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122-647: Fairmont Seminary was founded in 1899 by Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Ramsey. The couple came to Washington, D.C. to Arkansas to start a school in 1898. Dr. Ramsey was the school's principal for most of its existence. Judith Leroy Steele was the vice principal from 1900 to 1918. In 1919, Randolph L. Harlowe was the seminary's headmaster. In 1923, Edward Louis Montgomery purchased the seminary and became its principal. He changed its name to Fairmont Junior College and Preparatory School for Girls, commonly known as Fairmont Junior College. Montgomery died in December 1929. Maud van Woy became

244-596: A central figure in the city's business community. He bought a residence in 1884 on 54th Street near the mansions of other magnates such as William Henry Vanderbilt . Despite personal threats and constant pleas for charity, Rockefeller took the new elevated train to his downtown office daily. In 1887, Congress created the Interstate Commerce Commission which was tasked with enforcing equal rates for all railroad freight, but by then Standard depended more on pipeline transport. More threatening to Standard's power

366-455: A collision with steel magnate Andrew Carnegie , and their competition became a major subject of the newspapers and cartoonists. He went on a massive buying spree acquiring leases for crude oil production in Ohio, Indiana, and West Virginia, as the original Pennsylvania oil fields began to play out. Amid the frenetic expansion, Rockefeller began to think of retirement. The daily management of the trust

488-504: A conservationist. Great-grandson John Davison "Jay" Rockefeller IV served from 1985 until 2015 as a Democratic Senator from West Virginia after serving as governor of West Virginia, and another Winthrop served as lieutenant governor of Arkansas for a decade. John D. Rockefeller was born in Richford, New York , then part of the Burned-over district , a New York state region that became

610-715: A decade later in September 2008. It also adopted an official mascot that year, a ladybug named Dot. Continuing its involvement with the Special Olympics, Alpha Sigma Alpha joined its campaign "Spread the Word to End the Word" in 2009. In 2012, the sorority added another national philanthropic partner, Girls on the Run . Alpha Sigma Alpha has multiple official colors, flowers, jewels, and symbols. The primary colors of Alpha Sigma Alpha are crimson and pearl white , with palm green and gold as

732-402: A decent offer. If they refused his offer, he told them he would run them into bankruptcy and then cheaply buy up their assets at auction. However, he did not intend to eliminate competition entirely. In fact, his partner Pratt said of that accusation "Competitors we must have ... If we absorb them, it surely will bring up another." Instead of wanting to eliminate them, Rockefeller saw himself as

854-409: A firestorm of protest from independent oil well owners, including boycotts and vandalism, which led to the discovery of Standard Oil's part in the deal. A major New York refiner, Charles Pratt and Company , headed by Charles Pratt and Henry H. Rogers , led the opposition to this plan, and railroads soon backed off. Pennsylvania revoked the cartel's charter, and non-preferential rates were restored for

976-567: A fortune worth nearly 2% of the national economy. His personal wealth was estimated in 1913 at $ 900 million, which was almost 3% of the US gross domestic product (GDP) of $ 39.1 billion that year. Rockefeller spent much of the last 40 years of his life in retirement at Kykuit , his estate in Westchester County, New York, defining the structure of modern philanthropy, along with other key industrialists such as Andrew Carnegie . His fortune

1098-406: A huge backlash against the company, Tarbell stated she was surprised at its magnitude. "I never had an animus against their size and wealth, never objected to their corporate form. I was willing that they should combine and grow as big and wealthy as they could, but only by legitimate means. But they had never played fair, and that ruined their greatness for me." Tarbell's father had been driven out of

1220-400: A large business is merely a survival of the fittest." Rockefeller was the second of six children born in Richford, New York , to con artist William A. Rockefeller Sr. and Eliza Davison. Rockefeller had an elder sister named Lucy and four younger siblings: William Jr. , Mary, and fraternal twins Franklin (Frank) and Frances. His father was of English and German descent, while his mother

1342-521: A mentor to a new member if they wish. Graduating members have monthly meetings on how to transition from college and have a legacy project. Alumnae receive quarterly newspapers, blogs, and webinars. The sorority currently runs a Sexual Assault Prevention Program, SPEAK UP, where members may watch videos online on topics including "healthy relationships, bystander intervention, self-care and consent, and alcohol and risk reduction." Collegiate chapters host one workshop per semester on such topics, facilitated by

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1464-565: A million dollars in business) and $ 17,000 worth of profit, respectively, and their profits soared with the outbreak of the American Civil War when the Union Army called for massive amounts of food and supplies. During the second year of the American Civil War , Gardner withdrew from the business, and the firm became Clark & Rockefeller. When the Civil War was nearing a close and with

1586-463: A month. His final year provided him $ 58 a month. As a youth, Rockefeller reportedly said that his two great ambitions were to make $ 100,000 (equivalent to $ 3.27 million in 2023 dollars) and to live 100 years. In 1859, Rockefeller went into the produce commission business with two partners, Maurice B. Clark and George W. Gardner , under Clark, Gardner & Company, and they raised $ 4,000 ($ 135,644 in 2023 dollars) in capital. Clark initiated

1708-454: A partner, and the firm of Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler was established. By 1868, with Rockefeller continuing practices of borrowing and reinvesting profits, controlling costs, and using refineries' waste, the company owned two Cleveland refineries and a marketing subsidiary in New York ; it was the largest oil refinery in the world. Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler was the predecessor of

1830-754: A possible career. In September 1855, when Rockefeller was sixteen, he got his first job as an assistant bookkeeper working for a small produce commission firm in Cleveland called Hewitt & Tuttle. He worked long hours and delighted, as he later recalled, in "all the methods and systems of the office." He was particularly adept at calculating transportation costs, which served him well later in his career. Much of Rockefeller's duties involved negotiating with barge canal owners, ship captains, and freight agents. In these negotiations, he learned that posted transportation rates that were believed to be fixed could be altered depending on conditions and timing of freight and through

