Theta Upsilon

Theta Upsilon began as a local club at the University of California, Berkeley when six female students moved into a house on Walnut Street. The house became known as "The Walnut Shell".{{cite book|last=Miner|first=Florence Hood|title=Delta Zeta Sorority 1902- 1982: Building on Yesterday, Reaching for Tomorrow|pages = 150–151|publisher=Compolith Graphics and Maury Boyd and Associates, Inc.|location=Indianapolis, Indiana|year=1983}}

In the academic year of {{dts|1913}}–{{dts|1914}}, twelve girls organized an official "house club" under the university. It was called Mekatina, which meant "Among the Hills". Mekatina had a ritual based on Native American themes. The pin was a rising sun. The formal founding date, according to Delta Zeta's history, was {{dts|1914|01|01}}.

On {{dts|1921|02|07}}, the Mekatina students renamed themselves inaugural members of the Alpha chapter of Theta Upsilon. Ida Shaw Martin, of the Sorority Service Bureau, is credited with outlining the plans for Theta Upsilon and perfected its ritual.

Theta Upsilon would eventually install 38 chapters across the country. It benefited, too, from mergers with smaller groups. Early in its history, the fraternity merged with Lambda Omega sorority, which only the year prior had absorbed Alpha Sigma Delta sorority. Lambda Omega had begun as the Norroena club at Berkeley in {{dts|1915}}. its name meant "Breath of the North," with a ritual based on Native American and Norse values. The Norse values emphasized were hardihood, hospitality, economy, and friendship. Lambda Omega was an associate member of the National Panhellenic Conference. In 1932, Lambda Omega had absorbed Alpha Sigma Delta, which began as the Iaqua club, also at Berkeley in {{dts|1919}}. In {{dts|1932}}, Lambda Omega was, in turn, absorbed by Theta Upsilon.

The chapter at Berkeley, therefore, was the product of three Alpha chapters of small national sororities, prior to itself merging into Delta Zeta's Mu chapter in 1962.

On May 6, 1962, Theta Upsilon fraternity was officially absorbed by Delta Zeta sorority.{{cite journal |author1=Staff |editor1-last=McKeeman |editor1-first=Gwen Moss |title=The Lamp of Delta Zeta |date=Spring 1990 |volume=79 |issue=1 |pages=9, 16 and 19 |url=https://www.deltazetaarchive.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Spring_1990.pdf |access-date=2 December 2021 |publisher=Delta Zeta Sorority |location=Oxford Ohio |language=English}} The ceremony was held at the Alpha Alpha chapter house at Northwestern University. Delta Zeta gained nine new collegiate chapters while several others were enhanced by mergers.

• The flower was the iris.
• The tree was the bay tree.
• The patron was Apollo.
• The official motto: Let there be light
• The magazine was The Dial
• The colors were the Rainbow tints{{cite book |author=Mrs. Ida Shaw Martin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6lg4AAAAMAAJ |title=The Sorority Handbook |publisher=Ida Shaw Martin |year=1923 |page=89}}
• Insignia were Rising Sun, Rainbow, Lion Rampant
• The crest included a rampant lion on a rising sun, with a banner at the bottom with the Greek or Roman letters A, E, and I.Noted in the [https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/oracle/82/ 1935 Colby College Oracle yearbook, page 100]. Accessed 24 Nov 2021.

(Per Delta Zeta's history)

• Rainbow Degree: pledge ceremony; new members received rainbow ribbons
• Iris Degree: second pledge ceremony; pledge pin of sterling silver fleur-de-lis received
• Covenant Degree: initiation degree, "full lifetime membership"; received official badge of "a pearled {{lang|grc|Θ}} superimposed upon {{lang|grc|Υ}}"
• Temple Degree: awarded to alumnae at national convention; distinguished those who "supported and cooperated with the national fraternity"
• Laurel Degree: awarded to Temple degree members who showed "outstanding service"; given at National Convention
• Mother/Patroness Degree: awarded to mothers of initiates, patronesses of college chapters, and housemothers.
• Honorary Patron: awarded by college chapters to any man who made an outstanding contribution to the fraternity; approved by National Council

"As a daughter of light, I believe in loyalty to God, the Light of all our being; in loyalty to our country, the land of opportunity and freedom, where all women have important roles to play; in loyalty to our fellowmen with whom I shall seek constantly understanding and true love.

"I believe in love, learning, and labor, bearing in mind that each is incomplete without the other- true love expressed through intelligence, service, learning acquired as a result of loving interest in others, and labor inspired by love and guided by intelligence.

"I believe in Theta Upsilon, its purposes, its ideals, and its aspirations. I pledge my heart, my head, and my hand to be a good citizen on the campus and in the community, to cooperate in all endeavors, to maintain high ideals in social life, to uphold a worthy standard in harmony with my sisters in Theta Upsilon, that together we may work to further the divine plan for all mankind."
-- Beatrice Card Fuller.

Theta Upsilon had installed a total of 38 chapters by the time of the merger, counting its own and those it absorbed from Lambda Omega.{{cite web |editor2=Carroll Lurding |title=Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), list of inactive GLOs, including Theta Upsilon chapters |url=https://uofi.app.box.com/v/inactive-glos-womens |access-date=16 November 2021 |website=Student Life and Culture Archives |publisher=University of Illinois Archives |language=English |editor1=William Raimond Baird |location=University of Illinois}} The main archive URL is [https://www.library.illinois.edu/slc/welcome/fraternity-sorority-almanac/ The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage].

In {{dts|1962}} there were four "overlaps" in chapters at California, Miami, Illinois, and Temple universities. These merged into existing Delta Zeta chapters on their respective campuses. Fairly early, a chapter at Ripon College reverted to its local name. Thirty years later it would become an Alpha Phi chapter. A chapter at Utah State University reverted to its local name, briefly, before becoming a Delta Delta Delta chapter.

Chapters active at the time of the {{lang|grc|ΔΖ}} merger are those in bold, those which were inactive are noted in italics.

{{FratChapterStart}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Alpha

| Founded = {{dts|1914}}–{{dts|1962|05|06}}

| School = University of California, Berkeley

| Location = Berkeley, California

| Status = Merged

| Notes = Merged into Mu chapter of {{lang|grc|ΔΖ}}

| Reference = {{efn|Began as the Mekatina Club in {{dts|1909}}.}}{{efn|Interestingly, this chapter is a result of the eventual merger of the Alpha chapters of three sororities all formed at Berkeley, namely {{Lang|grc|ΛΩ}} ({{dts|1915}}), {{Lang|grc|ΑΣΔ}} ({{dts|1918}}), and {{Lang|grc|ΘΥ}} ({{dts|1914}}).}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Beta

| Founded = {{dts|1921}}–{{dts|1938}}

| School = Brenau University

| Location = Gainesville, Georgia

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference =

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Gamma

| Founded = {{dts|1923}}–{{dts|1940}}, 1946–{{dts|1962|05|06}}

| School = University of Illinois

| Location = Champaign, Illinois

| Status = Merged

| Notes = Merged into Alpha Beta chapter of {{lang|grc|ΔΖ}}

| Reference =

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Delta

| Founded = {{dts|1923}}–{{dts|1940}}, {{dts|1946}}–{{dts|1952}}

| School = Ohio State University

| Location = Columbus, Ohio

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Sigma Phi Omega (local) in {{dts|1921}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Epsilon

| Founded = {{dts|1923}}–{{dts|1933}}

| School = Washington State University

| Location = Pullman, Washington

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Sigma Upsilon (local).}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Zeta

| Founded = {{dts|1923}}–{{dts|1936}}

| School = Ohio Wesleyan University

| Location = Delaware, Ohio

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Zeta Chi (local) in {{dts|1922}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Eta

| Founded = {{dts|1924}}–{{dts|1955}}

| School = Allegheny College

| Location = Meadville, Pennsylvania

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference =

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Theta

| Founded = {{dts|1924}}–{{dts|1936}}

| School = Boston University

| Location = Boston, Massachusetts

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference =

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Iota

| Founded = {{dts|1924}}–{{dts|1962|05|06}}

| School = Simpson College

| Location = Indianola, Iowa

| Status = Merged

| Notes = Became Theta Alpha chapter of {{lang|grc|ΔΖ}}

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Beta Xi (local) in {{dts|1924}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Kappa

