Sigma Delta Chi () was an American regional

sorority In North America, fraternities and sororities ( and ) are social clubs at colleges and universities. They are sometimes collectively referred to as Greek life or Greek-letter organizations, as well as collegiate fraternities or collegiate sorori ...

operating in

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') 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 border ...

from 1902 until 1915.

History

In April 1902, four female students formed a "friendship club" at the First District Normal School (now

Northeast Missouri State University Truman State University (TSU or Truman) is a public liberal arts university in Kirksville, Missouri, United States. It had 3,664 enrolled students in the fall of 2024 pursuing degrees in 55 undergraduate and twelve graduate programs. The univ ...

). The club grew to nine members and the name T.T.C. was adopted. When the club grew to twelve members, its name was changed to A.O.T. It is reported that one member "could not keep her pledge," so a more "permanent" organization was formed. The result was the ''Alpha chapter'' of Sigma Delta Chi sorority. p. 619-620. In the summer of 1902, the "initiatory and christening service" were crafted, along with important documents. In the fall of 1902, the ''Beta chapter'' at Warrensburg Teachers College (how the

University of Central Missouri The University of Central Missouri (UCM) is a public university in Warrensburg, Missouri, United States. In 2024, enrollment was 13,734 students from 48 states and 52 countries on its 1,561-acre campus. UCM offers 150 programs of study, incl ...

) was chartered. Two years later, the ''Gamma chapter'' was chartered at Forest Park Academy and ''Delta'' at the Fifth District Normal School (now

Northwest Missouri State University Northwest Missouri State University (NW Missouri) is a public university in Maryville, Missouri, United States. It has an enrollment of 9,152 students. Founded in 1905 as a teachers college, its campus is based on the design for Forest Park (St. ...

). Conclaves were held every two years, beginning in 1906. The final conclave, in 1912, ruled that the sorority would only charter at

normal schools Normal(s) or The Normal(s) may refer to: Film and television * ''Normal'' (2003 film), starring Jessica Lange and Tom Wilkinson * ''Normal'' (2007 film), starring Carrie-Anne Moss, Kevin Zegers, Callum Keith Rennie, and Andrew Airlie * ''Norma ...

. The ''Gamma chapter'' was lost as a result. The ''Delta chapter'' dissolved in 1915 per a university ban on secret organizations.

records indicated that its final date as March 18, 1914., p. 161. With only two chapters left, the sorority's members decided to petition a national sorority for membership. 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 Fraternities and sororities in North America, sorority. It was established in 1898 at what is now Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, Farmville, Virginia.The so ...

. 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."

Symbols

The emblem of A.O.T. was a crescent encircling a clover, with the club's initials on the leaves. Sigma Delta Chi's colors were turquoise and wine. Its badge was a gold bow and arrow. Its flower was the white carnation.

Chapters

Following are the chapters of Sigma Delta Chi, with inactive chapters and institutions in ''italics''.

References

{{Authority control Merged fraternities and sororities 1902 establishments in Missouri Truman State University Student organizations established in 1902 Women's organizations based in the United States Sororities Fraternities and sororities in the United States Sigma Sigma Sigma