1952-526: A principal stockholder of the Denver and Rio Grande, for a loan. Gould, via Frederick Taylor Gates , Rockefeller's financial adviser, brought John D. Rockefeller in to help finance the loan. Analysis of the company's operations by John D. Rockefeller Jr. showed a need for substantially more funds which were provided in exchange for acquisition of CF&I's subsidiaries such as the Colorado and Wyoming Railway Company,

2074-729: A quality recruitment plan. Sidney Gremillion Allen Panhellenic Award, named after the sorority's NPC delegate, is given to the chapter that displays outstanding Panhellenic spirit and participation. The Service and Giving Award is given to a chapter that best exhibits generosity. Alumnae chapters may receive several different awards: Palm, Star, or Crown Chapter; the Crown of Excellence; and Outstanding Membership Growth/Alumnae Panhellenic Engagement/Collegiate Chapter Relations/Programs/Community Involvement, Service and Giving. Individual alumnae may receive their own awards. Alumnae whose professional or community achievements have attracted recognition outside of

2196-517: A rebirth, linking it to the phoenix). The original colors, flower, and jewel were respectively crimson and silver, the white carnation, and the emerald. The first membership badge was a shield topped with a jewel set crown, with the Greek letters ΑΣΑ inscribed in gold on a black background. In 1903, the membership badge changed to the diamond shape it has today. In 2016, Alpha Sigma Alpha relaunched its membership education program, where members learn about

2318-531: A result, Rockefeller and his associates owned dozens of separate corporations, each of which operated in just one state; the management of the whole enterprise was rather unwieldy. In 1882, Rockefeller's lawyers created an innovative form of corporation to centralize their holdings, giving birth to the Standard Oil Trust. The " trust " was a corporation of corporations, and the entity's size and wealth drew much attention. Nine trustees, including Rockefeller, ran

2440-499: A son together. He was a faithful congregant of the Erie Street Baptist Mission Church, taught Sunday school, and served as a trustee, clerk, and occasional janitor. Religion was a guiding force throughout his life, and he believed it to be the source of his success. Rockefeller was also considered a supporter of capitalism based on a perspective of social Darwinism , and he was quoted often as saying, "The growth of

2562-413: A ten-week business course at Folsom's Commercial College , where he studied bookkeeping. Rockefeller was a well-behaved, serious, and studious boy despite his father's absences and frequent family moves. His contemporaries described him as reserved, earnest, religious, methodical, and discreet. He was an excellent debater and expressed himself precisely. He also had a deep love of music and dreamed of it as

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2684-431: A trained regional staff member. Alpha Sigma Alpha has run a Service Immersion Experience for its members since 2013, which consists of a service trip where members travel to Oahu, Hawaii, and work with local organizations. In 2012, the sorority began a program called D.O.T. Days, or Donating Our Time Days, which take place during the first week of October every year. Sorority members "are encouraged to donate their time to

2806-743: Is Girls on the Run , a non-profit which uses exercise to build healthy mental and physical habits in preteen girls. Collegiate members are recognized with awards for outstanding new members and sisters who exemplify service, academics, or athletics. Chapters also receive various awards. Established in 1985, the Four-Star Chapter Award is given annually to collegiate chapters which excel in various areas. The areas covered include membership, academic excellence, finance, chapter education and operations, service and giving, national meetings and bylaws, organization image, policies and procedures, advisory board, and alumnae involvement. The chapter that achieves

2928-420: Is Dot the ladybug . The insignia are the star , crown , palm tree , and phoenix . To the sorority, the star represents how its members should try to live up to the sorority's values, while the crown represents leadership and alumnae recognition. The palm tree represents strong development, and the phoenix, the coat of arms' central and largest symbol, openly represents the sorority's 1914 reorganization (or,

3050-405: Is currently partnered with philanthropic organizations Special Olympics and Girls on the Run . In the fall of 1901, at Longwood University, five young women, all friends, decided to rush the local women's fraternities on campus. However, rather than accepting bids that would separate the group, they decided to form their own sorority. The Founders were: On November 15, 1901, Alpha Sigma Alpha

3172-527: Is what we now, many years later, call ' vertical integration ' I do not know whether Mr. Rockefeller ever used the word 'integration'. I only know he conceived the idea. In 1877, Standard clashed with Thomas A. Scott , the president of the Pennsylvania Railroad , Standard's chief hauler. Rockefeller envisioned pipelines as an alternative transport system for oil and began a campaign to build and acquire them. The railroad, seeing Standard's incursion into

3294-536: The Aegis of Alpha Sigma Alpha . In 1911, Alpha Sigma Alpha became a professional sorority within the field of education. Soon after, Alpha Sigma Alpha's chapters began to struggle with membership and function. Alpha Sigma Alpha first contacted (Sarah) Ida Shaw Martin – founder and former national president of Delta Delta Delta and author of the Sorority Handbook – for assistance in 1912. By that year, only four of

3416-569: The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) in 1920, this request was rejected on the basis that women could not hold dual membership in two NPC organizations (as Shaw Martin would if the education sororities were accepted). In 1947, the six sororities of the AES voted to dissolve it and petitioned to join the NPC. On November 27, 1951, Alpha Sigma Alpha was officially welcomed as a full member of

3538-486: The South Improvement Company offering special deals to bulk customers like Standard Oil, outside the main oil centers. The cartel offered preferential treatment as a high-volume shipper, which included not just steep discounts/rebates of up to 50% for their product but rebates for the shipment of competing products. Part of this scheme was the announcement of sharply increased freight charges. This touched off

3660-553: The Standard Oil Company in 1870. He ran it until 1897 and remained its largest shareholder . In his retirement, he focused his energy and wealth on philanthropy, especially regarding education, medicine, higher education, and modernizing the Southern United States . Rockefeller's wealth soared as kerosene and gasoline grew in importance, and he became the richest person in the country, controlling 90% of all oil in

