Indianapolis Kappa Silhouettes

m home to home and as the IAC began to grow, so did their families. At one of the meetings in (circa) late 1940's the Kappa's agreed to pool money and look for a permanent meeting location. A small apartment building located at 42nd and Boulevard (now a park) was purchased. The Kappa House was renovated and used for Kappa meetings as well as temporary housing for Kappa's and their families new to Indianapolis. While the Kappa's met in the basement, the Kappa Wives fellowshipped upstairs--sharing recipes, cooking and sewing, watching children and preparing public and Sunday School lesson plans. The Kappa Wives were the "designated drivers" as upon concluding their meeting, the men would play poker and enjoy adult beverages until the early morning hours. For the Founders' Day Celebration on January 7, 1950 at Canary Cottage [the Kappa Wives would join the men following their program] IAC Polemarch asked his wife Frances and Grace Bryant to plan an event for the wives who might accompany their Kappa's to the 1951 Conclave in Indianapolis. The wives decided to participate in a fundraising event (luncheon/fashion show) at the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA. Grace Bryant was asked to write letters to the wives and find out whether they would be willing to pay the $3 ticket price as well as an additional $2 to make a contribution to the YWCA on behalf of all of the Kappa Wives attending the Conclave. The shopping trips during the segregated 1950's required the Kappa Wives to shop in groups as they walked to Sears & Roebuck, Woolworths and J.C. In the late 1950's Grand Polemarch Stanton Wilson established the Golden Anniversary Coordinating Committee to begin planning for the celebration to be held in Bloomington, Indiana August 27-30, 1961. The Committee on Ladies Entertainment was chaired by Henry Bennett. Bennett worked closed with Kappa Wives (now known as Silhouettes) Susie Artis, Osma Spurlock, Wyolene Harris, Grace Bryant and Lelia Bundles. Silhouettes Jewell LaRue, Jessie Marrs, Ann Carter, Josephine Mosby and Marian Sumlin had limited participation with the Silhouettes because, in the words of Silhouette LaRue: "we were young wives with small children and no money." During the 1970's the Indianapolis Silhouettes did not meet as a "formal" group. They would, however, frequently join the Kappa's following their meetings for a night out at Pearls Lounge. Planning for the 75th Diamond Jubilee began in the early 1980's. Silhouettes Josephine Mosby and Nadine Bonds attended the National Silhouette business meeting at the winter 1983 Conclave held in Louisville, Kentucky. Silhouette Bonds was appointed to serve as the North Central Province Coordinator by National Silhouette President Mary Carolyn Menchan. Under the leadership of President Gracie Edwards, Indianapolis Silhouettes reaffiliated with the National Silhouettes for the 1983-1984 year. Living members of the Indianapolis Silhouettes Diamond Jubilee team included: Marie Smith, Jewell LaRue, Marian Sumlin, Corrie Wilson, Donna Lee, Roberta Carmichael, Chrystle Stockard, Doris Clark, Ida Edelen, Brenda Lorthridge, Mary Oakley, Mary Taylor, Mildred Varnado, and general chairman Nadine Bonds. Following the 1986 Conclave, the Indianapolis Silhouettes made a $10,000 contribution to the IAC Foundation. Silhouette Bonds was elected as the National Silhouette Parliamentarian at the 1988 Conclave in Dallas. The Indianapolis Silhouettes have been the only consistent financial chapter in the North Central Province, followed closely by the Gary, Indiana Silhouettes. Chapters organizing specifically to host Conclaves included Chicago, Minneapolis and St. Silhouette Corrie Wilson assumed the helm of President (1987-1999) and the ladies began meeting on a regular basis and embraced the program efforts of the National Silhouettes. Silhouette Clark served as President (1999-2001) until her relocation to another city and the group asked Silhouette Wilson to resume her role as President. Silhouette B. Denise Owens, current President succeeded Wilson in 2007 and has led the Indianapolis Chapter through the 44th National Silhouette meeting and the historic 100th celebration of Kappa Alpha Psi.