List of Colgate University societies


Since being founded in 1819, Colgate University has had a rich tradition of student societies. Literary societies, Greek letter fraternities and sororities, non-Greek letter organizations, honor societies, and secret societies have all played a part in Colgate history.
Social fraternities came to Colgate in 1850 when Alpha Delta Phi was granted a chapter. The first sorority was brought to Colgate in 1982 when a chapter of Gamma Phi Beta received a charter.
Secret or underground organizations have had a widespread existence at Colgate University. Many of the school's original societies had roots as underground organizations. In terms of secret honor societies, Colgate has also had its fair share. Two secret Honor Societies, the Gorgon's Head and Skull and Scroll, enjoyed a period as rival societies until 1934 when they merged to form Konosioni, now known as the Tredecim Senior Honor Society. Even with its history, Tredecim is no longer a secret society but is now seen as a leadership society, with only 26 members of each graduating class peer-selected to membership.
Following is a list of Colgate University societies, organized by charter date. Active organizations are indicated in bold.
NameCharter date and rangeTypeStatus
Society for Inquiry1824LiteraryInactive
Gamma Phibef. 1833–1840LiteraryInactive
Pi Delta–1840LiteraryInactive
Adelphian Society1840–1880Literary and orationInactive
Aeonian Society1840–1887Literary and orationInactive
Alpha Delta Phi1850–1851; 1964–1972Social fraternityInactive
Delta Kappa Epsilon1856–2009Social fraternityInactive
Delta Upsilon1865Social fraternityActive
Aldelphia1872–1880Social fraternityMerged
Delta Phi1874–1876Social fraternityInactive
Aeonia1880–1887Social fraternityMerged
Union Debating Society188x ?–1887Literary and orationMerged
Beta Theta Pi1880Social fraternityActive
Theta Nu Epsilon1880Social fraternityInactive
Phi Kappa Psi1887–1982Social fraternityInactive
Phi Gamma Delta1886–1969, 1976–1989Social fraternityInactive
Madison Club1902–1917Literary and orationInactive
Owls Club1907–1908Non-Greek fraternal organizationInactive
Gorgon's Head1908–1934Secret senior honor societyMerged
Sigma Alpha1909–1918Social fraternityMerged
Theta Mu1911–1912Social fraternityMerged
Skull and Scroll1912–1934Secret senior honor societyMerged
Theta Chi1912Social fraternityActive
Theta Delta Sigma1914–1917Social fraternityMerged
Lambda Chi Alpha1916–1972Social fraternityInactive
Alpha Tau Omega1917–2000Social fraternityInactive
Sigma Nu1917–1968Social fraternityInactive
Kappa Delta Rho1917–1972, 1985–2003Social fraternityInactive
Phi Delta Theta1918–1968, 1973Social fraternityActive
Theta Pi Delta1923–1930Social fraternityMerged
Delta Pi Sigma1927–1937Social fraternityMerge
Colgate Commons Club1927–1960Counter-culture fraternal organizationInactive
Alpha Psi Omega1928–May 2023Honor society, theaterInactive
Sigma Chi1930–1963, 1971–2015Social fraternityInactive
Tredecim Senior Honor Society.1934–20xx ?Senior leadership societyActive
Phi Kappa Tau1937–1971, 2007Social fraternityActive
Psi ChiHonor society, psychologyActive
Alpha Beta1951–1956Social fraternityMerged
Tau Kappa Epsilon1956–1972Social fraternityInactive
Alpha Chi Epsilon1960–1964Social fraternityMerged
Beta Beta Beta1971Honor society, biologyActive
Phi Tau1971–20xx ?Social fraternity, localInactive
Delta Nu1979–1981Social sororityMerged
Delta Sigma Upsilon1980–1988Social sorority, localInactive
Chi Omega Rho1981–1990Social fraternity, co-ed, localInactive
Gamma Phi Beta1982Social sororityActive
Phi Eta Sigma1982First-year academic honor societyActive
Phi Psi1982–1992Social fraternity, localInactive
Alpha Theta Pi1984–1988Social sorority, localMerged
Kappa Psi Lambda1984–1986Social sororityMerged
Zeta Delta Pi1985–1988Social sororityMerged
Pi Beta Phi1986–1992Social sororityInactive
Kappa Alpha Theta1988–2008Social sororityInactive
Kappa Kappa Gamma1988Social sororityActive
Pi Beta Phi1986–1992Social sororityInactive
Alpha Chi Omega1988–1996Social sororityInactive
Delta Delta Delta1996Social sororityActive
Brothers of Colgate1999Social fraternity, localActive
Alpha Epsilon Pi2005–2013Social fraternityInactive
Blue Diamond Society2006Social fraternity, localActive
Sorella Society2008Social sorority, localActive