At Tri Delta’s 61st Biennial Convention this summer, attendees can access important information about the schedule, meeting locations, special events and more through a mobile app. Social media posts will share updates, photos and recaps of featured speakers and events, keeping both attendees and members who couldn’t attend in the loop. Tri Deltas have always been eager for the latest convention scoop—and for many years, they received this information in the form of a daily convention newspaper.
The first of our convention news dailies appeared at our 1912 gathering and was called the Tattler. The convention host, Nu Chapter at Ohio State University, had produced an annual chapter history booklet called the Tattler since its founding, which shared stories about all the chapter’s events during the year. They decided to create a similar publication in the form of an informational news sheet for convention-goers. From this first edition:
“When we first began to make our plans for the convention, somebody suggested that we have a convention edition of the Tattler and the idea was popular from the start. And so behold it, quite grown up, arrayed in formal and unusual garb, ready to entertain and interest the visitors and delegates.”
From the Tri Delta Tattler, August 13, 1912
This tabloid-sized newspaper featured stories on the convention opening, the next day’s schedule and tidbits about the attending delegates. It also contained photographs and drawings. Local advertising, which included florists, hotels and candy shops, covered the newspaper’s publishing costs. It was an instant success, and members appealed for it to be a part of future conventions.
Unfortunately, the 1915 convention venue at Camp Asilomar had no facilities for printing a newspaper, so the newly titled Delta Daily Doings appeared in poster form each morning. The daily newspaper reappeared in print renamed Convention Daily in 1922 and then as the Glacier Crescent in 1925.
At the 1928 convention, it became the Pine Press, a title it would keep for the rest of its history. It was an important feature of our conventions until 1972, providing information and amusement for those attending. Pine Press made an encore appearance at the centennial convention in 1988.
Through the years, the daily newspaper included details of life at conventions not found anywhere else. Some examples are found in these clips from early conventions:
From the Glacier Crescent, Glacier National Park, Montana, June 25, 1925:
Anyone can miss a train, but it takes a capable and efficient ∆∆∆ to catch a special [the Tri Delta convention train] after it’s started. Irmagarde Leach, Upsilon.
Seventeen Epsilon Deltas had a birthday party for Jean Hilmer in the dining room Wednesday night. A real birthday cake, gifts and songs made the party jolly and it was a time of general rejoicing since Knox Chapter holds the honor of the largest attendance.
From the Convention Daily, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, June 28, 1922:
And the elements raged! The waters thereof roared and men trembled! But Deltas would not be true children of Poseidon if the flash of lightning and a downpour of rain did not merely add to their pleasure!
Wanted—a few hours sleep. If the Council [Executive Board] yawns—forgive them; the moonless sessions are meeting the dawn these mornings.
From the Pine Press, Quebec, June 25, 1931
In an informal and charming speech yesterday afternoon, Katherine Wills Coleman, Kappa, discussed the advantages to be derived from our college life and summarized why our members should remain in school for at least four years.
From the Pine Press, Boston, Massachusetts, 1938 (50th Anniversary Convention)
The Ode ended with an introduction to Ida Shaw Martin, the only living founder of Tri Delta. Mrs. Martin, broadcasting from her home, spoke of the future, prophesying much for the organization within the next half-century. Her talk was transmitted to the convention hall by wire. When she had finished, the entire assembly arose and, with tears in their eyes, replied by singing Alpha Theta Phi.