Beta Sigma Omicron

Beta Sigma Omicron
Beta Sigma Omicron
ΒΣΟ
Founded	December 12, 1888; 135 years ago; University of Missouri
Type	Social
Affiliation	NPC (former)
Status	Merged
Scope	National (US)
Motto	We Live to Do Good
Colors	Ruby and Pink
Symbol	Stars, Covenant, Lamp, Laurel
Flower	Red and Pink Carnations
Jewel	Ruby
Patron Greek divinity	Hestia
Publication	The Beta Sigma Omicron (open); The Lamp (esoteric), and The Urn
Chapters	61
Members	15,000 lifetime
Merged	Zeta Tau Alpha

Beta Sigma Omicron (ΒΣΟ) is a defunct American collegiate sorority. It was founded on December 12, 1888, at the University of Missouri and merged with Zeta Tau Alpha on August 7, 1964.

History

Beta Sigma Omicron was founded at the University of Missouri on December 12, 1888. Its founders were:

Eulalie Hockaday
Katherine Turner
Maude Haines.^[1]

By 1909 the sorority had ten active chapters and their alumnae associations. The ten chapters were at Belmont College, Brenau College, Centenary College, Central Female College, Fairmont Seminary,^[2] Hardin College, Liberty Ladies' College, Stephens College, Synodical College, and Transylvania College.^[3] The sorority held its first convention in June 1910 in Louisville, Kentucky.

The early expansion went primarily to women's schools in the southern states, a fraction of which were coordinated with larger male-only schools (Tulane, Missouri, etc.) However, a significant number of early chapters were at schools that ceased operation before or during the Great Depression. One chapter had even been placed at a high school.

Because of the prevalence of chapters at two-year schools and other non-accredited institutions, Beta Sigma Omicron operated independently of the National Panhellenic Conference for its first forty years of existence. As an independent sorority, ΒΣΟ was at risk of chapters being "poached" by other national sororities.^[4]

In 1913 and 1917, two of ΒΣΟ's chapters, at Brenau College and at Hollins University, respectively, withdrew from the sorority. The Brenau group was absorbed by that school's chapter of Delta Delta Delta in 1915, and in 1919 the Hollins group became a chapter of Chi Omega.^[5] Still, growth persisted. In 1932 the sorority absorbed three of the four chapters of Pi Sigma Gamma, a small sorority that disbanded that year.^[6] Beta Sigma Omicron became an associate member of the National Panhellenic Conference in 1930 and a full member in 1933.

At Beta Sigma Omicron's 1963 Convention (75th anniversary), a vote on absorption or disbanding was taken. Although Beta Sigma Omicron had chartered 61 chapters and had almost 15,000 initiated sisters, at the time of the anniversary, it only had thirteen active chapters and no longer met the National Panhellenic Conference's membership requirements. The vote was unanimous for absorption, and Beta Sigma Omicron looked for an organization to merge with. On August 7, 1964, Beta Sigma Omicron was absorbed by Zeta Tau Alpha.

Of the thirteen active chapters, seven were absorbed into Zeta Tau Alpha: Samford University (at the time, Howard College), Millsaps College, William Jewell College, the University of Evansville, Thiel College, Westminster College, and Youngstown College. Three others were released to join Alpha Phi, as Zeta Tau Alpha already had chapters on their campuses: Louisiana State University, Baldwin Wallace University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Three small chapters at urban schools in New York and Ohio chose to become local sororities but failed soon thereafter. A recent 1961 chapter, which would have added a fourteenth active chapter to the merger negotiations, had been placed at Waynesburg University. However, this group withdrew in 1963, the year before the merger, to form a local. That group survived and became a chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma nine years after its withdrawal.^[5]^[7]

Symbols

The Beta Sigma Omicron badge was a monogram of the sorority letters, with the Omicron around the Beta and the Sigma superimposed on the Omicron.^[8] Its insignia were Stars, Covenant, Lamp, and Laurel. Its pledge pin was a triangle of red enamel, displaying a Grecian lamp and three stars.

The sorority's colors were ruby and pink. Its flowers were red and pink carnations or Richmond and Killarney Roses^[9] Its jewel was the ruby. Its patron goddess was Hestia. Its motto was We Live to do Good.

The sorority's publications were The Beta Sigma Omicron, first published in 1905, The Lamp (esoteric), and The Urn ^[7]

Chapters

Following are the chapters of Beta Sigma Omicron.^[1]^[5]^[10] Active chapters at the merger indicated in bold, inactive chapters are indicated by italics. Similarly, inactive schools are indicated by italics.

