Sigma Iota Chi
Sigma Iota Chi (ΣΙΧ) was a national junior college sorority in the United States. Sigma Iota Chi was established as a literary sorority in 1903 and installed at least 70 chapters in secondary schools and colleges. It was a founding member of the National Junior College Panhellenic. The sorority's last chapter closed in the 1980s.
| Sigma Iota Chi | |
|---|---|
| ΣΙΧ | |
 | |
| Founded | December 15, 1903 St. James & St. Xavier Academy |
| Type | Social |
| Former affiliation | NJCP |
| Status | Defunct |
| Defunct date | c. 1989 |
| Emphasis | 2-year colleges |
| Scope | National |
| Motto | Deus, Libertas, Lex |
| Colors | Purple and Gold |
| Symbol | Skull and crossbones, scroll |
| Flower | Violet |
| Jewel | Amethyst |
| Mascot | Eagle |
| Publication | The Parchment |
| Chapters | 70 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Sigma Iota Chi (ΣΙΧ) was a national junior college sorority in the United States. Sigma Iota Chi was established as a literary sorority in 1903 and installed at least 70 chapters in secondary schools and colleges. It was a founding member of the National Junior College Panhellenic. The sorority's last chapter closed in the 1980s.
History
[edit]Sigma Iota Chi literary sorority was founded on December 15, 1903, at the St. James & St. Xavier Academy in Alexandria, Louisiana.[1][2][3] Its founders were faculty members Greer Duncan and Kathryn Hardtner, along with honor students from the academy and graduates of the two colleges that merged to create the academy.[4] Duncan created the framework for the sorority.[4]
Many of the sorority's early chapters were established at other secondary schools or pre-college boarding schools.[1] In 1914, it had nine chapters and two alumnae associations, with 400 total initiates.[3] Four years later, in 1918, it had eleven active chapters, five alumnae associations, and 800 initiates.[2]
By 1921, Sigma Iota Chi became a junior college sorority and dropped its pre-college chapters.[1] It had 100 active members at six chapters, with a total of 1,200 initiates and five alumnae associations in 1921.[5] The sorority was governed by a Grand Chapter, elected at an annual convention.[5][6]
In 1929, Sigma Iota Chi was the largest junior sorority in the United States, with 23 chapters.[7] It was a founding member of the National Junior College Panhellenic.
As many of its host institutions became four-year colleges, some chapters of Sigma Iota Chi withdrew to join larger National Panhellenic Conference sororities.[1] Sigma Iota Chi had several active chapters in the 1970s, with at least one continuing until 1989.[1]
Symbols
[edit]Sigma Iota Chi's motto was Deus, Libertas, Lex.[5] Its insignia or coat of arms featured a shield with a raised arm and a star, with an eagle above and the motto on a scroll below.[5][8]
The sorority's badge was a gold shield with a skull and crossbones in black enamel and a white scroll that bore the Greek letters ΣΙΧ.[2][5] Its pledge pin was a purple shield bearing the Greek letters ΣΙΧ in gold.[5]
The sorority's colors were purple and gold.[2][4] Its flower was the Violet and its jewel was the amethyst.[4][5] Its magazine was The Parchment, first published in 1907.[2][5]
Chapters
[edit]Sigma Iota Chi chartered at least 70 chapters.[1][2][4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Carroll Lurding; Fran Becque, eds. (July 11, 2025). "Inactive Women's Organizations: Sigma Iota Chi" (PDF). Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Retrieved October 16, 2025 – via University Library: Student Life and Culture Archives.
- ^ a b c d e f Shaw, Ida Martin (1919). The Sorority Handbook (Rev. 6th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/George Banta Publishing Company. p. 87 – via HathiTrust.
- ^ a b Shaw, Ida Martin (1911). The Sorority Handbook (4th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/George Banta Publishing Company. pp. 89–90 – via HathiTrust.
- ^ a b c d e Shepardson, Francis Wayland, ed. (1930). "Sigma Iota Chi". Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (12th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/George Banta Publishing Company – via HathiTrust.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Shaw, Ida Martin (1921). The Sorority Handbook (7th ed.). Boston: Ida Shaw Martin. pp. 101–102 – via HathiTrust.
- ^ The Ledger (yearbook) Smithfield, Rhode Island: Bryant College, 1939. p. 70.
- ^ "Local Chapter of Sigma Iota Cho is Organized Here". The Shreveport Journal. 1929-09-24. p. 7. Retrieved 2025-10-17 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Entre Nous (yearbook). Greenville Woman's College. 1932. p. 108. Retrieved October 16, 2025 – via Furman University Special Collections.