This article is about the national fraternity founded at Miami (Ohio). For the unrelated local fraternity formed at Amherst College, see Sigma Delta Rho (local).
Sigma Delta Rho (ΣΔΡ) was a small national men's fraternity founded on January 8, 1921 at Miami University of Ohio, the fifth general social fraternity to be formed at that school. It "disintegrated" in the spring of 1935 due to pressures of the Great Depression and "absence of strong leadership." About half its chapters were absorbed into other fraternities.[1]
Sigma Delta Rho was founded at Miami University on January 8, 1921 under the name of Delta Sigma Rho, and had received recognition from the university as a new local fraternity under that name. However, it was discovered that there was a previously existing national recognition (~honor) society of the same name, thus after several months, when plans were made for expansion into a national organization the chapter changed its own name, switching the order of the first two letters, to avoid confusion.[1][2]
Incorporated then as Sigma Delta Rho under the laws of the State of Ohio, the chapter was the fifth social fraternity to be founded at Miami.[3] Sigma Delta Rho honored five founders:
Gilbert L. Stout
Albert O. Grooms
Aurthur Baker
Herbert Ansteatt
Roe Bush
The Fraternity joined the NIC as a junior member in 1930.
Five of its eventual nine chapters were placed in Ohio.
Symbolismedit
The official badge of the society was a cross paté formé purpure (formed of purple) with edges or (gold), connected by four chains of five links each; this was superimposed with a mascle (a lozenge-shaped device), or (also gold), enclosing the letters Σ, Δ and Ρ on a field of argent (silver).[1][4]
Demiseedit
According to Baird's, disagreement developed among its chapters as to the policies of the fraternity. Additionally, financial problems caused by the Great Depression and a lack of strong leadership all led to a downfall in the spring of 1935.[1]
Fellow national fraternity Alpha Kappa Pi gained the chapters at Franklin and Marshall, Toledo, and Cincinnati. This national later merged with Alpha Sigma Phi. The Illinois chapter banded together with a faltering chapter of Beta Psi[5] to form a new chapter of Pi Kappa Phi. The Tri-State (Trine) chapter eventually joined Sigma Phi Epsilon. The others "gradually disappeared."[1][4]
Chaptersedit
Baird's Manual lists an eventual nine chapters formed between 1921 and 1934.[4] Dates for disbanding are from collegiate yearbooks and from the Baird's Manual Archive Online. Active chapters that either merged into Alpha Kappa Pi, or withdrew to another successor organization at the time of dissolution are noted in bold, inactive chapters or those that appear to have disbanded rather than merge are in italics.:
^Alpha chapter may have formed at the end of 1920; Baird's notes that year for the Fraternity's predecessor organization, while accepting the date January 8, 1921 for its establishment under the latter name. Upon ΣΔΡ's dissolution in the midst of the Great Depression, there was no apparent successor for this chapter.
^This chapter originated as Zeta Omicron (local) in 1921. After the dissolution of ΣΔΡ, became the Alpha Delta chapter of Alpha Kappa Pi in 1937, and eventually Alpha Sigma Phi's Beta Rho chapter.
^This chapter originated as the Oneoga Club (local) in 1922. After the dissolution of ΣΔΡ, it revived the Upsilon chapter of Pi Kappa Phi in 1935, taking that name.
^This chapter originated as Kappa Alpha Chi (local) in 1925. After the dissolution of ΣΔΡ, became the Alpha Epsilon chapter of Alpha Kappa Pi in 1937, and eventually Alpha Sigma Phi's Beta Sigma chapter.
^Zeta chapter originated as Delta Chi Alpha (local) in 1927. This chapter closed a decade after national dissolution, in the midst of WWII; no apparent successor.
^Eta chapter originated as the Torch Club (local) in 1927. It later absorbed another local group called Alpha Pi. After the dissolution of ΣΔΡ, became Alpha Gamma chapter of Alpha Kappa Pi in 1936, eventually Alpha Sigma Phi's Beta Pi chapter.
^Theta chapter originated as Beta Alpha Delta (local) in 1924. Upon ΣΔΡ's dissolution, no apparent successor.
^This chapter originated as Phi Sigma Chi (local) in 1927. After the dissolution of ΣΔΡ, reverted to their local name of ΦΣΧ between 1936–1949. A decade later the group then renamed itself again, becoming ΑΓΥ between 1949–1968. In 1968 they chartered as ΣΦΕ to become the Indiana Theta chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon.
Referencesedit
^ abcdeAnson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VIII–21. ISBN978-0963715906.
^ abcWilliam Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), page showing Sigma Delta Rho". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 2 Aug 2022. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
^Baird's says "Beta Psi". Could this have been the Alpha chapter of Beta Sigma Psi, which closed in 1940?
^This University page lists Sigma Delta Rho among past and current Greek chapters, accessed 17 Jun 2019.
