District 9 Collegiate Chapter Histories

Ever wondered about the history behind some of the chapters in our district?  Scroll down to read a brief summary of our heritage in Alpha Sigma Alpha.

Alpha Beta--Truman State University--Kirksville, MO
On Christmas Eve, 1899 in Kirksville, Missouri, four women established a local sorority they called Kappa Theta Psi.  Eugenia Ringo, Helen May, Eunice Link and Margaret Hull even wrote bylaws and selected a badge.  They made connections with Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls as early as 1905 and convinced some women there to become the "Beta" chapter.  In March 1914, the women of Kirksville discussed with the women of Iowa the possibility of becoming affiliated with Alpha Sigma Alpha.  On December 12, 1914, Alpha Sigma Alpha initiated 39 Kappa Theta Psi members and 4 pledges into its membership.

Beta Beta--University of Northern Colorado--Greeley, CO
A local sorority known as Theta Zeta Beta was organized in May 1909 by Genette Elizabeth Beattie, Mabelle Inez Beardsley, Bessie Patrick Dubber, Alice Gibson, Blanche Keefe, Alicia Gertrude King, Myrtle Elizabeth Knight, Myrtle Estelle Laughead, Lillian Moore Richart, Agnes Coleen Seal and Letha Williams at UNC.  The organization was installed into Alpha Sigma Alpha on February 19, 1916, with 29 charter members.  Beta Beta became the first chapter added to ASA after the 1914 reorganization.

Gamma Gamma--Northwestern Oklahoma State University--Alva, OK
The Sorosis Club formed in Alva in 1907.  Years later 15 undergraduates and 5 alumnae petitioned Alpha Sigma Alpha for membership.  On the weekend of February 21-24, 1916, those women were initiated in ASA, just a few days after Beta Beta Chapter.

Epsilon Epsilon--Emporia State University--Emporia, KS
In 1901, a social card club was formed on the campus of Kansas State Normal School (now ESU).  The card club became a local sorority Kappa Delta Theta in 1906.  Relatives of the members encouraged them to become affiliated with a national sorority, and on November 16-17, 1917 the 19 members were initiated into Alpha Sigma Alpha.

Zeta Zeta--Central Missouri State University--Warrensburg, MO
Zeta Zeta formed from the XX (double X) Club on campus.  In the spring of 1916, Ida M. Jewett, AB and National Vice President of Alpha Sigma Alpha, visited the XX Club and discussed with them the possibilities of their joining the national ASA.  The women then petitioned the faculty to be a Greek organization that spring but were denied.  They were denied again in the spring of 1918 and finally approved in the spring of 1919.  On April 4, 1919, the XX Club became Zeta Zeta Chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha.  One of the charter members is Wilma Wilson Sharp.

Eta Eta--Pittsburg State University--Pittsburg, KS
A local sorority Gamma Tau Kappa was formed in November of 1919.  On July 8-9, 1920, that local sorority became the Eta Eta Chapter of ASA.  Eulalia Roseberry, advisor, and 11 members were installed.

Phi Phi--Northwest Missouri State University--Maryville, MO
The Lambda Phi Society was organized on October 5, 1927 by Dorothy Russell, Mary Elizabeth Jones, Vada Cliser, Katherine Gray, Mary Lee Peck, Marjorie Brown and Ruth Lawrence, under the supervision of Gladys Criswell (faculty member).  They were organized with the purpose of becoming an ASA chapter as soon as possible.  On May 19, 1928, they became Phi Phi Chapter and were installed by Wilma Wilson Sharp.

Beta Gamma--Northeastern State University--Tahlequah, OK
In the spring of 1936, Tau Beta Alpha and Pi Sigma Phi were organized by Mrs. Lois Gillis Hall with the purpose of fostering friendship among the women.  In January 1937, those two organizations merged to become Tau Sigma and petitioned Alpha Sigma Alpha for membership in the spring.  On November 20, 1937, they were installed into ASA.  The chapter closed in 1977 and were reinstalled on April 28, 1990.

Beta Sigma--Missouri State University--Springfield, MO
This chapter was organized in 1925 as the Merry-Go-Round Club, the oldest club on campus, with 12 charter members.  In the spring of 1947, they petitioned Alpha Sigma Alpha and were pledged on September 14, 1947.  They were installed on November 1, 1947 by Wilma Wilson Sharp.  There were 15 charter initiates and 25 pledges.

Gamma Pi--Missouri Valley College--Marshall, MO
Gamma Pi Chapter was installed on September 30, 1967 with 13 charter members.  They are Deborah Doyle, Nanese Arnold, Jan Evans, Patricia German, Barbara Grosshart, Marilyn Johnston, Deanna Deller, Salle Scott, Phyliss Shipp, Lynn Stamper, Kathy Vance, Nancy Young and Elizabeth Allen.

Zeta Alpha--Missouri Southern State University--Joplin, MO
Lambda Beta Phi was founded on November 23, 1973 by 5 women who drew up a constitution, established a motto and created a coat of arms.  They became a colony on September 20, 1992 and were installed as Zeta Alpha Chapter on February 6, 1993 with 24 charter members.

Zeta Eta--Rockhurst University--Kansas City, MO
Zeta Eta was a colony that pledged in January 1994 and were installed on April 23, 1994.  They held a joint recruitment with Zeta Tau Alpha and became the first sororities on campus.  They started with 49 charter members.

Zeta Mu--Missouri Western State University--St. Joseph, MO
Zeta Mu started as the local sorority Alpha Chi Delta in 1989.  Twenty-six women were colonized on May 6, 1995 and installed as Zeta Mu Chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha on May 4, 1996.

Zeta Pi--Colorado State University, Pueblo--Pueblo, CO
Zeta Pi Chapter started as an interest group of 5 women.  They went through the Phoenix degree in October 1997.  They were installed as Zeta Pi Chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha on April 18, 1998 with 30 charter initiates and 3 charter new members.
 

Information taken from "The Years Behind Us:  A History of Alpha Sigma Alpha 1901-2001"