Other GLOs mentioned in your founding?

[naraht]

I was thinking about the fact that the founding of Alpha Phi Omega in our pledge manual specifically mentions Sigma Alpha Epsilon (7 of our 14 founders of APO were Sigma Alpha Epsilon brothers) and was wondering in which other cases that one GLO would mention another GLO as part of their founding

The ones that I thought likely were
Delta Zeta - mention Dr. Benton's work with Phi Delta Theta
Zeta Phi Beta - mention the efforts of Phi Beta Sigma
Delta Sigma Theta - mention Alpha Kappa Alpha (I didn't say it was a friendly mention)
Gamma Sigma Sigma - would probably mention Alpha Phi Omega
Omega Phi Alpha - definitely would mention Alpha Phi Omega

Any others?

[SWTXBelle]

Gamma Phi Beta - "Instead of joining the two-year-old Alpha Phi, Frances (E. Haven) asked three friends to assist her in organizing a new women's society. They south the advice and help . . . and members of two existing fraternities."
-" A Lifetime of Gamma Phi Beta" - 2012

[Gusteau]

Delta Chi was founded as a response to Phi Delta Phi dominating the politics of the Law School at Cornell.

The school year of 1889-90 began with conversations of starting a new law fraternity, but, as school work increased, the idea was put off until the spring semester. Two incidents have been credited with providing the impetus for renewed interest in the founding of what was to become Delta Chi. One was the election of a Phi Delta Phi as the Law School Editor of the Cornell Daily Sun (the student newspaper) and the second was the election of the law school junior class president. in the case of the class presidency, Alphonse Derwin Stillman had done some campaigning for a student named Irving G. Hubbard and was unaware of any effort being made in anyone else's behalf. When the voting results were in, Charles Frenkel, a Phi Delta Phi, was declared the winner. That caused Stillman to start "asking around." It appears that what he found was a law school which was dominated by one small, closely knit group -- Phi Delta Phi.



http://deltachi.org/history/index.php

[badgeguy]

Beta Theta Pi was founded as a response to Alpha Delta Phi, Sigma Chi was founded as a response to Delta Kappa Epsilon.

Chi Omega was founded by women with direct help from a Kappa Sigma, as did the old Sigma Iota Chi have ties to Kappa Sigma.

Sigma Phi and Delta Phi were founded as a result of Kappa Alpha Society.

Is this what you mean?

BG

[LaneSig]

Sigma Chi was founded as a response to Delta Kappa Epsilon.


Sigma Chi was founded by 6 members of Delta Kappa Epsilon (plus one independent) after a dispute in the DKE chapter at Miami(OH) that could not be resolved. Not as a response to DKE.

[DubaiSis]

Alpha Xi Delta was founded with the intention of becoming a chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma. When we decided to go it alone, we added gold to the Kappa colors of light and dark blue. Also, Sigma Nu was instrumental in helping Alpha Xi Delta establish itself. There's a super cute picture on Page 4 of The Quill.
http://www.alphaxidelta.org/clientuploads/Quill/fallwin06full.pdf

And by the way, in a month or so, when we start getting the annual "I want to start my own sorority" threads, take heed: virtually every NPC sorority and NIC fraternity (and probably the NPHC as well) have another sorority or fraternity who helped. Bitter and alone is no way to start a successful sorority.

[amIblue?]

Alpha Xi Delta was founded with the intention of becoming a chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma. When we decided to go it alone, we added gold to the Kappa colors of light and dark blue. Also, Sigma Nu was instrumental in helping Alpha Xi Delta establish itself. There's a super cute picture on Page 4 of The Quill.
http://www.alphaxidelta.org/clientuploads/Quill/fallwin06full.pdf.

I did not know this. Very cool.

[Sciencewoman]

Bitter and alone is no way to start a successful sorority.

This reminded me of the immortal words of Dean Wormer in Animal House: "Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son."

[AOII Angel]

I did not know this. Very cool.

Until about 4 years ago, it was on their national website. AOII used to include a story in our history about KKG in our founding, too. When women were first admitted to Barnard, all women students were invited to join the Kappa chapter that soon formed. After a few years, the number of members had gotten so large that the chapter began restricting membership. When the 4 Founders of AOII matriculated, the story goes that all were given bids to Kappa but Stella George Stern. The other three refused their bids and a year later formed Alpha Omicron Pi. The story has disappeared from our founding history over the years with the emphasis being placed on the bond of friendship between the four women.

