| Sigma Sigma Omicron | |
|---|---|
| ΣΣΟ | |
 | |
| Founded | November 1, 1920; 104 years ago (1920-11-01) New York University |
| Type | Social |
| Former affiliation | NPC |
| Status | Merged |
| Merge date | October 1, 1933 |
| Successor | Phi Omega Pi |
| Scope | Regional |
| Colors | Purple and White |
| Symbol | Circle, Helmet, Pyramid, Sabre, Sheaf of Wheat |
| Flower | Violets with White Rose |
| Jewel | Amethyst and Pearl |
| Publication | The Talaria |
| Chapters | 15 chartered |
| Members | 1,000 lifetime |
| Other names | Sigma Phi Beta |
| Headquarters | United States |
Sigma Sigma Omicron (ΣΣΟ) was a national collegiate sorority operating under that name in the United States from November 1, 1920 to 1927. It has had several successor names.
History
This sorority existed for approximately 13 years. For more than half that time it was known as Sigma Sigma Omicron, with the name Sigma Phi Beta adopted during its final six years.
The Alpha chapter of Sigma Sigma Omicron was formed on November 1, 1920 at New York University, eventually chartering five chapters, mainly at teachers colleges. Its primary founder was Vera Bartone Goelier, supported by other students of the junior, sophomore and freshman class.
On July 28, 1927 the sorority changed its name to Sigma Phi Beta (ΣΦΒ), in anticipation of a merger six months later with the three chapters of Phi Alpha Chi, which it effected on January 7, 1928 after "find their interests and purposes similar...".
Phi Alpha Chi had its origin as The Tanewah Club in 1919 at Berkeley. In 1926, the Tanewah Club first adopted Greek letters, reorganizing as the Alpha chapter of Phi Alpha Chi.
Delta Zeta's history (1983) recorded that Sigma Phi Beta absorbed Phi Alpha Chi before combining five years later under the Phi Omega Pi banner in 1933.
According to the 1931 edition of The Sorority Handbook there were 10 active chapters of Sigma Phi Beta, with 1,000 members (p. 79). Baird's Archive lists 15 chapters.
On October 1, 1933 Sigma Phi Beta merged into Phi Omega Pi, which itself was later (but only partly) absorbed by Delta Zeta in 1946, with some chapters disbanded or released to other sororities.
Insignia and Traditions
- Pledge pin- "Crescented Norman shield divided vertically into two equal sections, one enameled in purple, the other in white, and displaying diagonally a gold sabre"
- Member pin- "Pearl bordered circular shield of purple enamel, displaying sorority letters in gold, and jeweled additionally with six amethysts set at prescribed points outside a circlet of pearls" -- This description is accurate for both Sigma Sigma Omicron and Sigma Phi Beta.
- Insignia- Circle, Helmet, Pyramid, Sabre, Sheaf of Wheat
- Colors- Purple and White
- Flower- Violets with White Rose
- Jewels- Amethyst and Pearl
- Publication- The Talaria (Martin, pp. 79– 80)
Chapters
These are the chapters of Sigma Phi Beta prior to the merger with Phi Omega Pi in 1933. Baird's reports that 15 were installed, with ten surviving to participate in the merger. However, records list eight that definitely merged, with one more possible. Known active chapters at the time of the merger are listed in bold, inactive chapters listed in italics.
