Sigma Delta Chi ()
sorority
Fraternities and sororities are social organizations at colleges and universities in North America.
Generally, membership in a fraternity or sorority is obtained as an undergraduate student, but continues thereafter for life. Some accept gradua ...
was a collegiate organization operating in
Missouri
Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...
from 1902 until 1915.
History
In April, 1902, on the campus of
Northeast Missouri State University
Truman State University (TSU or Truman) is a public university in Kirksville, Missouri. It had 4,225 enrolled students in the fall of 2021 pursuing degrees in 52 undergraduate and 11 graduate programs.
The university is named for U.S. Presiden ...
, four girls formed a "friendship club". The club grew to nine members and the name T.T.C. was adopted. When the club grew to twelve members, the name was changed to A.O.T. It is reported that one member "could not keep her
pledge
Pledge may refer to:
Promises
* a solemn promise
* Abstinence pledge, a commitment to practice abstinence, usually teetotalism or chastity
* The Pledge (New Hampshire), a promise about taxes by New Hampshire politicians
* Pledge of Allegianc ...
," so a more "permanent" organization was formed. Thus begins the ''Alpha chapter'' of Sigma Delta Chi sorority.
[Ryle (1972), p. 619.]
In the summer months of 1902, the "
initiatory
Washing and anointing (also called the initiatory) is a temple ordinance practiced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and Mormon fundamentalists as part of the faith's endowment ceremony. It is a sacred ordinance fo ...
and
christening service" were crafted, along with important documents. In the fall of 1902, the ''Beta chapter'' at
Warrensburg Teachers College (Central Missouri) was chartered. Two years later, the ''Gamma chapter'' was chartered at
Forest Park Academy and ''Delta'' at
Northwest Missouri State University.
[Ryle (1972), pp. 619–620.]
Conclaves were held every two years, beginning in 1906. The final conclave, in 1912, ruled that the sorority would only charter at
normal schools
A normal school or normal college is an institution created to Teacher education, train teachers by educating them in the norms of pedagogy and curriculum. In the 19th century in the United States, instruction in normal schools was at the high s ...
. The ''Gamma chapter'' was lost as a result.
The ''Delta chapter'' dissolved in 1915 per a university ban on secret organizations.
Northwest Missouri State University records gave its final date as March 18, 1914.
With only two chapters left, members decided to petition a national sorority. In October 1915, ''Alpha chapter'' sent a petition to
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Sigma Sigma Sigma (), also known as Tri Sigma, is a national American women's sorority.
Sigma Sigma Sigma is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), an umbrella organization encompassing 26 national sororities or women's fraterni ...
. On November 11, 1915, it was installed as the ''Mu chapter'' of Sigma Sigma Sigma. Ryle's history book stated, "All indicators point to a very pleasant evening, yet the girls must have thought of the old Sigma Delta Chi, now taking its place permanently in the history of the college."
[Ryle (1972), p. 620.]
Chapters
Chapters and their outcome.
Insignia
The emblem of A.O.T. was a crescent encircling a clover, with the club's initials on the leaves.
The pin of Sigma Delta Chi was a gold bow and arrow; the colors turquoise and wine; the flower the white carnation.
Footnotes
References
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{{Authority control
Defunct fraternities and sororities
1902 establishments in Missouri
Truman State University
Student organizations established in 1902