Tri-Sigma & Tri-Delta question
 

Ok, I tried searching but no luck.

My mom is a graduate from the University of Illinois (Champaign/Urbana) and when she was there (76-80) they had every NPC sorority except for Tri-Sigma. Her recollection was that there was some connection between Tri-Sigma and Tri-Delta and that they weren't allowed to be on the same campus.

Is there any truth to this, or is this just one of those urban legend "I Swear it's true because my big sister's mom's roommate's best friend's pet cat was an honorary member, and they would know!" things




(no offense meant with the cat. We had a kitty who made occasional visits to our chapter meetings.)

Re: Tri-Sigma & Tri-Delta question
 

yeah, its that. My campus has both.

I've never heard that rumor before, its a new one to me.

I figured, though she made some comment that it has changed since then, well since Tri-Sigma was at the UofI for a while it would have had to of.

I figured I'd ask so I could tell her once and for all that I'm right ;)

If anyone has any idea where this "connection" would come from, other than the whole "Tri" part. I'd be interested to know.

I would say that it is a myth too but there is a grain of truth. Keep this in mind. Until 1947, Tri Sigma belonged to AES and not NPC. AES and NPC had an agreement that they would not cross into each other's territory, teachers colleges for AES and general colleges for NPC.

Edit because AES members accepted associate NPC membership in 1947. These sororities along with others gained full membership in 1951.

Very interesting, and though before my mother's time at school, explains why Tri-Sigma may not have been as quick to establish there. Hmmm.


Out of curiousity, how many of the NPC sororities today were once AES? I know that Sigma Kappa merged with one of the AES sororities (Pi Kappa Sigma). Which was more common, merging or developing into an NPC group?

Also, is there any place I can find more information on Pi Kappa Sigma? The only time I can find any reference to them is in their merger, and I'm very curious to learn more.

Not that anyone couldn't tell that by the 20 questions I'm asking.

Out of curiousity, how many of the NPC sororities today were once AES?

Three - ASA, AST and Tri Sigma.

All AES members: ASA, AST, Tri Sigma, Pi Kappa Sigma, Delta Sigma Epsilon, Theta Sigma Upsilon, and Pi Delta Theta.

I know that Sigma Kappa merged with one of the AES sororities (Pi Kappa Sigma). Which was more common, merging or developing into an NPC group?

It was pretty much an even split.

Delta Sigma Epsilon absorbed Pi Delta Theta in 1940 and then DSE was absorbed by Delta Zeta in 1956.

Theta Sigma Upsilon was absorbed by Alpha Gamma Delta in 1959

Pi Kappa Sigma was absorbed by Sigma Kappa in 1959

Also, is there any place I can find more information on Pi Kappa Sigma?

Ask your national historian or HQ archivist. One of them should have access to those records. Good luck.

There is no connection between the two. Your mom was misinformed. The only thing would be AES as aopirose described and that would encompass ASA, AST and SSS. This sounds like someone with "sour grapes" made up to make DDD look bad.

Tri Delta and ASA do have a connection, but it would have nothing to do with one not being allowed to be on campus with the other, and especially not in the late 1970s.

Thanks for the replies. Just so everyone knows, this was never mentioned in a light where it made TriDelta look bad, just that you could only have one or the other.


Now I get to go do the "I was right" dance to my mom. :)

Is that like the "I told you so" dance Debbie Reynolds's character did for Debra Messing's part on Will and Grace?:D

There is no "real" connection between Tri Sigma and Tri Delta, but there is a connection of sorts.....Ida Shaw and Mabel Lee Walton were great friends, Shaw advised Walton to "start" the AES and stay in the normal school arena. In additon, Tri Delta absorbed at least 1 Tri Sigma Chapter...I forgotten which one, but I think it was in GA, but I am not sure, I would have to look at the chapter roll calls, and I don't have those near me at the moment. This information is in both early histories of both organizations.

gwyn

IU had Tri-Sigma and Tri-Delta in the early-mid 90s.

Elon currently has both. Delta Delta Delta is our newest chapter. I've never heard anything like that before.

during the time frame drolefile mentioned, tri delta and tri sigma were both on the florida state campus.

While there have been some Absorbtsions/Mergers there is also a Cross over as such as Emily Butterfield of AGD who aided many Greeks on Designs of Coat of Arms, Loyyd Balfour of SX who was Many Greeks Oficial Jeweler, and Many Who Sat On Boards then and today of Greek Organizations.

We are not alone as Greeks! We should be more aware of how there is a tie amongst us!

Re: Tri-Sigma & Tri-Delta question
 

I went to the U of I and I don't think we ever had a chapter of Alpha Sigma Tau or Alpha Sigma Alpha. I do believe there was a chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma from 1957 until the mid-80s. So, U of I has an amazing number of sororities (and the fraternities are even more numerous) but they have never had all of the NPC groups.

FYI - this is from my old pledge manual stuff. I am not sure if it is 100% correct, and it is pretty old, but it's interesting.
U of I Sorority Chapters:
Pi Beta Phi 1895
Kappa Alpha Theta 1895
Kappa Kappa Gamma 1899
Alpha Chi Omega 1899
Chi Omega 1900
Alpha Xi Delta* 1905-? and 1983-1989?
Delta Gamma 1906
Sigma Kappa 1906
Alpha Omicron Pi 1911
Alpha Delta Pi 1912
Gamma Phi Beta 1913
Alpha Gamma Delta 1918
Theta Phi Alpha* 1919-1953
Alpha Epsilon Phi 1920
Delta Delta Delta 1920
Kappa Delta 1921
Phi Mu 1921
Delta Zeta 1921-? and 1988 - present
Zeta Tau Alpha* 1921-1988?
Alpha Phi 1922
Phi Sigma Sigma 1923
Sigma Delta Tau 1926
Delta Phi Epsilon* 1927-1988?
Sigma Sigma Sigma* 1957-?
Alpha Sigma Alpha* 1982-1992?

*Not presently on campus

Alpha Sigma Alpha was at the U of I from around 1982-1992.

I do recall learning that the U of I had had all of the current 26 NPC sororities at one point or another.

I wonder if anyone from AST could confirm if they ever had a chapter there. I also wonder if any sororities were there that no longer exist nationally/internationally.

irishpipes, from old Baird's Manuals, I've found there were at least four (there might be more that I don't know about):

Beta Sigma Omicron, 1927-41

Beta Phi Alpha, established there in 1923, not sure when it closed -- maybe in 1941 when Beta Phi Alpha merged into Delta Zeta

Phi Omega Pi, established there in 1911, not sure when it closed.

Theta Upsilon, established there 1923; briefly inactive 1940-46, then active again until 1962, when Theta Upsilon merged with Delta Zeta (overlapping chapters at Illinois)

ms_gwyn, I believe Tri Delta absorbed three Sigma Sigma Sigma chapters, at Randolph-Macon Woman's College (in 1911), Southwestern at Georgetown TX (1911), and Hollins (1914).

It's my understanding that Tri Delta also absorbed at least two chapters of Alpha Sigma Alpha: at Breneau in GA (1914) and Mount Union in OH (also in 1914)

Iota Alpha Pi disbanded its IHQ in 1971