUS we answer a question that was posed during the episode for the 1906 issues. So go back and listen to the 1906 episode that dropped in November 2021! 

Some of the goings on include student oversight of campus organizations, The Key’s 25th anniversary, Panhellenic’s role in self-government and how that group might help to answer the “Fraternity Question.”

Dr. Oz finds that one of the common themes of the issues in 1906 is service. Writers are posing questions about a chapter's service to the college, a member's service to the chapter, and both a member and chapter's service to the organization. The role of the alumnae is also evolving and one notable suggestion is that they throw their support behind the new scholarship fund. Did she actually find a previously unknown relative of Founder Anna Willits? Also, the motion to rename her last segment Odds and Ends to Oz and Ends is still on the table!

Did someone say frat house party? Oops, no. They said frat house pantry! Forgive the confusion as apparently the hot social event of the season was a preserving party - canning your own fruits to add to the "frat house pantry" and enjoy later during the gloomy evenings of winter. Also, if you wear your key while traveling abroad, famous people might introduce themselves to you! 

There's lots of fun stuff in this episode with Dr. Oz covering all the news from 1904. We disagree on whether Oz tries to sneak in one or a dozen references to Indiana. Kappa's expanding into the south and it definitely doesn't feel like 2021 since travel in 1904 was getting easier and less expensive, so chapter members were being encouraged to travel to other chapters. Dr. Oz's new section "Odds and Ends" (Motion to rename "Odds and Ends" to "Oz and Ends") includes miscellany that she couldn't fit in elsewhere - like the Kodak fad and a famous Kappa with the last name Vonnegut. Odds and Ends is also a handy spot for Dr. Oz to surprise the unsuspecting listener with some Dr. Crawford news. Finally, we wonder what earlier historians would think of our little history podcast. We think they'd love it! 

Kylie and Dr. Oz go toe to toe in an Ohio vs. Indiana chat about the Wright Brothers. You'll be shocked to learn that Dr. Oz argues the importance of historical accuracy when Kylie purposely leaves out the mention of two men. Oops! We're inspired by a 1903 Kappa who regularly sent her grievances about human trafficking to Teddy Roosevelt and in a discussion about alums we wonder if early Kappas actually believed that Kappa was for undergrads and not for old maids and married women. Oh, and an important lesson from 1903 - it's called a blouse, not a shirt. Slang is tacky.

In 1902 we want to scream - schools appear to be backtracking and are looking to limit women's access to higher education. Are we seriously discussing co-education, again?? Guess what makes Dr. Oz squeal with delight when a certain someone is announced as having initiated in 1902! We finally learn about Kylie's favorite founder - Anna Potter, and Florence from St. Lawrence gets a mention. Oh! And you'll never believe the imposters we learn about. 1902 was definitely an exciting year in The Key. 

We're a year into the new century and it sometimes still feels like the dawn of the new century! And with the death of Queen Victorian, it's also the end of an era - literally. This episode offers advice for pending hot weather in the form of armpit shields instead of antiperspirants. An amazing early journalist is re-discovered, and Kylie tries to make Handkerchief Showers a thing again. Oh, and chapters, quit writing in about your fudge parties and frivolous dances with all of your slang and provincial talk. And if you do quit all of that, you might win a new golden key! 

New century, new us, right? Dr. Oz tosses in lots of Hoosier trivia in the beginning with news from Mu and Iota Chapters. She then confesses her status as a book worm and notices that students are discussing the difference between Fraternity Spirit and College Spirit. There are a few small pox outbreaks and can you guess which Founder was one of the first (that we know of) to be vaccinated? And of course Kylie loved the shout out to Columbus' early moniker - Arch City!

In 1899 Kappa's looking to keep up with their history, women students have more time for social activities and legacies are discussed, but not in the way we might think. We get an update on another favorite Florence - the famous geologist Florence Bascom, and a member writes in with her concerns about the increased pace and stress of student life. Ps...I share my future business plan for "Choicest Spirits." Fun times at the end of the decade AND the end of century!!