Were you started from a local?
 

I always wondered this, how many national chapters were started from a local group?

The Gamma Gamma chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma was started as:

Beta Xi Omega
Colors: Brown and Gold
1968-1971

Delta Sigma Phi, Gamma Alpha chapter SDSU, before our chartering in 1948, was known as the Alpha Chi fraternity.

Wonder how it would have been if we had stayed local, with all those Armani Exchange clothing that say AX on them.

The Epsilon Iota chapter of Gamma Phi Beta was chartered in 1988, prior to that, in 1970, it was Pi Kappa Sigma. Also at my school, the Epsilon Pi chapter of Sigma Pi was chartered in 1980 and prior to that, they were Kappa Nu.

Eta Psi chapter of Alpha Delta Pi began life as Delta Chi Epsilon sorority at Valparaiso University on October 14, 1944. It was the fourth of Valpo's sororities, with Gamma Phi (now GPhiB), Alpha Xi Epsilon (now Pi Phi), Chi Sigma Xi (now Chi Omega) and Alpha Phi Delta (now Tri-Delt) having been founded around 1916-1918. (Sorry I can't remember the exact years, ladies!). We were joined by Phi Beta Chi in 1948 or 1956 (now KKG), Kappa Tau Zeta/Delta Phi Kappa in 1956 or 1948 (was AST, now defunct), and Kappa Psi Omega in 1961 or so (now Kappa Delta).

In 1965 we changed from DXE to Phi Omega, kind of rebuilding the sorority. They peaked around the 1970's to 1982 or so, but got smaller in the late 1980's. In 1991 there were only 9 members left, so they took a block class (women who joined instead of going through formal rush), and changed the name back to Delta Chi Epsilon. (I was part of the block class in January of 1992; I graduated in May 1995).

In 1996-1997 the sororities finally agreed that they were all interested in the system going national; in 1997 I believe Chi Omega was one of the first to go national, with most following quickly. We were installed as the Eta Psi chapter of Alpha Delta Pi in May 1998 (during which I went through Alpha, Delta, and Pi ceremonies in about the space of 4 hours! Yikes!). I believe DPK/AST was the last to go national in Fall of 1998.

It's interesting when locals with such rich history all go national; it's mostly been all or nothing at Valpo, and it's nice to see that the remaining seven are all doing relatively well.

(Fun Fact: there's now a local DXE fraternity out in New York somewhere, apparently formed in 1998...)

The Beta Epsilon chapter of AEPhi began existence as a local sorority.

Name: Sigma Iota Phi
Colors: Green and purple
Dates: March 1993 (founding) to February 1995 (official colonization by AEPhi)

The local was originally an AEPhi interest group, but the campus wasn't open to expansion in 1993. In late 1994, when the campus was again opened to expansion, we contacted AEPhi and a match was made. :)

My chapter started as a local sorority KFD on Feb. 14th, 1982. It's colors were royal purple and white. The name stands for kindness, friendship, and devotion. On Dec. 10th, 1985 the Epsilon Delta chapter of D Phi E was formed. I pledged a few years later.

The Zeta Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi was started as Alpha Iota... we were also the first Greek organization on our campus.

Our Alpha Sigma Alpha chapter (Theta Beta) started out as the Iota Organization (mascot - black and white cow) until we recieved our charter last February. :)

Sigma Xi chapter of Kappa Delta was originally Phi Lambda Chi and our colors were pink & silver. I don't know how long we existed before we were colonized March 3, 1923.

Started as a local?
 

The Texas Chapter of Delta Upsilon was founded as a local in July 1947 as the 1834 club. The local was installed on October 29, 1949 as the 66th chapter of DU and the only chapter in the deep south. The chapter initiated 39 actives and seven alumni at chartering.
The chapter went inactive in 2000. Approximately 900 + men have been initiated in the chapter. Chapter size has varied, in the 1950's the chapter fluctuated between 35-60 after building a new house in 1958 the chapter ranged in size from 65-120 members from 160 to 1985 in the late 1980's a decline began, and the chapter ranged in size from 25-45 members from 1986 until closure. A revival was attempted but cut short due to risk managment problems (IE a keg party!). Currently a local exists again as The Texas DU club with approximately 35-40 members, the local is housed in the alumni association owned house at 2305 Leon Austin, Texas 78705.

Lambda Chi Chapter of LXA was founded as BX in 1965. Colonized in 1966 as LX Zeta (Chapter).
Pittsburg State U., Kansas! 37 years young and still going!:cool:

I too wonder if could have gotten more chapters of BX and become a National!!

The Zeta Omega Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma started as a local sorority...

It was called, Kappa Gamma Phi, with colours being baby pink and blue. It was founded in 1986, and continued until its colonization as Kappa Kappa Gamma in 1994.

