chronological evolvement of sororities
I am attempting to put together the earliest evolvement of our current sorority system. Here is what I have discovered to date:
?/?/1847 at Olivet College (Michigan): Iota Kappa Omicron (aka Soronian), active today
5/15/51 at Wesleyan College (Georgia): Adelphian Society, became Alpha Delta Pi in 1905
1/4/52 at Wesleyan College (Georgia): Philomathean Society, became Phi Mu in 1904
3/4/54 at Moores Hill College (now University of Evansville): Sigournian Literary Society, to Gamma Epsilon Sigma in 1929, to Chi Omega in 1951
?/?/55 at Baldwin-Wallace College (Ohio): Alethian Literary Society, to Alpha Kappa Sigma in 1918, to Alpha Gamma Delta in 1940
?/?/56 at Troy Female Seminary (New York): Chi Theta Delta, died in 18??
?/?/56 at Elmira College (New York): Callisophia Literary Society, to Kappa Sigma Sorority in 1883, died in 1911
?/?/66 at Elmira College (New York): Philomathean Literary Society, to Phi Mu (local) Sorority in 1883, died in 1911
4/28/67 at Monmouth College (Illinois): I. C. Sorosis, became Pi Beta Phi in 1888
?/?/67 at Maryville College (Tennessee): Kappa Phi, still active
12/21/68 at Iowa Wesleyan College: Pi Beta Phi
1/27/70 at DePauw University (Indiana): Kappa Alpha Theta
5/18/70 at Indiana University: Kappa Alpha Theta
9/?/70 at DePauw University: Pi Beta Phi, closed in 1877, revived in 1942
10/4/70 at S. U. N. Y., Brockport: Sigma Gamma Phi (aka Arethusa), died in 1939
10/13/70 at Monmouth College (Illinois): Kappa Kappa Gamma
?/?/70 at Baldwin-Wallace College (Ohio): Philomanthean Literary Society, part to Phi Lambda Sigma in 1921, to Beta Sigma Omicron in 1929, to Alpha Phi in 1964
?/?/70 at Baldwin-Wallace College: Philomanthean Literary Society, part to Gamma Sigma in 1921, to Alpha Xi Delta in 1941
?/?/70 at Baptist Young Ladies Seminary (Indianapolis): Pi Beta Phi, died in 1871
12/?/70 at Cincinnati Wesleyan College: Kappa Alpha Theta, died in 1871
These are the earliest dates that I can find. Early history is a little dicey as some of those groups were probably literary societies more than they were secret sororities. I'll not split hairs and give them the benefit of the doubt. It is interesting that several sororities have chapters whose roots are earlier than that of the national.
Anyone with additions or corrections?
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