Bessie Leach Priddy, Adrian College, was born on January 18, 1871. She graduated from Belvidere High School in Illinois in 1887 and won a scholarship to Adrian College. After teaching for a year, she enrolled at Adrian and was initiated as a member of Gamma Chapter when it was installed in 1890. She graduated in 1891, after which she served as a school principal in Capron, Illinois, for two years.
In 1893, she married Frank E. Priddy, a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. They had three children, Irene, Allen, and Frances. Both daughters became Tri Deltas. Frank Priddy passed away in 1907. To support her family, Priddy continued to teach history at Adrian High School and German at Adrian College, all while earning her teacher's certificate from Adrian College. She later earned a master’s degree in history and political science from the University of Michigan. Priddy went on to teach history at Eastern Michigan University, where she was later named dean of women. Priddy also served as dean of women at the University of Missouri.
Priddy spoke at the Chicago World’s Fair Fraternity Congress in 1893. She also served as presiding officer for Tri Delta’s first Convention in 1893. From 1893 to 1894, she served as Tri Delta’s second grand vice president. In 1902, Priddy became Tri Delta’s historian, a position she held until 1931. In this role, she authored Tri Delta’s first history book, which was published in 1907. In 1931, Priddy became president of Tri Delta.
Priddy passed away on May 27, 1935 at the age of 64.