April 16, 2024
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This article is about the national fraternity founded at Miami Ohio For the unrelated local fraternity formed at Amherst College see Sigma Delta Rho local Sigma Delta Rho SDR was a small national men s fraternity founded on January 8 1921 at Miami University of Ohio the fifth general social fraternity to be formed at that school It disintegrated in the spring of 1935 due to pressures of the Great Depression and absence of strong leadership About half its chapters were absorbed into other fraternities 1 Sigma Delta RhoSDRFoundedJanuary 8 1921 103 years ago 1921 01 08 Miami University of OhioTypeSocialAffiliationNIC former ScopeNationalColors Silver Purple and GoldChapters9 all inactive Merged withAlpha Kappa Pi 1935 or scattered Contents 1 History 1 1 Symbolism 2 Demise 3 Chapters 4 Notes 5 ReferencesHistory editSigma Delta Rho was founded at Miami University on January 8 1921 under the name of Delta Sigma Rho and had received recognition from the university as a new local fraternity under that name However it was discovered that there was a previously existing national recognition honor society of the same name thus after several months when plans were made for expansion into a national organization the chapter changed its own name switching the order of the first two letters to avoid confusion 1 2 Incorporated then as Sigma Delta Rho under the laws of the State of Ohio the chapter was the fifth social fraternity to be founded at Miami 3 Sigma Delta Rho honored five founders Gilbert L Stout Albert O Grooms Aurthur Baker Herbert Ansteatt Roe BushThe Fraternity joined the NIC as a junior member in 1930 Five of its eventual nine chapters were placed in Ohio Symbolism edit The official badge of the society was a cross pate forme purpure formed of purple with edges or gold connected by four chains of five links each this was superimposed with a mascle a lozenge shaped device or also gold enclosing the letters S D and R on a field of argent silver 1 4 Demise editAccording to Baird s disagreement developed among its chapters as to the policies of the fraternity Additionally financial problems caused by the Great Depression and a lack of strong leadership all led to a downfall in the spring of 1935 1 Fellow national fraternity Alpha Kappa Pi gained the chapters at Franklin and Marshall Toledo and Cincinnati This national later merged with Alpha Sigma Phi The Illinois chapter banded together with a faltering chapter of Beta Psi 5 to form a new chapter of Pi Kappa Phi The Tri State Trine chapter eventually joined Sigma Phi Epsilon The others gradually disappeared 1 4 Chapters editBaird s Manual lists an eventual nine chapters formed between 1921 and 1934 4 Dates for disbanding are from collegiate yearbooks and from the Baird s Manual Archive Online Active chapters that either merged into Alpha Kappa Pi or withdrew to another successor organization at the time of dissolution are noted in bold inactive chapters or those that appear to have disbanded rather than merge are in italics Name Chartered Institution Location Status Notes ReferenceAlpha January 8 1921 1935 Miami University Oxford OH Disbanded 6 a Beta 1922 1932 Ohio State University Columbus OH InactiveGamma 1924 1935 University of Toledo Toledo OH Merged ASF b Delta 1926 1935 University of Illinois Urbana IL Withdrew PKF c 7 Epsilon 1926 1935 University of Cincinnati Cincinnati OH Merged ASF d 8 Zeta 1928 1943 Ohio University Athens OH Withdrew local e Eta 1929 1935 Franklin amp Marshall College Lancaster PA Merged ASF f Theta 1934 1935 Hillsdale College Hillsdale MI Disbanded g Iota 1934 1936 Tri State College Trine Angola IN Withdrew local later to SFE h Notes edit Alpha chapter may have formed at the end of 1920 Baird s notes that year for the Fraternity s predecessor organization while accepting the date January 8 1921 for its establishment under the latter name Upon SDR s dissolution in the midst of the Great Depression there was no apparent successor for this chapter This chapter originated as Zeta Omicron local in 1921 After the dissolution of SDR became the Alpha Delta chapter of Alpha Kappa Pi in 1937 and eventually Alpha Sigma Phi s Beta Rho chapter This chapter originated as the Oneoga Club local in 1922 After the dissolution of SDR it revived the Upsilon chapter of Pi Kappa Phi in 1935 taking that name This chapter originated as Kappa Alpha Chi local in 1925 After the dissolution of SDR became the Alpha Epsilon chapter of Alpha Kappa Pi in 1937 and eventually Alpha Sigma Phi s Beta Sigma chapter Zeta chapter originated as Delta Chi Alpha local in 1927 This chapter closed a decade after national dissolution in the midst of WWII no apparent successor Eta chapter originated as the Torch Club local in 1927 It later absorbed another local group called Alpha Pi After the dissolution of SDR became Alpha Gamma chapter of Alpha Kappa Pi in 1936 eventually Alpha Sigma Phi s Beta Pi chapter Theta chapter originated as Beta Alpha Delta local in 1924 Upon SDR s dissolution no apparent successor This chapter originated as Phi Sigma Chi local in 1927 After the dissolution of SDR reverted to their local name of FSX between 1936 1949 A decade later the group then renamed itself again becoming AGY between 1949 1968 In 1968 they chartered as SFE to become the Indiana Theta chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon References edit a b c d e Anson Jack L Marchenasi Robert F eds 1991 1879 Baird s Manual of American College Fraternities 20th ed Indianapolis IN Baird s Manual Foundation Inc p VIII 21 ISBN 978 0963715906 See Delta Sigma Rho Tau Kappa Alpha for the recognition society whose name was in conflict See the Miami Triad for further information a b c William Raimond Baird Carroll Lurding eds Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities Baird s Manual Online Archive page showing Sigma Delta Rho Student Life and Culture Archives University of Illinois University of Illinois Archives Retrieved 2 Aug 2022 The main archive URL is The Baird s Manual Online Archive homepage Baird s says Beta Psi Could this have been the Alpha chapter of Beta Sigma Psi which closed in 1940 Athena Ohio University 1930 Illio PDF 1930 This University page lists Sigma Delta Rho among past and current Greek chapters accessed 17 Jun 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sigma Delta Rho amp oldid 1194415400, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