| Name | Chartered | Institution | Location | Status | Notes | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NY Alpha | November 1, 1920–October 1, 1933 | New York University | New York, NY | Merged | Became Alpha Zeta chapter of ΦΩΠ | |
| NY Beta | 1921–19xx | Teachers College of New York City now "closely affiliated" with Columbia University |
New York, NY | Dormant | ||
| NY Gamma | 1921–October 1, 1933 | CCNY, Hunter College | New York, NY | Merged | Became NY Gamma chapter of ΦΩΠ | |
| Epsilon | 1921–1933 ? | Montclair State University | Montclair, NJ | Dormant | ||
| Zeta | 1921–1926 | Kean University | Union and Hillside, NJ | Dormant | ||
| NY Eta | 1923–1924 | Syracuse University | Syracuse, NY | Dormant | ||
| Theta | 1924–October 1, 1933 | Wittenberg University | Springfield, OH | Merged | Became Omega chapter of ΦΩΠ | |
| Iota | 1924–1927 | Samford University | Homewood, AL | Dormant | ||
| Kappa | 1925–October 1, 1933 | Transylvania University | Lexington, KY | Merged | Became Alpha Alpha chapter of ΦΩΠ | |
| CA Alpha | 1928–1935 | University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | Merged ? | May have merged into the Lambda chapter of ΦΩΠ | |
| Delta | 1928–1931 | Ohio State University | Columbus, OH | Dormant | Alumni merged into ΦΩΠ ? | |
| Name ? | 1928–October 1, 1933 | Auburn University | Auburn, AL | Merged | Became the Psi chapter of ΦΩΠ | |
| Lambda | 1929–October 1, 1933 | University of Illinois | Champaign, IL | Merged | Joined the existing Gamma chapter of ΦΩΠ | |
| Nu | 1930–October 1, 1933 | Utah State University | Logan, UT | Merged | Became the Alpha Beta chapter of ΦΩΠ | |
| Name ? | 1930–October 1, 1933 | University of California, Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | Merged | Joined the existing Sigma chapter of ΦΩΠ |
Phi Alpha Chi chapters
| Name | Chartered | Institution | Location | Status | Notes | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | December 4, 1925–January 7, 1928 | University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | Merged | Became CA Alpha chapter of ΣΦΒ | |
| Beta | 1926–January 7, 1928 | Ohio State University | Columbus, OH | Merged | Became Delta chapter of ΣΦΒ | |
| Gamma | 1927–January 7, 1928 | Auburn University | Auburn, AL | Merged | Became NAME chapter of ΣΦΒ |
References
- ^ Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) . Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. pp. VIII-33. ISBN 978-0963715906.
- The Spring 1995 edition of The Lamp of Delta Zeta, p.10, has an article about the sorority's several mergers. Accessed 25 Aug 2020.
- Body text says 14, but the list shows 15.
- ^ William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), section showing Sigma Sigma Omicron and Phi Alpha Chi chapters". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 31 December 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
- To conjecture which would have been the tenth chapter merged, of the chapters that do not show having definitively (or likely, in the case of Berkeley) merged with ΦΩΠ, only the Ohio State campus shows a record of both organizations having existed there. But the timing is problematic: The ΦΩΠ chapter apparently was inactive between 1933–1940 at which time it was revived. But the ΣΦΒ chapter was listed as dormant as of 1931. Hence a merger of active groups was unlikely. It may be that the alumni clubs of these two chapters were given a designation, and merged their organizations, if these existed.
- This school still operates, and is closely affiliated with Columbia University, according to its website, accessed 31 December 2021.
- This chapter appears to have died at the time of the Phi Omega Pi merger, per Baird's. However, 1930-era yearbooks do not show them.
- This chapter originated as Sigma Pi Delta (local) in 1920.
- This chapter originated as Lambda Xi Delta (local) in 1922.
- This chapter originated as a local sorority in 1919. Baird's does not list the name.
- This chapter originated as Alpha chapter of ΦΑΧ in 1925, and Tewanah before that in 1919. Baird's does not specify whether it merged into the ΦΩΠ on that campus, but only says it lasted until 1935. Perhaps returning to local status?
- This chapter originated as Beta chapter of ΦΑΧ in 1926.
- This chapter originated as Gamma chapter of ΦΑΧ in 1927.
- This chapter originated as Gamma Xi Gamma (local) in 1920.
- This group had originated six years earlier, in 1919, as the Tewanah Club.
- This group had originated four years earlier, in 1923, as Phi Delta Rho (local).
- Martin, Ida Shaw (1931) The Sorority Handbook, 11th edition, Published by Ida Shaw Martin, Boston, Mass.
- Miner, Florence Hood (1983). The History of Delta Zeta, 1902–1982. Indianapolis, Indiana.