Alpha Chi Omega

American collegiate women's fraternity

Not to be confused with Alpha Chi National College Honor Society or Chi Omega.

Alpha Chi Omega

ΑΧΩ
Founded| October 15, 1885; 139 years ago (1885-10-15)
DePauw University
Type| Social
Affiliation| NPC
Status| Active
Scope| International
Motto| Together let us seek the heights
Slogan| Real. Strong. Women.
Member badge|
Colors|  Scarlet red and Olive green[1]
Symbol| Golden lyre
Flower| Red carnation
Tree| Holly
Jewel| Pearl
Patron Greek divinity| Hera
Publication| The Lyre
Philanthropy| Domestic Violence Awareness
Chapters| 140+ collegiate, 170+ alumnae
Members| 300,000+ lifetime
Headquarters| 5939 Castle Creek Parkway North Drive
Indianapolis, Indiana 46250
United States
Website| alphachiomega.org

Alpha Chi Omega (ΑΧΩ, also known as Alpha Chi or A Chi O) is a national women's fraternity founded at DePauw University in 1885. As of 2023, it has more than 140 active collegiate and 170 active alumnae chapters in the United States and has initiated more than 300,000 members. Alpha Chi Omega is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference.

## History

[edit]

Alpha chapter at Depauw University, 1885

In the fall of 1885, James Hamilton Howe, the first dean of the Music School at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, invited seven women from the school to a meeting to form a fraternity.[2][3] Those women were Anna Allen Smith, Olive Burnett Clark, Bertha Deniston Cunningham, Amy DuBois Rieth, Nellie Gamble Childe, Bessie Grooms Keenan, and Estelle Leonard.[2] Alpha Chi Omega was formed on October 15, 1885.[2][3]

Howe collaborated with James G. Campbell, a Beta Theta Pi, to establish Alpha Chi Omega as a national fraternity. Campbell laid out its first constitution and by-laws. According to this first constitution, "The object of this fraternity is...to attain the highest musical culture and to cultivate those principles that embody true womanhood."[4] On February 26, 1886, the fraternity hosted a musical soiree to introduce itself to the campus community.[4]

In its early years, Alpha Chi Omega was considered to be a professional music society and its members were music majors.[5][6] Later, the minimum membership requirement became registration in any music course.[4]

In 1889, a national literary fraternity offered to merge with Alpha Chi Omega; however, unlike typical professional fraternities, Alpha Chi never considered admitting members of other fraternities.[4] In 1900, the fraternity added literary qualifications, which led to it being considered a general (social) fraternity by 1905.[7]

Alpha Chi Omega joined the National Panhellenic Conference in 1903.[8][9]

## Symbols

[edit]

Alpha Chi Omega's founders chose Alpha (Α), the first letter of the Greek alphabet because they were forming the first fraternity in the school of music. Since they thought they might also be founding the last such fraternity, Omega (Ω) seemed appropriate, considering it stands for the end. "Kai" (και), meaning "and", was added to form "the beginning and the end". "Kai" was soon changed to Chi (Χ), a letter of the Greek alphabet which has the same English pronunciation.[2]

Alpha Chi Omega's colors, scarlet red and olive green, were chosen to commemorate the fraternity's fall founding.[10] Its flower is a red carnation, which exemplifies the fraternity's colors, and its tree is the holly.[11] Its patron Greek divinity is Hera.

Alpha Chi Omega chose the three-stringed lyre as its official symbol since it was the first instrument played by the Greek gods on Mount Olympus.[12] The badge (pin) worn by initiated members is in the shape of a lyre, typically featuring pearls and the Greek letters ΑΧΩ on the crossbar. Although Alpha Chi Omega is no longer strictly a musical fraternity, it is still connected to its musical heritage through the symbol of the lyre, and the name of its publication is The Lyre.

The new member badge (pin) worn by uninitiated members is a lozenge emblazoned with the symbol of a lyre and the sorority's colors of scarlet red on the upper half and olive green on the lower half.[13]

The founders of Alpha Chi Omega

## Activities

[edit]

Members of Alpha Chi Omega have several national programs.