[thetalady]

Kappa Alpha Theta was founded after Bettie Locke Hamilton was invited to wear the badge of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. She asked if this meant that she would be a fully initiated member of the fraternity. She was told "No." She refused the badge and became determined to establish the first Greek letter fraternity specifically for women. There is a special bond between Theta and Phi Gamma Delta because of this beginning.

In addition, Bettie Locke's father was a Beta Theta Pi. He helped her study and establish the foundations of Kappa Alpha Theta.

[OKXBumblebee]

Delta Gamma alumna had a major hand in Omega Kappa Chi's founding.

Two of our founding mothers are alumna and when they went back to school to become nurses, they met and found the mutual connection. They wanted to give girls at the Community College the opportunity to pursue sorority membership as they had, and that started it all.

[WhiteDaisy128]

Delta Gamma was founded by three young women/girls (ages 14-17, I believe) at the Lewis School for Girls. There were no other GLOs involved in our founding.

HOWEVER, our survival and move out of the south most definitely has to do with another Greek. George Banta, a Phi Delta Theta, was initiated into Delta Gamma so he could expand the Fraternity to Indiana. He established a chapter in Indiana - the first women he initiated was Lillian Vawter, his fiancee'. :D

[nyapbp]

There were no men or other organizations involved in Pi Beta Phi's founding in 1867. The 12 young women wanted an organization like that of the men. They called the organization, I.C. Sorosis. Pi Beta Phi was the secret motto. By the fall of 1868, a second chapter had been formed at Iowa Wesleyan College and a third quickly followed. Although the name change officially took place in 1888, many chapters used the Greek letters prior to that. In fact, the first issue of the magazine, published in 1885, stated that the magazine was "an organ of Pi Beta Phi".

I am always interested to read what the other organization's history say about our history. I remember one that stated that it was founded as a literary society (which it wasn't). The last time I was in Monmouth, I did some searching in the school newspaper from the 1860s and 1870s. There was a column for the literary societies and I.C. was not in that column, but news about it did appear in the fraternity section.

I loved reading the article about the Alpha Xis and Sigma Nu that was linked to in a previous post. I chuckled when the chapter at Lombard was referred to as a local. The Pi Phi chapter at Lombard was our fifth chapter, founded in 1872. By the time Alpha Xi was founded in 1893, Pi Phi had established more than 30 chapters.

Some of the alumnae from the 1860s, 1870s and 1880s were quite upset when the organization changed its name. Luckily, since the Greek letters had been a part of our founding, there was no discussion as to what the name ought to be. However, there was a movement, albeit small, to have the nickname be "Beta Pi" instead of "Pi Phi."

[AOII Angel]

Beta Pi? That's interesting.

[Sen's Revenge]

Alpha Phi Alpha mentions a lot of organizations in our history, it just depends on which document you're reading.

When it comes to the founding:

Our founders did their best to locate other black fraternities to join rather than founding their own (!) and they found one lead, Pi Gamma Omicron in Ohio. When they checked it out, they found out there was a mistake and either the org never really existed or had already dissolved.

We also mention the all white fraternities that several of the founders had been waiters to when they were undergraduates. While explicit *help* was not given (we didn't need any for what Alpha was destined to be), it has been said that they were generally supportive.

[KillarneyRose]

This reminded me of the immortal words of Dean Wormer in Animal House: "Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son."

What you read DubaiSis' post? I thought the exact same thing!

[Kevin]

Alpha Xi Delta was founded with the intention of becoming a chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma. When we decided to go it alone, we added gold to the Kappa colors of light and dark blue. Also, Sigma Nu was instrumental in helping Alpha Xi Delta establish itself. There's a super cute picture on Page 4 of The Quill.
http://www.alphaxidelta.org/clientuploads/Quill/fallwin06full.pdf

And by the way, in a month or so, when we start getting the annual "I want to start my own sorority" threads, take heed: virtually every NPC sorority and NIC fraternity (and probably the NPHC as well) have another sorority or fraternity who helped. Bitter and alone is no way to start a successful sorority.

When we were chartered, our local Alpha Xi Delta chapter, which was founded about the same time as ours, gave us a really nice framed picture with an excerpt from what I'm assuming is one of Alpha Xi's main history books, commemorating that shared bit of history.