3782-1119: The Supreme Court of the United States found Standard Oil Company of New Jersey in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act . By then the trust still had a 70% market share of the refined oil market but only 14% of the U.S. crude oil supply. The court ruled that the trust originated in illegal monopoly practices and ordered it to be broken up into 34 new companies. These included, among many others, Continental Oil, which became Conoco , now part of ConocoPhillips ; Standard of Indiana, which became Amoco , now part of BP ; Standard of California, which became Chevron ; Standard of New Jersey, which became Esso (and later, Exxon ), now part of ExxonMobil ; Standard of New York, which became Mobil , now part of ExxonMobil; and Standard of Ohio, which became Sohio , now part of BP. Pennzoil and Chevron have remained separate companies. Rockefeller, who had rarely sold shares, held over 25% of Standard's stock at

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3904-453: The White House . The seminary was located at the northeast corner of 14th and Yale from around 1902 until 1920. In August 1903, Ramsey received a permit for an expansive renovation of properties at 2703 and 2705 14th Street NW. In October 1908, Calument Place was added as a residence for the junior college students. In July 1920, Ramsey purchased the former Bristol School as a new campus for

4026-502: The district of Neuwied . In 1864, Rockefeller married Laura Celestia "Cettie" Spelman (1839–1915), daughter of Harvey Buell Spelman and Lucy Henry. They had four daughters and one son together. He said later, "Her judgment was always better than mine. Without her keen advice, I would be a poor man." The Rockefeller wealth, distributed as it was through a system of foundations and trusts, continued to fund family philanthropic, commercial, and, eventually, political aspirations throughout

4148-435: The 13 chapters established since the sorority's founding were left, and by the next, only one active chapter existed, the original Alpha chapter . Shaw Martin suggested ASA contact a local sorority at Miami, Ohio, which was then installed as an ASA chapter. Shaw Martin's assistance led to her induction as an honorary member and the sorority's expansion at teacher's colleges. The sorority would absorb many more local chapters over

4270-455: The 1880s Standard Oil had passed its peak of power over the world oil market. Rockefeller finally gave up his dream of controlling all the world's oil refining; he admitted later, "We realized that public sentiment would be against us if we actually refined all the oil." Over time, foreign competition and new finds abroad eroded his dominance. In the early 1880s, Rockefeller created one of his most important innovations. Rather than try to influence

4392-550: The 20th century. John Jr.'s youngest son David Rockefeller was a leading New York banker, serving for over 20 years as CEO of Chase Manhattan (now part of JPMorgan Chase ). Second son Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller was Republican governor of New York and the 41st Vice President of the United States . Fourth son Winthrop Aldrich Rockefeller served as Republican Governor of Arkansas . Grandchildren Abigail Aldrich "Abby" Rockefeller and John Davison Rockefeller III became philanthropists. Grandson Laurance Spelman Rockefeller became

4514-417: The 41 companies in the trust. The public and the press were immediately suspicious of this new legal entity, and other businesses seized upon the idea and emulated it, further inflaming public sentiment. Standard Oil had gained an aura of invincibility, always prevailing against competitors, critics, and political enemies. It had become the richest, biggest, most feared business in the world, seemingly immune to

4636-588: The Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation, the S. June Smith Center, the Special Olympics, and Girls on the Run. In 1986, Alpha Sigma Alpha combined the 1947 Endowment fund and the Development Fund established in 1982 into the Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation. Initially, it was a scholarship-granting body, but it has branched out to provide the sorority's members with grants and awards as well. The foundation also provides funds for chapter programming. Two of

4758-758: The Casements property, triggering a clause that required her to pay the $ 30,000 loan balance in full ($ 559,430 in today's money). Soon after, she announced the closure of Fairmont Junior College. Most of Fairmont's 100 students were absorbed by the Casements Junior College and Preparatory School. In January 1943, the Fairmont Junior College campus was taken over by the Australian War Supplies Procurement Commission, an agency established for World War II . Fairmont Seminary

4880-419: The Civil War, military consumption of oil drove the price up from $ .35 a barrel in 1862 to as high as $ 13.75. This created an oil-drilling glut, with thousands of speculators attempting to make their fortunes. Most failed, but those who struck oil did not even need to be efficient. They would blow holes in the ground and gather up the oil as they could, often leading to creeks and rivers flowing with wasted oil in

5002-547: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania indicted Rockefeller in 1879 on charges of monopolizing the oil trade, starting an avalanche of similar court proceedings in other states and making a national issue of Standard Oil's business practices. Rockefeller was under great strain during the 1870s and 1880s when he was carrying out his plan of consolidation and integration and being attacked by the press. He complained that he could not stay asleep most nights. Rockefeller later commented: All

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5124-592: The Crystal River Railroad Company, and possibly the Rocky Mountain Coal and Iron Company. Control was passed from the Iowa Group to Gould and Rockefeller interests in 1903 with Gould in control and Rockefeller and Gates representing a minority interests. Osgood left the company in 1904 and devoted his efforts to operating competing coal and coke operations. The strike, called in September 1913 by

5246-572: The Euclid Avenue Baptist Church)—an independent Baptist church that eventually associated with the Northern Baptist Convention (1907–1950; now part of the modern American Baptist Churches USA ). His mother was deeply religious and disciplined, and had a major influence on him in religious matters. During church service, his mother would urge him to contribute his few pennies to the congregation. Rockefeller associated

5368-578: The German origin of Rockefeller and traced them to the early 17th century. Johann Peter Rockenfeller (baptized September 27, 1682, in the Protestant church of Rengsdorf ) immigrated in 1723 from Altwied (today a district of Neuwied , Rhineland-Palatinate ) with three children to North America. He settled in Germantown, Pennsylvania . The name Rockenfeller refers to the now-abandoned village of Rockenfeld in

5490-447: The NPC. From that point on, Alpha Sigma Alpha could potentially establish a chapter at any university recognized by the NPC, no longer limited to those specific to the education profession. Since then, Alpha Sigma Alpha has partnered with various nonprofits in the name of philanthropy. Its philanthropic efforts began in 1958 when it established scholarships for intellectually disabled students and those in special needs education. In 1976,

