Omega Epsilon Sigma () was a collegiate

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 ...

operating in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

from 1925 until, approximately, 1930. It is the second known organization for college women with

Order of the Eastern Star The Order of the Eastern Star is a Masonic appendant body open to both men and women. It was established in by lawyer and educator Rob Morris, a noted Freemason, and adopted and approved as an appendant body of the Masonic Fraternity in 18 ...

affiliation, the first being Achoth.

Omicron Epsilon Sigma

Omega Epsilon Sigma was founded as ''Omicron'' Epsilon Sigma on January 3, 1925, at Central Missouri State Teachers College (now

University of Central Missouri The University of Central Missouri (UCM) is a public university in Warrensburg, Missouri. In 2019, enrollment was 11,229 students from 49 states and 59 countries on its 1,561-acre campus. UCM offers 150 programs of study, including 10 pre-profe ...

). The 1925 edition of the ''Sunflower yearbook'' described the sorority's membership policy as "eligibility to membership in this organization is based upon affiliation with the Order of the Eastern Star." On April 21, 1925, the sorority was recognized by the Grand Matron of the Grand Chapter of Kansas. The yearbook also described the Masonic association. "Through the kindness of the Shriners of Emporia semi-monthly meetings are held in the Shrine room of the

Masonic Temple A Masonic Temple or Masonic Hall is, within Freemasonry, the room or edifice where a Masonic Lodge meets. Masonic Temple may also refer to an abstract spiritual goal and the conceptual ritualistic space of a meeting. Development and history I ...

. Although yet in its infancy Omicron has a large membership and is exerting a democratic influence on the campus." According to the yearbook, Omicron's purpose "is to promote friendship among the girls of the school who are members of this fraternal order." The colors were yellow and white; the flower was the

snapdragon ''Antirrhinum'' is a genus of plants commonly known as dragon flowers, snapdragons and dog flower because of the flowers' fancied resemblance to the face of a dragon that opens and closes its mouth when laterally squeezed. They are native to ...

Name change

It appears there was a consolidation of several other Eastern Star affiliated locals shortly after formation of Omicron Epsilon Sigma. An undated copy of the constitution and bylaws noted the change to Omega Epsilon Sigma. The colors were changed to green and white, and the flower changed to the growing narcissus. The badge is described as a "regular pentagon bordered with perals, five on a side surrounding a field of black, in the center of which is a gold five pointed star which points downward with an emerald in its center; above the star, the letter

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in gold and at the bottom on either side of the fifth point, the letters, psilonand igmain gold." The purpose was "to inspire each member to grow in strength and beauty of character by emphasizing the living as well as the teaching of moral principles; to strength existing fraternal relations through college fellowship, also to promote high ideals of scholarship, and social relations." While some of its chapters appear to have continued after 1927, that year, the first two chapters formed withdrew, soon becoming chapters of

Theta Sigma Upsilon Theta Sigma Upsilon () was a sorority founded on March 25, 1921 at Emporia State University. It merged with Alpha Gamma Delta at the 22nd international convention of Alpha Gamma Delta at French Lick, Indiana on June 29, 1959. History Theta Sigma ...

, which later merged with

Alpha Gamma Delta Alpha Gamma Delta (), also known as Alpha Gam, is an international women's fraternity and social organization. It was founded on May 30, 1904, by eleven female students at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, making it the youngest member ...

Chapters

Chapter information from the Baird's Manual Online Archive. The main archive URL i
The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage
The previously mentioned constitution and bylaws referenced a chapter at Central Missouri State College. All other chapter information is from the Baird's listings for Omega Epsilon Sigma and for Theta Sigma Upsilon.

References

{{Reflist * Kansas State Teachers College (Emporia State University), ''The Sunflower yearbook'', 1925, p. 178 * Constitution and By-laws of Omega Epsilon Sigma (undated)

Omicron Epsilon Sigma

Name change

Chapters

References

See also