Beta Sigma Omicron
ΒΣΟ
FoundedDecember 12, 1888 (1888-12-12)
University of Missouri
TypeSocial
AffiliationNPC (former)
ScopeNational (US)
MottoWe Live to do Good
Colors  Ruby and   Pink
SymbolStars, Covenant, Lamp, Laurel
FlowerRed and Pink Carnations
JewelRuby
Patron Greek divinityHestia
PublicationThe Beta Sigma Omicron (open)
The Lamp (esoteric), and The Urn
Chapters61 chapters, 13 active at time of merger
Membersalmost 15,000 lifetime
Merged withZeta Tau Alpha (1964), scattered

Beta Sigma Omicron (ΒΣΟ) is a defunct national sorority. It was founded on December 12, 1888 and merged with Zeta Tau Alpha on August 7, 1964.

History

Beta Sigma Omicron was founded at the University of Missouri on December 12, 1888. Its founders were:

  • Eulalie Hockaday
  • Kathering Turner
  • Maude Haines.[1]

By 1909 the sorority had 10 active chapters and 3 alumnae associations. These 10 chapters were at Belmont College, Brenau College, Centenary College (Cleveland, TN),[2] Central Female College, Fairmont Seminary,[3] Hardin College, Liberty Ladies' College (Liberty, MO), Stephens College, Synodical College, and Transylvania College.[4] Early expansion went primarily to "women's schools" in the southern states, a fraction of which were coordinated with larger male-only schools (Tulane, Missouri, etc.) However, a significant number of early chapters were at schools which ceased operation before or during the Great Depression. One chapter had even been placed at a high school. Because of the prevalence of chapters at 2-year schools and other non-accredited institutions, Beta Sigma Omicron operated independently of the NPC for its first forty years of existence.

As an independent sorority, ΒΣΟ was at risk of chapters being "poached" by other national sororities.[5] In 1913 and 1917, two of ΒΣΟ's chapters, at Brenau College and at Hollins University, respectively, withdrew from ΒΣΟ. The Brenau group was absorbed in 1915 by that school's chapter of Delta Delta Delta, and in 1919 the Hollins group became a chapter of Chi Omega.[6]

Still, growth persisted. In 1932 the sorority absorbed three of the four chapters of Pi Sigma Gamma, a small sorority that disbanded that year.[7]

Beta Sigma Omicron became an Associate member of the National Panhellenic Conference in 1930 and a full member in 1933.

At Beta Sigma Omicron's 1963 Convention (75th anniversary), a vote on absorption or disbanding was taken. Although Beta Sigma Omicron had chartered 61 chapters and had almost 15,000 initiated sisters, at the time of the anniversary, it only had 13 active chapters, and thus no longer met the National Panhellenic Conference's membership requirements. The vote was unanimous for absorption and Beta Sigma Omicron looked for an organization for merger. On August 7, 1964, Beta Sigma Omicron was absorbed by Zeta Tau Alpha.

Of the 13 active chapters, seven were absorbed into Zeta Tau Alpha: Samford University (at the time, Howard College), Millsaps College, William Jewell College, the University of Evansville, Thiel College, Westminster College, and Youngstown College. Three others were released to join Alpha Phi, as Zeta Tau Alpha already had chapters on their campuses: Louisiana State University, Baldwin Wallace University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Three small chapters at urban schools in New York and Ohio chose to become local sororities, but failed soon thereafter. A recent 1961 chapter, which would have added a 14th active chapter to the merger negotiations, had been placed at Waynesburg University. However, this group withdrew in 1963, the year prior to the merger, to form a local. That group survived, and became a chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma nine years after its withdrawal.[6][8]

Symbols

The Badge was a monogram of the sorority letters, with the Omicron around the Beta and the Sigma superimposed on the Omicron.[9]

  • Colors - Ruby and Pink
  • Flower - Red and Pink Carnations
  • Jewel - Ruby
  • Open Motto - We Live to do Good
  • Insignia - Stars, Covenant, Lamp, Laurel
  • Patron - Hestia
  • Magazine - The Beta Sigma Omicron, first published in 1905, The Lamp (esoteric), and The Urn [8]
  • Convention - June 1910 in Louisville, KY
  • Pledge Pin - Triangle of red enamel, displaying a Grecian lamp and three stars

Chapter List

These are the chapters of Beta Sigma Omicron at the time of the 1963 merger.[1][6][10] Active chapters at the merger indicated in bold, inactive chapters indicated by italics. Similarly, fully inactive schools indicated by italics, while schools that merged remain in plain text.