5612-467: The Rockefellers and the coal industry. The United States Commission on Industrial Relations conducted extensive hearings, singling out John D. Rockefeller Jr. and the Rockefellers' relationship with Bowers for special attention. Bowers was relieved of duty and Wellborn restored to control in 1915, then industrial relations improved. Rockefeller denied any responsibility and minimized the seriousness of

5734-516: The Standard Oil Company. By the end of the American Civil War , Cleveland was one of the five main refining centers in the U.S. (besides Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , New York , and the region in northwestern Pennsylvania where most of the oil originated). By 1869 there was triple the kerosene refining capacity than needed to supply the market, and the capacity remained in excess for many years. On January 10, 1870, Rockefeller abolished

5856-586: The United Mine Workers over the issue of union representation , was against coal mine operators in Huerfano and Las Animas counties of southern Colorado, where the majority of CF&I's coal and coke production was located. The strike was fought vigorously by the coal mine operators association and its steering committee, which included Welborn, president of CF&I, a spokesman for the coal operators. Rockefeller's operative, Lamont Montgomery Bowers, remained in

5978-508: The United States at his peak in 1900. Oil was used in lamps, and as a fuel for ships and automobiles. Standard Oil was the greatest business trust in the United States. Through use of the company's monopoly power , Rockefeller revolutionized the petroleum industry and, through corporate and technological innovations, was instrumental in both widely disseminating and drastically reducing the production cost of oil. Rockefeller's company and business practices came under criticism, particularly in

6100-607: The Virginia State Female Normal School (later known as Longwood College and now known as Longwood University ) in Farmville , Virginia . Once a sorority exclusively for teacher's/educational colleges, Alpha Sigma Alpha became a full member of the National Panhellenic Conference in 1951, and, as a social sorority, now admits members without limits based on major. There are currently over 175 chapters of Alpha Sigma Alpha nationwide with more than 120,000 members. It

6222-514: The anti-sorority attitude, Alpha Sigma Alpha's first six chapters held its first National Convention at the Hotel Richmond in Richmond, VA over the 1905 Thanksgiving weekend. During the convention, the first National Council was elected and the sorority created its magazine, to be published three times a year. This first publication was first printed in 1906. In 1908, the magazine's name was changed to

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6344-436: The background. Few miners belonged to the union or participated in the strike call, but the majority honored it. Strikebreakers (called "scabs") were threatened and sometimes attacked. Both sides purchased substantial arms and ammunition. Striking miners were forced to abandon their homes in company towns and lived in tent cities erected by the union, such as the tent city at Ludlow, a railway stop north of Trinidad . Under

6466-458: The beginning, I was trained to work, to save, and to give." When he was a boy, his family moved to Moravia, New York , and to Owego, New York , in 1851, where he attended Owego Academy. In 1853, his family moved to Strongsville, Ohio , and he attended Cleveland's Central High School , the first high school in Cleveland and the first free public high school west of the Alleghenies. Then he took

6588-428: The boom and bust of the business cycle, consistently making profits year after year. The company's vast American empire included 20,000 domestic wells, 4,000 miles of pipeline, 5,000 tank cars, and over 100,000 employees. Its share of world oil refining topped out above 90% but slowly dropped to about 80% for the rest of the century. Despite the formation of the trust and its perceived immunity from all competition, by

6710-568: The central medium linking the various parts of the Sorority... it consisted entirely of instructions and discussions of Sorority rulings and policy, chapter newsletters and excerpts from articles on morals and ethics for fraternal organizations." In 1915 the sorority founded the Association of Education Sororities with Sigma Sigma Sigma to develop common standards for the formation and expansion of educational sororities. Although Shaw Martin petitioned

6832-457: The church with charity. A Baptist preacher once encouraged him to "make as much money as he could, and then give away as much as he could". Later in his life, Rockefeller recalled: "It was at this moment, that the financial plan of my life was formed". Money making was considered by him a "God-given gift". Alpha Sigma Alpha Alpha Sigma Alpha ( ΑΣΑ ) is a United States National Panhellenic sorority founded on November 15, 1901, at

6954-520: The college's principal around 1932 and was later its president. On November 8, 1940, van Woy purchased the John D. Rockefeller estate known as The Casements in Ormond Beach, Florida to establish a new junior college. She was the president of the new Casements Junior College and the Fairmont Junior College at the same time. In December 1942, van Woy was sued for failure to meet a $ 10,000 promissory note for

7076-471: The company's board of directors. In full retirement at age 63, Rockefeller earned over $ 58 million (~$ 1.65 billion in 2023) in investments in 1902. One of the most effective attacks on Rockefeller and his firm was the 1904 publication of The History of the Standard Oil Company , by Ida Tarbell , a leading muckraker . She documented the company's espionage, price wars, heavy-handed marketing tactics, and courtroom evasions. Although her work prompted

7198-447: The end of the 1870s, Standard was refining over 90% of the oil in the U.S. Rockefeller had already become a millionaire ($ 1 million is equivalent to $ 32 million in 2023 dollars). He instinctively realized that orderliness would only proceed from centralized control of large aggregations of plant and capital, with the one aim of an orderly flow of products from the producer to the consumer. That orderly, economic, efficient flow

7320-439: The established laws of high-class dealing" seemed to be at odds with his true business methods. Rockefeller and his son continued to consolidate their oil interests as best they could until New Jersey, in 1909, changed its incorporation laws to effectively allow a re-creation of the trust in the form of a single holding company . Rockefeller retained his nominal title as president until 1911 and he kept his stock. At last in 1911,

7442-613: The event. When testifying on the Ludlow Massacre , and asked what action he would have taken as Director, John D. Rockefeller Jr. stated, "I would have taken no action. I would have deplored the necessity which compelled the officers of the company to resort to such measures to supplement the State forces to maintain law and order." He admitted that he had made no attempt to bring the militiamen to justice. Against long-circulating speculations that his family has French roots, genealogists proved

