Badges of Extinct/Absorbed Sororities

[AZ-AlphaXi]

I just got a copy of the 1933 Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity Education Manual off of ebay...

included in the NPC section are short paragraphs on each of the NPC members

Here's the information on the ones that are no longer in existence:

Beta Phi Alpha - Founded at the University of California, May 8, 1909. The badge is a jeweled Phi carrying the B and A to the left and right of the central bar of the Phi on a field of black enamel. National philanthropy, the Mary Gordon Holway Loan Fund for members.

Alpha Delta Theta - Founded at Transylvania College, November 1919. The badge is an equilateral triangle superimposed on a gold key. The trangle is bordered with twenty-one pearls, having a emerald in the corner of each base, and at the apex. The emblem, a candle and a palm branch ar etched on teh black enameled center. National philanthropy, giving aid to senior members to complete college course.

Theta Upsilon - Founded at the University of California, January 1, 1914. The badge is a Theta superimposed upon a hand carved Upsilon. National philanthropy, a Health Fund at Berea College, makes possible dental attention and other medical aid for students

Associate Members of N.P.C. -
Sigma Phi Beta - Founded at New York University November 1, 1920

Beta Sigma Omicron - Founded at the University of Missouri, December 12, 1888

Lambda Omega - Founded at the University of California, October 31, 1915

Phi Omega Pi - Founded at the University of Nebraska March 5, 1910


I found it very interesting that there were three founded at the University of California and all three ended up merged into Delta Zeta.

[honeychile]

Just out of curiosity, say that someone's grandmother (or great-grandmother) was a member of one of the absorbed sororities. Would she be considered a legacy to the sorority which absorbed it?


I have to admit, each time I see that Alpha Delta Theta was absorbed by Phi Mu, I can't help but wonder why they didn't get absorbed by Alpha Delta Pi. Strange, I know, but when you have two sororities founded within a year at the same place, and two sororities whose names are quite similar, it gets you to wondering.

That, or I need a new hobby.

[AlphaSigOU]

When Alpha Kappa Pi consolidated with Alpha Sigma Phi in 1946, the pledge pin of Alpha Sigma Phi was changed to reflect Alpha Kappa Pi's heritage, and parts of AKPi's ritual were incorporated into the pledge ritual. The badge became the Sister Pin of Alpha Sigma Phi, which changed the letters, respectively.

The merger of Phi Pi Phi and Alpha Gamma Upsilon with Alpha Sigma Phi did not make any significant changes to the ceremonies, only with the makeup of the Grand Council and the membership status of its members.

[OleMissGlitter]

I read last night (I was bored) in the AOII History book that AOII absorbed a New England local. If I can remember correctly it was called Delta Theta Sigma. I am babysitting so I don't have it with me. I'll double check though.

[exlurker]

Originally posted by OleMissGlitter
I read last night (I was bored) in the AOII History book that AOII absorbed a New England local. If I can remember correctly it was called Delta Theta Sigma. I am babysitting so I don't have it with me. I'll double check though.

I believe the absorbed group was Delta Sigma. It had chapters at Tufts, Brown, and the U. of Maine. They became the Delta, Beta, and Gamma chapters of AOII, according to Baird's Manual. (Note for non-AOIIs like myself -- AOII does not use the Greek alphabetical order system of naming chapters; there were a number of AOII chapters chartered before these three.) The chapter at Brown became inactive when sororities were abolished there.

[OleMissGlitter]

Thanks ExLurker, you are correct

Beta Chapter at Brown, all of those women became alumnae immediately. The Gamma Chapter at Maine is still in existence, as is the Delta Chapter at Tufts.


ETA: Beta Chapter of AOII was never a full active chapter. They never functioned as a chapter because when AOII absorbed Delta Sigma, Brown abolished sororities therefore those members were made alumnae.

[Tom Earp]

While in 1939, LXA and TKN merged, there was a feeling of change.

LXA Badge stayed the same.

The "Pledge" Pin changed to reflect the merger to the current on of today.

The Coat of Arms also changed to reflect the Merger.

Many of the Rules, Codes, Etc, were also incorporated to make all fell comfortable.

Many of the Officers of TKN became Officers enveloped with LXA. This is today The Largest Merger of National Greek Organizations.

While at one time, there were discussions between LXA and TKE, there were to many problems to consumate it.

The last major merger I can think of was Phi Sigma Epsilon with Phi Siggma Kappa.

[gwen1982]

Originally posted by ms_gwyn
Questions to the Orgs that have been merged......do you guys talk about these orgs during your new member period (if privileged information, I understand), but since its part of your history it would be really interesting to learn.