Name Chartered Institution Location Status Notes Reference
Alpha December 12, 1888–1892 University of Missouri Columbia, MO Dormant
Beta 1891–1928 Synodical Female College (closed) [11] Fulton, MO Dormant
Gamma (1) 1892–1895 Missouri Valley College Marshall, MO Dormant
Delta (1) 1898–1907 Sedalia High School (closed) [12] Sedalia, MO Dormant
Epsilon 1902–1925 Hardin College (closed) [13] Mexico, MO Dormant
Zeta (1) 1902–1909 Potter College (closed) [14] Bowling Green, KY Dormant [15]
Eta 1902–1925 Stephens College Columbia, MO Withdrew [16]
Theta 1903–1914 Belmont College (closed) [17] Nashville, TN Dormant
Iota 1903–1907 Mary Baldwin Seminary Staunton, VA Dormant
Kappa 1904–1913 Fairmont Seminary (Washington DC) (closed) [3] Washington, D.C. Dormant
Lambda 1906–1926 Hamilton College (closed) [18] Lexington, KY Dormant
Mu 1906–1912 Crescent College (Arkansas) (closed) [19] Eureka Springs, AR Dormant [20]
Nu 1907–1913 Brenau College Gainesville, GA Withdrew Merged with Alpha Epsilon chapter of ΔΔΔ [21]
Xi 1908–1925 Central Female College (closed) [22] Lexington, MO Dormant
Omicron 1908–1913 Liberty Ladies' College[23] Liberty, MO Dormant [24]
Zeta (2) 1909–1921 Centenary College (closed) [25] Cleveland, TN Dormant
Gamma (2) 1910–1915 Christian College (closed) Columbia, MO Dormant [26]
Delta (2) 1911–1913 Women's College (Alabama) Montevallo, AL Dormant
Pi 1913–1917 Hollins University Hollins, VA Withdrew Became Upsilon Beta chapter of ΧΩ [27]
Rho 1914–1920 Colorado Women's College (Univ. of Denver) Denver, CO Dormant [28]
Sigma 1915–1930 Greenville Women's College (Furman) [29] Greenville, SC Dormant [30]
Tau 1916–1920 Lindenwood University St. Charles, MO Dormant [31]
Upsilon 1916–1930 Belhaven University Jackson, MS Dormant [32]
Phi 1918–1920 Grenada College (closed) [33] Grenada, MS Dormant
Chi unassigned
Psi unassigned
Omega unassigned
Alpha Alpha 1926–1933 University of Wisconsin Madison, WI Dormant [34]
Alpha Beta 1926–1937 Indiana University Bloomington, IN Dormant [35]
Alpha Gamma 1926–1932 University of Kentucky Lexington, KY Dormant [36]
Alpha Delta 1926–1936 Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington, IL Dormant [37]
Alpha Epsilon 1926–1933 UCLA Los Angeles, CA Dormant Absorbed ΠΣΓ's Delta chapter [38][39]
Alpha Zeta 1926–1964 Millsaps College Jackson, MS Merged Became Delta Phi chapter of ΖΤΑ [40]
Alpha Eta 1926–1933 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM Dormant [41]
Alpha Theta 1927–1946 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Dormant [42]
Alpha Iota 1927–1942 University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, CA Dormant Absorbed ΠΣΓ's Alpha chapter [43][44]
Alpha Kappa 1927–1932 University of Mississippi Oxford, MS Dormant
Alpha Lambda 1927–1939 Northwestern University Evanston, IL Dormant [45]
Alpha Mu 1927–1941 University of Illinois Champaign, IL Dormant [46]
Alpha Nu 1928–1936 Lyon College Batesville, AR Dormant [47]
Alpha Xi 1929–1939 Miami University Oxford, OH Dormant [48]
Alpha Omicron 1929–1941 Simpson College Indianola, IA Dormant [49]
Alpha Pi 1929–1964 Baldwin Wallace University Berea, OH Merged Became Delta Upsilon chapter of ΑΦ [50]
Alpha Rho 1929–1964 Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA Merged Became Delta Tau chapter of ΑΦ [51]
Alpha Omicron 1929–1959 H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College (Tulane) New Orleans, LA Dormant [52]
Alpha Tau 1930–1964 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA Dormant [53]
Alpha Upsilon 1931–1941 University of Nevada Reno, NV Dormant [54]
Alpha Phi 1931–1936 Washburn University Topeka, KS Dormant [55]
Alpha Chi 1931–1935 University of Oklahoma Norman, OK Dormant [56]
Alpha Psi 1931–1964 William Jewell College Liberty, MO Merged Became Delta Chi chapter of ΖΤΑ [57]
Alpha Omega 1932–1936 University of Washington Seattle, WA Dormant From the Beta chapter of ΠΣΓ [58]
Beta Alpha 1932–1964 Hunter College, CUNY Manhattan, NYC, NY Withdrew From the Gamma chapter of ΠΣΓ
Returned to local status in 1964		 [59]
Beta Beta 1933–1964 Samford University (then called Howard College) Homewood, AL Merged Became Delta Psi chapter of ΖΤΑ [60]
Beta Gamma 1937–1964 Westminster College New Wilmington, PA Merged Became Delta Omega chapter of ΖΤΑ [61]
Beta Delta 1941–1964 Queens College (CUNY) Flushing, Queens, NY Withdrew Reverted to local status [62]
Beta Epsilon 1946–1962 Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA Dormant [63]
Beta Zeta 1947–1959 Florida Southern College Lakeland, FL Dormant [64]
Beta Eta 1947–1959 Louisiana Tech University Ruston, LA Dormant [65]
Beta Theta 1949–1964 University of Evansville Evansville, IN Merged Became Zeta Alpha chapter of ΖΤΑ [66]
Beta Iota 1950–1964 Thiel College Greenville, PA Merged Became Zeta Beta chapter of ΖΤΑ [67]
Beta Kappa 1951–1964 Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana County, PA Merged Became Delta Phi chapter of ΑΦ [68]
Beta Lambda 1952–1964 Youngstown State University Youngstown, OH Merged Became Zeta Gamma chapter of ΖΤΑ [69]
Beta Mu 1954–1964 Cleveland State University (then called Fenn College) Cleveland, OH Withdrew Reverted to local status [70]
Beta Nu 1961–1963 Waynesburg University Waynesburg, PA Withdrew Reverted to local status
Became Gamma Epsilon chapter of ΦΣΣ		 [71]

