Alice Allen Brant

https://d1j8dcgobb3n6i.cloudfront.net/heritage/Heroes/Founders_Mobile_Alice.jpg Alice Allen Brant Hero Image

The Learner

Alice O. Allen was born on September 16, 1849, into a farming family that believed strongly in education. She attended Waveland Academy, a college preparatory program, in Waveland, Ind. Along with Bettie Locke, she was admitted to Indiana Asbury College (later DePauw University) as one of the first five women students.

Alice lived about five miles from Greencastle and reportedly rode her horse each way every day her freshman year. One story that Alice liked to tell is that on occasion, the horse, named Kate, would break her halter and head home before Alice was ready, leaving her to walk the five miles home. During 1868-1869, Alice taught in the local one-room school house, with many of her students her younger brothers and sisters. Alice returned to Indiana Asbury to continue her education and roomed with Hannah Fitch. Upon graduation, she returned to teaching, again at her local schoolhouse. She eventually became principal of Attica (Indiana) High School. She completed the testing to obtain a permanent teaching certificate and later taught in Plymouth, Ind., Evanston, Ill., and Fremont County, Ia.

In 1878, Alice married Thomas J. Brant, a former classmate from Indiana Asbury and superintendent of Fremont County (Iowa) schools. A daughter, Edith, was born, and the family moved to Ottawa, Neb. Alice wrote a column in the local newspaper on temperance, and was active in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. She visited the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, and the Chicago World’s Fair, in 1893. She died in 1894, and is buried at the Brick Chapel Cemetery in Putnam County, Ind.

A Look into Alice's Life

  1. 09/16/1849
  2. 09/11/1867
  3. 01/27/1870
  4. 03/14/1870
  5. 01/01/1870
  6. 03/30/1871
  7. 06/21/1870
  8. 07/01/1875
  9. 01/01/1876
  10. 12/28/1876
  11. 08/11/1877
  12. 02/22/1878
  13. 06/16/1879
  14. 01/01/1880
  15. 08/21/1882
  16. 10/03/1887
  17. 06/10/1891
  18. 08/25/1893
  19. 08/10/1894
  20. 01/01/1930
  21. 01/27/1970
  22. 01/01/1970
  23. 01/01/2017
  1. September 16
    1849
    Alice Olive Allen Born

    Alice was born on a farm five miles northwest of Greencastle, Ind.

    450 X 450 Aab0004
  2. September 11
    1867
    Alice Entered Indiana Asbury

    Alice was among the first five women to enter Indiana Asbury (DePauw University).

    450 X 450 Alph0008
  3. January 27
    1870
    Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity Founded

    Along with Bettie Locke, Bettie Tipton, and Hannah Fitch, Alice held the first meeting of Kappa Alpha Theta. The date book pictured belonged to Alice.

    450 X 450 Dbkpage
  4. March 14
    1870
    First Time Theta Badge Is Worn in Public

    The four founders wore their badges to chapel for the first time.

    450 X 450 Alph0022
  5. January 01
    1870
    Alice and her family lived in Putnam County, Ind.
    450 X 450 Aab Census 1870
  6. March 30
    1871
    Elected First Debator

    Alice was elected lead debater by the Philomathean Society. Thetas Bettie Locke, Jennie Allen, Ella Jones, and Mary Simons were also members.

    450 X 450 P9228
  7. June 21
    1870
    Alice Graduates from Indiana Asbury

    Alice was among the first four women to graduate from Indiana Asbury.

    450 X 450 P9226
  8. July 01
    1875
    Earned Indiana State Teachers License

    She received a First Grade (best) certificate as well as a certificate to teach Latin.

    450 X 450 Aab License 1875
  9. January 01
    1876
    Principal of Attica, Ind. High School
    450 X 450 Aab Attica 1877
  10. December 28
    1876
    Attended Indiana State Teachers' Association meeting in Indianapolis
  11. August 11
    1877
    Teacher at Evanston, Ill. High School
  12. February 22
    1878
    Alice Married Thomas J. Brant

    Alice married Thomas J. Brant, who served in the Civil War and was a fellow classmate at Indiana Asbury.

    450 X 450 Aab Marriage 1878
  13. June 16
    1879
    Attended Commencement Exercises at Indiana Asbury

    Alice returned to her alma mater for the graduation ceremonies and was noted as "one of the first lady graduates of the University." She also returned for the 1881 commencement.

  14. January 01
    1880
    Alice and Thomas Reside in Essex, Iowa

    Thomas served as superintendent of schools, and Alice also taught in the Essex schools.

    450 X 450 Aab Census 1880
  15. August 21
    1882
    Daughter, Edith Brant, Born

    Edith Brant was a member of Alpha/DePauw, initiated in 1901 alongside Eulalia Hamilton Hartley, youngest daughter of Bettie Locke Hamilton.

  16. October 03
    1887
    Son, Marion Logan Brant, Born

    The family had moved to Utica, Neb., by the time of Marion's birth.

  17. June 10
    1891
    20th Reunion of the Class of 1871

    Alice spoke on the topic "Those Early Girls."

  18. August 25
    1893
    Visited Greencastle, Ind., for Extended Stay

    Alice didn't return to Nebraska until October.

  19. August 10
    1894
    Alice Allen Brant Died

    Alice Allen Brant died in Omaha, Neb. She was buried at Brick Chapel, Ind.

    450 X 450 Aab0008
  20. January 01
    1930
    Alice Allen Brant Social Service Fellowship Awarded

    Jean Slavens, Beta Delta/Arizona, was awarded the Alice Allen Brandt Fellowship. Focusing on higher education administration, she earned her PhD from Columbia University. Slavens later served as dean of women at the University of Utah.

    450 X 450 P9229
  21. January 27
    1970
    Alice Honored in Theta's Centennial Year

    Graveside ceremonies marked the 100th anniversary of the Fraternity. Fraternity President Norma Anderson Jorgensen placed flowers at Alice's gravesite.

    450 X 450 P9230
  22. January 01
    1970
    First Alice Allen Brant Founders Memorial Scholarship Awarded

    Karen Lafferty Hendricks, Alpha Gamma/Ohio State, received the first Alice Allen Brant Founders Memorial Scholarship.

    450 X 450 P3197
  23. January 01
    2017
    Year of Scholarship

    In honor of Alice Allen Brant, 2017 was named Theta's Year of Scholarship.

A message from Alice Allen Brant's great-niece:

“We have a common bond, not just within Theta but in our desire to grow.”

Julie Brant Gordon
Alpha Chi/Purdue

Our Exhibit Gallery 

Explore real and virtual exhibits through this section. Remember to check back often as we add new exhibits. 

Visit theta's exhibit gallery