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7564-482: The flower was the white carnation, and the jewel was the emerald. The first membership badge of the Sorority was a shield topped with a jewel set crown, with the Greek letters ΑΣΑ inscribed in gold on a black background. On February 13, 1903, Alpha Sigma Alpha was chartered in the Circuit Court of Prince Edward County, VA, by Judge George Jefferson Hundley, the father of one of the founding members. This chartering began

7686-476: The fortune that I have made has not served to compensate me for the anxiety of that period. Although it always had hundreds of competitors, Standard Oil gradually gained dominance of oil refining and sales as market share in the United States through horizontal integration , ending up with about 90% of the US market. In the kerosene industry, the company replaced the old distribution system with its own vertical system. It supplied kerosene by tank cars that brought

7808-402: The four. Each sorority in the "Farmville Four" is also a member of the National Panhellenic Conference , which governs the 26 national social sororities. Alpha Sigma Alpha expanded quickly, installing 13 chapters in its first decade, and then began having issues due to the anti-sorority sentiment of the time, causing one of the chapters to be disbanded only months after its instatement. Despite

7930-555: The fray providing financing. Additional fields were discovered in Burma and Java. Even more critical, the invention of the light bulb gradually began to erode the dominance of kerosene for illumination. Standard Oil adapted by developing a European presence, expanding into natural gas production in the U.S., and then producing gasoline for automobiles, which until then had been considered a waste product. Standard Oil moved its headquarters to New York City at 26 Broadway, and Rockefeller became

8052-531: The fuel to local markets, and tank wagons then delivered to retail customers, thus bypassing the existing network of wholesale jobbers. Despite improving the quality and availability of kerosene products while greatly reducing their cost to the public (the price of kerosene dropped by nearly 80% over the life of the company), Standard Oil's business practices created intense controversy. Standard's most potent weapons against competitors were underselling, differential pricing, and secret transportation rebates. The firm

8174-556: The futility of continuing to compete against Standard Oil; in 1874, they made a secret agreement with Rockefeller to be acquired. Pratt and Rogers became Rockefeller's partners. Rogers, in particular, became one of Rockefeller's key men in the formation of the Standard Oil Trust . Pratt's son, Charles Millard Pratt , became secretary of Standard Oil. For many of his competitors, Rockefeller had merely to show them his books so they could see what they were up against and then make them

8296-405: The great expansion westward fostered by the growth of railroads and an oil -fueled economy. He borrowed heavily, reinvested profits, adapted rapidly to changing markets, and fielded observers to track the quickly expanding industry. In 1866, William Rockefeller Jr., John's brother, built another refinery in Cleveland and brought John into the partnership. In 1867, Henry Morrison Flagler became

8418-487: The headquarters executive. The award is given to a chapter practicing sound financial management through record keeping, accurate financial reports, communication with national headquarters, as well as striving towards overall financial stability. The Recruitment Excellence Award was established in 2010 and is presented to a chapter that has met its recruitment targets for the year. This encompasses reaching campus quota and total, as well as innovation in planning and implementing

8540-596: The highest percentage of requirements toward this award receives the Crown of Excellence Award, the top award that a collegiate chapter can receive. Awards are also given to chapters which excel in single areas. Any collegiate chapter with the highest GPA on its campus for a school term receives the Scholastic Achievement Award. The Rose Marie Fellin Financial Excellence Award was established in 1992 in honor of its namesake's 27 years of service as

8662-403: The idea of the partnership and offered $ 2,000 towards the goal. Rockefeller had only $ 800 saved up at the time and so borrowed $ 1,000 from his father, "Big Bill" Rockefeller, at 10 percent interest. Rockefeller went steadily ahead in business from there, making money each year of his career. In their first and second years of business, Clark, Gardner & Rockefeller netted $ 4,400 (on nearly half

8784-530: The industry's savior, "an angel of mercy" absorbing the weak and making the industry as a whole stronger, more efficient, and more competitive. Standard was growing horizontally and vertically . It added its own pipelines, tank cars, and home delivery network. It kept oil prices low to stave off competitors, made its products affordable to the average household, and, to increase market penetration, sometimes sold below cost. It developed over 300 oil-based products from tar to paint to petroleum jelly to chewing gum. By

8906-461: The least efficient competing refiners, improving the efficiency of his operations, pressing for discounts on oil shipments, undercutting his competition, making secret deals, raising investment pools, and buying rivals out. In less than four months in 1872, in what was later known as "The Cleveland Conquest" or "The Cleveland Massacre", Standard Oil absorbed 22 of its 26 Cleveland competitors. Eventually, even his former antagonists, Pratt and Rogers, saw

9028-526: The national philanthropic partners and local community." Various leadership programming exists for Alpha Sigma Alpha members, advisors, and volunteers. Advisors, volunteers, collegiate members, and alumnae may all attend the sorority's National Convention & Leadership Conference. For its collegiate members, the sorority hosted its first leadership training school in 1966. In 1989, the sorority followed with its Emma Coleman Frost Leadership Development Institute. Collegiate members are also required to attend

9150-430: The next few years. As the sorority began to stabilize, it held a convention to reorganize itself over Thanksgiving in 1914. At this convention, the sorority adopted a constitution and modified its symbols, customs, and ritual. Here, Shaw Martin was elected national president, and the sorority renamed its magazine to its current name, The Phoenix , which became a weekly publication edited by Shaw Martin. It functioned "as

9272-770: The oil business during the " South Improvement Company " affair. Rockefeller called her "Miss Tarbarrel" in private but held back in public saying only, "not a word about that misguided woman." He began a publicity campaign to put his company and himself in a better light. Though he had long maintained a policy of active silence with the press, he decided to make himself more accessible and responded with conciliatory comments such as "capital and labor are both wild forces which require intelligent legislation to hold them in restriction." He wrote and published his memoirs beginning in 1908. Critics found his writing to be sanitized and disingenuous and thought that statements such as "the underlying, essential element of success in business are to follow

