Sigma Sigma Omicron

Sigma Sigma Omicron (ΣΣΟ) was a national collegiate sorority operating under that name in the United States from November 1, 1920 to 1927. It has had several successor names.

Sigma Sigma Omicron
ΣΣΟ
Founded	November 1, 1920; 104 years ago (1920-11-01) New York University
Type	Social
Former affiliation	NPC
Status	Merged
Merge date	October 1, 1933
Successor	Phi Omega Pi
Scope	Regional
Colors	Purple and   White
Symbol	Circle, Helmet, Pyramid, Sabre, Sheaf of Wheat
Flower	Violets with White Rose
Jewel	Amethyst and Pearl
Publication	The Talaria
Chapters	15 chartered
Members	1,000 lifetime
Other names	Sigma Phi Beta
Headquarters	United States

History

This sorority existed for approximately thirteen years. For more than half that time it was known as Sigma Sigma Omicron, with the name Sigma Phi Beta adopted during its final six years.

The Alpha chapter of Sigma Sigma Omicron was formed on November 1, 1920 at New York University, eventually chartering five chapters, mainly at teachers colleges. Its primary founder was Vera Bartone Goelier, supported by other students of the junior, sophomore and freshman class.^[1]

The ΣΦΒ pin was a slight variant from the original ΣΣΟ design.

On July 28, 1927 the sorority changed its name to Sigma Phi Beta (ΣΦΒ), in anticipation of a merger six months later with the three chapters of Phi Alpha Chi, which it effected on January 7, 1928 after "find[ing] their interests and purposes similar...".

Phi Alpha Chi had its origin as The Tanewah Club in 1919 at Berkeley. In 1926, the Tanewah Club first adopted Greek letters, reorganizing as the Alpha chapter of Phi Alpha Chi.

Delta Zeta's history (1983) recorded that Sigma Phi Beta absorbed Phi Alpha Chi before combining five years later under the Phi Omega Pi banner in 1933.^[1]

According to the 1931 edition of The Sorority Handbook there were 10 active chapters of Sigma Phi Beta, with 1,000 members (p. 79). Baird's Archive lists 15 chapters.

On October 1, 1933 Sigma Phi Beta merged into Phi Omega Pi, which itself was later (but only partly) absorbed by Delta Zeta in 1946, with some chapters disbanded or released to other sororities.^[2]

Insignia and Traditions

• Pledge pin- "Crescented Norman shield divided vertically into two equal sections, one enameled in purple, the other in white, and displaying diagonally a gold sabre"
• Member pin- "Pearl bordered circular shield of purple enamel, displaying sorority letters in gold, and jeweled additionally with six amethysts set at prescribed points outside a circlet of pearls"—This description is accurate for both Sigma Sigma Omicron and Sigma Phi Beta.
• Insignia- Circle, Helmet, Pyramid, Sabre, Sheaf of Wheat
• Colors- Purple and White
• Flower- Violets with White Rose
• Jewels- Amethyst and Pearl
• Publication- The Talaria (Martin, pp. 79– 80)

Chapters

These are the chapters of Sigma Phi Beta prior to the merger with Phi Omega Pi in 1933. Baird's reports that 15^[3] were installed, with ten surviving to participate in the merger. However, records list eight that definitely merged, with one more possible. Known active chapters at the time of the merger are listed in bold, inactive chapters listed in italics.^[4][5]

Name	Chartered	Institution	Location	Status	Notes	Reference
NY Alpha	November 1, 1920–October 1, 1933	New York University	New York, NY	Merged	Became Alpha Zeta chapter of ΦΩΠ	[4]
NY Beta	1921–19xx	Teachers College of New York City now "closely affiliated" with Columbia University[6]	New York, NY	Dormant		[4]
NY Gamma	1921–October 1, 1933	CCNY, Hunter College	New York, NY	Merged	Became NY Gamma chapter of ΦΩΠ	[4]
Epsilon	1921–1933 ?	Montclair State University	Montclair, NJ	Dormant		[7][4]
Zeta	1921–1926	Kean University	Union and Hillside, NJ	Dormant		[4]
NY Eta	1923–1924	Syracuse University	Syracuse, NY	Dormant		[4]
Theta	1924–October 1, 1933	Wittenberg University	Springfield, OH	Merged	Became Omega chapter of ΦΩΠ	[8][4]
Iota	1924–1927	Samford University	Homewood, AL	Dormant		[9][4]
Kappa	1925–October 1, 1933	Transylvania University	Lexington, KY	Merged	Became Alpha Alpha chapter of ΦΩΠ	[10][4]
CA Alpha	1928–1935	University of California, Berkeley	Berkeley, CA	Merged ?	May have merged into the Lambda chapter of ΦΩΠ	[11][4]
Delta	1928–1931	Ohio State University	Columbus, OH	Dormant	Alumni merged into ΦΩΠ ?	[12][4]
Name ?	1928–October 1, 1933	Auburn University	Auburn, AL	Merged	Became the Psi chapter of ΦΩΠ	[13][4]
Lambda	1929–October 1, 1933	University of Illinois	Champaign, IL	Merged	Joined the existing Gamma chapter of ΦΩΠ	[4]
Nu	1930–October 1, 1933	Utah State University	Logan, UT	Merged	Became the Alpha Beta chapter of ΦΩΠ	[14][4]
Name ?	1930–October 1, 1933	University of California, Los Angeles	Los Angeles, CA	Merged	Joined the existing Sigma chapter of ΦΩΠ	[4]

Phi Alpha Chi chapters

Name	Chartered	Institution	Location	Status	Notes	Reference
Alpha	December 4, 1925–January 7, 1928	University of California, Berkeley	Berkeley, CA	Merged	Became CA Alpha chapter of ΣΦΒ	[15][4]
Beta	1926–January 7, 1928	Ohio State University	Columbus, OH	Merged	Became Delta chapter of ΣΦΒ	[4]
Gamma	1927–January 7, 1928	Auburn University	Auburn, AL	Merged	Became NAME chapter of ΣΦΒ	[16][4]