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History of Chimes

In the spring of 1918, two Ohio State University students, Harriet Day (Mrs. Harriet Bricker) and Helen Dustman (Mrs. Helen Evans), began developing the idea of an organization for women with resounding achievements in scholarship, leadership, and service. It was during one of the initial organizational meetings that the women heard the chimes of Orton Hall ringing in the distance, and the Chimes Junior Class Honorary was born. After six years of dedication to serving the university and its surrounding community, the original eight members expanded to another "octave," briging the total membership of Chimes to sixteen.

In 1948, Chimes became a national organization with the Ohio State chapter serving as its guiding force. Years later in the 1970s, men were granted admission and the total number of OSU members increased to thirty-five. Although the national organization was eventually disbanded, the University of Arizona, West Virginia University, Kansas State University, and Washington University in St. Louis have retained the name and symbols of the Chimes Junior Class Honorary. These symbols are the colors gold, white, and brown, a yellow rose, and a small golden bell with three tiny pearls in its clapper that represent the third year of college as well as the tenets of scholarship, leadership and service.

Chimes members uphold the high standards of their organization by volunteering several times a quarter at the Center for Child and Family Advocacy at Nationwide Children's Hospital, which serves to promote awareness and prevention of child abuse and provides help and advocacy for victims of child abuse. Chimes traditionally finishes the year off with the Get on the Ball (GOTB) Volleyball Tournament, the funds from which will be put into an Ohio State University scholarship fund. Chimes recognizes students devoted to the foundation of our group and dedicated to further improving the organization. We hope to foster a strong bond between all members of Chimes, past, present, and future, and to continue to have a positive impact on not only our members, but the entire Ohio State University Community.