1933 Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity Letterhead Madison Wisconsin Bank Depression Era For Sale

This fascinating two-page handwritten letter, dated March 10, 1933, offers a vivid glimpse into collegiate life at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during the height of the Great Depression. Written on Phi Kappa Tau fraternity stationery by student John L. Schaefer to Miss Nora Kefauver in Knoxville, Tennessee, the correspondence captures the unique atmosphere of the era, specifically mentioning the 'bank holiday' and the financial strain of the banks being closed. The letter is rich with social history, detailing fraternity pranks involving the Kappa house, 'serenading' traditions, and the daily antics of the fraternity's unusual mascots—two live alligators from Florida named Pete and Repeat, who lived in a bathtub 'midget everglade.'

The imagery and text provide a wonderful snapshot of 1930s Americana, mentioning a new radio, 'toating' jazz music by Wayne King, and the social dynamics between Greek life organizations. The letterhead features a beautifully embossed Phi Kappa Tau crest in red and gold. Included is the original mailing envelope with a clear Madison, WIS. postmark and a 3-cent George Washington postage stamp. This is an exceptional piece of social ephemera for collectors of university history, fraternity memorabilia, or Great Depression-era correspondence.

Measures approx. 10.5 by 7.25 inches