| Founded = {{dts|1925}}–{{dts|1939}}

| School = Ohio University

| Location = Athens, Ohio

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Alpha Iota Pi (local) in {{dts|1922}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Lambda

| Founded = {{dts|1925}}–{{dts|1939}}

| School = Florida State University

| Location = Tallahassee, Florida

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference =

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Mu

| Founded = {{dts|1925}}–{{dts|1962|05|06}}

| School = Miami University

| Location = Oxford, Ohio

| Status = Merged

| Notes = Merged into Alpha chapter of {{lang|grc|ΔΖ}}

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Kappa Psi Delta (local) in {{dts|1922}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Nu

| Founded = {{dts|1925}}–{{dts|1928}}

| School = Ripon College

| Location = Ripon, Wisconsin

| Status = Withdrew

| Notes = Reverted to Delta Delta Beta (local)
Later, became {{lang|grc|ΑΦ}}

| Reference = {{efn|Baird's notes this group was later called Kappa Sigma Chi (local), which became Gamma Psi chapter of {{lang|grc|ΑΦ}}, active from {{dts|1959}}–{{dts|1970}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Xi

| Founded = {{dts|1926}}–{{dts|1962|05|06}}

| School = Birmingham–Southern College

| Location = Birmingham, Alabama

| Status = Merged

| Notes = Became Theta Beta chapter of {{lang|grc|ΔΖ}}

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Alpha Alpha Alpha (local) in {{dts|1922}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Omicron

| Founded = {{dts|1927}}–{{dts|1961}}

| School = University of California, Los Angeles

| Location = Los Angeles, California

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Omega Delta Pi (local) in {{dts|1922}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Pi

| Founded = {{dts|1928}}–{{dts|1930}}

| School = Lombard College {{efn|Lombard College ceased operations in 1930.}}

| Location = Galesburg, Illinois

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference =

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Rho

| Founded = {{dts|1929}}–{{dts|1940}}, {{dts|1946}}–{{dts|1952}}

| School = University of Washington

| Location = Seattle, Washington

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference = {{efn|Began as the "E.T.A. Club" (local) in {{dts|1927}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Sigma

| Founded = {{dts|1930}}–{{dts|1957}}

| School = Utah State University

| Location = Logan, Utah

| Status = Withdrew

| Notes = Reverted to Zeta Chi (local)
Later, became {{lang|grc|ΔΔΔ}}

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Zeta Chi (local) in {{dts|1922}}. Became the Phi Pi chapter of {{lang|grc|ΔΔΔ}}, active from {{dts|1959}}–{{dts|1971}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Tau

| Founded = {{dts|1930}}–{{dts|1962|05|06}}

| School = University of New Hampshire

| Location = Durham, New Hampshire

| Status = Merged

| Notes = Became Theta Gamma chapter of {{lang|grc|ΔΖ}}

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Sigma Omicron (local) in {{dts|1926}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Upsilon

| Founded = {{dts|1931}}–{{dts|1962|05|06}}

| School = Westminster College

| Location = New Wilmington, Pennsylvania

| Status = Merged

| Notes = Became Theta Delta chapter of {{lang|grc|ΔΖ}}

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Pi Rho Phi (local) in {{dts|1905}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Phi

| Founded = {{dts|1931}}–{{dts|1941}}

| School = Nebraska Wesleyan University

| Location = Lincoln, Nebraska

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Delta Phi (local) in {{dts|1916}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Chi

| Founded = {{dts|1931}}–{{dts|1936}}

| School = West Virginia University

| Location = Morgantown, West Virginia

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Pi Tau Delta (local) in {{dts|1926}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Psi

| Founded = {{dts|1932}}–{{dts|1962|05|06}}

| School = Louisiana Tech

| Location = Ruston, Louisiana

| Status = Merged

| Notes = Became Theta Epsilon chapter of {{lang|grc|ΔΖ}}

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Delta Phi Gamma (local) in {{dts|1926}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Alpha Alpha

| Founded = {{dts|1932}}–{{dts|1952}}

| School = University of Alabama

| Location = Tuscaloosa, Alabama

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Alpha Omega (local) in {{dts|1930}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Beta Alpha

| Founded = {{dts|1932}}–{{dts|1960}}

| School = New York University

| Location = New York City, New York

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Psi Xi Omega (local) in {{dts|1919}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Gamma Alpha

