Defunct North American collegiate sororities

This article describes smaller collegiate sororities created in the nineteenth century and early to middle twentieth century on campuses in the United States and Canada. These sororities are defunct. Individual chapters may be affiliated with National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sororities.

Aloquin

Aloquin was founded as a co-educational organization in 1905 at Ohio University called The Union.[1][2] As a co-ed organization, its purpose was "to raise social and moral standards of college life."[1] Splitting along gender lines in 1910, the men became affiliated with Phrenocon, a national association that would go on to rename itself Phi Kappa Tau in 1916, while on September 12, 1912, the 65 women of the Ohio University Union became Aloquin.[2] The name was created from the combination of the Latin words for "why not?"[2] This was quickly extended to "Why not strengthen? Why not encourage?" It aimed to "promote a spirit of democracy and equality." They hoped to establish high ideals of college work. They wanted to "foster principles which will develop integrity, morality, and strength of character...the best type of womanhood... the bond of union between students and alma mater."[1]

Aloquin's colors were   blue and   gold. The pin was a black enamel "A" set with sixteen pearls.[3]

The sorority held a convention in Athens, Ohio, on December 12, 1913. A national president and a general secretary were elected. Ohio University's chapter affiliated with Zeta Tau Alpha in 1922.[2] OSU's went with Chi Omega in 1919.[2] Wittenburg's reorganized as Theta Gamma Rho in 1918,[2] and later, became a chapter of Kappa Delta in 1927.

Of the OSU chapter, Chi Omega's history recalled that the Aloquins "decided that there would be many more advantages derived from membership in a national fraternity than from a local state organization."[4]

Chapters

The following are the known chapters of the Aloquin sorority.[2]

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
Alpha 1905–1922 Ohio University Athens, Ohio Withdrew (ΖΤΑ) [2][a]
Beta 1914–1919 Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio Withdrew (ΧΩ) [2]
Gamma 1915–1918 Wittenberg College Springfield, Ohio Withdrew (ΘΓΡ (local); see ΚΔ) [2]
  1. ^ The last remaining chapter, this affiliation marked the final dispersal of Aloquin, whose three chapters joined other sororities via independent withdrawals.

Beta Delta Pi

The Alpha chapter began as D.D.D. in January 1887 at Bucknell Female Institute. On September 15, 1887, the sorority changed its name to Beta Delta Pi (ΒΔΠ) with charter members Mame Custer, Clara Fairchilds, Jessie Jones, Sue Loudon, Carrie Lovell, and Luella Peck.[5] The sorority's colors were   Nile green (light green) and   pink.[6][7]

Beta chapter was chartered at Miss Gordon's School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Lambda chapter was colonized at the University of Toronto in 1914. Lambda chapter decided "something must be done to strengthen our position nationally."[8] The sorority was renewed in 1916 at Philadelphia.[9] The Lambda chapter of Beta Delta Pi affiliated with Alpha Gamma Delta in early 1919.[8]

Chapters

The 1916 edition of Toronto's yearbook listed the following chapters, without institutions.[10] Inactive chapters and institutions are in italics.

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
Alpha September 15, 1887 Bucknell Female Institute Lewisburg, Pennsylvania Inactive [10][5][a]
Beta Miss Gordon's School for Girls Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Inactive [10]
Gamma April 1901 Mlle. Bouligne's Select School Chevy Chase, Maryland Inactive [11]
Gamma New York City, New York Inactive [10]
Delta Stamford, Connecticut Inactive [10]
Epsilon Chevy Chase, Maryland Inactive [10]
Eta Peekskill-on-the-Hudson, New York Inactive [10]
Theta Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania Inactive [10]
Iota Atlantic City, New Jersey Inactive [10]
Lambda 1914–1919 University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario, Canada Merged (ΑΓΔ) [10][8][b]
  1. ^ Chapter formed from D.D.D., established in January 1887.
  2. ^ Chapter merged with Alpha Gamma Delta.

Delta Chi Alpha

Delta Chi Alpha (ΔΧΑ) was one of the first Greek-lettered organizations for collegiate women. It was founded in May 1878 at Ohio Wesleyan University.[12] The badge was silver with a monogram of the letters "encircled by a frosted wreath".[12] The colors were   cardinal and   ecru.[12]

In 1879, the membership was 25.[12] In 1882, the fraternity established a Beta chapter at Beaver College.[13] Alpha chapter at Ohio Wesleyan affiliated with Kappa Alpha Theta.[14] It is not known what happened to the Beta chapter.