9394-401: The organization's legal existence, the first of many steps toward expanding the sorority and making Alpha Sigma Alpha a national sorority. Alpha Sigma Alpha is one of the "Farmville Four" sororities founded at the university, which includes Kappa Delta , Sigma Sigma Sigma , and Zeta Tau Alpha . A clock tower at the university campus with a clock face representing each sorority is dedicated to

9516-429: The other 40% in rivers and massive sludge piles, Rockefeller used the gasoline to fuel the refinery, and sold the rest as lubricating oil, petroleum jelly and paraffin wax, and other by-products. Tar was used for paving, naphtha shipped to gas plants. Likewise, Rockefeller's refineries hired their own plumbers, cutting the cost of pipe-laying in half. Barrels that cost $ 2.50 each ended up only $ 0.96 when Rockefeller bought

9638-425: The partnership of Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler, co-founding Standard Oil of Ohio. Continuing to apply his work ethic and efficiency, Rockefeller quickly expanded the company to be the most profitable refiner in Ohio. Likewise, it became one of the largest shippers of oil and kerosene in the country. The railroads competed fiercely for traffic and, in an attempt to create a cartel to control freight rates, formed

9760-427: The place of water. A market existed for the refined oil in the form of kerosene. Coal had previously been used to extract kerosene, but its tedious extraction process and high price prevented broad use. Even with the high costs of freight transportation and a government levy during the Civil War (the government levied a tax of twenty cents a gallon on refined oil), profits on the refined product were large. The price of

9882-512: The price of crude oil directly, Standard Oil had been exercising indirect control by altering oil storage charges to suit market conditions. Rockefeller then ordered the issuance of certificates against oil stored in its pipelines. These certificates became traded by speculators, thus creating the first oil-futures market which effectively set spot market prices from then on. The National Petroleum Exchange opened in Manhattan in late 1882 to facilitate

10004-466: The prospect of those war-time profits ending, Clark & Rockefeller looked toward the refining of crude oil. While his brother Frank fought in the Civil War, Rockefeller tended his business and hired substitute soldiers . He gave money to the Union cause, as did many rich Northerners who avoided combat. "I wanted to go in the army and do my part," Rockefeller said. "But it was simply out of the question. There

10126-457: The protection of the National Guard, some miners returned to work and some strikebreakers, imported from the eastern coalfields, joined them as Guard troops protected their movements. In February 1914, a substantial portion of the troops were withdrawn, but a large contingent remained at Ludlow. On April 20, 1914, a general fire-fight occurred between strikers and troops, which was antagonized by

10248-427: The refined oil in 1863 was around $ 13 a barrel, with a profit margin of around $ 5 to $ 8 a barrel. The capital expenditures for a refinery at that time were small – around $ 1,000 to $ 1,500 and requiring only a few men to operate. In this environment of a wasteful boom, the partners switched from foodstuffs to oil, building an oil refinery in 1863 in " The Flats ", then Cleveland's burgeoning industrial area. The refinery

10370-578: The regular household chores and earned extra money raising turkeys, selling potatoes and candy, and eventually lending small sums of money to neighbors. He followed his father's advice to "trade dishes for platters" and always get the better part of any deal. Bill once bragged, "I cheat my boys every chance I get. I want to make 'em sharp." However, his mother was more influential in John's upbringing and beyond, while he distanced himself further and further from his father as his life progressed. He later stated, "From

10492-530: The seminary's dormitory. A newer fireproof building, Studio Hall, included the school's studio space and 65 rooms and bathrooms for students. There was also a residence for the president, formerly known as the Sands House. Later, the junior college's address was 1711 Massachusetts Ave., on a property that was owned by the DuPont Estate. Fairmont Seminary issued diplomas and certificates. The seminary referred to

10614-407: The seminary. This campus included a group of buildings located in the block between 19th and 20th Streets and Beltmore Road and Mintwood Place. This location featured large athletics fields and gardens and overlooked Rock Creek Park. Its central building was Collegiate Hall which included classrooms, a library, an assembly hall, and a gymnasium. The second building, the former Waggaman home, was used as

10736-589: The site of an evangelical revival known as the Second Great Awakening . It drew masses to various Protestant churches—especially Baptist ones—and urged believers to follow such ideals as hard work, prayer, and good deeds to build "the Kingdom of God on Earth." Early in his life, he regularly went with his siblings and mother Eliza to the local Baptist church—the Erie Street Baptist Church (later

10858-661: The sorority by serving as a collegiate officer, alumnae officer, and national volunteer. Other awards presented to members for dedication and service to the sorority are the Helen Corey Award, the Wilma Wilson Sharp Award, the Agape Award, and the Outstanding Advisor Award. There are currently over 175 chapters of Alpha Sigma Alpha nationwide with more than 120,000 members. A national housing corporation

10980-571: The sorority receive the Recognition of Eminence Award. First presented in 2012 at the sorority's national convention, the Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation Heart of Giving Award is given to an alumna who has made a significant contribution of time or money to a charitable organizations. The Evelyn G. Bell Award, named after a past national president, is given to an alumna member who exhibits exceptional leadership, loyalty and commitment to

11102-614: The sorority's "The Academy" program on leadership and networking. Graduating college seniors and alumnae have a Women's Advancement Series, which provides career feedback and help on connecting with local sisters. Volunteers and advisors may attend a Region Volunteer Development Weekend or an Advisor Institute, respectively, which are each a weekend of leadership training and advice on chapter operations. The sorority began its leadership consultant program with their first 'traveling secretary' in 1963, later called 'field representatives', before settling on its final name. Leadership consultants are

11224-458: The sorority's national headquarters announced a partnership with the Special Olympics . Since then, it has taken several other projects under its wing. The sorority added the S. June Smith Center, a day care center for intellectually disabled students, as a philanthropic partner in 1990. In 1998, the sorority moved its national headquarters to Indianapolis, Indiana, and opened a new building