* Founders' Day – Sisters gather on October 15 of each year to recognize the fraternity's fall founding at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. Members wear their badges, along with scarlet and olive green ribbons.[14]
* MacDowell Month – Every February, Alpha Chi Omega women celebrate the fine arts and their fine arts heritage. Most collegiate chapters encourage members to attend and perform in fine art events during this month. This celebration was named for the MacDowell artists' colony in New Hampshire, the fraternity's first philanthropic effort.[14]
* Local Founding Days – Each collegiate chapter recognizes its founding anniversary annually.
* National Convention – Members gather every two years to conduct fraternity business, reunite with sisters, and celebrate the fraternity.
* Hera Day – Sisters honor the fraternity's patron goddess Hera by dedicating themselves on March 1 of each year to aid the happiness and overall well-being of others through volunteering and fundraising for domestic violence shelters in their communities.[15]

## Philanthropy

[edit]

### Beginnings of philanthropy

[edit]

In 1911, Alpha Chi Omega began supporting the MacDowell Colony, founded by Marian MacDowell, an Alpha Chi Omega alumna.[16] During World War I and World War II, the fraternity helped orphaned French children and provided day nurseries for working mothers married to servicemen. In 1947, Alpha Chi Omega adopted Easter Seals as its national philanthropy and supported other projects associated with cerebral palsy.[16]

### National philanthropy

[edit]

In 1992, the fraternity adopted supporting victims of domestic violence as its primary national philanthropy.[17][18] As of 2018, Alpha Chi Omega is partnered with Mary Kay, The Allstate Foundation's Purple Purse, The One Love Foundation, RAINN, and It's On Us.[17] The fraternity also supports Kristin's Story in cooperation with Delta Delta Delta, a nonprofit set up by the Delta Delta Delta mother of an Alpha Chi Omega member who died by suicide after a sexual assault.[19]

Undergraduate and alumnae chapters focus on increasing awareness of domestic violence and its effects and on aiding domestic violence victims through activities, service projects, and financial support. This work is done through local agencies, such as rape crisis centers, emergency shelters, and safe houses for domestic violence victims and their children, and long-term assistance centers for battered women in the United States.[20]

### Foundation

[edit]

In 1978, the fraternity created the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation, a nonprofit organization to oversee funds for its philanthropic projects and educational programming.[16] The foundation continues to grant funds to the fraternity's former partners, the MacDowell Colony and Easter Seals.[18] It supports members and those closely related to Alpha Chi Omegas through various grants.[21]

## Membership

[edit]

The fraternity has initiated more than 300,000 members to its collegiate and alumnae chapters since 1885.[22]

## Chapters

[edit]

Main article: List of Alpha Chi Omega chapters

Alpha Chi Omega has chartered more than 194 chapters at colleges and universities and 279 alumnae chapters in the U.S.[3] Alumnae chapters allow women of post-graduate age to continue Alpha Chi Omega's mission and values. Collegiate chapters work with alumnae chapters to link sisters across the country. As of 2023, there are 140 active collegiate and 170 active alumnae chapters.[23]

## Notable members

[edit]

Main article: List of Alpha Chi Omega members

## See also

[edit]

* List of social sororities and women's fraternities

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Alpha Chi Omega Symbols and traditions
2. ^ a b c d "About ΑΧΩ". Alpha Chi Omega. Archived from the original on 2008-04-24. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
3. ^ a b c William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), showing Alpha Chi Omega chapters". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 30 December 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
4. ^ a b c d Armstrong, Florence A.; Mabel Harriet Siller (1922). History of Alpha Chi Omega Fraternity (1885–1921) (3 ed.). Alpha Chi Omega Fraternity.
5. ^ Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (5 ed.). 1898.
6. ^ Stevens, Albert C. (1899). The cyclopædia of fraternities, a compilation of existing authentic information and the results of original investigation as to more than six hundred secret societies in the United States. New York city, Paterson, N.J., Hamilton printing and publishing company. p. 347\. OL 23292199M. "Alpha Chi Omega– Professional (Music) Society"
7. ^ Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (6 ed.). 1905.
8. ^ "Alpha Chi Omega". alphachiomega.historyit.com. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
9. ^ "Our Member Organizations". National Panhellenic Conference. Retrieved 2018-05-10.
10. ^ "Alpha Chi Omega – About Us". Archived from the original on 2016-03-23. Retrieved 2016-03-16.
11. ^ Becque, Fran (28 March 2023). "Alta Allen Loud, Alpha Chi Omega". Fraternity History & More. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
12. ^ Alpha Chi Omega
13. ^ "New member pin | Chi Omega, Alpha chi, Alpha chi omega". Pinterest. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
14. ^ a b "Symbols and Traditions". Alpha Chi Omega. 12 October 2018.
15. ^ "Symbols and Traditions". www.alphachiomega.org. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
16. ^ a b c "About Chi Omega Foundation History". Alpha Chi Omega. Archived from the original on 2008-06-15. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
17. ^ a b "DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS". Alpha Chi Omega. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
18. ^ a b "Foundation [ Domestic Violence ]". 2007-06-07. Archived from the original on 2007-06-07. Retrieved 2018-06-10.
19. ^ Kristin's Story
20. ^ "Our Philanthropy (Georgia Tech chapter)". www.google.com. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
21. ^ "Alpha Chi Omega Foundation". Alpha Chi Omega. Archived from the original on 2007-08-11. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
22. ^ "About Us". www.alphachiomega.org. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
23. ^ "About Us". Alpha Chi Omega. 25 March 2023.