Within our chapter, it seems a disproportionate number of our brothers have ended up marrying Alpha Xis.

[DrPhil]

Delta Sigma Theta - mention Alpha Kappa Alpha (I didn't say it was a friendly mention)

Most importantly, the official website for Delta (http://www.deltasigmatheta.org/about.htm) (and http://www.deltasigmatheta.org/history.htm) and AKA make no mention of one another.

Yes, we sometimes mention one another in chants/strolls/steps (one of my favorite being "...so your president walked out and founded DELTA SIGMA THETA!!) and individual members jab sometimes. Many of us continue to lovingly joke sometimes but have begun to appreciate and support one another. Darn, I'm maturing, booooooooo....:p There are different recollections of why things happened as they did 1908-1913. The fact remains that Delta is the better sorority. Okay, I'm not maturing, at least I'm no liar. :p

There are also recollections that mention Coleman Love (Delta Founder Edna Brown Coleman and Omega founder Frank Coleman) and any assistance Omega Psi Phi may have given our Founders. That is also not mentioned in official reports of Delta and Omega history. It is not even acknowledged by all Deltas and Omegas. It can be regional, campus-based, generational, and based on individual preferences. The world doesn't end because everyone doesn't acknowledge Coleman Love. I am only amused when older Deltas and older Omegas scoff and get angry over the idea. Those of us who acknowledge Coleman Love got that account of history from people who pledged decades before us. These much older members passed down history from one generation to the next (if books and official historical accounts were difficult to access, since some of us pledged either before the Internet existed or before it was so pervasive). LOL. Don't scoff now just because some of you have "outgrown" the idea or never heard of the idea.

[elicampbell]

Carter Ashton Jenkens was a member of Chi Phi at Rutgers. He transferred to Richmond College where he helped found Sigma Phi Epsilon.

[badgeguy]

Phi Kappa Psi founder CPT Moore left Jefferson College and went to Union College where he joined Delta Phi. He is listed in both groups directories. But, that may not be the point of this thread....

Kappa Alpha Society, along with all the early groups were originally based on the concepts of Phi Beta Kappa, which itself was based on the earlier FHC society at W&M...

Many if the groups founded prior to the civil war all had ties to the older literary societies which existed on campuses.....most of the literary societies died out or just became loose debating societies at many schools. (This is just a brief, skimming the surface of this topic)
Fraternities and sororities founded after the civil war seem to have closer ties to Masonic and other fraternal orders rather than the old literary society base.....

When it comes down to it in the most basic sense, all groups are somewhat connected to each other becuase there were always some founder who had connections to somebody who was connected to another group, or founders were rivals of other groups at their schools......in all my years of research I have yet to truly find any group that was completely autonomous without ANY connections to some other group.

My $.02 worth.

BG

[pshsx1]

Carter Ashton Jenkens was a member of Chi Phi at Rutgers. He transferred to Richmond College where he helped found Sigma Phi Epsilon.

^This. CAJ is our first founder and actually pioneered the idea of the Fraternity and what it would stand for. He initially wanted to bring a chapter of Chi Phi to Richmond College (now University of Richmond) in 1900 but Chi Phi refused his proposal because Richmond College only had 200-300 students and five already active fraternities: Kappa Alpha Order had come there in 1870, Phi Kappa Sigma in 1873, Phi Gamma Delta in 1890, Pi Kappa Alpha in 1891, and Kappa Sigma in 1898.

Plus, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Chi, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon also had established chapters there which had expired.

According to our text:
Sigma Phi Epsilon was founded because 12 young collegians hungered for a campus fellowship based on Judeo-Christian ideals that neither the college community nor the fraternity system at the time could offer.

So, ultimately, Sigma Phi Epsilon was founded in response to Chi Phi's rejection of their colony proposal and in response to the other five already existing on campus.

--------

ETA: Local fun fact: The local sorority at Lawrence Tech, Chi Omega Rho was founded in 1978 by Sigma Phi Epsilon Girls of the Golden Heart. When SigEp HQ ruled that female auxiliary groups were no longer allowed, some of the girls got together and founded their own local sorority, Chi Omega Rho. Although there are no Ritual similarities, a lot of internal traditions and structure overlap.

