History of Alpha Chi Omega
In the fall of 1885, Professor James Hamilton Howe, Dean of the Music School at DePauw University, invited seven young women from the school to attend a meeting for the purpose of forming a society. The seven young women chosen to attend this first meeting were Anna Allen, Olive Burnett, Bertha Deniston, Amy DuBois, Nellie Gamble, Bessie Grooms and Estelle Leonard. Their desire was to form an organization that would provide both close companionship and support to its members. Their friend and associate, James G. Campbell, an undergraduate member of Beta Theta Pi who acted as librarian for the school of music offered a suggestion that they form a fraternity. They believed that such a group would benefit the students, the university, and the musical arts.
The young women met regularly in a small room in the music building. On October 23, 1885, one week after their initial founding, Alpha Chi Omega's Founders and their first new members, adorned with scarlet and olive green ribbons, made their presence known. Although founded within the school of music, Alpha Chi Omega is now open to all undergraduate female students meeting our National Membership Criteria.
Symbols
Our Colors
Alpha Chi Omega's colors of scarlet and olive green were chosen to commemorate the autumn founding of our Fraternity.
Our Symbols
Our symbols represent the bond of sisterhood we all feel as sisters in Alpha Chi Omega. Though they have secret meanings to initiated members that are tied to our heritage and ritual, they are outwardly expressed as symbols of our pride and honor to be sisters of Alpha Chi.
The Golden Lyre
The Lyre represents all that we are as ladies of Alpha Chi Omega. It was the instrument played by the Gods on Mount Olympus, and represents beauty, grace, harmony. Above all, its secret meanings only known by initiated sisters carry much importance in our ritual, our sisterhood, and our lives. Founded as the first women's fraternity with musical influences, Alpha Chi's founders chose the lyre as our main symbol to inspire sisters to live by our symphony.
Three Stars ~
Three Stars are shown above on our crest, and carry a secret meaning to initiated members of Alpha Chi. These three stars are the foundation for our ritual and our bond of sisterhood.
Our Crest
Our Crest is the encompassing symbol of our fraternity. It's meanings are known by initiated members of Alpha Chi Omega, and it is the foundation for our symbols, ritual, and heritage.
Our Badge
LYRE BADGE
Our Badge is a Greek lyre of gold, having three twisted strings spanned diagonally by a raised and slightly rounded scroll of black enamel bearing the Greek letter Alpha Chi Omega in gold. The Lyre badge worn by initiated sisters of Alpha Chi Omega represents the heart and soul of what we stand for and honors our musical background. It was voted the most beautiful badge of all sororities, and has been on the moon! Neal Armstrong's wife was an Alpha Chi and he took our badge with him on his journey! When a sister of Alpha Chi wears her badge she is to exemplify the most utmost standards and beliefs of our fraternity.
Stick Pin
The stick pin is diamond-shaped with the top half enameled in scarlet and the bottom in olive green. It features a lyre across its face. This is the badge worn by sisters who are to be initiated and by lifetime members with their lyre badge.
Our Flower
RED CARNATION
The carnation exemplifies the colors of our fraternity, scarlet and olive green.
Open Motto:
"Together Let Us Seek the Heights"
Our Symphony
The Symphony of Alpha Chi Omega expresses our beliefs as sisters and what we strive to achieve in our lives. We were founded as a women's fraternity with a strong basis in the fine arts, focusing on music. Instead of having a "creed" as most sororities do, we base our beliefs on a symphony because of it's musical qualities. It's melodies ring true, reminding us what a true sister of Alpha Chi Omega should live by. It is a privilege to be a sister of Alpha Chi and we respect our beliefs.
"To see beauty even in the common things in life,
to shed the light of love and friendship round me;
to keep my life in tune with the world
that I shall make no discords in the harmony, of life;
to strike on the lyre of the universe
only the notes of happiness, of joy, of peace;
to appreciate every little service rendered;
to see and appreciate all that is noble in another,
be her badge what it may, and
to let my lyre send forth the chords of
love, unselfishness, sincerity.
This is to be my symphony"