This article describes smaller collegiate sororities created in the nineteenth century and early to middle twentieth century on campuses in the United States and Canada. These sororities are defunct. Individual chapters may have affiliated with National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sororities.
Aloquin was founded as a co-educational organization in 1905 at Ohio University called The Union. [1] [2] As a co-ed organization, its purpose was "to raise social and moral standards of college life." [1] Splitting along gender lines in 1910, the men became affiliated with Phrenocon, a national association that would go on to rename itself Phi Kappa Tau in 1916, while on September 12, 1912, the 65 women of the Ohio University Union became Aloquin. [2] The name was created from the combination of the Latin words for "why not?" [2] This was quickly extended to "Why not strengthen? Why not encourage?" It aimed to "promote a spirit of democracy and equality." They hoped to establish high ideals of college work. They wanted to "foster principles which will develop integrity, morality, and strength of character...the best type of womanhood... the bond of union between students and alma mater." [1]
Aloquin's colors were blue and gold. The pin was a black enamel "A" set with sixteen pearls. [3]
The sorority held a convention in Athens, Ohio, on December 12, 1913. A national president and a general secretary were elected. Ohio University's chapter affiliated with Zeta Tau Alpha in 1922. [2] OSU's went with Chi Omega in 1919. [2] Wittenburg's reorganized as Theta Gamma Rho in 1918, [2] and later, became a chapter of Kappa Delta in 1927.
Of the OSU chapter, Chi Omega's history recalled that the Aloquins "decided that there would be many more advantages derived from membership in a national fraternity than from a local state organization." [4]
Following are the known chapters of the Aloquin sorority. [2]
| Chapter | Charter date and range | Institution | Location | Status | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | 1905–1922 | Ohio University | Athens, Ohio | Inactive | [2] |
| Beta ? | 1914–1919 | Ohio State University | Columbus, Ohio | Inactive | [2] |
| Gamma ? | 1915–1918 | Wittenberg College | Springfield, Ohio | Inactive | [2] |
The Alpha chapter began as D.D.D. in January 1887 at Bucknell Female Institute. On September 15, 1887, the sorority changed its name to Beta Delta Pi (ΒΔΠ) with charter members Mame Custer, Clara Fairchilds, Jessie Jones, Sue Loudon, Carrie Lovell, and Luella Peck. [5] The sorority's colors were Nile green (light green) and pink. [6] [7]
Beta chapter was chartered at Miss Gordon's School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Lambda chapter was colonized at the University of Toronto in 1914. Lambda chapter decided "something must be done to strengthen our position nationally." [8] The sorority was renewed in 1916 at Philadelphia. [9] The Lambda chapter of Beta Delta Pi affiliated with Alpha Gamma Delta in early 1919. [8]
The 1916 edition of Toronto's yearbook gave the following chapters, that lacked institutions. [10]
| Chapter | Charter date and range | Institution | Location | Status | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | September 15, 1887 | Bucknell Female Institute | Lewisburg, Pennsylvania | Inactive | [10] [5] [a] |
| Beta | Miss Gordon's School for Girls | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Inactive | [10] | |
| Gamma | April 1901 | Mlle. Bouligne's Select School | Chevy Chase, Maryland | Inactive | [11] |
| Gamma | New York City, New York | Inactive | [10] | ||
| Delta | Stamford, Connecticut | Inactive | [10] | ||
| Epsilon | Chevy Chase, Maryland | Inactive | [10] | ||
| Eta | Peekskill-on-the-Hudson, New York | Inactive | [10] | ||
| Theta | Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania | Inactive | [10] | ||
| Iota | Atlantic City, New Jersey | Inactive | [10] | ||
| Lambda | 1914–1919 | University of Toronto | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Merged (ΑΓΔ) | [10] [8] [b] |
Delta Chi Alpha (ΔΧΑ)was one of the first Greek-lettered organizations for collegiate women. It was founded in May 1878 at Ohio Wesleyan University. [12] The badge was silver with a monogram of the letters "encircled by a frosted wreath". [12] The colors were cardinal and ecru. [12]
In 1879, the membership was 25. [12] In 1882, the fraternity established a Beta chapter at Beaver College. [13] Alpha chapter, at Ohio Wesleyan, affiliated with Kappa Alpha Theta. [14] It is not known what happened to the Beta chapter.