[Gusteau]

Carter Ashton Jenkens was a member of Chi Phi at Rutgers. He transferred to Richmond College where he helped found Sigma Phi Epsilon.

One of Delta Chi's Founders, Monroe Marsh Sweetland, was a member of the Delta Tau Delta Chapter at Cornell. Since Delta Chi was founded as professional fraternity many of our early members held dual membership including two very famous alumni initiates: Benjamin Harrison and William Jennings Bryan.

That being said, Delta Chi was operating as a social fraternity, albeit one for law students, from the beginning. Our 1912 vote to become single membership was the first step in becoming a general, social fraternity and highlighted the fact that many of our chapters were already A)refusing to initiate men in other organizations, B)operating as social ground on their campuses, and C)breaking the rules by initiating men who were not law students or legacies who had a course of study exemption.

[33girl]

The other three groups in the Farmville Four (KD, ZTA and Tri Sigma) are mentioned in Alpha Sigma Alpha's history, since the 5 founders were all bid by different groups, but turned down the bids because they all wanted to be sisters together.

Also, one of the founders of Tri Delta (Sarah Ida Shaw Martin) was at one time president of ASA and helped us reorganize. This was when ASA was specifically a sorority for women in schools of education (whether it be a normal school or within a larger university's school of education). In other words, she wasn't "double dipping" Panhellenically - it would be kind of like if today a KKG was also national president of Alpha Psi Omega.

[MysticCat]

When it comes down to it in the most basic sense, all groups are somewhat connected to each other becuase there were always some founder who had connections to somebody who was connected to another group, or founders were rivals of other groups at their schools......in all my years of research I have yet to truly find any group that was completely autonomous without ANY connections to some other group.Sinfonia, perhaps? I have never heard of any connection, formal or informal, with any other collegiate fraternity, beyond general knowledge of the existence of other, general fraternities. There were, so far as I recall, no other fraternities at the New England Conservatory at the time of our founding. I've never seen any reference to Father Mills belonging to any other fraternity, and the nature of the Conservatory at that time would suggest that most if not all of the faculty were probably educated somewhere other than a liberal arts college or university, which is where general fraternities would have been found. Many would have been educated or trained in Europe.

The Zeta Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega was chartered at NEC almost 3 years before Sinfonia's founding, but I can't recall ever seeing any reference to that in any Sinfonia history, nor have I ever seen anything to suggest that Father Mills or anyone else was trying to provide an Alpha Chi Omega-like experience for men at NEC. What history I have read would seem to suggest a different impetus for founding the Sinfonia Club, which soon became the Sinfonia Fraternity.

That said, there are historical snippets to suggest some influence of European student groups -- the (unverifiable) story that NEC president George Chadwick suggested the name "Sinfonia" after an organization to which he had belonged while a student in Leipzig (the "Symphonia Club") comes to mind. And I do know that when the Fraternity was still young (10+ years), people involved in the Greek movement, like George Banta and Emily Butterfield, were influential, but that would have been after founding.

But otherwise, I don't see anything in our history suggesting a connection with any other GLO.

[misscherrypie]

When it comes down to it in the most basic sense, all groups are somewhat connected to each other becuase there were always some founder who had connections to somebody who was connected to another group, or founders were rivals of other groups at their schools......in all my years of research I have yet to truly find any group that was completely autonomous without ANY connections to some other group.

My $.02 worth.

BG

I know that Beta Sigma Phi was originally a book club under a different name, and became Beta Sigma Phi in 1931. I don't know if any of our founders were members of other GLOs, but I wouldn't be surprised.

Also, isn't it theoretically possible for a local to form without any connection to ANY other group?

[badgeguy]

Sinfonia, perhaps? I have never heard of any connection, formal or informal, with any other collegiate fraternity, beyond general knowledge of the existence of other, general fraternities. There were, so far as I recall, no other fraternities at the New England Conservatory at the time of our founding. I've never seen any reference to Father Mills belonging to any other fraternity, and the nature of the Conservatory at that time would suggest that most if not all of the faculty were probably educated somewhere other than a liberal arts college or university, which is where general fraternities would have been found. Many would have been educated or trained in Europe.

The Zeta Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega was chartered at NEC almost 3 years before Sinfonia's founding, but I can't recall ever seeing any reference to that in any Sinfonia history, nor have I ever seen anything to suggest that Father Mills or anyone else was trying to provide an Alpha Chi Omega-like experience for men at NEC. What history I have read would seem to suggest a different impetus for founding the Sinfonia Club, which soon became the Sinfonia Fraternity.