* v
* t
* e

National Panhellenic Conference

Current members|

* Alpha Chi Omega
* Alpha Delta Pi
* Alpha Gamma Delta
* Alpha Epsilon Phi
* Alpha Omicron Pi
* Alpha Phi
* Alpha Sigma Alpha
* Alpha Sigma Tau
* Alpha Xi Delta
* Chi Omega
* Delta Delta Delta
* Delta Gamma
* Delta Zeta
* Delta Phi Epsilon
* Gamma Phi Beta
* Kappa Alpha Theta
* Kappa Delta
* Kappa Kappa Gamma
* Phi Mu
* Phi Sigma Sigma
* Pi Beta Phi
* Sigma Delta Tau
* Sigma Kappa
* Sigma Sigma Sigma
* Theta Phi Alpha
* Zeta Tau Alpha

Former members|

* Alpha Delta Theta
* Beta Phi Alpha
* Beta Sigma Omicron
* Delta Sigma Epsilon
* Iota Alpha Pi
* Lambda Omega
* Pi Kappa Sigma
* Pi Sigma Gamma
* Phi Omega Pi
* Sigma Phi Beta
* Theta Sigma Upsilon
* Theta Upsilon

* v
* t
* e

Fraternities and sororities

Academic fraternities originating from North America

General|

* Colony
* North American fraternity and sorority housing
* Stepping
* U.S. racism
* Hazing in Greek letter organizations
* U.S. deaths
* Philippines deaths
* Mother of Fraternities

History|

* Fraternities and sororities
* North America
* High school
* Professional
* Service
* Canada
* Lists by country/territory
* France
* Philippines
* Puerto Rico

Historically
African-American|

* ΑΚΑ
* ΑΦΑ
* ΔΣΘ
* ΖΦΒ
* ΙΦΘ
* ΚΑΨ
* ΣΓΡ
* ΦΒΣ
* ΦΡΗ
* ΩΨΦ
* WΨΦ

Historically
Asian/Pacific Islander-American|

* Alpha Iota Omicron
* αΚΔΦ
* ΑΦΓ
* ΒΧΘ
* ΧΔΘ
* ΔΕΨ
* ΔΚΔ
* ΔΦΩ
* ΙΝΔ
* ΚΦΛ
* ΛΦΕ
* ΠΑΦ
* ΠΔΨ
* ΣΒΡ
* ΣΟΠ
* ΣΨΖ
* ΣΦΩ
* XPO

