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The Phi Beta Sigma Chapter House at 1020 Colorado was approximately one and a half miles from campus. It was a two story house with a basement and attic. The main floor contained the kitchen and main living areas with bedrooms upstairs.
It was assumed that all black males would live at the fraternity house and be pledged. The residents slept in bunkbeds, two to four to a room. They were responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and order in the house. They maintained a rigid set of rules and a demerit system of penalties. Much of the house cleaning and tending the furnace fell on the shoulders of the freshman pledges. They also participated in Hell Week and initiation, gaining membership their second semester depending upon their grades and conduct. While Frank M. Davis describes his experience in some detail, Louis Fry simply notes "I won't tell you any more of the hazing stories because they sound a little bizarre to me now, a little cruel, and I suppose they were."
The housemother visted a couple of times during the year to check on the residents, leaving them to their own devices the remainder of the year.
Many of them worked in service jobs which provided meals, leaving groceries a separate expense purchased by those eating at the house. Likewise, each resident was responsible for their own laundry. The residents divided all other monthly expenses evenly, usually between $8 and $15, including expenses for social events.
Although college rules required a permit from the Dean of Women to have a social function, as well as the presence of the housemother to serve as chaperone, the members of Delta Chapter held impromptu dances about twice a month. As there was a phonograph and an upright piano, they alternated between records and live music for their dances.
"Joy was king last Friday night when the members of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity staged their spring party here. ... Many out-of town visitors were present at this, the best of the festivities of the year. They were Topeka: Arthur Edwards, Glen Mallory, C. Tyler, C. Odell, Misses Madge Daylor, Bertha Porter, Marguerite Mallory; Emporia: Misses Viola Webb, Faye Steele, Ruby Lucas, Ethel Woodward, Goldie Richardson; Lawrence: Misses Edna Over, Gaynelle Morrison, Inez Anderson, Viola Crawford. Kansas City: Misses Iva Richardson, Norine Brown and Mr. Eli Logan."
The Topeka Plaindealer, 25 May 1923
They invested the most in their spring party, hiring some of the best musicians available. In 1923, they brought Duke's Orchestra to Manhattan. Overstreet's seven piece orchestra from Topeka played for about seventy-five couples in 1925.
"Since we were on our own, we leaned over backward and behaved as decorously as if the parents of each girl were there looking on. As a group we were serious about being there to study instead of swing."
Livin' the Blues, pg. 77-78
The student directories produced this list of individuals living at 1020 Colorado.
| 1920-1921 | 1921-1922 | 1922-1923 | 1923-1924 | 1924-1925 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Arnold, US Boydston, HC Bronson, Geo T Carter, AB Ford, Gordon E Frey, RG Fry, Frances Glenn Jarmon, JD Jones, NL May, RW Newton, JH Pryor, James Scott, Walter S Walton, WD Williams, Raymond Wilson, John Leod |
Arnold, US Boydston, HC Bronson, GT Ford, GE Fry, FG May, RW Miller, TH Pryor, JW Walton, WD Williams, Raymond Wilson, CL Wilson, JL |
Arnold, US Bronson, GT Bruce, LR Davis, JF Fry, LE May, RW Miller, TH Mobiley, CH Robinson, GB Scott, WS Settler, Sheridan Walton, WD Williams, LM Williams, RM Williams, TW Wilson, JL |
Arnold, US Bronsom, GT Brooks, PO Davis, JF Howell, NH May, RW Miller, TH Mobiley, CH Reef, VE Settler Walton, WD Williams, RM Williams, CL |
Boone, EE Brooks, OP Davis, FM Davis, JF Fry, LE Greene, FT Howell, NH Miller, TH Mobiley, CH Reef, VE Scott, WS Settler, S Wilson, CL |
| 1925-1926 | 1926-1927 | 1927-1928 | 1928-1929 | 1929-1930 |
|
Brooks, PO Caldwell, AB Davis, FM Greene, FT Howell, NH Long, TW Miller, TH Mobiley, CH Ramsey, EM Reef, VE Scott, WS Settler, Sheridan Washington, LO |
Brooks, PO Carroll, DH Davis, FM Greene, FT Howell, NH Owens, CC Robinson, DH Scott, WS Watson, AS Young, RP |
Greene, FT Johnson, WL Scott, WS Young, RP |
Clem, LV Hebert, AC Johnson, WL Washington, LO Young, RP |
Clem, LV Davis, FM Elliott, WM Hebert, AC Swancy, SD Watson, AS White, Harry |
Mrs. Bertha Scott served as housemother to the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity according the 1925 and 1927 Royal Purple. The 1925 Kansas census, indicates that she was 29 years old and born in Kansas. She was married to Kansas native, Edward J. Scott, age 30.
