# 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.

## History

This sorority existed for approximately 13 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.
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.
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.

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

## Phi Alpha Chi chapters

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