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 sororities.

Aloquin

Aloquin was founded as a co-educational organization in 1905 at Ohio University called The Union. As a co-ed organization, its purpose was "to raise social and moral standards of college life." 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. The name was created from the combination of the Latin words for "why not?" 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."
Aloquin's colors were blue and gold. The pin was a black enamel "A" set with sixteen pearls.
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. OSU's went with Chi Omega in 1919. Wittenburg's reorganized as Theta Gamma Rho in 1918, 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."

Chapters

The following are the known chapters of the Aloquin sorority.
ChapterCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatus
Alpha1905–1922Ohio UniversityAthens, OhioWithdrew
Beta1914–1919Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OhioWithdrew
Gamma1915–1918Wittenberg CollegeSpringfield, OhioWithdrew

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 with charter members Mame Custer, Clara Fairchilds, Jessie Jones, Sue Loudon, Carrie Lovell, and Luella Peck. The sorority's colors were Nile green and pink.
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." The sorority was renewed in 1916 at Philadelphia. The Lambda chapter of Beta Delta Pi affiliated with Alpha Gamma Delta in early 1919.

Chapters

The 1916 edition of Toronto's yearbook listed the following chapters, without institutions. Inactive chapters and institutions are in italics.
ChapterCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatus
AlphaBucknell Female InstituteLewisburg, PennsylvaniaInactive
BetaMiss Gordon's School for GirlsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaInactive
GammaMlle. Bouligne's Select SchoolChevy Chase, MarylandInactive
GammaNew York City, New YorkInactive
DeltaStamford, ConnecticutInactive
EpsilonChevy Chase, MarylandInactive
EtaPeekskill-on-the-Hudson, New YorkInactive
ThetaHollidaysburg, PennsylvaniaInactive
IotaAtlantic City, New JerseyInactive
Lambda1914–1919University of TorontoToronto, Ontario, CanadaMerged

Delta Chi Alpha

Delta Chi Alpha was one of the first Greek-lettered organizations for collegiate women. It was founded in May 1878 at Ohio Wesleyan University. The badge was silver with a monogram of the letters "encircled by a frosted wreath". The colors were cardinal and ecru.
In 1879, the membership was 25. In 1882, the fraternity established a Beta chapter at Beaver College. Alpha chapter at Ohio Wesleyan affiliated with Kappa Alpha Theta. It is not known what happened to the Beta chapter.

Chapters

Epsilon Tau

Epsilon Tau was a professional sorority for homeopathy. It was established on November 4, 1898 at Boston University School of Medicine. It also had chapters at Hahnemann Medical College and the New York Medical College and Hospital for Women. After those chapters went inactive, the Alpha chapter continued to operate as a local sorority until 1908.
Epsilon Tau's badge was a green enamel diamond, bearing the Greek letters "ΕΤ" in gold. Its colors were fern green and white. Its flower was the white carnation.

Chapters

ChapterCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatus
Alpha – 1908Boston University School of MedicineBoston, MassachusettsInactive
BetaHahnemann Medical CollegeChicago, IllinoisInactive
GammaNew York Medical College and Hospital for WomenManhattan, New YorkInactive

Gamma Beta Sigma

Gamma Beta Sigma was a junior college social sorority. It was established in November 3, 1900 at the Columbia Institute in Columbia, Tennessee. A second chapter was established in Edgewood School, followed by a third chapter at Saint Mary's School in 1901. On February 16, 1904, Gamma Beta Sigma, Inc. was incorporated as a social sorority in the State of North Carolina. Its purpose was "to make firmer the bonds of friendship already uniting us as members of this society".
It had three active chapters in 1909. Its last active chapter at Saint Mary's School became a chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha in. 1909.
Gamma Beta Sigma's insignia included a skull and crossed bones, a skeleton, a seven-pointed star, and a black cat. The sorority's badge was a seven-pointed star on a hexagon. It did not have a pledge pin. Its colors were purple and gold. The sorority's flag was purple and gold, with a facsimile of its badge. Its flower was the violet.

Chapters

ChapterCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatus
Alpha – 190x ?Columbia InstituteColumbia, TennesseeInactive
Beta190x ? – 190x ?Edgewood SchoolBaltimore, MarylandInactive
Gamma1901 – May 27, 1909Saint Mary's SchoolRaleigh, North CarolinaMerged

Phi Mu Epsilon

Phi Mu Epsilon music sorority was established on October 1, 1892 at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. Its founder was James L. Howe, dean of the College of Music, who wanted to promote friendships between music students. It remained a local sorority for ten years before forming a second chapter at Syracuse University in 1902. Both chapters rented houses.
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. In 1906, Phi Mu Epsilon merged into Mu Phi Epsilon.
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. The sorority's colors were lavender and white. Its flower was the white rose.

Chapters

Sigma Sigma Delta

On November 11, 1924, the society Lanterna Laetitiae was organized at Bucknell University. Four years later, their decision to become a national organization prompted the name change to Sigma Sigma Delta . The sorority had "open membership as a fundamental principle". In Ohio Marietta's catalogue, the sorority is listed as "Sigma Sigma Delta National Open Sorority".
The sorority's official colors were green and white. Its flower was a white carnation. Its publication was The Evergreen.
By 1938, all chapters had dissolved or disaffiliated. Northwestern's went to Phi Omega Pi. Baldwin-Wallace's reorganized as the local, Theta Tau Delta, then affiliated with Phi Mu.

Chapters

The following are its known chapters of Sigma Sigma Delta.
ChapterCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatus
Alpha – 1936Bucknell UniversityLewisburg, PennsylvaniaInactive
Beta1928–1935Susquehanna UniversitySelinsgrove, PennsylvaniaInactive
Gamma1928–1934Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IllinoisMerged
Delta1928–1932Wittenburg UniversitySpringfield, OhioInactive
Epsilon1928–1934Marietta CollegeMarietta, OhioInactive
Zeta1928–1934Knox CollegeGalesburg, IllinoisInactive
Eta1932–1938Baldwin Wallace CollegeBerea, OhioWithdrew