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Alpha Sigma Tau

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Alpha Sigma Tau (known as ΑΣΤ or Alpha Tau) is a national sorority founded November 4, 1899, at Eastern Michigan University (formerly Michigan State Normal College). A member of the National Panhellenic Conference, the sorority has 78 active collegiate chapters at colleges and universities around the U.S. and over 65,000+ lifetime members.

Alpha Sigma Tau
ΑΣΤ
FoundedNovember 4, 1899; 125 years ago (1899-11-04)
Michigan State Normal College, (Ypsilanti, Michigan)
TypeSocial
AffiliationNPC
Former AffiliationAES
StatusActive
ScopeNational
MottoActive, Self-reliant, Trustworthy
SloganDefining Excellence
Colors  emerald green and   gold
SymbolAnchor
FlowerYellow Rose
JewelPearl
PublicationThe Anchor
PhilanthropyWomen's Wellness Initiative, Girls Who Code
Chapters77
Members65,000+ active
Headquarters3334 Founders Road
Indianapolis, Indiana 46268
United States
Websitewww.alphasigmatau.org

History

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On November 4, 1899,[1] eight women founded Alpha Sigma Tau's first chapter at Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University).[2][3] The founders were:

  • Helene M. Rice
  • Adriance Rice
  • Mayene Tracy
  • Eva O’Keefe
  • May Gephart
  • Mabel Chase
  • Ruth Dutcher
  • Harriet Marx.[4]

The name "Alpha Sigma Tau" was chosen, and emerald green and gold were chosen for the colors. Alpha Sigma Tau was initially founded as an educational sorority. There were three other sororities at Michigan State Normal College at the time: Pi Kappa Sigma (merged into Sigma Kappa), Sigma Nu Phi (local),[5] and Zeta Phi (local, inactive).

Effie E. Polyhamus Lyman was selected as patroness. During the first year of its existence, the sorority did not display marked activity. The charter was received the following year, as Edith Silk, Myrtle Oram, Zoe Waldron, Grace Townley, Marie Gedding, Louise Agrell, and Mable Pitts had joined the organization and were the charter members. By suggestion of Mrs. Effie E. Polyhamus Lyman, Ms. Abigail Pearce, and Ms. Ada A. Norton were asked to be patronesses.[6]

The Beta chapter was founded in 1905[7] at Central Michigan University (formerly Central Michigan Normal College) in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.[3]

Association of Education Sororities

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In 1925, Alpha Sigma Tau met the three requirements required to be recognized by the Association of Education Sororities (AES). In order to be recognized, the sorority needed to:

  1. Hold a national convention
  2. Have five active chapters
  3. Publish a magazine

These requirements were met in 1925. Alpha Sigma Tau held its inaugural Convention in Detroit, Michigan; the first issue of the Sorority's magazine, The Anchor, was published; the Sigma chapter at Buffalo State College was the fifth chapter.

In 1926, Alpha Sigma Tau became an initiated member of the Association of Education Sororities.

National Panhellenic Conference

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In December 1951, AES merged with the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC). This merger permitted Alpha Sigma Tau to begin establishing chapters at any accredited school and admit members regardless of major.

Cynthia Peckhart McCrory is the only Alpha Sigma Tau member to have served as chair of the National Panhellenic Conference. McCrory served as NPC chair from 1983 to 1985.

Notable members

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National headquarters

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The headquarters building, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, serves as an office for many Alpha Sigma Tau employees and archives for historical publications, photographs, documents, and keepsakes.

St. Louis, Missouri was chosen to be the location of the first national headquarters, in 1949 by then national president Dorothy Robinson. National headquarters was relocated to Birmingham, Alabama, in 1994.[12] In 2009, Alpha Sigma Tau[13] moved its national headquarters to it current location in Indianapolis, Indiana. [14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ LaRon Torbenson, Craig; Parks, Gregory, eds. (2009). Brothers and Sisters: Diversity in College Fraternities and Sororities. Associated University Presse. p. 179. ISBN 978-0-8386-4194-1.
  2. ^ Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. IV-21, 22. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  3. ^ a b William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), showing Alpha Sigma Tau 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. ^ "Alpha Sigma Tau Celebrates 100th Anniversary". Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 105th Congress, Second Session. Vol. 144 Part 9. United States Government Printing Office. 1998-06-23. pp. 13418–13419. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
  5. ^ Not to be confused with the professional law fraternity of the same name, Sigma Nu Phi.
  6. ^ "Who We Are – History", AlphaSigmaTau.org.
  7. ^ "History". Alpha Sigma Tau. 2015-12-02. Retrieved 2019-08-06.
  8. ^ Becque, Fran; Ph.D. (2016-03-14). "#WHM - Mildred Doran, Alpha Sigma Tau Aviator, #notablesororitywomen". Fraternity History & More. Retrieved 2019-08-06.
  9. ^ James, Sheryl (March 1, 1999). "Gwen Frostic: Michigan artist crafts nature into a rich life". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 2001-05-06. Retrieved 2007-09-17.
  10. ^ "Jessica Furrer". In.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  11. ^ Alpha Sigma Tau (1982). "1982 Fall Anchor". Issuu. Retrieved 2019-08-06.
  12. ^ "National Headquarters". Alpha Sigma Tau. Archived from the original on 2008-04-30. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
  13. ^ "History". Alpha Sigma Tau. 2015-12-02. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  14. ^ "Our History and Symbols". alphasigmatau.org. 2 December 2015. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
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