PAGE 25 - The last 6 Sigma Phi Convention Tickets, 1881-1887

My great-grandfather, James Grover "Grove" TERWILLIGER, filled his Souvenir Album with a miscellany of ribbons, invitations, stamps, cards, tickets, cut-outs from hotel letterheads, newspaper articles, and other items from his travels and affiliations.   Page 25 is the third page in a row of Sigma Phi tickets to Conventions in the 1870s and 1880s, including an envelope with invitation insert. 

From the left, horizontally across the top, then from left across the bottom:

1. Sigma Phi Convention / Schenectady, N.Y. /  Friday, March Fourth, 1881. / E.P.V. / R.S.V.P. / Meeting 5.30 P.M. 

2.  E.P.V. / The Sixtieth Annual Convention / of the Sigma Phi will be held / with the Beta of New York, / Wednesday June twenty ninth, / 1887 / Convention, 3 o'clock P.M. / Conclave, 9 o'clock P.M. / An early answer is requested.

3.  E.P.V. / Sigma Phi Convention / Hotel Brunswick, / Tuesday, January Fourth, 1887 / Meeting at 3.30 P.M. / 225 Fifth Avenue    New York City

4.  E.P.V. / Sigma Phi Convention, / Schenectady, N.Y. / Tuesday, March Fourth, 1884. / Meeting at 5.30 P.M. / R.S.V.P.

5.  E.P.V. / Sigma Phi Convention, / Schenectady, N.Y. / Wednesday, March Fourth, 1885. / Meeting at 5.30 P.M. / R.S.V.P.

6.  (Insert) Dear Brother, / The conclave will assemble at 9.30 P.M. / Sigma Phi House. / Please reply.    E.P.V.
     (Enveloped invitation)  Your presence is requested at the / Semi Centennial Exercises / of the / Alpha of Massachusetts Chapter / of  / Sigma Phi, / Wednesday afternoon, July 2nd, 1884 / at half-past four o'clock. / College Chapel, / Williamstown, Mass. / 1834.   1884.  

If you have any information about these events, or about Sigma Phi and the E.P.V., do let me know via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below. On my research list is a note for me to write to Sigma Phi about my great-grandfather's involvement in Sigma Phi.  

Update:  Thanks to Albert Riezebos, a very helpful Canadian genealogist, I now have proof of my great-grandfather's membership in Sigma Phi, in the Alpha of Massachusetts.  Grove (James Grover TERWILLIGER) had been a student at Williams College in MA in 1873, and joined Sigma Phi in 1877.  See listing below in "Catalogue of the SIGMA PHI with the THESAURUS", printed 1891, showing his current residence at the time (found online, Google Books) :

The next page, Page 26, is of paper money of all denominations, glued down hard of course, so I am unable to see the reverse of each paper.  This will be a very interesting page to inventory!  Thank you for stopping by.

PAGE 23 - 6 Sigma Phi events, 1 Yale College Glee Club event

My great-grandfather, James Grover "Grove" TERWILLIGER, filled his Souvenir Album with a miscellany of ribbons, invitations, stamps, cards, tickets, cut-outs from hotel letterheads, newspaper articles, and other items from his travels and affiliations.   Page 23 has 7 invitations: 6 are for Sigma Phi social events, and the last is for a Yale College Glee club event. Meeting at 6, dancing at 7:30, for several Sigma Phi events. However there are only a few years printed on the invitations; many have only the month, weekday, and date.  

Much searching through examples of perpetual calendars has ensued... my mind glazed over eventually.  I found many pretty examples of how to find the day of the week from the year and date, but only mind-blowing versions of how to find the year for a date and day of the week... It did not compute for me.  I'm clearly missing an obvious step.  So I'm putting it out here, and anyone who can figure it out, please let me know.  Most likely, these events are from 1870 to 1895.  

I expect it would be reasonable for me to write to Sigma Phi in New York and request information on whether or not my greatgrandfather was a member.  Although, it is possible he received these invitations via his colleagues or friends. 

1. Here is the inside of the top left example, with lovely colour printing on the outside as well as inside the invitation:

The Sigma Phi Society

Request the pleasure of your company

on Wednesday evening July 2nd at six o'clock

            D.S. Williams

          J. F. Johnson

           F. Townsend Jr.

2. In the same manner and style, the next invitation below states: The pleasure of your company is requested at Sigma Phi Place,  Wednesday July seventh at 6 o'clock P.M.   Dancing at half past seven.  Robert Townsend.

3.  Bottom left invitation has the Sigma Phi embossed in white on white, and states:  The pleasure of your company is requested at Sigma Phi Place, Wednesday July first at 6 o'clock P.M.  Dancing at half past seven.  L.V. Davison. J.N. Tollené. W.D. Edmonds.

4. Centre invitation states: The Forty Eighth Annual Summer Convention of the Sigma Phi will be held with the Alpha of Michigan.  Monday June 28th 1875.   Note this chapter (Alpha) was founded in 1827

5.  Top right invitation has an embossed old English S on the front, with the same type of lettering inside for the name.  The invitation states:  Mr. Spencer Jr.   Requests the pleasure of your company to meet the members of the Yale College Glee Club  Tuesday April 14th, from 3 to 6 P.M.   75 James Street

6.   Middle right invitation states:  The Forty Ninth Annual Summer Convention of the Sigma Phi will be held with the Beta of New York,  Wednesday June 28th 1876.  Secret Session at 10 o'clock P.M.  

7.  The final bottom right invitation has its own envelope, glued down carefully, so I cannot read to whom it is addressed (sigh), and in the usual style and manner, states: The pleasure of your company is requested at Sigma Phi Place, Wednesday July fourth at six o'clock P.M.  Dancing at half past seven.  T.T. Munroe.  G.R. Livingston.  G.T. Clark.  Bryan Collins.

Hmmm.  Does anyone have knowledge of the histories or details of any of these events? Or know any of the names mentioned? I'm assuming the names are officials in charge of the events, or of the chapter.  The next page, Page 24, has more invitations and notices from Sigma Phi, so I'll do another page next Saturday.

If you have any questions or information please do not hesitate to contact me via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below.