Florence Burton Roth

Florence Burton Roth

Florence Burton Roth, Beta Delta Chapter, Michigan

(1882-1971)

Since, in 1910, it was Kappa’s turn to head the National Panhellenic Congress, Florence Burton Roth not only succeeded Edith Stoner as Grand President, 1910-1912, she distinguished herself as NPC president as well.

As an active, Florence was exuberant and witty with a fun sense of humor. Her humor continued throughout her life. At the end of a banquet speech in 1948 she quipped, “The mind can absorb only what the seat can endure.”

It was under Florence’s stewardship that Kappa became an international Fraternity on May 24, 1911, she installed Kappa Kappa Gamma’s first Canadian chapter, Beta Psi, at the University of Toronto.

Florence had served as Grand Secretary before becoming President. After her term, Florence accepted the office of Historian, which she held for more than 12 years, until 1925. She was the first Historian to reach the point of planning to publish a history; she wrote the histories of Kappa’s early chapters and collected much of the material.

Later she agreed to be chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Clubhouse (later called Boyd Hearthstone), the vacation home for Kappas in Winter Park, Florida, and she served nearly 15 years.

Married and the mother of a son, Florence was a “social engineer” who built a creative community spirit, at home and in Kappa. At home, she was interested in hospitals, church work, helping orphans and the elderly, war work and women’s clubs. To the end of her life, she was a devoted and admired Kappa.