11346-497: The sorority's philanthropies focus on helping people with disabilities. The S. June Smith Center provides services to children with disabilities and their families, including various types of therapy and instruction. The center was named after an Alpha Sigma Alpha member, Dr. S. June Smith. The Special Olympics is an organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities , providing year-round training and competitions worldwide. The sorority's newest philanthropic partner

11468-440: The sorority's secondary colors. Its official flowers are both the aster (the fall flower) and the narcissus (the spring flower). For jewels, the fraternity chose the pearl (for members before initiation) and the ruby (for initiated members), which are also linked to the sorority's primary colors. The symbols are the palm tree and the crown , which are linked to the secondary colors of palm green and gold. The sorority mascot

11590-458: The sorority's values. The program is broken down into four stages to correspond with four stages of membership, namely new members, initiates, senior members, and alumnae. The new member program includes online and in-person components, a handbook, a journal to reflect on the sorority's ritual, and a mentorship via an older collegiate member. Initiates also learn about the sorority's values online, have chapter programs, and may be certified to become

11712-1401: The students in the two classes of the junior college as freshmen and seniors. The graduating class of the high school were also called seniors. In 1904, The Washington Post described the seminary's academic program as "ample, providing practical and thorough instruction..." Courses included ancient languages, elocution, English, gymnastics, mathematics, modern languages, philosophy, physical culture, and physical sciences, along with design, drawing, piano, painting, and singing. In 1940, classes included both finishing school and careers-based subjects, including advertising, athletics, Bible history, commercial art, costume design, current events, dancing, domestic arts, dramatic art, dramatics, English, fencing, fine arts, French, German, harp, harmony, hygiene, interior decoration, international relations, mathematics, merchandising, music theory, organ, philosophy, piano, riding, science, secretarial science, Spanish, and violin. Students came from various states. Between 1917 and 1919, students came from 43 states, Canada, and Mexico. In 1940, its students were from Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Wisconsin. In 1919, tuition

11834-573: The students such as the local Columbia Quartet Club. Students also took trips to locations in Washington, D.C. and attended dances and other events at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland . The Fairmont Seminary fencers competed with other schools, including George Washington University . The seminary had an inter-team basketball league in 1928; there were four teams named after Native American tribes. John D. Rockefeller John Davison Rockefeller Sr. (July 8, 1839 – May 23, 1937)

11956-456: The time being. While competitors may have been unhappy, Rockefeller's efforts did bring American consumers cheaper kerosene and other oil by-products. Before 1870, oil light was only for the wealthy, provided by expensive whale oil. During the next decade, kerosene became commonly available to the working and middle classes. Undeterred, though vilified for the first time by the press, Rockefeller continued with his self-reinforcing cycle of buying

12078-485: The time of the breakup. He and all of the other stockholders received proportionate shares in each of the 34 companies. In the aftermath, Rockefeller's control over the oil industry was somewhat reduced, but over the next 10 years the breakup proved immensely profitable for him. The companies' combined net worth rose fivefold and Rockefeller's personal wealth jumped to $ 900 million. In 1902, facing cash flow problems, John Cleveland Osgood turned to George Jay Gould ,

12200-458: The trading of oil futures. Although 85% of world crude production was still coming from Pennsylvania in the 1880s, oil from wells drilled in Russia and Asia began to reach the world market. Robert Nobel had established his own refining enterprise in the abundant and cheaper Russian oil fields, including the region's first pipeline and the world's first oil tanker. The Paris Rothschilds jumped into

12322-405: The transportation and pipeline fields, struck back and formed a subsidiary to buy and build oil refineries and pipelines. Standard countered, held back its shipments, and, with the help of other railroads, started a price war that dramatically reduced freight payments and caused labor unrest. Rockefeller prevailed and the railroad sold its oil interests to Standard. In the aftermath of that battle,

12444-500: The traveling staff of the national organization who educate college chapters on leadership and programming. The current publication is The Phoenix . The magazine covers chapter news and includes features on members who are involved in their communities, memorial lists, praise for members on their personal successes, and miscellaneous articles. The sorority has also published two cookbooks sourced from recipes members have submitted. The sorority's various philanthropic partners include

12566-420: The troops and mine guards. The camp was burned, resulting in 15 women and children, who hid in tents at the camp, being burned to death. Costs to both mine operators and the union were high. This incident brought unwanted national attention to Colorado. Due to reduced demand for coal, resulting from an economic downturn, many of CF&I's coal mines never reopened and many men were thrown out of work. The union

12688-403: The use of rebates to preferred shippers. Rockefeller was also given the duties of collecting debts when Hewitt instructed him to do so. Instead of using his father's method of presence to collect debts, Rockefeller relied on a persistent pestering approach. Rockefeller received $ 16 a month for his three-month apprenticeship. During his first year, he received $ 31 a month, which was increased to $ 50

12810-500: The wood and had them built for himself. In February 1865, in what was later described by oil industry historian Daniel Yergin as a "critical" action, Rockefeller bought out the Clark brothers for $ 72,500 (equivalent to $ 1 million in 2023 dollars) at auction and established the firm of Rockefeller & Andrews. Rockefeller said, "It was the day that determined my career." He was well-positioned to take advantage of postwar prosperity and

12932-766: The work of Abraham Flexner , who in his essay "Medical Education in America" emphatically endowed empiricism as the basis for the US medical system of the 20th century. Rockefeller was the founder of the University of Chicago and Rockefeller University , and funded the establishment of Central Philippine University in the Philippines. He was a devout Northern Baptist and supported many church-based institutions. He adhered to total abstinence from alcohol and tobacco throughout his life. For advice, he relied closely on his wife, Laura Spelman Rockefeller : they had four daughters and

13054-425: The writings of author Ida Tarbell . The Supreme Court ruled in 1911 that Standard Oil must be dismantled for violation of federal antitrust laws . It was broken up into 34 separate entities, which included companies that became ExxonMobil , Chevron Corporation , and others—some of which remain among the largest companies by revenue worldwide . Consequently, Rockefeller became the country's first billionaire, with

