Beta Sigma Omicron

Beta Sigma Omicron (ΒΣΟ) is a defunct national sorority. It was founded on December 12, 1888 and merged with Zeta Tau Alpha on August 7, 1964.

Beta Sigma Omicron
ΒΣΟ
FoundedDecember 12, 1888 (1888-12-12)
University of Missouri
MottoWe Live to do Good
ColorsRuby and Pink
SymbolStars, Covenant, Lamp, Laurel
FlowerRed and Pink Carnations
JewelRuby
Patron Greek divinityHestia
PublicationThe Beta Sigma Omicron (Open)
The Lamp (Secret)
Chapters61 chapters, 13 active at time of merger
Membersalmost 15,000 collegiate

History

Beta Sigma Omicron was founded on December 12, 1888 by Eulalie Hockaday, Kathering Turner and Maude Haines.[1]


As of 1909, the sorority had 10 active chapters and 3 alumnae associations. These 10 chapters were at Belmont College, Brenau College, Centenary College, Central College, Fairmount Seminary, Hardin College, Liberty Ladies' College (Sedalia, Mo), Stephens College, Synodical College, Transylvania College.[2]

Beta Sigma Omicron became Associate member of the National Panhellenic Conference in 1930 and a full member in 1933.

At Beta Sigma Omicron's 1963 Convention (75th anniversary), a vote on absorption or disbanding was taken. Although Beta Sigma Omicron had chartered 61 chapters and had almost 15,000 initiated sisters, at the time of the anniversary, it only had 13 active chapters, and thus no longer met the National Panhellenic Conference's membership requirements. The vote was unanimous for absorption and Beta Sigma Omicron looked for an organization to absorb them. On August 7, 1964, Beta Sigma Omicron was absorbed by Zeta Tau Alpha.

Of the 13 active chapters: Howard College, Millsaps College, William Jewell College, University of Evansville, Thiel College, Westminster College, and Youngstown College were absorbed into Zeta Tau Alpha. Louisiana State University, Baldwin Wallace University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania were released (Zeta Tau Alpha already had chapters on their campuses) and three small chapters at urban schools in New York and Ohio chose to become local sororities.[3]

Symbols

The Badge is a monogram of the sorority letters, with the Omicron around the Beta and the Sigma superimposed on the Omicron.[4]

  • Colors-Ruby and Pink
  • Flower-Red and Pink Carnations
  • Jewel-Ruby
  • Open Motto-"We Live to do Good"
  • Insignia-Stars, Covenant, Lamp, Laurel
  • Patron-Hestia
  • Magazine-The Beta Sigma Omicron, first published in 1905 , The Lamp(Secret), The Urn[3]
  • Convention - June 1910 in Louisville, Ky

Chapter List

As of 1912, the chapters of Beta Sigma Omicron were:[1]


References
  1. William Raimond Baird (1912). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. G. Banta Company. pp. 474–475.
  2. Ida Shaw Martin (1909). The Sorority Handbook. Roxburgh Press. pp. 67–68.
  3. Fall 2014 Themis, page 50-51
  4. Mrs. Ida Shaw Martin (1919). The Sorority Handbook. Banta. pp. 84–85.
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