The Ivy Chain, forerunner of the Ivy and Daisy chains, was inaugurated in 1910. Since then, it has become traditional that seniors carry the Ivy Chain and underclass students carry the Daisy Chain. This honor is for those women who have made outstanding contributions to their living units.

During Ivy Day in 1912, the first May Queen, Louise Barr, and her Maid of Honor were elected in an all-campus vote of junior and senior women. Since then, a queen has been selected to reign over the Ivy Day court of outstanding women in each class. Selected by Mortar Board, the members of the court are freshman, sophomore, junior and senior women who have been outstanding in their scholarship, leadership, and service. The May Queen, Maid of Honor, members of the court, and chain leaders were all kept secret until Ivy Day.

The May Queen court consisted of two freshman pages, two freshmen attendants, four sophomore attendants, four juniors, two seniors, and a senior maid of honor.

 

In 1912 William Jennings Bryan loaned a poppy-covered "jinrikisha" (cart) to the University to carry the first May Queen. The May Queen wore white and carried a huge sheaf of scarlet and green roses. The throne for the May Queen was directly beneath the Schiller Linden Tree, which was presented by the senior class of 1905 in honor of the German poet Schiller. The circular stone seat by Architectural Hall was also presented by the class of 1905. In front of Architectural Hall, which was formerly the old library, the senior class of 1909 placed a drinking fountain referred to as a “Fountain of Youth”.