13176-478: Was $ 1,000. Students participated in outdoor games. The semiary had several social sororities, including Alpha Sigma Alpha 1905 to 1908, Beta Sigma Omicron from 1904 to 1913, and Kappa Delta from 1903 to 1912. The school's yearbook was The Owl and Parrot . Various speakers were brought to the seminary to present lectures for the students, including William Jennings Bryan and David Starr Jordan , and Wallace Radcliffe . There were also musical performances for

13298-459: Was a homemaker and a devout Baptist who struggled to maintain a semblance of stability at home, as Bill was frequently gone for extended periods. She also put up with his philandering and his double life, which included bigamy. He permanently abandoned his family around 1855 and lived with second wife, Margaret L. Allen. Eliza was thrifty by nature and by necessity, and she taught her son that "willful waste makes woeful want". John did his share of

13420-581: Was an American business magnate and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest Americans of all time and one of the richest people in modern history. Rockefeller was born into a large family in Upstate New York who moved several times before eventually settling in Cleveland , Ohio. He became an assistant bookkeeper at age 16 and went into several business partnerships beginning at age 20, concentrating his business on oil refining . Rockefeller founded

13542-485: Was attacked by journalists and politicians throughout its existence, in part for these monopolistic methods, giving momentum to the antitrust movement. In 1879, the New York State Legislature 's Hepburn Committee investigations into "alleged abuses" committed by the railroads uncovered the fact that Standard Oil was receiving substantial freight rebates on all of the oil it was transporting by railroad—and

13664-560: Was crushing Standard's competitors thereby. By 1880, according to the New York World , Standard Oil was "the most cruel, impudent, pitiless, and grasping monopoly that ever fastened upon a country". To critics, Rockefeller replied, "In a business so large as ours ... some things are likely to be done which we cannot approve. We correct them as soon as they come to our knowledge." At that time, many legislatures had made it difficult to incorporate in one state and operate in another. As

13786-466: Was described by locals as "Big Bill" and "Devil Bill." Unshackled by conventional morality, he led a vagabond existence and returned to his family infrequently. Throughout his life, Bill was notorious for conducting schemes. In between the births of Lucy and John, Bill and his mistress and housekeeper Nancy Brown had a daughter named Clorinda, who died young. Between John and William Jr.'s births, Bill and Nancy had another daughter, named Cornelia. Eliza

13908-412: Was directly owned by Andrews, Clark & Company, which was composed of Clark & Rockefeller, chemist Samuel Andrews , and M. B. Clark's two brothers. The commercial oil business was then in its infancy. Whale oil had become too expensive for the masses, and a cheaper, general-purpose lighting fuel was needed. While other refineries would keep the 60% of oil product that became kerosene, but dump

14030-615: Was forced to discontinue strike benefits in February 1915. There was destitution in the coalfields. With the help of funds from the Rockefeller Foundation , relief programs were organized by the Colorado Committee on Unemployment and Relief. A state agency created by Governor Carlson, offered work to unemployed miners building roads and doing other useful projects. The casualties suffered at Ludlow mobilized public opinion against

14152-562: Was named and chartered. The charter stated "The purpose of the association shall be to cultivate friendship among its members, and in every way to create pure and elevating sentiments, to perform such deeds and to mold such opinions as will tend to elevate and ennoble womanhood in the world." In the year after the charter was signed the founders announced the Sorority's first hymn, Blest Be the Tie that Binds , and first open motto, "to one another ever faithful". The first colors were crimson and silver,

14274-480: Was no one to take my place. We were in a new business, and if I had not stayed it must have stopped—and with so many dependent on it." Rockefeller was an abolitionist who voted for President Abraham Lincoln and supported the then-new Republican Party . As he said, "God gave me money", and he did not apologize for it. He felt at ease and righteous following Methodist preacher John Wesley 's dictum, "gain all you can, save all you can, and give all you can." During

14396-493: Was of Ulster Scot descent. One source says that some ancestors were Huguenots , the Roquefeuille family, who fled to Germany from France during the reign of Louis XIV and a period of religious persecution. By the time their descendants immigrated to North America, their name had taken German form. William Sr. worked first as a lumberman and then a traveling salesman. He claimed to be a "botanic physician" who sold elixirs, and

14518-459: Was originally located at 13th and Harvard Street. In 1900, it moved to 1405 Fairmont Street in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Its building was adjacent to a playground. Later, the school moved to the former residence of Mrs. John A. Logan, located at 13th and Clifton Streets. To enhance the school reception hall, Ramsey purchased crystal chandeliers that previously hung in

14640-483: Was the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, originally used to control unions, but later central to the breakup of the Standard Oil trust. Ohio was especially vigorous in applying its state antitrust laws, and finally forced a separation of Standard Oil of Ohio from the rest of the company in 1892, the first step in the dissolution of the trust. In the 1890s, Rockefeller expanded into iron ore and ore transportation, forcing

14762-777: Was turned over to John Dustin Archbold and Rockefeller bought a new estate, Pocantico Hills , north of New York City, turning more time to leisure activities including the new sports of bicycling and golf. Upon his ascent to the presidency, Theodore Roosevelt initiated dozens of suits under the Sherman Antitrust Act and coaxed reforms out of Congress. In 1901, U.S. Steel , then controlled by J. Pierpont Morgan , having bought Andrew Carnegie's steel assets, offered to buy Standard's iron interests as well. A deal brokered by Henry Clay Frick exchanged Standard's iron interests for U.S. Steel stock and gave Rockefeller and his son membership on

14884-487: Was used chiefly to create the modern systematic approach of targeted philanthropy through the creation of foundations that supported medicine, education, and scientific research. His foundations pioneered developments in medical research and were instrumental in the near-eradication of hookworm in the American South, and yellow fever in the United States. He and Carnegie gave form and impetus through their charities to

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