Key Matters

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!!

We were thrilled to celebrate recording our 10th episode, except we got confused since some recordings were were split into two episodes. But who cares about the details?? This episode has fun outtakes, we each reflect on what we've covered so far, and we answer the question "Why is this podcast important?" 

Dr. Oz runs through all the excitement of 1898. Chapters are hosting "Swings," debating legacies, and dreaming of houses. Maladies like nervous exhaustion run amuck and some students and alums are joining the war effort - the Spanish American War effort. What a year!

In 1897 the world is inventing computers, aspirin, the very first LGBT campaigning organization, and...electric bicycles??? Are we sure it's still the 19th century?? Kappa on the other hand is initiating and celebrating some young women who would go on to make a huge and positive impact on the world. It's clear that the entire system of Greek letter organizations is on thin ice on lots of campuses, so the editorials plead with members to be proud of their affiliation but to work hard to be a force for good whenever possible. A message we all would do well to heed today!

Lucky episode number 13 includes all the news to know from 1896! And guess who makes a special appearance in this very special episode? Florence from St. Lawrence! Dr. Oz confirms she's up on musical pop culture and we wrestle with the *new* woman question - now that women's place in higher education is somewhat guaranteed, what are women going to do to make it worth it? See if you can spot the mega-chapter of 1896 clocking in with 29 members; the most of any chapter that year. Also, some students traversed 8-foot snow drifts and -40 degree temps just to get to chapter meetings. Can any of us say we're that intrepid??

Dr. Oz nerds out a bit about Sherlock Holmes in the beginning, then sheds light on a new science in 1895 - Oekology or domestic science. Any party planners out there will want to skip to the middle to learn more about shadow parties. And towards the end we wonder if a Kappa named Jessie is actually arguing that architects are too artistic to wear Victorian-style culottes. Who's to say??

You may have noticed that our episodes of Key Matters are often split into two parts. We just can’t help ourselves. There are too many interesting things in our magazine! In this outtake, Dr. Oz is a bit shocked at the length of my research notes for an early episode. So see what all the fuss is about and join us on most Fridays when we continue our tour through the first magazine published by a women’s fraternity, The Golden Key. The title was simplified to The Key, but I think you’ll agree, there’s nothing simple about our beloved award-winning publication. Key Matters is available on all of your favorite podcast players and you’ll recognize the brown cover with the golden key. 

Dr. Oz hits all the highlights of 1894, including the settlement house movement - the good parts, and the gross parts. We're not afraid to talk about the hard stuff! Dr. Oz lets her library flag fly high in this episode, and even though I touched on most of her research unicorns in 1893, no one is shocked that she still manages to squeeze a loose Dr. Crawford reference into this one. See if you can find it!

What do the song Happy Birthday, the Fox Sisters, John Wilkes Booth's brother and Abraham Lincoln's son all have in common? Kylie manages to work them into this episode, that's what. And we hear from a Kappa who is a college graduate and early entrant into the professional acting field. News was slim in 1893 but that doesn't mean it was boring!  

There are only three issues from 1892 but there is still a lot of news for Oz to cover. Besides temporarily forgetting when Kappa was founded (happens to the best of us) Dr. Oz gets to highlight some of her favorite topics - Indiana, Dr. Crawford, Sherlock Holmes - all the things. Florence from St. Lawrence reappears and has made her way from New York to Illinois and is now teaching at Monmouth's neighbor, Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois!