Pi Lambda Sigma

Pi Lambda Sigma was founded on June 24, 1921 at Boston University College of Liberal Arts, in Boston, Massachusetts, by women who felt that their need for close relationships and social life could best be fulfilled by a sorority.{{Cite book| last = Torbenson| first =Craig L.|author2=Gregory S. Parks| title = Brothers and Sisters: Diversity in College Fraternities and Sororities | publisher = Associated University Presse| year = 2009|chapter=Appendix: National College Fraternities and Sororities | chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=lJ0hFQlKx4oC&pg=PA230|page=230| isbn = 978-0-8386-4194-1}} As commuters, they felt that they had little or no chance to form lasting friendships that would draw them back to their university after graduation.[http://www.library.unh.edu/digital/book-reader/yearbook%3A1943#page/130 University of New Hampshire - Granite Yearbook (Durham, NH)- Class of 1943] page 130 Pi Lambda Sigma was originally going to be a non-sectarian sorority. The founders, after further consideration, decided that the needs of Catholic women students required a Catholic sorority.

The founders were Constance Bartholomew, Mary O'Shaughnessey Brennan, Lauretta Nally Cushing, Anne Donohue, Viola Mac-Eachern Horrigan, Mary Lyons Laffoley, Margaret McDermott, Teresa Talamini, and Helen Wilson.

In 1923-1924, the chapter joined the National Pan-Hellenic Society of Boston University.[http://www.library.unh.edu/digital/book-reader/yearbook%3A1947#page/188/mode/2up University of New Hampshire - Granite Yearbook (Durham, NH)- Class of 1947] page 188

On June 28, 1952, Theta Phi Alpha agreed to a merger, with the four active chapters of Pi Lambda Sigma becoming part of Theta Phi Alpha. Two of the chapters merged with the Theta Phi chapters on their respective campuses and two became new chapters of Theta Phi Alpha.

According to Ruth Thompson, a Pi Lambda Sigma sister (at the time) who worked on the merger:

"Pi Lambda Sigma was faced with several alternatives: a.) merger; b.) dissolution with assets set up in scholarship funds; and c.) each collegiate chapter would make its own decision whether to merge, go local, etc. The final vote was for the merger. I visited the Dean of Women at the University of Cincinnati and asked for advice. The administration was in favor of the merger and was helpful. We checked all NPC groups and sent questionnaires to four sororities. We received two responses besides Theta Phi's. It took two years to finalize our merger with Theta Phi Alpha. The decision was made because the ideals of both sororities were similar and we hoped that together we would become strong."

At the Pi Lambda Sigma national convention in May 1952, the members of Pi Lambda Sigma voted to merge with Theta Phi Alpha. At Theta Phi Alpha's Nineteenth National Convention in Chicago, Illinois on June 28, 1952, this merger was ratified by representatives of the full membership. At the Theta Phi Alpha convention, the National President of Pi Lambda Sigma, Alison Hume Lotter, was initiated into Theta Phi Alpha and the merger was accomplished.

Pi Lambda Sigma's insignia's badge was a black enamel shield surrounded by pearls with the Greek letters {{lang|grc|ΠΛΣ}} inscribed in gold.{{Cite book| editor1-last = Anson| editor1-first =Jack L.|editor2-last=Marchesani, Jr|editor2-first=Robert F | title = Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities| publisher =Baird's Manual Foundation | year= 1991|edition=20th| location = Indianapolis| page = VIII-34| chapter =Pi Lambda Sigma| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H3_EMQEACAAJ|isbn=0-9637159-0-9}} Its pledge pin was a gold Greek cross and circle. Its insignia was a cross, circle, torch, and shepherdess' crook.[http://digital.library.temple.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p245801coll12/id/46452/rec/18 Templar 1930] p 227

The colors of Pi Lambda Sigma were white and gold. The sorority's patron saint was St. Margaret of the Dragon. Its flower was the Marguerite daisy, named for its patron saint. Its jewel was the pearl.[http://digital.library.temple.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p245801coll12/id/29135/rec/16 Templar 1929] p 269 Its motto was "One Fold, One Shepherd". Its publication was The Torch.

Pi Lambda Sigma had eight chapters in its history.[http://digital.library.temple.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p245801coll12/id/19375/rec/26 Templar 1936], p.232, accessed 21 July 2015. Bold text indicates chapters that were active at the time of the merger; italics indicate chapters that had closed.