In 1952, Theta Phi Alpha absorbed Pi Lambda Sigma. The history of the merger is shared, as is all of our history, during our new member period. There are a number of Pi Lambda Sigma sisters who became affiliated with Theta Phi Alpha, including alumnae, but the choice was always theirs. Unfortunately, I don't know how much information our archives holds regarding Pi Lambda Sigma. I'm sure there's stuff out there - they were founded in 1921, so there's 30 years of history somewhere. It would be interesting to learn it, though.

[AngelPhiSig]

Looking at those badges makes me think about how much the Beta Phi Alpha and Beta Sigma Phi badge are almost identical. I wonder if there is some tie between the two.

BSP was founded in 1931, after BPA.

[Erik P Conard]

When John Robson, Sig Ep historian/scholar, asked me to collaborate with him on the 19th edition of Baird's, I went to work
right away on additions, corrections, etc of the 18th, done in '68.
Then John got sick, I quit the ed biz and moved to CO, John then
up and died on me and I shitcanned the project, finding little help
available, and old Slip Slifer of Chi Psi still collecting IRAC bulletins.
My fifty pages of work still languish in my basement.
Finally a truly inferior edition did emerge, and it is so bad that I'd
never try to correct, update or amend it.
There will likely never ever be another Bairds like we knew it.
The whole complexion of the Greek scene has changed so radically that to even compare Kappa Alpha Society to one of the
Latino groups is out of the question. The old idea of an ivied house, pipe smoking alumni, endowment funds, etc...is gone.
The old swallowed up sororities, on their deathbeds, had little to
offer other than perhaps an attractive badge and a charter on a
campus not represented with the conquering sisters. Very few of
these absorbed outfits had even one decent chapter....IMHO.
The merging/absorption/entry of the educational sororities, i.e., the old teachers' college outfits, has created a schism and only
Tri Sig (now Tri Sigma) has somewhat made the grade although
they are indeed a class outfit on some campuses...
As a former faculty member and advisor of two of those old TC
chapters, the personality and posture of them compared to an old
private school or big state U chapter...is quite different. The old
educational fraternities did not have advisers...they had patrons or sponsors...who stood from afar and attended the parties with
their stiff bodies...and had no clue as to housing, endowments,
alumni, virtually nothing in common with the Illinois Thetas, e.g....
They were concerned with closing hours, with unsullied dresses
and straight seams....the transition is and was a challenge.
Enter the new groups, the ethnics, the metro ones, the hens'
clubs, the multi-whatevers. naw, never mind
Are they Phi Kaps, Pi Kaps, PiKAs, Pikes, Spees, SPEs, Sig Eps,
Sig Alphs, Alphs, SAEs, Phis or Phi Delts, Deltas, Delts, DSPs or
Delta Sigs...male or female? Depends when you were and where
you were. The name Pike was unheard of in the 50s, btw.
Naw, stick with collectin' badges. Great uncle Erik, still a TKE

[Erik P Conard]

been thinkin' about Iota Phi Theta...did not even exist when I
was an undergrad, think it is a black outfit.
but at any rate, the badge, a super-imposition of iota, phi and theta, all piled upon one another
how neat, what a creative image
yep, cannot get it outa my mind
it is a really neat one

[Denise_DPhiE]

As for badges which look similar....usually not a connection only that when the later chose their badge, they worked with a jeweler who had "dies/dyes" (sorry, not sure which way it is spelled) in a certain shape. You may recall seeing a badge for a group which is Phi Mu's badge turned sideways - I think Delta Chi Sigma?

It was cheaper to use an existing die/dye than create a new one and since the enamel piece on top is a seperate piece anyway, it could be made with any letters or symbols.

For mergers, you have to look at where the group being absorbed had chapters and where the absorber had chapters. If the group being absorbed was represented on 50 campuses and only 5 overlapped with the absorber, then it was a good fit. A friend of mine is a Beta Sigma Omicron AND an Alpha Phi. How? Her BSO chapter was ona campus which already had ZTA so ZTA did not absorb the BSO girls, they just went alumnae of BSO and then were allowed to petititon another national to be absorbed.

Denise

[Denise_DPhiE]

I always wondered why Iota Alpha Pi was not absorbed by any group. They would have been a good fit for AEPhi, SDT and to a lesser extent, DPhiE as they had chapters on campuses which were founded as jewish groups even though as time went on, they grew to be nonsectarian.

DC

[Denise_DPhiE]

WOW! You are good. I am very impressed. I thought I was the only geek who thought about that stuff (no, you're not a geek).

What referece material did you use to look that up? I live and breathe for Baird's.

Denise

[Tom Earp]

Very well posted.

Back When as it were, when some mergers were made, sometimes there were competing GLOs therefore were not able to merge. I dont know if this is the case as it was with LXA and TKN.

And during WWII many Chapters died never to return again. Many Houses were taken over by the Govt. for living quarters as many were nice large houses.

I dont think Sororitys were as hard hit as Fraternitys with Men signing up for Militarty service, but times were tough and so was money.

Guess You had to be living then to understand!