Key Matters

We decided to split the 1891-1892 episode of Key Matters, so Kylie hits all the top topics from 1891 in this go around. Even though some of the actual issues were tough to read (one was a typed galley, rescued from the 1965 fire at HQ!) there were several topics that are rather relevant today. Though the mentioned savage Kappa goat is not one of the more relevant topics, the "woman question" comes up and of course our super smart sisters remind everyone that when you decide to debate what women can and can't do, you better have facts to back it up - not just your opinions. And in 1891, 130 years ago, they were still reminding one another that to live up to our ideals as Kappas, we cannot be exclusive...we must be inclusive. Something we are still reminding one another about today. 

Despite a fairly slow news year, we split the episode into two parts - and 1890 is part 2! Big decisions were made at the 1890 Convention - the flower, the gemstone, the official naming of chapters - but they were barely a blip in the magazine! Not to worry, we still had plenty to chatter about. 

We got a little carried away again and decided to split this episode in half - this part is Dr. Oz's review of all the excitement of 1889. She starts with rumors of murder, gets a few Indiana highlights as well as an Ada mention worked in, and is our beloved magazine really advocating for onesies as fashion? Before it's all wrapped up, find out if Dr. Oz really pursued that career in book binding that she had set her hopes on. 

This is the second half of the recording we did for the issues from 1887 and 1888. Phi Chapter at Boston is still editing the magazine and they have had it. They essentially asked for more support or to have the magazine be put out of its "useless and wretched existence." Charlotte Barrell implores delegates to be prepared for the upcoming convention, and the exchanges between the editors of other fraternity magazines get a bit tense. We hear one of the first mentions of alumnae organizing themselves into an association around Syracuse. OH! Apparently Kappa not only has a Waltz, but also a Gallop.

We got a little chatty in this episode so we've divided it into two parts - this one covers 1887 and 1888 will come out separately. We hit lots of highlights in this episode - Florence from St. Lawrence, P.E.O., chapters are making a case for chapter rooms and houses. Added bonus - Dr. Oz asks how often you should wear your membership badge and defends academics and history as a trade. The big buildup at the end features one of Dr. Oz's research unicorns; see if you can hear where she could easily get tossed out of a library for celebrating her latest find!

In 1885 and 1886 we get some great correspondence from Mary Livermore and Julia Ward Howe; the field of architecture is opening up to women; and there's a new chapter editing the magazine...Minnetta finally gets a well-deserved break! Oh, and we're still working on our sign-offs. 

We go all the way back to the very first issues of The Golden Key, May 1882 through June 1885. Kappa is growing and looking for ways to more effectively communicate. Editor Minnetta Taylor is getting her footing and the first magazine to be published by a women's fraternity starts out as more of a literary publication with a few exchanges with the men's fraternities about the state of Greek Letter Organizations at the time.   

One of the first seemingly unrelated advertisements in The Golden Key was for Pond's Extract - the forerunner to Pond's Cold Cream. 

A quick review of the May 1918 issue showed a lot of similarities to things that are happening today.