Chapters

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
Alpha 1878 Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware, Ohio Merged (ΚΑΘ) [14]
Beta 1882 Beaver College Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania Inactive [13]

Epsilon Tau

Epsilon Tau (ΕΤ) was a professional sorority for homeopathy.[15] It was established on November 4, 1898 at Boston University School of Medicine.[16][15] It also had chapters at Hahnemann Medical College and the New York Medical College and Hospital for Women.[16] After those chapters went inactive, the Alpha chapter continued to operate as a local sorority until 1908.[17]

Epsilon Tau's badge was a green enamel diamond, bearing the Greek letters "ΕΤ" in gold.[15] Its colors were   fern green and   white.[16][18] Its flower was the white carnation.[16][18]

Chapters

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
Alpha November 4, 1898 – 1908 Boston University School of Medicine Boston, Massachusetts Inactive [16][15][17]
Beta Hahnemann Medical College Chicago, Illinois Inactive [19][16][a]
Gamma New York Medical College and Hospital for Women Manhattan, New York Inactive [16][b]
  1. ^ The college closed in 1921.
  2. ^ The college closed in 1917.

Gamma Beta Sigma

Gamma Beta Sigma (ΓΒΣ) was a junior college social sorority.[18] It was established in November 3, 1900 at the Columbia Institute in Columbia, Tennessee.[20] A second chapter was established in Edgewood School, followed by a third chapter at Saint Mary's School in 1901.[20] On February 16, 1904, Gamma Beta Sigma, Inc. was incorporated as a social sorority in the State of North Carolina.[21] Its purpose was "to make firmer the bonds of friendship already uniting us as members of this society".[21]

It had three active chapters in 1909.[18] Its last active chapter at Saint Mary's School became a chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha in. 1909.[17]

Gamma Beta Sigma's insignia included a skull and crossed bones, a skeleton, a seven-pointed star, and a black cat.[18][20] The sorority's badge was a seven-pointed star on a hexagon.[18][20] It did not have a pledge pin.[20][22] Its colors were   purple and   gold.[18][20] The sorority's flag was purple and gold, with a facsimile of its badge.[18][20] Its flower was the violet.[18][20]

Chapters

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
Alpha November 3, 1900 – 190x ? Columbia Institute Columbia, Tennessee Inactive [20][23][22]
Beta 190x ? – 190x ? Edgewood School Baltimore, Maryland Inactive [20][22]
Gamma 1901 – May 27, 1909 Saint Mary's School Raleigh, North Carolina Merged (ΑΣΑ) [20][17][24][a]
  1. ^ Became the Gamma Beta Sigma chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha.

Phi Mu Epsilon

Badge of Phi Mu Epsilon

Phi Mu Epsilon (ΦΜΕ) music sorority was established on October 1, 1892 at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana.[25] Its founder was James L. Howe, dean of the College of Music, who wanted to promote friendships between music students.[26][25] It remained a local sorority for ten years before forming a second chapter at Syracuse University in 1902.[18][26] Both chapters rented houses.[25]

There was a music sorority by the same name at Northwestern University and the University of Michigan; however, Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities was not able to confirm their connection to this sorority. In 1905, Phi Mu Epsilon had initiated 225 members.[25] In 1906, Phi Mu Epsilon merged into Mu Phi Epsilon.[18][26]

Phi Mu Epsilon's badge was an Italian harp with three strings; lying across the strings was a black enamel ribbon with the Greek letters "ΦΜΕ" in gold.[25][18] The sorority's colors were   lavender and   white.[18][26] Its flower was the white rose.[18][26]

Chapters

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
Alpha October 1, 1892 – December 9, 1906 DePauw University Greencastle, Indiana Merged (ΜΦΕ) [25][26]
Beta 1902 – December 8, 1906 Syracuse University Syracuse, New York Merged (ΜΦΕ) [25][26]

Sigma Sigma Delta

On November 11, 1924, the society Lanterna Laetitiae was organized at Bucknell University.[2] Four years later, their decision to become a national organization prompted the name change to Sigma Sigma Delta (ΣΣΔ).[2] The sorority had "open membership as a fundamental principle".[27] In Ohio Marietta's catalogue (1933), the sorority is listed as "Sigma Sigma Delta National Open Sorority".[28]

The sorority's official colors were   green and   white. Its flower was a white carnation. Its publication was The Evergreen.[29]

By 1938, all chapters had dissolved or disaffiliated.[2] Northwestern's went to Phi Omega Pi.[2] Baldwin-Wallace's reorganized as the local, Theta Tau Delta, then affiliated with Phi Mu.[2]

Chapters

The following are its known chapters of Sigma Sigma Delta.[2]