That said, there are historical snippets to suggest some influence of European student groups -- the (unverifiable) story that NEC president George Chadwick suggested the name "Sinfonia" after an organization to which he had belonged while a student in Leipzig (the "Symphonia Club") comes to mind. And I do know that when the Fraternity was still young (10+ years), people involved in the Greek movement, like George Banta and Emily Butterfield, were influential, but that would have been after founding.

But otherwise, I don't see anything in our history suggesting a connection with any other GLO.

I guess what I was more referring to, and didnt say this adequately was that any "fraternity or sorority" be it a local or what have you, may have come up with an idea of starting a new club or group, of which the reasons for doing so may be unique, like Sinfonia, but the organization of such groups by its members were almost always influenced by some other knowledge or direct connection to another group.

The history of Sinfonia is like any other group in that students got together for fraternal reasons, or for extra curricular reasons, or for religious reasons and after some time be it short or long, they come up with an idea of creating a new "fraternity" (or sorority) and as they sit down in their first meetings to develop how the new organization will operate, be it open or secret, someone within the group certainly has knowledge or a connection to how to write rituals, constitutions, and whatnot.

I was just trying to be all inclusive in the "general idea" of fraternal group at all schools because each groups story is basically the same.

In looking into Father Mills history, he may have had knowledge with fraternities as he lived in Delaware, Ohio home of Ohio Wesleyan University where he met his wife Clara. OWU had LOTS of fraaternities and literary societies.

He saw a need to get the music students to do something other than studying music all the time and prayer meeting was his answer. I would love to know if there are any records left behind from those early meetings, maybe one or two of the students at the time knew any AXO's at the school and saw how that group operated and there may be a connection to them.......

Anyway, good point though about Symphony club in Europe being an connection, because there are several national groups that make reference to being connected to the European fraternities and student groups.

And theoretically yes, locals may not have a direct connection to other fraternities per se, but even locals when being formed will often use the knowledge of the greek letter systems from other schools, or even their own school as a model.

BG

[MysticCat]

I guess what I was more referring to, and didnt say this adequately was that any "fraternity or sorority" be it a local or what have you, may have come up with an idea of starting a new club or group, of which the reasons for doing so may be unique, like Sinfonia, but the organization of such groups by its members were almost always influenced by some other knowledge or direct connection to another group.Obviously, there's likely to be knowledge of other groups, whether collegiate, Masonic or whatever. I think that's a given.

"Direct connection" is a whole 'nother matter, though, and that's what I think this thread is asking about -- instances of where one GLO will acknowledge the role that one or more other specific GLOs had in the reason for or circumstances of their founding. In Sinfonia's case, I'll readily admit that Father Mills and others had a general knowledge of other fraternities and how they worked. Early use of (and resistance to) the Greek letters illustrates that. But I don't think there's any evidence of any "direct connection" to any other group.

[modorney]

Fraternities and sororities founded after the civil war seem to have closer ties to Masonic and other fraternal orders rather than the old literary society base.....

BG

Acacia was originally founded as a masonic Club - meaning you had to be a mason to join. This also meant a member had to be (roughly) 22 years old. Up until the 1920's, college students didn't usually start at 18; a campus was full of students mostly in their twenties.

Many of the early Acacians were members of other fraternities, and dual membership was allowed for a while. For much of Acacia's early history, other masonic fraternities existed, and they acted as fraternities (not masonic clubs) - participated in rush, had houses, were members of IFC, etc.

Prior to Acacia, two other fraternities discussed the idea of being a Mason-only fraternity. In the early 1800's, Psi Upsilon talked about it, but the anti-masonic political activity of that era pretty much ruled it out. In the late 1800's, TKE had considered being mason-only (actually, the group that formed the Knights of the Classic lore explored the idea). But when TKE formed, they opened up to all, and not mason only. TKE did stay close to masons, and when Sigma Mu Sigma, a mason only fraternity, folded in 1935, a few chapters became TKE and the official national was absorbed by TKE's headquarters.

It would be interesting to hear someone from Psi U or TKE report on this part of their archives and history.

