Sigma Iota

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Sigma Iota
ΣΙ
Founded1911; 114 years ago (1911)
Louisiana State University
TypeSocial
AffiliationIndependent
StatusMerged
Merge dateDecember 26, 1931
SuccessorPhi Iota Alpha
EmphasisLatin American
ScopeInternational
Colors  Red and   Green
FlowerRed carnation
Chapters12
Headquarters
United States

Sigma Iota (ΣΙ) was the first Latin American–based Greek lettered inter-collegiate fraternity in the United States. It was established in 1911. Sigma Iota merged with Phi Lambda Alpha fraternity to form Phi Iota Alpha on December 26, 1931.

History

Predecessor

Sigma Iota originated from La Colonia Hispano-Americana, a secret society and social club for Spanish-American students that formed on November 27, 1904 at Louisiana State University with the combined efforts of 24 individuals made up of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Spanish descent.[1][2][3][4][5] La Colonia Hispano-Americano changed its name to Sociedad Hispano-Americana in December 1904.[6] Its purpose was the encourage students of Spanish descent to seek a college education in the United States.[7] Membership in the society was limited to students of Spanish descent who were from North or South America.[7] In the 1905 LSU yearbook, members were from Costa Rico, Cuba, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.[8] By June 1906, the society had added chapters at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa.[7][lower-alpha 1] Starting in 1910, it began presenting the Sociedad Hispano-Americana Medal to a graduating student for proficiency in Spanish.[9][10]

Sigma Iota

Sigma Iota's monument at its birthplace on the former LSU campus

In 1911, the Sociedad Hispano-Americana Medal transformed from a secret society into Sigma Iota, the first Latino fraternity.[1][2][4] Sigma Iota's purpose was friendship and to help Spanish-American students who attended foreign universities.[3] It also continued to present a medal for proficiency in Spanish by a non-Spanish speaking student.[10]

Between 1912 and 1928, Sigma Iota added chapters in the United States, Central America, and Europe, becoming the first international Latin American-based fraternity.[11][12] However, by 1928 many Sigma Iota chapters had closed.[11] Meanwhile, Phi Lambda Alpha, a Latino fraternity established in 1919 at the University of California, Berkeley, planned to expand throughout the United States.[11] The two fraternities began to work toward merging into a new national fraternity.[11]

On December 26, 1931, Sigma Iota and Phi Lambda Alpha held a convention in Troy, New York where they agreed to form Phi Iota Alpha.[11][1][4]

Sociedad Hispano-Americana coat of arms

Symbols

Sigma Iota's symbolism and coat of arms were based on that of Sociedad Hispano-Americana (picture to the right). The fraternity's colors were red and green.[13] Its flower was the red carnation.[13]

Governance

Sigma Iota was overseen by grand officers, including the supreme master, master, admiral, secretary, and treasurer.[3]

Chapters

Following is a list of Sigma Iota chapters, with inactive chapters and institutions in italics.[1][2][3][14]

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
Alpha Alpha 1911 – December 26, 1931 Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, Louisiana Merged (ΦΙΑ) [15][lower-alpha 2]
Nu Alpha 1913–19xx ? Alabama Polytechnic Institute Auburn, Alabama Inactive [lower-alpha 3]
Nu Beta 1913–19xx ? Syracuse University Syracuse, New York Inactive
Nu Gamma 1913–19xx ? Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, New York Inactive
Epsilon Alpha 1913–19xx ? University of Geneva Geneva, Switzerland Inactive
Nu Delta 1914–c.1915 Atlanta Medical School Atlanta, Georgia Inactive [lower-alpha 4]
Gamma Alpha 1914–19xx ? University of Guatemala Guatemala City, Guatemala Inactive
Epsilon Beta 1914–19xx ? University of Liège Liège, Wallonia, Belgium Inactive
Epsilon Gamma ? 1914–19xx ? Catholic University of Louvain Leuven, Flemish Region, Belgium Inactive
Nu Zeta 1915–19xx ? University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Inactive [16]
Nu Epsilon 1924 – December 26, 1931 Tulane University New Orleans, Louisiana Merged (ΦΙΑ) [15][lower-alpha 5]
Upsilon Lambda 1927 – December 26, 1931 Loyola University New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana Merged (ΦΙΑ) [15][lower-alpha 6]
Alpha Omega 1928–19xx ? University of Florida Gainesville, Florida Inactive [13][lower-alpha 7]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ It appears that the two Iowa chapters were dormant before the establishment of Sigma Iota. At least, these chapters are not included in a chapter roll in the 1914 LSU Gumbo Yearbook.
  2. ↑ Became the Alpha chapter of Phi Iota Alpha
  3. ↑ Alabama Polytechnic Institute is now Auburn University.
  4. ↑ The college became the Medical Department of Emory University in 1915.
  5. ↑ Became the Zeta chapter of Phi Iota Alpha
  6. ↑ Became the Eta chapter of Phi Iota Alpha
  7. ↑ Chapter formed from Alpha Omega, a local group established in 1926.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (October 20, 2024) "Sigma Iota" Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed December 3, 2024.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Shepard, Francis W., ed. (1927). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (11th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: George Banta Publishing Company. p. 504 – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Robson, John, ed. (1963). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. pp. 731.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Torbenson, Craig LaRon; Parks, Gregory (2009). Brothers and Sisters: Diversity in College Fraternities and Sororities. Associated University Presse. p. 108. ISBN 978-0-8386-4194-1.
  5. ↑ https://repository.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=gumbo
  6. ↑ Brown, James T. (1920). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. New York, New York: College Fraternities Pub. p. 346. OCLC 15604776.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Mexican Students". Iowa Alumnus. Vol. 3, no. 9. June 1906. Retrieved December 3, 2024 – via Rachel Grace Newman.
  8. ↑ Gumbo Yearbook. vol. 6. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, 1905. p. 112. via LSU Scholarly Repository.
  9. ↑ "Medal for the Study of Spanish". Bulletin of the Pan American: 700 – via Google Books.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Degrees Are Conferred". The Times-Democrat. 1911-06-01. p. 6. Retrieved 2024-12-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 "Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc. History: Origins, Milestones, and Traditions". Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity Inc. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  12. ↑ Anson, Jack L.; Robert F. Marchesani Jr (1991). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. Menasha, Wisconsin: Banta Publishing Company. p. VIII-22. ISBN 0-9637159-0-9.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 The Seminole. Vol. 24. University of Florida. 1933. p. 338. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  14. ↑ The Gumbo Yearbook, vol. 15. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, 1914. p. 189. via LSU Scholarly Repository.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (October 20, 2024) "Phi Lambda Alpha - Inactive Men's"Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed December 3, 2024.
  16. ↑ Nitzsche, George E. (1918). University of Pennsylvania: its history, traditions, buildings and memorials: also a brief guide to Philadelphia. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: International Printing Company. p. 242. OCLC 65488397 – via Internet Archive.
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