References

  1. 1 2 William Raimond Baird (1912). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. G. Banta Company. pp. 474–475.
  2. ↑ Centenary College closed in 1929.
  3. 1 2 This school was founded by Dr. Arthur Ramsey in 1899, near the area of 19th and Belmont Rd, according to a 11 July 1920 article in the Washington Post, accessed 26 Aug 2020. Baird's notes that it closed, but does not note the date of closure.
  4. ↑ Ida Shaw Martin (1909). The Sorority Handbook. Roxburgh Press. pp. 67–68.
  5. ↑ Prevention of such poaching was a major factor in establishment of the NPC, and for that matter, the NIC.
  6. 1 2 3 William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), section showing Beta Sigma Omicron chapters". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 28 Jul 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  7. ↑ Baird's (20th ed.) has an error in the name of this group, calling it "Pi Sigma Tau" in the essay on p.I-21.
  8. 1 2 Fall 2014 Themis, page 50-51
  9. ↑ Mrs. Ida Shaw Martin (1919). The Sorority Handbook. Banta. pp. 84–85.
  10. ↑ Robson, John, ed. (1963). "Non NIC Members". Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: Banta Publishing Company. p. 365.
  11. ↑ This school closed in 1928.
  12. ↑ This school is closed; its successor, and the sole high school in Sedalia is Smith-Cotton High School, established in 1925.
  13. ↑ This school closed in 1931.
  14. ↑ This school closed in 1909, selling its property without merger to Western Kentucky Normal School, which would later become Western Kentucky University.
  15. ↑ Originated as Mu Phi Psi (local) prior to 1902.
  16. ↑ Withdrew to become Beta Sigma Beta (local).
  17. ↑ This school closed in 1951, selling its property without merger to the Tennessee Baptist Convention, using the grounds and buildings to establish Belmont University.
  18. ↑ This school closed in 1932.
  19. ↑ This school closed briefly in 1924, reopened as a junior college in 1930, and closed again in 1934.
  20. ↑ "Crescent College and Conservatory". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  21. ↑ This chapter originated as Sigma Theta Pi (local) prior to 1907. Withdrew to form Phi Beta (local) in 1913 in a consolidation with a second group, Phi Mu Gamma (local), itself the pioneer sorority on campus having formed in 1902. Two years later, in 1915, Phi Beta (local) joined the Alpha Epsilon chapter of Delta Delta Delta. To complete the story, The ΔΔΔ chapter had formed from a third group, Sigma Phi Epsilon (local; no relation to the men's fraternity of the same name). This local dates to 1905. It would join briefly with Alpha Sigma Alpha in February 1909, retaining the name Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter, but was released in 1913 due to rules that limited ΑΣΑ only to teachers colleges. In 1914 the former ΑΣΑ chapter petitioned and was granted a charter in ΔΔΔ.
  22. ↑ This school closed in 1925.
  23. ↑ A fire in 1913 destroyed this school, which moved its students to nearby William Jewell College. The two schools would slowly merge, but the chapter didn't survive that process.
  24. ↑ This chapter originated as Sigma Tau Phi (local) prior to 1908.
  25. ↑ This school closed in 1929. Its grounds have been the site of several later schools, including Bob Jones College and later, Lee University.
  26. ↑ This chapter originated as Lambda Mu (local) in 1899.
  27. ↑ This chapter had its origin in Kappa Kappa Kappa (local) in 1905. Withdrew to become Beta Kappa (local), and in 1919, the Upsilon Beta chapter of Chi Omega.
  28. ↑ This chapter had its origin as Delta Pi (local) prior to 1914.