Gamma Omega chapter of Gamma Phi Beta was founded in 1867 as Nulli Secundas. In 1868 the name was changed to Athenaeum Society, and in 1967 changed again to Alpha Theta Chi. In 1969 we got our charter - so we were local for 103 years before becoming GPhiB, and are older than our Alpha chapter!

Another cool fact is that a past president from Athenaeums is the wife of our current chancellor, and will be AIing into Gamma Phi this April! :)

The Gamma Omicron chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha began as Beta Chi Upsilon Sorority in November 1959. Our colors were rose and white.

The Colorado Delta chapter of Pi Beta Phi was originally founded as Omega Delta Psi in 1983. We received our charter Feb 1st 1986.

The Zeta Eta chapter of Alpha Chi Omega was originally a local named Delta Nu, founded October 12, 1976. 25 years ago May 6 we recieved our national charter. And you bet we had fun when Leagally Blond came out :-P

The Epsilon Tau chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa was found as Delta Phi Sigma Fraternity in 1926 at Ball State Teacher's College. We were the first Greek-letter fraternity on campus and remained a local until 1948 when we became the Tau Chapter of Phi Sigma Epsilon. In 1985 Phi Sigma Epsilon and Phi Sigma Kappa merged in the largest fraternity merger to date and we became the Epsilon Tau Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa.

That is incredibly cool! With such a long and rich history with the local, do you still keep up any traditions that went along with them?

The Delta Gamma chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon was originally a local jewish sorority founded at UBC in the early 1920's. In 1946 it became the Delta Gamma Chapter of DPhiE.

The Phi Gamma Chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon was Charted 2/26/89, we were a local sorority called Kappa Gamma.

Fun fact- Iris (on here) was our Chapters Founding President, and now she represents Phi Gamma as D Phi E's VP Special Projects!

Kristen

http://www.louisville.edu/rso/AOII/history.html
 

The sisterhood of Alpha Pi was started at the University of Louisville in 1980 thanks to a group of friends and a purple fountain!

Alpha Pi existed at U of L for a little less than a year as our members worked with the Panhellenic Council to select the first new national sorority to be invited to U of L in fifty years. Serious proposals were made by three national groups- Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Delta Pi, and Alpha Omicron Pi. Both Alpha Delta Pi and Alpha Omicron Pi made formal presentations on campus. AOII's presentation was made on April 25, 1981. Alpha Pi became the Pi Alpha Colony of Alpha Omicron Pi on June 7, 1981. The chapter name was chosen to honor the Alpha Pi local...and it was all started because 'we were having so much fun we should start a sorority.'

Twenty-three women, including five of the original Alpha Pi women and 12 from the original colony, were initiated into Alpha Omicron Pi on February 5, 1983. This year, my beloved Pi Alpha chapter celebrates her 20th anniversary!

Christin

The Alpha Chi Chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon began as local Alpha Delta Chi in 1989. We didn't start with colors or mascots, because we knew we wanted to go D Phi E, and we only organized as a local to get international affiliation! Alpha Chi Chapter was chartered in September 1991.

It seems like a common way to start. Most of the NPC's that used to be here started as locals. ie, DG took over a local called Theta Pi Gamma, but then pulled the charter, so they reverted back to being Theta Pi Gamma. We have a local now, Kappa Gamma Lambda, that is intending to try to affiliate with Kappa Alpha Theta. Our fraternities all started as nationals though.
AST has a bunch of chapters that started as local. (Though we weren't)

We still sing a few of their songs, but other than that we really don't do much - they were much more of a literary/debate society for most of their existence - we would love to get more of their old traditions going again though.

Gamma Tau Chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta (State College of West Georgia) started as Sigma Chi Omega (West Georgia College). The majority of sororities and fraternities started in the early 70's but I don't know how many were locals. There were 4 other sororities on campus when I pledged in 1973.

History of the Eta Theta chapter of Alpha Phi at SFSU
 

In January of 1985, a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma transferred to San Francisco State University from the University of New Mexico. With her sisterhood in mind, she established a similar one here at SFSU. Within a few weeks, a group of 25 young women had formed a group called Kappa Gamma on this campus. Kappa Gamma continued to flourish, and in 1987 began the search for a national sorority to incorporate them as a new colony.

Through mutual selection, Kappa Gamma at SFSU became a colony of Alpha Phi in May. Thirty initiated Kappa Gammas pledged Alpha Phi, willing to start over. Rushing as Alpha Phi, the new colony pledged 36 girls in the fall of 1987. With a lot of hard work and determination, 54 women became initiated members of Alpha Phi on February 13, 1988. They became charter members to Eta Theta Chapter of Alpha Phi.

