Sigma Nu History

[SigmaNuSWTx]

I was recently introduced to this website by my room mate, which is a TKE. Something I really like about their forum, is they have many people that share history that they know. NOT ritual, but different history. So... If you would like, please add any cool history that may be unknown to most people, and maybe we can all learn a little more about the roots of Sigma Nu.

Sigma Nu is one of the main reasons that the fraternity Sigma Tau Gamma is around today. Brother Wilson, was one of the key people that started that fraternity. Many Sig Taus think he is an initiated brother, and study him, but the truth is that he is a Sigma Nu, and only got them started. He is concidered an honorary member, with no true affiliation.

Also, LBJ was a member of a society here at Southwest Texas State, that later became Sigma Nu. National Fraternities were not allowed on campus here, so they had secret societies. LBJ was a Jeffersonian, which became Sigma Nu, Eta Tau Chapter.

Please share any history that you know, and lets kssp this going.
Fraternally,
VXH

_________________________
Don't settle for average, because you are taking the best of the worst, and the worst of the best.

[satellitegrl]

Alpha Xi Delta got started with help from some Sigma Nu brothers at Lombard College, IL in 1892. We choose our pink Kilarney rose to compliment your white one.

On the night of our sororities coming out (whatever you like to call it) the Sig brothers took the sisters out to see a play to celebrate.

J.j. Welsh, a Sig brother and attorney, helped our soror go national too.

Of our ten founders, six married and five of those six were married to Sigma Nus

So the histories of Alpha Xi Delta and Sigma Nu are inextrictably intertwined....

[Kevin]

So that would explain why the Alpha Xi Delta ladies get really ticked when our new guys don't know who their sister sorority is, eh?

LHT,
Kevin
Mu Tau #5 (as of March 9th)

[SigmaNuSWTx]

Our chapter at SWT used to be very close to the Alpha Xis here, and we are getting back in the mix with them. They used to be really awesome, and they fell back for a year, and they are getting back up to the top. They are great.

The Sax player for Dave Matthews is a Sigma Nu, which most people know.

[Kevin]

The Sax player for Dave Matthews is a Sigma Nu, which most people know.

Really? I thought it was Boyd Tinsley, the fiddle player.... Is it both? I did hear that there were other members of the band that were involved but didn't complete their candidacy...

LHT,
Kevin

[Kevin]

We choose our pink Kilarney rose to compliment your white one.

Thats good info... so if we sent a bouquet of white roses and pink Kilarney roses, that'd be good, eh?

LHT,
Kevin

[Delta_theta]

I am currenty at KNox college, which is where the Delta Theta Chapter of Sigma nu is. And before we were here, we were at, yes, Lombard. The Alpha Xi Delta Chapter here is the Alpha chapter, and is currently dormant. But our college is trying to get another sorority back on campus(we currently have 2 S's, and 5 Fraternities). I sent an email to AXD informing of this, hoping they could reopen their alpha chapter. I've studied some of the history, and from what I can tell, the Snu's here helped AXD go national, instead of staying a local sorority. I'm not sure what other affiliations we have, but this is what I got from the "offical" AXD histories(sent to me by their nationals.)

M.

[Kevin]

You're with the Delta Theta chapter of Sigma Nu? I know your recorder! Your profile says Moses which I believe was his nickname... So you may be him =) He was in my 'group' at the College of chapters last summer. This is really bad notice, but if anyone from the Delta Theta chapter wants to come to our initiation/formal here in Edmond, Oklahoma (the Mu Tau chapter installation) you're welcome to! It's on March 9th.. You can stay in our house if you want.


LHT,
Kevin (UCO Colony)
MT#5 (as of March 9th)

[Delta_theta]

Thats me! I am no longer recorder--we have elections at the end of the first term, but I was there at COC. I will inform my chapter about your invite to formal, thought oaklohoma is a long drive, I will see if I can convince anyone to go I think it'd be a blast.

M.

[Kevin]

And how this all fits into this thread......


Well the first chapter installed in the 21st century... I guess that's somewhat historical =)

LHT,
Kevin
MT-5(as of March 9th)

[SigmaNuSWTx]

I stand corrected on the fiddle player for Dave Matthews. I don't know what I was thinking.

Are any of you planning to attend Grand Chapter in Canada this summer?



_____________________________________
Strategy is for the amateurs, logistics is for the pros.

[Kevin]

Are any of you planning to attend Grand Chapter in Canada this summer?

Oh hell yah.. My chapter should be sending lots of people -- or at least lots of people want to go.

[SigmaNuSWTx]

Great, I will hopefully see them there.

Who is the spiritual founder of Sigma Nu? General Francis H. Smith

Who is Ira Baldinger? The Keeper of the Rock

Michael Jazack is the artist that painted the quest. He is also a vice-regent for Sigma Nu High Council. Did you know that he is only about 35 years old.

The mayor of Reno, NV is a Sigma Nu. Sam is his first name, and I forget his last name.

How many pages was the first issue of the Delta? 16

I hope you guys enjoy this history. If you know any, please add it. We give our candidates tests weekly, so that they know the upbringing of Sigma Nu.

LHT,
HT605

[Kevin]

What military organization was inspired by the Badge of Sigma Nu?

--- Military Order of the Serpent, a Spanish-American War veterans organization founded by Walter S MacAaron (Delta Zeta, Western Reserve)

Why did the date "1866" appear on the earliest Sigma Nu Charters?

--- It was the founding date of the Honduras Emigrant Association which included some future members of Alpha Chapter

Which Sigma Nu was a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

--- Melvin Jack Hein (Delta ioita, Washington State)

What US President had his picture taken at the White House with the delegates of a Grand Chapter?

--- President Calvin Coolidge (23rd Grand Chapter, Washington DC, 1927)

What do Sigma Nu and professional Baseball have in common?

--- Both started in 1869 (Cincinnati Reds)

[SigmaNuSWTx]

Kevin, that was some pretty cool history, most of which I did not know... Here is a bit about some great knights;


Ellwood H. McClelland
McClelland designed the Sigma Nu coat-of-arms in 1915.

James Bowles Settles
Settles painted “The Founding of Sigma Nu.”

Elmer Paul Catts Jr.
Brother Catts painted “A Serpent, A Rose, and A Star.”

John Alexander Howard
Howard thought the Fraternity should replace the Roman numeral system of labeling chapters. He felt that chapters should be designated with Greek letters according to the founding date of the chapter. Howard’s greatest contribution to Sigma Nu was as the first editor of the Fraternity’s magazine, The Delta. The first issue was published in April 1883 and contained sixteen pages. The reason he named the magazine The Delta was to symbolize the geographical relationship of the three existing Sigma Nu chapters at that time (Alpha, Lambda, and Kappa). The location of the three chapters formed the Greek letter “Delta”.

Isaac P. Robinson
Robinson was responsible for organizing the first National Convention. It was held at Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee on July 9-10, 1884.

Walter James Sears
Brother Sears is the author of “The Creed of Sigma Nu.”
“TO BELIEVE IN THE LIFE OF LOVE, TO WALK IN THE WAY OF HONOR, TO SERVE IN THE LIGHT OF TRUTH, this is the Life, the Way, and the Light of Sigma Nu, this is the Creed of our Fraternity.”

For those of you going on Spring Break, be careful. We are going to South Padre, which is always a huge Sigma Nu reunion from brother across the nation.

LHT,
HT605