Sigma Iota () was the second Latin American–based Greek lettered inter-collegiate

fraternity A fraternity (; whence, "wikt:brotherhood, brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club (organization), club or fraternal order traditionally of men but also women associated together for various religious or secular ...

established in the United States after Psi Alpha Kappa. The organization traces its origins to 1903 to a social club for Latin American students known as La Estrella de Oro. This club established at

Louisiana State University Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as Louisiana State University (LSU), is an American Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louis ...

, would then grow larger in scope and subsequently rebrand itself to eventually be the Sociedad Hispano-Americana, established in November 27, 1904 as a recognized fraternal organization by its parent institution. After years of growth and having expanded to multiple campuses, the fraternal society in 1911 then rebranded itself as a Greek-lettered organization. Sigma Iota merged with Phi Lambda Alpha fraternity to form Phi Iota Alpha on December 26, 1931.

History

Predecessor

Sigma Iota originated from La Estrella de Oro a

secret society A secret society is an organization about which the activities, events, inner functioning, or membership are concealed. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence ag ...

and social club for

Spanish-American Spanish Americans (, ''hispanoestadounidenses'', or ''hispanonorteamericanos'') are Americans whose Spaniards, ancestry originates wholly or partly from Spain. They are the longest-established European Americans, European American group in t ...

students that was formed by eleven students on February 27, 1903 at

of Cuban and Mexican descent. These eleven founders were Oscar Emilio Crabb Pacetti, Ernesto "Earnest" Juan Jose Geronimo Ferro, Robusteano Bernardo Ferro, Amito Freire, Francisco Freire, Alberto "Albert Gomez" Cecelio Larrieu Torres, John Clement Lombard, Ferdinand Vito Lopez, Edgardo Gregorio Rabel, Emilio Jose Rabel, and Charles Ramond Villa. The two senior classmen, Lopez and Crabb served as the founding president and vice president respectively, while the rest of the founders were one freshman and eight sub-freshmen. The society would then rebrand itself briefly as La Colonia Hispano-Americana, the subsequent year on November 27, 1904, with membership expanding to 24 active members, with individuals from

Costa Rica Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as Maritime bo ...

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, and

Puerto Rico ; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...

being brought into the fold alongside the seven still active prior members who were from

Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...

and

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

.Shepard, Francis W., ed. (1927)
''Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities'' (11th ed.)
Menasha, Wisconsin: George Banta Publishing Company. p. 504 – via Google Books.Robson, John, ed. (1963). ''Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities'' (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. pp. 731. The rebranded society's first president was Antonio Ramon Güell Gutiérrez from Costa Rica, who would be heavily involved with the growth of the organization on campus in the subsequent years as a fraternity and would become Louisiana State University's first Hispanic professor. La Colonia Hispano-Americano would then change its name to Sociedad Hispano-Americana in December 1904 and LSU would go on to recognize it as a fraternity in the subsequent years according to the ''Gumbo'' yearbook. Its purpose was the encourage students of Spanish descent to seek a college education in the United States. Its motto was ''Omne Rarum Carum'', meaning "Everything Rare is Dear" in Latin. Membership in the society continued to be limited to students of Spanish descent who were from North or South America. By June 1906, the society had added chapters at

Iowa State University Iowa State University of Science and Technology (Iowa State University, Iowa State, or ISU) is a Public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Ames, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1858 as the Iowa Agricult ...

and the

University of Iowa The University of Iowa (U of I, UIowa, or Iowa) is a public university, public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized int ...

. Starting in 1910, it began presenting the Sociedad Hispano-Americana Medal to a graduating student for proficiency in Spanish.

Sigma Iota

In 1911, the Sociedad Hispano-Americana Medal transformed from a secret society into Sigma Iota, becoming the second known Greek-lettered Latino fraternity after Alpha Zeta. Sigma Iota's purpose was friendship and to help

students who attended foreign universities. It also continued to present a medal for proficiency in Spanish by a non-Spanish speaking student. Sigma Iota added chapters in the United States,

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, and

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, becoming the first international Greek-lettered Latin American-based fraternity when it chartered a chapter at the

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in January 1913. However, many of its chapters went inactive during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. Meanwhile, Phi Lambda Alpha, a Latino fraternity established in 1919 at the

University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California), is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Berkeley, California, United States. Founded in 1868 and named after t ...

, had plans to expand throughout the United States. The two fraternities began to work toward merging into a new national fraternity. On December 26, 1931, Sigma Iota and Phi Lambda Alpha held a convention in

Troy, New York Troy is a city in and the county seat of Rensselaer County, New York, United States. It is located on the western edge of the county, on the eastern bank of the Hudson River just northeast of the capital city of Albany, New York, Albany. At the ...

where they agreed to form Phi Iota Alpha. In 1934, several undergraduate and graduate members of the former Sigma Iota, Phi Lambda Alpha, and current Phi Iota Alpha in Puerto Rico and the mainland United States, joined Puerto Rican fraternity Sigma Delta Alpha, and reorganized the latter as Phi Sigma Alpha of the Sigma Fraternity, with its mainland component established in 1939 being known as Sigma Iota Alpha of the Sigma Fraternity. A Greek-lettered designation would eventually go on to be the namesake of the sorority Sigma Iota Alpha decades later.

Symbols

Sigma Iota's symbolism and coat of arms were based on that of Sociedad Hispano-Americana (picture to the right). The fraternity's colors were red and green. Its flower was the red carnation.

Governance

Sigma Iota was overseen by grand officers, including the supreme master, master, admiral, secretary, and treasurer.

Chapters

Following is a list of Sigma Iota chapters, with inactive chapters and institutions in ''italics''.Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (October 20, 2024)
Sigma Iota

Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities
'' Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed December 3, 2024.''The Gumbo Yearbook''
vol. 15. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, 1914. p. 189. ''via'' LSU Scholarly Repository.

Notes

References

{{Fraternities and Sororities , collapsed Latino fraternities and sororities Hispanic and Latino American organizations Fraternities and sororities in the United States Student societies in the United States International student societies Phi Iota Alpha Phi Sigma Alpha Merged fraternities and sororities Fraternities and sororities in Belgium Fraternities and sororities in Switzerland 1911 establishments in Louisiana Student organizations established in 1911 Student organizations in the United States