The history of sororities

[Beryana]

AOII is a fraternity - for the same reasons we don't have a crest.

Sarah

[breathesgelatin]

Here is a list. If there are any corrections let me know.

In sum:
Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, 1851 (Adelphean Society became a Sorority in 1904)
Phi Mu Fraternity, 1852 (Philomathean Society became a Fraternity in 1904)
Pi Beta Phi Fraternity, 1867 (I. C. Sorosis Fraternity adopted motto PBF in 1882)
Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity, 1870 (January 27)
Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity, 1870 (October 13)
Alpha Phi Fraternity, 1872
Delta Gamma Fraternity, 1873
Sigma Kappa Sorority, 1874 (November 9) (Founded as a Fraternity, became a Sorority in 1904)
Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, 1874 (November 11)
Alpha Chi Omega Fraternity, 1885
Delta Delta Delta Fraternity, 1888
Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity, 1893 (founded as a Sorority, became a Fraternity in 1913)
Chi Omega Fraternity, 1895
Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity, 1897 (January 2)
Kappa Delta Sorority, 1897 (October 23) (don't know if it changed)
Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority, 1898 (April 20) (don't know if it changed)
Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity, 1898 (October 15)
Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority, 1899 (founded as a Fraternity, became a Sorority in 1935)
Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority, 1901
Delta Zeta Sorority, 1902
Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity, 1904
Alpha Epsilon Phi Sorority, 1909
Theta Phi Alpha Fraternity, 1912
Phi Sigma Sigma Fraternity, 1913
Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority, 1917 (March 17)
Sigma Delta Tau Sorority, 1917 (March 25)

[honeychile]

I had NO idea that so many of the women's organizations use "fraternity" instead of "sorority"!! Goes to show that you learn something new every day!

Oh, Alpha Delta Pi started out as the Adelphean Society in 1851 - the first secret society for college women at the first college for women in the United States!

[breathesgelatin]

honeychile, is ADPi a fraternity or sorority?

[honeychile]

Alpha Delta Pi went from the Adelphean Society to Alpha Delta Phi Sorority (1904) to Alpha Delta Pi Sorority.

That little "extra" twist is due to a Northern fraternity being upset by our use of Alpha Delta Phi, so the Phi became a Pi in 1913.

So, if any of y'all EVER see any Alpha Delta PHI pins that look like the Alpha Delta Pi Diamond <> for heaven's sake, please let me know!!!!

[WCUgirl]

Just to clarify my earlier post, I did a little research. Alpha Xi Delta changed names from Alpha Xi Delta Sorority to Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity in 1913.

If anyone else out there thinks this is incorrect, please let me know! I don't want to post the wrong info.

Thanks!

[Little E]

I had no idea that AST was founded as a fraternity and then became a sorority, seems most groups went the other way...

[PsychTau]

Originally posted by Little E
I had no idea that AST was founded as a fraternity and then became a sorority, seems most groups went the other way...

Yep....Upsilon's chapter charter was the last one to say "Alpha Sigma Tau Fraternity", the rest after that say Sorority. Pretty cool that their charters are different!

AXiD670.....do you know of an explanation as to why you guys switched to "Fraternity"? (Unless it's private, of course!) It is somewhat of an interesting switch, especially the timing.

PsychTau

[SoCalGirl]

Sigma Kappa was NEVER a fraternity. Though it's unclear when exactly we became officially a sorority.

[texas*princess]

This is really an interesting thread! I think it's so great that each group is so unique and we're still one big panhellenic family!

like honeychile, I had no idea so many GLOs for women used "women's fraternity" instead of "sorority".. that's really neat!

[Optimist Prime]

I'm sure that college must suck ass to go to. But mad props for being the first. Theta First National. Haha, that sounds like a bank.

[TigerLilly]

Originally posted by Beryana
AOII is a fraternity - for the same reasons we don't have a crest.

Can you share the reasons, or are they secret? I didn't realize some sororities/fraternities didn't have crests. Does any other group not have a crest?
This thread is really interesting!

[AOIIalum]

We don't have a crest because crests are not Greek! Here's the exact quote from our website:

"AOII believes that the Fraternity has an essentially Greek heritage, and not one of medieval or Masonic background. Thus it does not have a shield or a crest as a symbol."
http://www.alphaomicronpi.org/conten...tageframe.html and click on Tradition

[NutBrnHair]

Originally posted by MTSUGURL
slight hijack: Are local fraternities, sororities, or other local organizations listed in Baird's Manual? (I've never seen a copy... never heard of it until GC.)

I don't have a copy in front of me right now, but here is a blurb that answers the question:

Bairds Manual of American College Fraternities is considered the ultimate reference guide to ALL national fraternities, sororities and societies. About 20 editions have been published over the last 150 years. In its 1200 pages it lists all colleges and the chapters which have existed at each one, provides detailed histories of ALL the groups and a list of their chapters, quotes significant legislation pertaining to Greek letter organizations, describes fraternities which have disbanded, major locals, important alumni, etc. It lists NIC, NPC, NPHC groups, and all honor societies and professional societies.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by NutBrnHair
I don't have a copy in front of me right now, but here is a blurb that answers the question:

Bairds Manual of American College Fraternities is considered the ultimate reference guide to ALL national fraternities, sororities and societies. About 20 editions have been published over the last 150 years. In its 1200 pages it lists all colleges and the chapters which have existed at each one, provides detailed histories of ALL the groups and a list of their chapters, quotes significant legislation pertaining to Greek letter organizations, describes fraternities which have disbanded, major locals, important alumni, etc. It lists NIC, NPC, NPHC groups, and all honor societies and professional societies.

Baird's really doesn't do that though. There's quite a few locals in Wisconsin who existed for 100+ years that never got a mention in Baird's. Maybe we just aren't "big" enough of a state?