Christian
fraternities and sororities|

* ΑΔΓ
* ΑΔΧ
* ΑΓΩ
* ΑΛΩ
* ΒΕΓΓΑΡΣ
* ΒΣΨ
* ΒΥΧ
* ΣΑΩ
* ΣΘΕ
* ΣΦΛ
* ΦΒΧ
* ΧΑΩ

Historically Jewish|

* ΑΕΠ
* ΑΕΦ
* ΖΒΤ
* ΣΑΕΠ
* ΣΑΜ
* ΣΔΤ
* ΤΔΦ
* ΤΕΦ

Multicultural|

* ΔΞΝ
* ΔΞΦ
* ΓΗ
* ΖΣΧ
* ΖΦΡ
* ΖΧΦ
* ΘΔΣ
* ΘΝΞ
* ΛΤΩ
* ΛΨΔ
* ΜΣΥ
* ΣΛΒ
* ΣΛΓ
* ΣΘΨ
* ΤΦΣ
* ΨΣΦ
* ΩΔΦ
* ΩΦΧ
* Delphic

Historically Scout-affiliated|

* ΑΦΩ
* ΕΤΠ
* ΓΣΣ
* ΩΦΑ

LGBTQ|

* ΑΛΖ
* ΔΛΦ
* ΓΡΛ
* ΘΠΣ
* ΚΑΛ
* ΚΘΕ
* ΟΕΠ
* ΣΦΒ

Native American|

* ΑΠΩ
* ΦΣΝ
* ΣΟΕ

Latino and Puerto Rican|

* AZ
* ΑΨΛ
* ΑΟΣ
* ΔΤΛ
* ΓΑΩ
* ΓΖΑ
* ΗΓΔ
* ΚΔΧ
* ΛΑΥ
* ΛΠΥ
* ΛΠΧ
* ΛΣΥ
* ΛΘΑ
* ΛΘΝ
* ΛΘΦ
* ΛΥΛ
* ΜΑΦ
* ΝΑΚ
* ΝΣΒ
* ΣΔΑ
* ΣΙ
* ΣΙΑ
* ΣΛΑ
* ΣΛΥ
* ΣΠΑ
* ΦΔΓ
* ΦΗΜ
* ΦΙΑ
* ΦΛΑ
* ΦΣΑ
* ΧΥΣ
* ΨΑΚ
* ΩΦΒ

Major specific|

* ΑΓΡ
* ΑΓΣ
* ΑΚΨ
* ΑΣΚ
* ΑΩΕ
* ΔΣΠ
* ΚΚΨ
* ΣΑΙ
* ΤΒΣ
* ΦΣΓ
* ΦΣΡ
* Ceres
* FarmHouse
* Triangle

Social sororities|

* ΑΓΔ
* ΑΔΠ
* ΑΕΦ
* ΑΞΔ
* ΑΟΠ
* ΑΣΑ
* ΑΣΤ
* ΑΦ
* ΑΧΩ
* ΓΦΒ
* ΔΔΔ
* ΔΓ
* ΔΖ
* ΔΦΕ
* ΖΤΑ
* ΘΦΑ
* ΚΑΘ
* ΚΒΓ
* ΚΔ
* ΚΚΓ
* ΠΒΦ
* ΣΔΤ
* ΣΚ
* ΣΣΣ
* ΣΨ
* ΦΜ
* ΦΣΣ
* ΧΩ
* Clovia

Social fraternities|

* ΑΔΦ (Fraternity/Society)
* ΑΚΛ
* ΑΣΦ
* ΑΤΩ
* ΑΦΔ
* ΑΧΑ
* ΑΧΡ
* ΒΘΠ
* ΔΚΕ
* ΔΣΦ
* ΔΤΔ
* ΔΥ
* ΔΦ
* ΔΧ
* ΔΨ
* ΖΨ
* ΘΔΧ
* ΘΞ
* ΘΧ
* ΚΑ Order
* ΚΑ Society
* ΚΔΡ
* ΚΔΦ
* ΚΛΨ
* ΚΣ
* ΛΧΑ
* OΚΕ
* ΠΚΑ
* ΠΚΦ
* ΠΛΦ
* ΣΑΕ
* ΣΔΑ
* ΣΘΠ
* ΣΝ
* ΣΠ
* ΣΤΓ
* ΣΦ
* ΣΦΔ
* ΣΦΕ
* ΣΧ
* ΤΚΕ
* ΦΓΔ
* ΦΔΘ
* ΦΔΨ
* ΦΚΘ
* ΦΚΣ
* ΦΚΤ
* ΦΚΨ
* ΦΛΧ
* ΦΜΑ Sinfonia
* ΦΜΔ
* ΦΣΚ
* ΦΣΦ
* ΧΓΕ
* ΧΦ
* ΧΨ
* ΨΥ
* Acacia

See also|

* Freemasonry
* Odd Fellows
* Gentlemen's club
* Secret society

* v
* t
* e

DePauw University

Campus|

* Fits and Starts
* McKim Observatory

Student life|

* Athletics
* Tiger Pep Band at DePauw University

Greek organizations|

* Alpha Chi Omega
* DePauw University Delta Zeta discrimination controversy
* List of DePauw University Greek organizations
* Kappa Alpha Theta (Alumni)

Media|

* Science Fiction Studies
* WGRE

Misc.|

* List of DePauw University alumni
* Society of Professional Journalists

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

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