Near the corner of Pittsboro Street and Cameron Avenue lies a modest house made of red brick with white accents. While onlookers may not notice anything special about it from the outside, this building holds a rich history. It is the home UNC’s chapter of St. Anthony Hall, a literary and arts fraternity.
In 1847 at Columbia University, the St. Anthony founders dedicated the fraternity to the love of education and well-being of its members. While the organization still stands on those principles, it looks nothing like it did in its first years. From generation to generation, St. Anthony Hall, the second oldest fraternity on UNC’s campus, has become increasingly progressive.
In 1968 the chapter became the first historically white fraternity at UNC to induct a member of African-American descent — basketball player Charlie Scott. In 1971, the historically all-male fraternity became the first of its kind to induct a female member.
Jamie Jacobson, a UNC alumna and St. Anthony Hall member, was inducted in 1975. She said she didn’t expect to join Greek life as an undergraduate, but after seeing a St. Anthony recruitment poster depicting a diverse membership, she started to change her mind.
“It stressed how it was a social and literary society and that is what drew me to the group — the literary side,” she said.
“But that picture did depict it was a diverse group of people. At that time there were still fair amounts of athletes and out-of-state students. It was interesting because the group of people had a wide range of interests.”
Besides Scott, members of the Hall include journalist Charles Kuralt and current UNC women’s soccer coach Anson Dorrance .
Dorrance said his time at the Hall had a positive influence on his post-college career.
“We had literary duties each week and I think it contributed to my comfort with public speaking. It also gave me some leadership experience,” he said.
