Lambda Omega


Lambda Omega was an America college sorority. It was established at the University of California in Berkely, California as the Norroena Club in 1915. It changed its name to Greek letters in 1923 when it became a national organization. It absorbed Alpha Sigma Delta in 1932.
The sorority established ten chapters before it merged into Theta Upsilon in 1933. It was an associate member of the National Panhellenic Conference.

History

The Norroena Club was founded in October 31, 1915 on the campus of University of California in Berkeley, California. It was established by Ethel Flood and Grace Palmer, transfer students seeking a way to make friends. Its founding members were Flossie Banks, Stella Chappell, Helen Coursen, Sarah Fairchild, Ethel Flood, Annette Girard, Fannie Granger, Fin Hahn, Maude Hudson, Florence Koehler, Louise Koehler, Barbara Mensing, Maude Miller, Grace Palmer, Estha Rodkey, and Anne Wallingford.
The Norroena Club remained a local sorority for seven years. Its name meant "Breath of the North". Its ritual combined a Native American legend with a Norse motif. The motif emphasized the hardihood, hospitality, economy, and friendship of the Norse.
On May 5, 1923, the name changed to Lambda Omega, becoming the Alpha chapter of a new national sorority. Lambda Omega celebrated Founder's Day on May 5, coinciding with the name change. Expansion began immediately. with chapters being established at the University of Illinois in 1923 and Ohio State University in 1924. Alpha also purchased a chapter house in 1923.
In 1929, Lambda Omega had seven chapters and had initiated 453 members. Nationally, the sorority's philanthropy was the Children's Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.
By 1931, it had chartered eight collegiate chapters, with a total membership of 500. In June 1931, it held a convention in Columbus, Ohio.
The sorority was granted associate membership in the National Panhellenic Conference.
In April 1932, it absorbed Alpha Sigma Delta, a four chapter sorority. In September 1933, Lambda Omega was absorbed by Theta Upsilon. In turn, Theta Upsilon merged into Delta Zeta in 1962.

Symbols

Lambda Omega's insignia was a pharetra and a torch. Its motto was "I Will Be Worthy".
The sorority's badge was a monogram of the Greek letters "ΛΩ" in Roman gold, with the "Λ" over the "Ω" and decorated with pearls. Its pledge pin was a small silver pharetra holding arrows.
Lambda Omega's colors were violet and green. Its flag consisted of two violet sections and two green sections. The Greek letters "ΛΩ" were in the violet section in silver, while the green sections bore the torch.
The sorority's flower was the wood violet. Its jewel was the amethyst. Its patron Greek deity was Artemis. Lambda Omega's publication was The Pharetra, first published in 1925.

Governance

The sorority was governed through a national convetion that was held biennially. During the convention, its national officiers were selected, including president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, editor, historian, and ritualist.

Chapters

In the following list of Lambda Omega changers, inactive chapters noted in italics.
ChapterCharter date and rangInstitutionLocationStatus
Alpha – September 1933University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CaliforniaMerged
Beta1923 – September 1933University of IllinoisUrbana, IllinoisMerged
Gamma1924 – September 1933Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OhioMerged
Delta1925 – September 1933Ohio UniversityAthens, OhioMerged
Epsilon1927 – September 1933Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IllinoisMerged
Zeta1928 – September 1933University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CaliforniaMerged
Eta1929 – September 1933University of WashingtonSeattle, WashingtonMerged
Theta1930 – September 1933University of DenverDenver, ColoradoMerged
Iota – September 1933Colby CollegeWaterville, MaineMerged
Kappa – September 1933University of UtahSalt Lake City, UtahMerged