Delta Sigma Sorority

Delta Sigma was a collegiate sorority operating in New England from 1895 to 1908. Its three chapters were absorbed by Alpha Omicron Pi.

History

At the end of the spring semester in 1895, six female students at Tufts University drew up plans for Alpha Delta Sigma. In October of the same year, the constitution and bylaws were drafted. Initiations were held on November 14 and December 9 (Start, p. 231). The badge was a "square pin of blue enamel displaying the letters". The official colors were blue and gold (Baird's 1898). This chapter became the Alpha chapter of Delta Sigma.

Alpha Delta Sigma existed as a separate group from Delta Sigma, Alpha chapter. Baird's (1905) maintained a separate entry for ADS, with membership at 33. Delta Sigma, with Alpha, Beta, and Gamma chapters, are listed among the national sororities. Seventy seven women were members of the Alpha chapter (Baird's 1905, p. 314).

Female students at Brown University created Delta Sigma in 1896. Martha Mitchell described the sorority as "formed as a local organization in 1896, and merged in 1901 with another local society, Alpha Delta Sigma at Tufts" (Encyclopedia Brunoniana). Baird's(1905)described this merger as "the outcome of AΔΣ (local at Tufts) and ΔΣ at Brown". Thus, Brown's Delta Sigma is now the Beta chapter.

The Maine chapter began as Phi Gamma in 1896. It joined Delta Sigma as the Gamma chapter in 1903. Five years later, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma were absorbed by Alpha Omicron Pi (Fernald, p. 24). Delta Sigma ceased to exist as a separate entity.

Alpha Delta Sigma joined Alpha Omicron Pi in 1913 (Baird's 1915, p. 707).

Insignia

The official colors were pale green and white.

The flower was the violet (Phi Delta Theta, 1907).

The badge was "a square of black enamel with concave sides outlined in gold, and displaying the letters 'ΔΣ' in gold. This square is encircled by a jeweled golden circle" (Baird's 1905).

References

• Fernald, Merritt Caldwell. History of Maine State College and the University of Maine. University of Maine, 1916.
• Mitchell, Martha. Encyclopedia Brunoniana.
• Start, Alaric Bertrand & Tufts University Class of 1897. History of Tufts College. Tufts College, 1896.
• Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, editions 1898, 1905, and 1915.
• The Scroll of Phi Delta Theta, v. 31 (1906 - 1907).
• Tufts College Graduate, v. 1-2 (Apr. 1903- Jan. 1905).
• [ase.tufts.edu/Greek/150.asap Tufts University Greek Life]