Sigma Mu Sigma

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Sigma Mu Sigma
ΣΜΣ
The official coat of arms of Sigma Mu Sigma
FoundedMarch 25, 1921; 100 years ago (1921-03-25)
Trine University (Tri-State)
TypeService
AffiliationNIC (former)
ScopeNational
Colors  Azure and   Gold
SymbolLamp, All-Seeing Eye,
open book, clasped hands
FlowerEgyptian lotus[1]
Chapters2 active
23 chartered[2]
Members6,700 collegiate
Headquarters3171 Colchester Brook Lane
Fairfax, Virginia 22031
USA
WebsiteSigma Mu Sigma homepage

Sigma Mu Sigma (ΣΜΣ) is a college fraternity founded in 1921 at Tri-State University. Sigma Mu Sigma was historically an all-male social fraternity open originally to Master Masons, and later open to all undergraduate male students. As a national fraternity, Sigma Mu Sigma dissolved in 1935 when it was absorbed by Tau Kappa Epsilon. Sigma Mu Sigma was later revived, developed another dozen chapters, and several of these were absorbed by Kappa Sig, Acacia and others. A few remaining chapters of Sigma Mu Sigma transformed into a co-ed service fraternity in 1984. ΣΜΣ currently has two active chapters.

Early history[]

In 1921, Sigma Mu Sigma was founded by three student Knights Templar at Tri-State College in Angola, Indiana. The three founders were:

  • Harold Van Vranken
  • Charles Knapp
  • Claude Brown

ΣΜΣ was founded as a fraternity exclusively for Master Masons with a zeal for promotion of the fraternity's cardinal principles of Sincerity, Morality, and Scholarship. Its date of founding was Good Friday, March 25, 1921. At the time of the fraternity's founding, a ban on secret societies existed at Tri-State College; however, a number of sub-rosa organizations were known to exist on campus. The three founders of ΣΜΣ selected nine other student Master Masons who were among the top students at the college. Sigma Mu Sigma announced their formation to administrators and professors of the college. Faced with the possibility of expelling twelve of the top students at Tri-State, the college moved to end its ban on fraternities.[3]

Its original intent was to limit membership to Master Masons and to maintain the scholarship standards of Phi Beta Kappa. This was soon found to be impracticable. The Phi Beta Kappa standard was hard to maintain, and was soon dropped. But the fraternity did require a high scholarship record of its pledges.[1]

Sigma Mu Sigma became a junior member of the NIC in 1928.[1]

In 1929 the membership requirements were changed to allow both Masons and sons of Masons.[1]

Merger with TKE[]

In the early 1930s, the United States was in the midst of the Great Depression, with the result that college enrollment and fraternity membership had dropped significantly. The effect was especially felt on Sigma Mu Sigma because of the added constraints of its Masonic membership requirement. In Fall 1934 the national organization of Sigma Mu Sigma made the decision to dissolve itself, and allow its chapters to be absorbed by Tau Kappa Epsilon. Sigma Mu Sigma had nine chapters at the time of the decision. The merger was effected in March 1935 with the Epsilon chapter at George Washington University becoming the Alpha-Pi chapter of TKE. Sigma Mu Sigma's Zeta chapter at Purdue University and the Eta chapter at the University of Illinois merged with existing TKE chapters at their respective campuses.

While these three chapters had found a new national affiliation in ΤΚΕ, the remaining chapters did not participate: The Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Theta chapters dissolved.[4] But both Alpha and Iota chapters chose to remain as independent Sigma Mu Sigma chapters without a national organization.

One year later, in 1936, Alpha chapter affiliated with Alpha Lambda Tau, signaling that for some reason, a 1935 merger with ΤΚΕ had been unworkable. Small nationals were merging or dissolving across the country during this difficult time, however for the Tri-State chapter, the reason may have simply been that they were unwelcome: at this juncture, chapters at some schools were incompatible with the larger nationals because the NIC (as well as the NPC) required that Full member fraternities may only allow chapters at accredited institutions. ΣΜΣ had been a Junior member; ΤΚΕ was a Full member. Hence, as Tri-State was not yet accredited, the chapter may have realized or been advised it was ineligible for a charter with ΤΚΕ. This may have been the reason it remained local, then joined the smaller national fraternity of Alpha Lambda Tau, also a Junior NIC member.[5][6] Meanwhile, the Iota chapter lingered for a few years, and was closed by 1940.

Redevelopment[]

Yet Sigma Mu Sigma was still not done.