Sheridan Settler remembered them: "She was a large woman. She and her husband lived close by. Mr. Scott considered himself a friend of the members."
There is no record of who the official housemother was before 1925, nor after 1927.
"We made payments to a business lady. She owned a lot of property and a big house with lots of rooms - like a hotel."
Sheridan Settler interview, 09 Mar 2004
"We were buying our frat house by paying off a mortgage of so much monthly. A black woman named Dishman handled the payments. She was also our official housemother and provided rooms for girls who came to visit us from out of town. Around 1928 we learned that instead of paying off the mortgage, Mrs. Dishman had kept the money."
Letter from Frank Marshall Davis to Carol Oukrup, 1984 Oct 12
Alice Dishman is a bit of a mystery. During the 1920 census, Alice Dishman is listed as being a 38 year old widow, working as a cook in a hotel. She was born in Mississippi, though her parents were from Missouri.
The 1925 Kansas census lists Alice Dishman, a 39 year old widow, born in Missouri, working as a cook. There is also an M. E. Dishman, 38 year old male born in Kansas, who was driving a taxi.
The 1930 census finds Alice C. Dishman, a 46 year old widow, born in Missouri, working as a head cook in a hotel. Living with her were three nieces: Dorothy Potter, age 22; Allene E. Miller, age 14; and Gladys M. Miller, age 12.
Rosa Hickman, long-time resident of Manhattan, recalls information she heard as a child: Alice Dishman was known to be an excellent cook and worked at the Gillette Hotel. Rosa recalls that Alice's nieces were attractive women, and that Alice's niece Helen, married George Franklin Giles. It is very possible that Allene and Helen are the same person. Alice had a "good time house" with deep porches, though of course, Rosa wasn't allowed to go near the place.
"Afterward Jimmy [James Frank Davis] and I took our dates to the private residence where most soul sisters stayed when in Manhattan, then settled on opposite ends of the long porch, covered and dark, to neck."
Livin' the Blues, pg 83.
On August 18-19, 2006, members of the fraternity gathered in Manhattan, Kansas, for the "Charles I. Brown Historical Symposium: A Pilgrimage to Delta Chapter." It was while giving tours of the house that the most recent owner met the brothers of Phi Beta Sigma and decided to give them first right of refusal to buy the house before placing it on the market.
The Delta Chapter, with Jonathan Mason and other brothers purchased the original chapter house in September 2007. After more than 70 years, 1020 Colorado once more became home to the Delta Chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Ward 5, Lot 406 (the lot upon which 1020 Colorado stands) was owned by:
1890 - Aug. Bachman (valued at $45)
1900 - Charles T. Killan ($10)
1910 - J. J. Ekart ($350)
1911 - L. W. Nutter ($350)
1912 - L. W. Nutter ($1580) There was a house on the lot!
1913 - Alvin T. Vilander purchased the propery for $2500
1933 - Church of God in Christ Church was started and held meetings here on fifth Sundays
???? - Dr. E. J. Frick
ca 1976 - George & Julie Strecker
ca 2000 - property donated to the Nature Conservancy
???? - Elaine & Bob Mohr
2006 - Aaron Otto
2007 - Delta Chapter, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Sources of Information:
Letter to Carol Oukrup from Frank M. Davis, 12 Oct 1984
Davis, Frank Marsahll. Livin' the Blues (1992)
Louis Edwin Fry, Sr: His Life and His Architecture (1981) self published autobiography
Phone interview with Sheridan Settler conducted by Pat Patton, 09 Mar 2004
The Topeka Plaindealer (Topeka, KS) 03 Nov 1922: "Our week end trip to Manhattan"
The Topeka Plaindealer (Topeka, KS) 25 May 1923: "Phi Beta Sigmas entertain in Manhattan"
Kansas State Collegian (Manhattan, KS) 12 May 1925: "Society Happenings"
Daily Mercury (Manhattan, KS) 13 Jan 1913
The Other Side of Manhattan, Kansas: Oral History of the Black Community (VF: Manhattan. African-American Community)
Information presented for research or promotional purposes and may be reproduced without permission provided proper credit is given.
All photographs, unless otherwise stated, are the property of Morse Dept. of Special Collections and may not be used without prior written permission from the Archivist.
University Archives, Richard L. D. & Marjorie J. Morse Dept. of Special Collections, K-State Libraries.