{{FratChapterStart}}

{{FratChapter

|Chapter Name=Alpha

|Founded={{dts|June 24, 1921}}–{{dts|1952|06|28}}

|School=Boston University College of Liberal Arts

|Location=Boston, Massachusetts

|Status=Merged

|Notes= Joined the existing Eta chapter of Theta Phi Alpha.

|Reference=

}}

{{FratChapter

|Chapter Name=Beta

|Founded={{dts|March 4, 1927}}–193x ?

|School=Boston University School of Education

|Location=Boston, Massachusetts

|Status=Dormant

|Notes=Had this chapter merged with Alpha chapter?

|Reference={{cite book|title=Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PK0VAAAAIAAJ|edition=14|year=1940|publisher=G. Banta Company}}

}}

{{FratChapter

|Chapter Name=Gamma

|Founded={{dts|April 4, 1927}}–{{dts|1947}}

|School=Temple University

|Location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

|Status=Dormant

|Notes=

|Reference=Originated from the Alpha Epsilon Club (local), also called "Alpha Epsilon for Arts in Education".{{Cite book| editor1-last = Robson| editor1-first =John| title = Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities| publisher=George Banta Company, Incorporated|location=Menasha, Wisconsin | year= 1968|edition=18th| pages = 45–238| chapter =Campuses and their fraternities| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=35wQcgAACAAJ}}[http://www.e-yearbook.com/yearbooks/Temple_University_Templar_Yearbook/1935/Page_233.html Temple University - Templar Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA) - Class of 1935] page 233

}}

{{FratChapter

|Chapter Name=Delta

|Founded={{dts|May 4, 1928}}–{{dts|1932}} ?

|School=University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign

|Location=Champaign-Urbana, Illinois

|Status=Dormant

|Notes=

|Reference=Originated as Gamma Theta Phi (local), formed in 1925.{{cite news|url=http://idnc.library.illinois.edu/cgi-bin/illinois?a=d&d=DIL19280505.2.10|newspaper=Daily Illini|date=May 5, 1928|title=Gamma Theta Pi installed as new national chapter}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=35wQcgAACAAJ|page=525|title=The Illio (University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign campus) yearbook|last1=Robson|first1=J.|year=1968}}

}}

{{FratChapter

|Chapter Name=Epsilon

|Founded={{dts|February 23, 1929}}–{{dts|1947}}

|School=University of New Hampshire

|Location=Durham, New Hampshire

|Status=Dormant

|Notes=

|Reference=Originated as Lambda Phi (local), previously formed on the New Hampshire campus.{{cite book|title=History of the University of New Hampshire, 1866-1941|url=http://www.mocavo.com/History-of-the-University-of-New-Hampshire-1866-1941-Volume-1941/424372/325|page=299}}

}}

{{FratChapter

|Chapter Name=Zeta

|Founded={{dts|May 4, 1933}}–{{dts|1952|06|28}}

|School=University of Cincinnati

|Location=Cincinnati, Ohio

|Status=Merged

|Notes= Joined the existing Epsilon chapter of Theta Phi Alpha.

|Reference=Originated as Beta Pi Epsilon (local), formed in 1930.{{cite web|url=http://digital.libraries.uc.edu/exhibits/arb/greek/sorors.php|title=Going Greek: Sororities|access-date=July 15, 2015}}

}}

{{FratChapter

|Chapter Name=Eta

|Founded={{dts|November 20, 1947}}–{{dts|1952|06|28}}

|School=Quincy UniversityNamed Quincy College (IL) during the tenure of the chapter, the school was renamed as Quincy University in 1993.

|Location=Quincy, Illinois

|Status=Merged

|Notes= Became the Psi chapter of Theta Phi Alpha in 1954.

|Reference={{cite book|url=https://archive.org/stream/quincycollegegyr1949pier#page/n131/mode/2up|title=1949 Gyrfalcom (Quincy College yearbook)|year=1949 |page=100}}

}}

{{FratChapter

|Chapter Name=Theta

|Founded={{dts|July 22, 1948}}–{{dts|1952|06|28}}

|School=Creighton University

|Location=Omaha, Nebraska

|Status=Merged

|Notes=Became Chi chapter of Theta Phi Alpha in 1952.

|Reference=Originated as Chi Mu Kappa (local), formed in 1928. This was the first sorority at Creighton.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/stream/bluejay19year#page/100/mode/2up|title=1949 Blue Jay (Creighton University yearbook)|year=1949 |page=100|publisher=Creighton University }}

}}

{{FratChapterEnd}}

Chapter student officers were President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Registrar, and Ritualist. Chapters also had Patronesses and an Adviser.[http://digital.library.temple.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p245801coll12/id/32580/rec/21 Templar 1933] p 288

As of 1939, Pi Lambda Sigma held annual conventions. The convention in 1939 was in Virginia Beach, Virginia.[http://digital.library.temple.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p245801coll12/id/56815/rec/30 Templar 1939] p 130 The Convention in June 1946 was in Boston, Massachusetts.[https://drc.libraries.uc.edu/handle/2374.UC/1112 Cincinnatian 1946] p 156 The July 1950 convention was in Cincinnati, Ohio.[http://hdl.handle.net/2374.UC/1533 Cincinnatian 1951] p 145 The Final convention was held in May 1952 in Boston.

• List of social sororities and women's fraternities

{{reflist}}

Category:1952 disestablishments

Category:Student societies in the United States

Category:1921 establishments in Massachusetts

Category:Student organizations established in 1921

Category:Merged fraternities and sororities

Category:Theta Phi Alpha

Category:Women's organizations based in the United States

Category:Fraternities and sororities in the United States

Category:Sororities

Category:Catholic Church organizations