[DrPhil]

"Direct connection" is a whole 'nother matter, though, and that's what I think this thread is asking about -- instances of where one GLO will acknowledge the role that one or more other specific GLOs had in the reason for or circumstances of their founding.

Correct.

This dialogue brings an excellent point about what constitutes a "direct connection."

[AlwaysSAI]

It is because of Phi Lambda Epsilon that Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity exists today.

Our history reads, in part:

In 1914, the Beta Kappa Chapter of Phi Lambda Epsilon was disbanded because, after investigation, the faculty found that it had strayed from its educational purpose and only emphasized the social side of college life. From its ashes arose a new group; an organization focused on strong academic achievement, service to mankind, and a celebration of fellowship. Alfred Thayer, Harold Patterson and Harry Hill, all student members of the closed Beta Kappa Chapter, worked with other male students and took their plans for a new fraternity to the Warrensburg faculty.

At first, the faculty did not look favorably on this endeavor, mostly because of the recent closing of Phi Lambda Epsilon. However, three influential men gave their support and encouragement to this fledgling group. The faculty was swayed by these three men into granting the establishment of the new fraternity. These three men were the fraternity's founders, Dr. Eldo L. Hendricks, Dr. Claude A. Phillips, and Dr. Clarence H. McClure.

On February 14, 1916, Phi Sigma Pi was founded at State Teachers College at Warrensburg, Missouri and originally named Phi Sigma Pi Honorary Professional Fraternity. The three founders decided that Phi Sigma Pi would stress not only scholarship, leadership, and fellowship, but do so in a concept of an equal tripod dedicated to these three ideals.

taken from www.phisigmapi.org

[pas]

And by the way, in a month or so, when we start getting the annual "I want to start my own sorority" threads

HAHAHAHA. I'm sorry, but I wish I could give you a hug right now. This is so true. hahahahaha.

[naraht]

And by the way, in a month or so, when we start getting the annual "I want to start my own sorority" threads, take heed: virtually every NPC sorority and NIC fraternity (and probably the NPHC as well) have another sorority or fraternity who helped. Bitter and alone is no way to start a successful sorority.

True, but I think the difference needs to be mentioned as well. There is an outside possibility that a small group of men can successfully drive the creation and extension of a social fraternity to the point where it becomes a member of the NIC. The NPC, OTOH,...

[lulutnl3]

One of the founders of Sigma Lambda Beta was a member of Phi Beta Sigma.
And I thought Sigma Lambda Betas were supportive of the founding of Sigma Lambda Gamma? They're like unofficial brothers and sisters I believe.

[badgeguy]

It is because of Phi Lambda Epsilon that Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity exists today.

Our history reads, in part:



taken from www.phisigmapi.org

Here is a badge of Phi Lambda Epsilon from 1903.
http://app.onlinephotofiler.com/img2/A_7/8/4/7/137487/1/62ca3dc82c6f46b38c45ba2789f766cf.Large.JPG?uid=fb8 e5bec-ecc4-4593-adaf-56784bca69e5

BG

[pktcougar]

A Sigma Nu helped write and shape many of the original Phi Kappa rules and rituals

[OPhiAGinger]

Omega Phi Alpha - definitely would mention Alpha Phi Omega
Yep. Specifically, the APO chapter at Bowling Green State.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Acacia was originally founded as a masonic Club - meaning you had to be a mason to join. This also meant a member had to be (roughly) 22 years old. Up until the 1920's, college students didn't usually start at 18; a campus was full of students mostly in their twenties.

Many of the early Acacians were members of other fraternities, and dual membership was allowed for a while. For much of Acacia's early history, other masonic fraternities existed, and they acted as fraternities (not masonic clubs) - participated in rush, had houses, were members of IFC, etc.

Prior to Acacia, two other fraternities discussed the idea of being a Mason-only fraternity. In the early 1800's, Psi Upsilon talked about it, but the anti-masonic political activity of that era pretty much ruled it out. In the late 1800's, TKE had considered being mason-only (actually, the group that formed the Knights of the Classic lore explored the idea). But when TKE formed, they opened up to all, and not mason only. TKE did stay close to masons, and when Sigma Mu Sigma, a mason only fraternity, folded in 1935, a few chapters became TKE and the official national was absorbed by TKE's headquarters.

It would be interesting to hear someone from Psi U or TKE report on this part of their archives and history.
Just saw this now. I know nothing about that aspect of our history. I wasn't even aware there was any masonic connection to Psi U. Huh, more you know i guess.