Tau Gamma chapter of AOII started out as Kappa Gamma Beta on Jan. 23, 1986 at Eastern Washington University
Colors: Silver, Crimson, and White
Went national with Alpha Omicron Pi on Oct. 3, 1987 and was the first national sorority on campus! Since I'm the historian I actually have the scrapbook from KGB recording how they went from KGB to AOII! It's so amazing to read about it and see how we grew! It's also cool to see what greeks were on campus at that time and see who's still left. From everyone who was there then, only Sigma Nu are still here along with SigEp, Pi Lambda Phi, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Alpha Phi, AZD, and Gamma Phi

our chapter was local too

theta chi omega
march 23, 1990 we became phi sig
their colors were green and gold

The Epsilon-Omega Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity was originally Sigma Kappa Chi Fraternity at Georgia State University, until it dissolved in 1958.
Its really interesting how our chapter can be traced as far back as 65 years, especially at a commuter school like GSU.

The Epsilon Gamma chapter started out as the Gamma Delta local sorority, we were the little sisters of the Gamma Delta chapter of Sigma Nu in 1982. We became D Phi E in 1985.

Alpha Alpha chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity began life as a local fraternity, Delta Kappa Rho in 1921, strictly for the purpose of petitioning a national fraternity. In 1923, it became Alpha Alpha chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi. Very little of the records of Delta Kappa Rho survive today since they were lost in a house fire in 1925. Back when I was an undergraduate the house displayed a banner of the old Delta Kappa Rho; when the chapter closed in 1986, the banner was lost, probably taken by a member or alum for 'safekeeping' but never returned.

The Kappa Iota chapter of ZTA was the local sorority Alpha Epsilon Pi from 1902-1996 when we first started looking to be a national org. We were installed in March of 1997. Many of us known of AEPi family tree members but we don't know THAT much about the group, but we try to remember what history we know. Before it was a social group it was a literary society.

Bump


The Ontario Gamma chapter of Pi Beta Pha also started out as a local. We started in 1992 as Delta Sigma Chi and became Pi Beta Phi on November 22nd 1996.

We started off as a colony of Alpha Phi from the start. However, the Gamma Beta chapter of Theta Xi at Florida Institute of Technology started as a local fraternity, Delta Delta Tau, and their colors were blue and yellow. I don't know when they were founded, but they had a 30th anniversary celebration last year and something like 80 guys showed up! :eek: I think that is awesome.

Their pledges still wear the Delta Delta Tau shirts.. it's cool. :)

The Alpha Gamma chapter of Sigma Kappa began as a local called Phi Gamma Chi. We were chartered as Sigma Kappa in 1923. We don't know much about Phi Gamma Chi, and we just recently found some old scrapbooks with information. Interestingly enough, as a sort of tribute to the local, our houseing corporation took the name Phi Gamma Chi. When we made the connection, everyone thought it was hilarious!

The Beta Chi chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon started out as Delta Kappa Phi. DKPhi was founded May 1993 and chartered May 1997. Local colors were Navy and Cream and their flower was the daisy.

Sarah

The Gamma-Nu Chapter of Kappa Sigma started out as the Varsity Club, and sent a petition to Kappa Sigma to colonize, which failed because Washburn was too small. So the Varsity club changed their name to Kappa Theta, sent in a petition despite threats that they would not ever have another chance if they kept bothering the organization, but won a colony and became the Gamma-Nu chapter in 1909.

An interesting side note: We are twins with the Gamma-Mu chapter in Washington State - they were installed just hours before we were. Another interesting note - both were founded out of local groups called Kappa Theta - so Gamma-Mu and Gamma-Nu are the "Kappa Theta Twins" of Kappa Sig - There are a few pages about it in the Kappa Sigma history book written by Finis K. Farr - a great read for a brother.

University of Michigan - Flint...

Around 1992 Alpha Theta Chi was approached by Kappa Kappa Gamma to affiliate but we chose to stay local.

Pi Alpha Chi was founded in 1987 and became Theta Phi Alpha in 1991. Theta Phi Alpha chose to become local again in 1999 under the name of Theta Phi Beta and they are no longer an active chapter on campus.

Alpha Xi Omega was founded in May 1990 and became Delta Phi Epsilon in 1992.

Sigma Phi Upsilon was founded in March 1991 and became Phi Sigma Sigma in 1994.

NM Beta
 

The NM Beta Chapter of Pi Beta Phi was originally a local called Kappa Chi Upsilon, nicknamed the Oops girls. In 1971 Kappa Chi Upsilon decided they wanted to become a national so the petitioned to some sororities and from those 7 sororities made presentations to them and one of our charter members told us that when the Pi Phi woman came they knew that they wanted to be in that organization.

We were installed on January 23, 1972. We still have all the letters from the 7 sororities in our archives and also letters from the other Pi Phi chapters welcoming us to their organization.