  29. ↑ The school originated as the Greenville Baptist Female College in 1854, dropping "Baptist" from the name in the 1870s. Under financial strain it gradually merged with adjacent Furman University between 1931 and 1937, to become Furman's woman’s college.
  30. ↑ This chapter had its origin as Pi Sigma Phi (local) in 1913.
  31. ↑ Lindenwood's four original sororities abruptly ceased in 1920 and 1921, with the campus welcoming replacements seventy years later.
  32. ↑ Originated as Mu Delta (local) in 1903.
  33. ↑ This school closed in 1936.
  34. ↑ Originated as Sigma Omega Sigma (local) in 1923.
  35. ↑ Originated as Sigma Delta (local) in 1924.
  36. ↑ Originated as Omega Rho (local) in 1923.
  37. ↑ Originated as Alpha Iota Sigma (local) in 1922.
  38. ↑ Originated as Sigma Phi Delta (local) in 1923.
  39. ↑ In 1930 the Beta Sigma Omicron chapter at UCLA absorbed the Delta chapter of Pi Sigma Gamma, a small national that ceased operations fully in 1932. That chapter, (ΠΣΓ's), had its origin as Phi Delta Gamma (local) in 1925.
  40. ↑ Originated as Chi Kappa (local) in 1925.
  41. ↑ Originated as Delta Psi (local) in 1923.
  42. ↑ Originated as Theta Omicron (local) in 1924.
  43. ↑ Originated as Delta Chi Delta (local) in 1922.
  44. ↑ In 1932 the Berkeley chapter absorbed the Alpha chapter of Pi Sigma Gamma, a small national it had founded in 1919 but which ceased operations fully that year.
  45. ↑ Originated as Delta Mu (local) in 1923.
  46. ↑ Originated as Pi Delta Phi (local) in 1923.
  47. ↑ Originated as Alpha Mu Alpha (local) prior to 1928.
  48. ↑ Originated as Delta Xi (local) in 1925.
  49. ↑ Originated as Zeta Tau Delta (local) in 1925.
  50. ↑ Originated as Phi Lambda Sigma (local) in 1870, making it older than the entire Beta Sigma Omicron national.
  51. ↑ Originated as Kappa Gamma (local) in 1923.
  52. ↑ Originated as Zeta Sigma (local) in 1926.
  53. ↑ Originated as Alpha Delta Sigma (local) in 1921. The Pittsburgh campus' ΖΤΑ chapter would close in 1965; no merger was effected.
  54. ↑ Originated as Sigma Alpha Omega (local) in 1921.
  55. ↑ Originated as Phi Sigma Omega (local) in 1918.
  56. ↑ Originated as Kappa Upsilon (local) in 1928.
  57. ↑ Originated as Iota Pi (local) in 1919.
  58. ↑ Originated as the Kumtex Club (local) in 1921, which in 1922 became the Beta chapter of Pi Sigma Gamma, a small national that dissolved in 1932. The group became Beta Sigma Omicron's Alpha Omega chapter in 1932.
  59. ↑ Originated as Epsilon Nu (local) in 1920, which in 1926 became the Gamma chapter of Pi Sigma Gamma, a small national that dissolved in 1932. It became the Beta Alpha chapter of Beta Sigma Omicron in 1932 but reverted to local status at the time of the 1964 merger with Zeta Tau Alpha.
  60. ↑ Originated as Sigma Iota Chi (local) in 1924.
  61. ↑ Originated as Omicron Mu Gamma (local) in 1928.
  62. ↑ Originated as Chi Phi Delta (local) prior to 1941. Reverted to form Beta Sigma Delta (local) in 1964, rather than merge.
  63. ↑ Originated as the Kallozetia Club (local) in 1945.
  64. ↑ Originated as Omega Delta Phi (local) in 1946.
  65. ↑ Originated as a Beta Sigma Omega colony in 1947 or before.
  66. ↑ Originated as a Beta Sigma Omega colony in 1949 or before.
  67. ↑ Originated as Alpha Sigma Pi (local) in 1919.
  68. ↑ Originated as Zeta Kappa Delta (local) in 1950.
  69. ↑ Originated as a Beta Sigma Omicron colony in 1951.
  70. ↑ Originated as Lambda Sigma Chi (local) in 1934. Reverted to local status at the time of the merger with ΖΤΑ.
  71. ↑ Originated as a Beta Sigma Omicron colony in 1961. Withdrew to form Alpha Beta Nu (local) the year prior to the national merger with ΖΤΑ. This chapter would later go on to form the Gamma Epsilon chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma in 1972.
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