Clyde E. Shaw, a ΣΜΣ brother and faculty member at Tri-State, revived the fraternity in 1940, this action coming four years after his original chapter had joined Alpha Lambda Tau as its Psi chapter. (To complete the story on the original chapter, Alpha Lambda Tau was a small national that in 1947 would later itself merge into ΤΚΕ as a coincidental, second national merger, that time bringing the Tri-State chapter along with it briefly; but within a year the Tri-State group, now called Beta-Epsilon chapter of ΤΚΕ was forced to return its newly-won charter because of the accreditation problem. The resilient Tri-State group then joined Kappa Sigma Kappa, and finally it was granted a charter from Kappa Sigma just after Tri-State earned accreditation. The chapter survives to the present day.)

Meanwhile, while Shaw's original chapter was proceeding through these several affiliations, his newly-re-established Alpha chapter (Second incarnation) of Sigma Mu Sigma was reborn through his efforts, and able to successfully navigate the manpower drain of WWII, stabilizing into a thriving chapter as the only existent active group of his re-established fraternity. This chapter, now operating as a local fraternity with the name Sigma Mu Sigma, changed its membership requirements to allow non-Masons to join. Alpha chapter remained the only chapter of ΣΜΣ from 1940-1952.

Merger with Sigma Alpha Chi[]

In August 1952, Sigma Mu Sigma, still a local at Tri-State, made the decision to merge with Sigma Alpha Chi, another Masonic fraternity that had been originally known as Square and Compass.

Square and Compass had originated as a club of Master Masons (The Masonic Club) at Washington and Lee University in 1897. Twenty years later there was interest in a Greek-letter affiliation, but Acacia was unworkable as many of the Club's members had varied fraternity affiliations. It adopted the name of Square and Compass in 1916, and incorporated on May 12, 1917. Members considered that event to be their formal founding. Square and Compass adopted the Masonic model where interested candidates applied for membership rather than a bidding process. Plans for expansion were put on hold, however, as on the eve of WWI, two leaders of the organization left immediately to enter ROTC, and before the end of the 1917 college year, all of the founders were either in the Army or the Navy. In the Fall of 1919, Carl A. Foss, the secretary of the fraternity, still a local group, returned to Washington and Lee to complete his education. With the help of Thomas J. Farrar and others he reorganized the fraternity. By the beginning of WWII it had initiated nearly 4,500 members and had expanded to 57 chapters. Square and Compass closed for the duration of that war, opening once again for both Masons and sons of Masons. However, a decline in viability during the Great Depression and rising tensions before WWII led to a precipitous loss of chapters. Some members lobbied for adoption of Greek letters, as a way of sparking new interest. These pressures prompted Square and Compass to adopt the Greek letter name of Sigma Alpha Chi in 1950. The organization became Square and Compass-Sigma Alpha Chi.[7][1]

Only two years later, on August 3, 1952, voting to combine with Sigma Mu Sigma, the merged organization became known officially as Sigma Mu Sigma-Square and Compass, dropping the Sigma Alpha Chi letters. The merger linked Sigma Mu Sigma with four chapters from Sigma Alpha Chi, and led to another period of moderate growth. The other Square and Compass chapters dissipated.[4]

Recent history[]

The merger with Sigma Alpha Chi put the fraternity on more solid footing during the 1950s and into the 1960s. This led to the establishment of eight additional chapters. Sigma Mu Sigma marketed itself as a Service Fraternity from this point, allowing participation by men already active in another social fraternity.[8] However, anti-establishment attitudes on college campuses of the late 1960s began to put pressure on most college fraternities. This was especially true for ΣΜΣ, which had long been linked with socially conservative ideals and the Freemasons. As Baird's explained:

The purpose of the fraternity is to foster the indoctrination of the college men of America with the traditions of their American heritage. [1]

By the early 1970s, this message appears not to have resulted in marketability. At this juncture many of its chapters began to close or move to other nationals. The Alpha chapter at Tri-State joined Acacia, the largest of the "Masonic-influenced" fraternities, the Lambda chapter at Elon College joined Kappa Sigma.[3] Other chapters would close, and the Sigma chapter was removed from campus by the administration of Lynchburg College.

Sigma chapter would eventually be revived in 1984, and for a time become the sole surviving chapter of ΣΜΣ.

Co-ed Evolution, and a new direction[]

Under pressure of these changes the fraternity took on a new direction. The surviving Sigma Mu Sigma Fraternity remained focused on service, and it allowed both male students to be members as well as female students, known as sisters. The Sigma chapter remained the only chapter of ΣΜΣ until 1989 when they began working to start the Chi chapter at the College of William and Mary. Chi chapter was chartered in November 1990.[2]

Chapters[]

Original fraternity roll of ΣΜΣ:

# Chapter Institution Year Chartered Status Notes
01 Alpha Tri-State University 1921-1936 Closed The original Alpha chapter affiliated with Alpha Lambda Tau in 1936, then became a chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon, briefly, in 1947 as a result of a merger between those fraternities. It would progress through several short-term affiliations, finally becoming a chapter of Kappa Sigma in 1966.
Meanwhile, a second Tri-State chapter was re-established under the ΣΜΣ name: see listing for Alpha (second).
02 Beta University of Oklahoma 1924-1934 Closed Ceased operations at about the time of the 1935 ΤΚΕ merger.
03 Gamma National University 1925-<1935 Charter withdrawn, overlap with Epsilon chapter Ceased operations at or before the time of the 1935 ΤΚΕ merger.
04 Delta Milwaukee School of Engineering 1925-1935 Closed Ceased operations at about the time of the 1935 ΤΚΕ merger.
05 Epsilon George Washington University 1925-1934 Closed Merged with Tau Kappa Epsilon in 1935.
06 Zeta Purdue University 1925-1934 Closed Merged with existing Tau Kappa Epsilon chapter in 1935.
07 Eta University of Illinois 1925-1935 Closed Merged with existing Tau Kappa Epsilon chapter in 1935.
08 Theta Oklahoma State University 1926-1934 Closed Ceased operations at about the time of the 1935 ΤΚΕ merger.
09 Iota Michigan State Normal College[9] 1926-1940 Closed Lingered independently for four years after the first ΤΚΕ merger, closed in 1940.

Revival of Alpha in 1940, chapters gained during merger with ΣΑΧ (Square & Compass), and later growth:

# Chapter Institution Year Chartered Status Notes
10 Alpha (second) Tri-State University (Trine) 1940-1966 Withdrew Re-established by alumnus Clyde E. Shaw under the ΣΜΣ name, this second Alpha chapter would aid in re-forming its national.
Alpha (second) would eventually affiliate with Acacia in 1967.
11 Kappa [10] Medical College of Virginia[11] 1952-19xx Closed Originally a chapter of ΣΑΧ / Square and Compass
12 Lambda Elon College 1952-1973 Withdrew Originally a chapter of ΣΑΧ / Square and Compass
Withdrew to become a chapter of Kappa Sigma in 1973.[12][13]
13 Mu Chase College of Law[14] 1952-19xx Closed Originally a chapter of ΣΑΧ / Square and Compass
Chase Law is now part of Northern Kentucky University
14 Nu Miami University[15] 1953-19xx Closed Originally a chapter of ΣΑΧ / Square and Compass
15 Xi Joliet Junior College 1953-19xx Closed
16 Omicron University of Louisville 1953-19xx Closed
17 Pi New York University 1955-19xx Closed
18 Rho Virginia Tech 1955-19xx Closed
19 Sigma University of Lynchburg 1962-1975?
1984-20xx 		Closed? After its 1984 re-establishment it led ΣΜΣ to become a co-ed Service Fraternity.
20 Tau Widener University[16] 1965-19xx Closed
21 Upsilon Salem College 1969-19xx Closed
22 Phi Virginia Commonwealth University 1971-19xx Proposed Named, but never chartered
23 Chi College of William and Mary 1990 Active co-ed chapter, established after Sigma chapter's revival of the fraternity as a co-ed, Service fraternity.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f 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. VIII-22. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b According to the ΣΜΣ website, accessed 9 Jul 2012.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b The original Trine University chapter of Sigma Mu Sigma may arguably be the most prolific, or resilient chapter of any fraternity. This local chapter birthed three successor chapters on the Trine campus and a surviving, small national fraternity. It opened Trine (then Tri-State) to fraternal organizing, it weathered lack of school accreditation, and negotiated waves of merger talks during its hundred-year history.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b 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. VII-52. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  5. ^ "Paragraphic History of TKE". The Golden Book of Tau Kappa Epsilon. 1949. p25.
  6. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2011-04-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ ΣΑΧ is summarized in this article on Masonic-themed Greek organizations, from The Scottish Rite Journal Sept/Oct 2019, p.9, accessed 1 Nov 2020.
  8. ^ Active recruitment toward additional chapters was pursued, one example of which was profiled on p.2 of The Breeze of Virginia's Madison College on 21 Oct, 1968. Accessed 1 Nov 2020. A James Madison chapter never materialized.
  9. ^ Baird's has this chapter at Michigan state.
  10. ^ The Fraternity continued its original naming structure, rather than beginning anew.
  11. ^ Baird's has Virginia Medical chapter named Mu, and does not list a Kappa chapter. Mu is assumed to be an error.
  12. ^ The Elon chapter is noted in The Magazine of Elon, Winter 2009 edition, p.19, accessed 31 Oct 2020.
  13. ^ Evolution of the chapter toward Kappa Sigma is outlined on their website, accessed 31 Oct 2020.
  14. ^ Baird's has the Chase chapter named Nu.
  15. ^ Baird's does not list a Miami University chapter.
  16. ^ Baird's lists this chapter at "Brandywine (DE)" but does not otherwise show that school. There is a unit of Penn State at Brandywine, formally called "Penn State-Delaware County". Widener is assumed to be correct.
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