| Founded = {{dts|1933}}–{{dts|1948}}

| School = Millikin University

| Location = Decatur, Illinois

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Theta Gamma (local) in {{dts|1921}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Delta Alpha

| Founded = {{dts|1933}}–{{dts|1962|05|06}}

| School = Temple University

| Location = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

| Status = Merged

| Notes = Merged into Delta Tau chapter of {{lang|grc|ΔΖ}}

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Alpha Theta Pi (local) in {{dts|1915}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Epsilon Alpha

| Founded = {{dts|1933}}–{{dts|1940}}

| School = Northwestern University

| Location = Evanston, Illinois

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference = {{efn|name=LambdaOmega|Formerly a Lambda Omega chapter.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Zeta Alpha

| Founded = {{dts|1933}}–{{dts|1941}}

| School = University of Denver

| Location = Denver, Colorado

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference = {{efn|name=LambdaOmega}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Eta Alpha

| Founded = {{dts|1933}}–{{dts|1937}}

| School = University of Utah

| Location = Salt Lake City, Utah

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference = {{efn|name=LambdaOmega}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Theta Alpha

| Founded = {{dts|1933}}–{{dts|1935}}

| School = Colby College

| Location = Waterville, Maine

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference = {{efn|name=LambdaOmega}}{{efn|It's interesting to note that this chapter, in the span of seven years, had four Greek letter names: It had been still a local chapter in {{dts|1928}} called Beta Chi Theta (local). Later in {{dts|1928}} it became Gamma chapter of Alpha Sigma Delta. In {{dts|1932}} it became the Iota chapter of Lambda Omega, and in {{dts|1933}} the Theta Alpha chapter of Theta Upsilon. It would close by {{dts|1935}}, probably due in large part to the pressure of the Great Depression.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Iota Alpha

| Founded = {{dts|1935}}–{{dts|1956}}

| School = Auburn University

| Location = Auburn, Alabama

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference =

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Kappa Alpha

| Founded = {{dts|1939}}–{{dts|1962|05|06}}

| School = University of Akron

| Location = Akron, Ohio

| Status = Merged

| Notes = Became Theta Zeta chapter of {{lang|grc|ΔΖ}}

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Phi Kappa Delta (local) in {{dts|1922}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Lambda Alpha

| Founded = {{dts|1947}}–{{dts|1960}}

| School = University of Colorado

| Location = Boulder, Colorado

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference =

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Mu Alpha

| Founded = {{dts|1954}}–{{dts|1962|05|06}}

| School = Creighton University

| Location = Omaha, Nebraska

| Status = Merged

| Notes = Became Theta Eta chapter of {{lang|grc|ΔΖ}}

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Kappa Beta Gamma (local) in {{dts|1948}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Nu Alpha

| Founded = {{dts|1955}}–{{dts|1961}}

| School = Western Michigan University

| Location = Kalamazoo, Michigan

| Status = Inactive

| Notes =

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Alpha Pi Beta (local) in {{dts|1952}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Xi Alpha

| Founded = {{dts|1958}}–{{dts|1962|05|06}}

| School = DePaul University (Chicago)

| Location = Chicago, Illinois

| Status = Merged

| Notes = Became Theta Theta chapter of {{lang|grc|ΔΖ}}

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Delta Chi Alpha (local) in {{dts|1958}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapter

| Chapter Name = Omicron Alpha

| Founded = {{dts|1960}}–{{dts|1962|05|06}}

| School = Western Carolina College

| Location = Cullowhee, North Carolina

| Status = Merged

| Notes = Became Theta Iota chapter of {{lang|grc|ΔΖ}}

| Reference = {{efn|Began as Delta Gamma Phi (local) in {{dts|1957}}.}}

}}

{{FratChapterEnd}}{{notelist}}

• List of social sororities and women's fraternities
• Delta Zeta
• Lambda Omega

{{reflist}}

• Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (multiple volumes)

{{National Panhellenic Conference}}

Category:Fraternities and sororities in the United States

Category:Delta Zeta

Category:Defunct former members of the National Panhellenic Conference

Category:1921 establishments in California

Category:Student organizations established in 1921

Category:Women's organizations based in the United States

Category:Sororities

Category:Merged fraternities and sororities