| Chapter | Charter date and range | Institution | Location | Status | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | 1878 | Ohio Wesleyan University | Delaware, Ohio | Merged (ΚΑΘ) | [14] |
| Beta | 1882 | Beaver College | Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania | Inactive | [13] |
Phi Delta (ΦΔ)was created from the combination of two local sororities: Sigma Epsilon (New York University, 1919) and Alpha Delta Omicron (New York State Teachers College at Albany). These two groups came together to form Phi Delta on January 19, 1927. [2] (October 25, 1919, the founding date of the eldest unit was celebrated as the official founding date). [15] Baird's stated the objects are "to create a friendly spirit among the girls of the institutions represented, to uphold the honor spirit of the institution, and to develop the abilities of members for most effective college life". [16] SPhi Delta was founded for Protestant women. [15]
By 1930, there were six active chapters, eventually forming eight chapters. [16] [2] All of these had their origin in different local chapters, combining a total of 223 members. [16] The withdrawal of three chapters in 1935 resulted in a breakdown of national operations, where the remaining chapters closed or became local entities once again. [2]
Baird's described the insignia thus: "The badge is a Phi, studded with pearls, superimposed upon a plain gold Delta. [16] The pledge pin is a black shield with a gold sword and star. [16] Colors are gold and black. [16] The flower is the yellow tea rose". [16] The Phi Delt was the bi-monthly magazine. [16]
Its coat-of-arms was "...sable a sinister bend or, superimposed by a white open book proper on which in turn is superimposed a torch palewise, or, flamed argent. [With a] Crest. An eagle displayed, or" ("or" meaning "golden", in heraldry). The motto was the sorority's name, which was placed on the banner underneath the shield. [17]
Phi Delta suffered from the Great Depression. In 1935, the NYU and GWU chapters affiliated with Beta Phi Alpha; Cincinnati became an Alpha Delta Pi chapter. [2] UCLA struggled for a short time as a local and ultimately dissolved. Albany remained a local until 1973 (Baird's).
For the next 40 years, Alpha chapter functioned as a typical social sorority. The chapter had residences at 146 and 278 Western Ave. [15] The Constitution (1967) gave the purpose of the sorority "as a social and fraternal organization, shall be to uphold the honor Spirit of the University, to create a friendlier spirit among the girls of the University, to strengthen the scholastic standing of the University, and to develop the abilities of the girls for the benefit of the college life." [18]
Article IV, Section VII of the Constitution explained that Phi Delta permitted honorary membership "to those men and women who have shown distinguished ability in the field of education and leadership, and possess such qualities as Phi Delta stands for; and men and women who have shown sincere interest and have given service to Phi Delta, upon election." [18] Section X of the same Article explained faculty membership as "a man or woman of the University faculty who has shown distinguished ability in the field of education and leadership." [18]
During the 1960s, Phi Delta opened membership to African-American and Jewish women. [15] In 1973, the sorority dissolved. [2]
| Chapter | Charter date and range | Institution | Location | Status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | January 19, 1927 – 1973 | University at Albany, SUNY | Albany, New York | Inactive | [19] [a] |
| Beta | 1927–1935 | New York University | Manhattan, New York | Withdrew (ΒΦΑ) | [19] [b] [c] |
| Gamma | 1927–1932 | University of California, Los Angeles | Los Angeles, California | Inactive | [19] [d] |
| Epsilon | 1927–1935 | University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, Ohio | Withdrew (ΑΔΠ) | [19] [e] [f] |
| Zeta | 1927–1935 | George Washington University | Washington, D.C. | Withdrew (ΒΦΑ) | [19] [g] |
| Eta | 1927–1934 | Temple University | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Inactive | [19] [h] |
| Iota | 1931–1951 | University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, California | Inactive | [19] [i] |
| Theta | 1932–1951 | Adelphi University | Garden City, New York | Inactive | [19] [j] |
On November 11, 1924, the society Lanterna Laetitiae was organized at Bucknell University. [2] Four years later, their decision to become a national organization prompted the name change to Sigma Sigma Delta (ΣΣΔ). [2] The sorority had "open membership as a fundamental principle". [20] In Ohio Marietta's catalogue (1933), the sorority is listed as "Sigma Sigma Delta National Open Sorority". [21]
The sorority's official colors were green and white. Its flower was a white carnation. Its publication was The Evergreen. [22]
By 1938, all chapters had dissolved or disaffiliated. [2] Northwestern's went to Phi Omega Pi. [2] Baldwin-Wallace's reorganized as the local, Theta Tau Delta, then affiliated with Phi Mu. [2]
The following are its known chapters. [2]
| Chapter | Charter date and range | Institution | Location | Status | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | 1924–1936 | Bucknell University | Lewisburg, Pennsylvania | Inactive | |
| Beta | 1928–1935 | Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania | Inactive | [a] |
| Gamma | 1928–1934 | Northwestern University | Evanston, Illinois | Merged (ΦΩΠ) | [b] |
| Delta | 1928–1932 | Wittenburg University | Springfield, Ohio | Inactive | [c] |
| Epsilon | 1928–1934 | Marietta College | Marietta, Ohio | Inactive | [d] |
| Zeta | 1928–1934 | Knox College | Galesburg, Illinois | Inactive | |
| Eta | 1932–1938 | Baldwin Wallace College | Berea, Ohio | Withdrew | [e] |