[naraht]

Yep. Specifically, the APO chapter at Bowling Green State.

Of course.

[Kevin]

Sigma Nu was founded in opposition to what our founders perceived as abusive treatment of others by either Alpha Tau Omega or its precursor (I'm not sure they were using a greek letter name at the time) at VMI. Kappa Alpha Order sort of sprang up at Washington & Lee (right down the street) around the same time.

Here's an excerpt from The Story of Sigma Nu, originally published in 1936, but reprinted and sold at a very handsome price in 2010 about one of our founder's run in with ATO:

A dramatic incident in connection with official order marked the beginning of [James Frank Hopkins'] duties the next fall. A disturbance in one of the rooms was reported one night, and the Corporal of the Guard was ordered to investigate. Fate decreed that Hopkins was on duty that night. Gaining access to the room, he found himself in a meeting of masked men, hooded and robed in white, their booted feet protruding in such contrast that at a glance the effect was startling. Only a glance was permitted, for with more abruptness than he entered, the Corporal of the Guard was thrown bodily out the door. Breathless with excitement and fury, Hopkins rushed to the guard room, his incoherent report so emphasizing that apparition of "black feet" that the name attached itself for years to the members of the fraternity whose secret meeting had been officially interrupted.

Sigma Nu somehow became known as the "white feet" and to this day, some ATO/Sigma Nu chapters hold "blackfoot/whitefoot" events.

[MaryPoppins]

It's not mentioning the other GLO's but I think Theta's badge resembles both the Phi Gamma Delta badge and the Beta Theta Pi badge.

http://www.phigam.org/view.image?Id=998

http://www.kappaalphatheta.org/img/pages_img/abbie_north_badge.jpg

http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/m/m6PaM50gPxITHI6PjKwDL1Q/140.jpg

[AnchorAlumna]

...I can't recall ever seeing any reference to that in any (sub any GLO name here) history...
I think alot - make that most - of our GLOS have only brief recounts of our histories, especially compared to what members now want to know about their foundings. In reading my own sorority's history, one member is cited as taking the initiative to contact a founder some 40 or 50 years after the founding to acquire some of the fraternity's artifacts. And lucky we were that they still existed! One of the founders also stated at a Convention that they never realized their little club would grow to be an international organization. So it's no wonder written histories are piecemeal.

And ritual history? Even worse! This stuff was not necessarily written down anywhere. The first 50 years, nobody thinks there's a need to write down "history." After all, everybody involved knows what happened. It's not until a third or fourth generation is asking for it that people realize how much as been lost and forgotten.

I would not rely on online histories, even on a GLO's national website. There's just not enough room.
On chapter websites, I've seen proven myths repeated as fact ("voted most beautiful badge" anyone?)

So any efforts to write down a fact-checked, detailed history is to be applauded.

[pas]

I was surprised to read Delta Zeta's history which includes another NPC...you never do get to hear the true founding of many orgs. I know my sorority doesn't have a lot of documentation of our history and when I do ask questions about our history some sisters get weird about it and wonder why I am so curious...which is weird to me. Ha.

[33girl]

Just saw this now. I know nothing about that aspect of our history. I wasn't even aware there was any masonic connection to Psi U. Huh, more you know i guess.

I wouldn't assume that. :rolleyes:

[MysticCat]

I think alot - make that most - of our GLOS have only brief recounts of our histories, especially compared to what members now want to know about their foundings. . . .

I would not rely on online histories, even on a GLO's national website. There's just not enough room.
On chapter websites, I've seen proven myths repeated as fact ("voted most beautiful badge" anyone?)

So any efforts to write down a fact-checked, detailed history is to be applauded.I see your point, and I can agree to a point, but to be clear, the post of mine you quote was referring specifically my fraternity's history, and what I said was based on reading lots more fraternity history than just what's on a website or even in a probationary member handbook. We, like lots of GLOs, have published a fairly extensive history, and there are lots of other historical writings and resources (even on ritual) if one knows where to look or who to ask. Some of it you might have to go to HQ to read, but it's there.

I've read everything on our history I can get my hands on, and have listened to those who know our history better than anyone else. So that's the perspective from which I was speaking.

[Kevin]

I would expect most older/more established GLOs have fairly extensive historical works. I know we do.