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
Alpha November 11, 1924 – 1936 Bucknell University Lewisburg, Pennsylvania Inactive
Beta 1928–1935 Susquehanna University Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania Inactive [a]
Gamma 1928–1934 Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois Merged (ΦΩΠ) [b]
Delta 1928–1932 Wittenburg University Springfield, Ohio Inactive [c]
Epsilon 1928–1934 Marietta College Marietta, Ohio Inactive [d]
Zeta 1928–1934 Knox College Galesburg, Illinois Inactive
Eta 1932–1938 Baldwin Wallace College Berea, Ohio Withdrew (local, then ΦΜ) [e]
  1. ^ Chapter formed from Theta Chi Lambda, established in 1927.
  2. ^ Chapter formed from Aeukiga, established in 1922. The chapter merged with an existing Phi Omega Pi chapter
  3. ^ Chapter formed from the Ferncliffe League, established in 1923.
  4. ^ Chapter formed from Coletna, established in 1923.
  5. ^ Chapter formed from the Calumet Club, established in 1931. The chapter became Theta Tau Delta (local), then a Phi Mu chapter.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Aloquin: Non-Greek letter sorority in Ohio". Women's Fraternities. September 4, 2014. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (July 11, 2025) "Inactive Sororities". Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed September 18, 2025.
  3. ^ "Lost - Beta Delta Pi Fraternity Pin". The Toronto Star. 1919-01-30. p. 15. Retrieved 2025-09-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Ferguson, Christelle (1938). A History of Chi Omega, vol. 1. Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/George Banta Publishing Company. p. 188
  5. ^ a b Women's Resource Center. "History 1886-1895". Bucknell University. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  6. ^ L'Agenda, yearbook of Bucknell University, 1895
  7. ^ "College and Seminary News". Lewisburg Chronicle. 1887-10-06. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-09-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b c Alpha Gamma Delta Quarterly, v. 10 (1919), published by Alpha Gamma Delta. p. 89.
  9. ^ Women of Today. Ida Clyde Clarke, editor. New York City: Women of Today Press, 1925. p. 290. via Hathi Trust.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Torontonensis (yearbook), vol. 18. Toronto: University of Toronto, 1916. via Internet Archive.
  11. ^ "Bucknell University". The Scranton Tribune. 1901-04-17. p. 9. Retrieved 2025-09-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b c d Baird, William Raimond, ed. American College Fraternities, 1st edition. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1879.
  13. ^ a b The Phi Gamma Delta by Phi Gamma Delta, 1882, v. 1-4, Jan 1879- June 1882. p. 76
  14. ^ a b Baird, William Raimond, ed. American College Fraternities, 5th edition. New York: Wm. Raimond Baird, 1898.
  15. ^ a b c d Baird, William Raimond, ed. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 6th edition. New York: The Alcolm Company, 1905. pp. 379-380. via Hathi Trust.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g Martin, Ida Shaw (1907). The Sorority Handbook (2nd ed.). Boston: Ida Shaw Martin / The Pequa Press. p. 96 – via Hathi Trust.
  17. ^ a b c d Baird, William Raimond, ed. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 7th edition. New York: The College Fraternity Publishing Co., 1912. p. 658. via Hathi Trust.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Greek Letter Sororities. Women's Secret Societies in American Colleges". Times Union. Brooklyn, New York. 1907-07-21. p. 13. Retrieved 2025-11-11 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Hahnemann Medical College". Lost Colleges. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Martin, Ida Shaw (1907). The Sorority Handbook (2nd ed.). Boston: Ida Shaw Martin / The Pequa Press. p. 89 – via Hathi Trust.
  21. ^ a b "Gamma Beta Sigma". The Morning Post. Raleigh, North Carolina. 1904-02-17. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-11-11 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ a b c Martin, Ida Shaw (1905, 1907 reprint). The Sorority Handbook (1st ed.). Boston: Ida Shaw Martin. pp. 98-99
  23. ^ "The Columbia Female Institute". Historic Maury County. 2017-12-18. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  24. ^ Lurding, Carroll, ed. (April 7, 2024). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved April 13, 2024. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g Baird, William Raimond, ed. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 6th edition. New York: The Alcolm Company, 1905. p. 401. via Hathi Trust.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g Martin, Ida Shaw (1907). The Sorority Handbook (2nd ed.). Boston: Ida Shaw Martin / The Pequa Press. pp. 90–91 – via Hathi Trust.
  27. ^ "History of Women at Bucknell: 1916 to 1925". Bucknell University. Archived from the original on 2018-07-05. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  28. ^ Catalogue, Ohio Marietta College, 1931. p. 23
  29. ^ . L'Agenda, yearbook of Bucknell University
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