Name	Chartered	Institution	Location	Status	Notes	Reference
Alpha	December 12, 1888 – 1892	University of Missouri	Columbia, Missouri	Inactive
Beta	1891–1928	Synodical Female College	Fulton, Missouri	Inactive	^[a]
Gamma (1)	1892–1895	Missouri Valley College	Marshall, Missouri	Inactive
Delta (1)	1898–1907	Sedalia High School	Sedalia, Missouri	Inactive	^[b]
Epsilon	1902–1925	Hardin College	Mexico, Missouri	Inactive	^[c]
Zeta (1)	1902–1909	Pleasant J. Potter College	Bowling Green, Kentucky	Inactive	^[d]
Eta	1902–1925	Stephens College	Columbia, Missouri	Withdrew	^[e]
Theta	1903–1914	Belmont College	Nashville, Tennessee	Inactive	^[f]
Iota	1903–1907	Mary Baldwin Seminary	Staunton, Virginia	Inactive
Kappa	1904–1913	Fairmont Seminary	Washington, D.C.	Inactive	^[g]
Lambda	1906–1926	Hamilton College	Lexington, Kentucky	Inactive	^[h]
Mu	1906–1912	Crescent College	Eureka Springs, Arkansas	Inactive	^[i]	^[11]
Nu	1907–1913	Brenau College	Gainesville, Georgia	Withdrew	^[j]
Xi	1908–1925	Central Female College	Lexington, Missouri	Inactive	^[k]
Omicron	1908–1913	Liberty Ladies' College	Liberty, Missouri	Inactive	^[l]
Zeta (2)	1909–1921	Centenary College	Cleveland, Tennessee	Inactive	^[m]
Gamma (2)	1910–1915	Christian College	Columbia, Missouri	Inactive	^[n]
Delta (2)	1911–1913	Women's College (Alabama)	Montevallo, Alabama	Inactive
Pi	1913–1917	Hollins University	Hollins, Virginia	Withdrew ΧΩ	^[o]
Rho	1914–1920	Colorado Women's College	Denver, Colorado	Inactive	^[p]
Sigma	1915–1930	Greenville Women's College	Greenville, South Carolina	Inactive	^[q]
Tau	1916–1920	Lindenwood University	St. Charles, Missouri	Inactive	^[r]
Upsilon	1916–1930	Belhaven University	Jackson, Mississippi	Inactive	^[s]
Phi	1918–1920	Grenada College	Grenada, Mississippi	Inactive	^[t]
Chi				Unassigned
Psi				Unassigned
Omega				Unassigned
Alpha Alpha	1926–1933	University of Wisconsin–Madison	Madison, Wisconsin	Inactive	^[u]
Alpha Beta	1926–1937	Indiana University Bloomington	Bloomington, Indiana	Inactive	^[v]
Alpha Gamma	1926–1932	University of Kentucky	Lexington, Kentucky	Inactive	^[w]
Alpha Delta	1926–1936	Illinois Wesleyan University	Bloomington, Illinois	Inactive	^[x]
Alpha Epsilon	1926–1933	University of California, Los Angeles	Los Angeles, California	Inactive	^[y]
Alpha Zeta	1926–1964	Millsaps College	Jackson, Mississippi	Merged ΖΤΑ	^[z]
Alpha Eta	1926–1933	University of New Mexico	Albuquerque, New Mexico	Inactive	^[aa]
Alpha Theta	1927–1946	University of Southern California	Los Angeles, California	Inactive	^[ab]
Alpha Iota	1927–1942	University of California, Berkeley	Berkeley, California	Inactive	^[ac]
Alpha Kappa	1927–1932	University of Mississippi	Oxford, Mississippi	Inactive
Alpha Lambda	1927–1939	Northwestern University	Evanston, Illinois	Inactive	^[ad]
Alpha Mu	1927–1941	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	Champaign, Illinois	Inactive	^[ae]
Alpha Nu	1928–1936	Lyon College	Batesville, Arkansas	Inactive	^[af]
Alpha Xi	1929–1939	Miami University	Oxford, Ohio	Inactive	^[ag]
Alpha Omicron	1929–1941	Simpson College	Indianola, Iowa	Inactive	^[ah]
Alpha Pi	1929–1964	Baldwin Wallace University	Berea, Ohio	Merged ΑΦ	^[ai]	.
Alpha Rho	1929–1964	Louisiana State University	Baton Rouge, Louisiana	Merged ΑΦ	^[aj]
Alpha Omicron	1929–1959	H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College	New Orleans, Louisiana	Inactive	^[ak]
Alpha Tau	1930–1964	University of Pittsburgh	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Inactive	^[al]
Alpha Upsilon	1931–1941	University of Nevada, Reno	Reno, Nevada	Inactive	^[am]
Alpha Phi	1931–1936	Washburn University	Topeka, Kansas	Inactive	^[an]
Alpha Chi	1931–1935	University of Oklahoma	Norman, Oklahoma	Inactive	^[ao]
Alpha Psi	1931–1964	William Jewell College	Liberty, Missouri	Merged ΖΤΑ	^[ap]
Alpha Omega	1932–1936	University of Washington	Seattle, Washington	Inactive	^[aq]
Beta Alpha	1932–1964	Hunter College	Manhattan, New York City, New York	Withdrew	^[ar]
Beta Beta	1933–1964	Samford University (then called Howard College)	Homewood, Alabama	Merged ΖΤΑ	^[as]
Beta Gamma	1937–1964	Westminster College	New Wilmington, Pennsylvania	Merged ΖΤΑ	^[at]
Beta Delta	1941–1964	Queens College, City University of New York	Flushing, Queens, New York	Withdrew	^[au]
Beta Epsilon	1946–1962	Pennsylvania State University	University Park, Pennsylvania	Inactive	^[av]
Beta Zeta	1947–1959	Florida Southern College	Lakeland, Florida	Inactive	^[aw]
Beta Eta	1947–1959	Louisiana Tech University	Ruston, Louisiana	Inactive
Beta Theta	1949–1964	University of Evansville	Evansville, Indiana	Merged ΖΤΑ	^[ax]
Beta Iota	1950–1964	Thiel College	Greenville, Pennsylvania	Merged ΖΤΑ	^[ay]
Beta Kappa	1951–1964	Indiana University of Pennsylvania	Indiana County, Pennsylvania	Merged ΑΦ	^[az]
Beta Lambda	1952–1964	Youngstown State University	Youngstown, Ohio	Merged ΖΤΑ	^[ba]
Beta Mu	1954–1964	Cleveland State University (then called Fenn College)	Cleveland, Ohio	Withdrew	^[bb]
Beta Nu	1961–1963	Waynesburg University	Waynesburg, Pennsylvania	Withdrew	^[bc]

^ The college closed in 1928.
^ The chapter went dormant when the high school closed; its successor and the sole high school in Sedalia is Smith-Cotton High School, established in 1925.
^ The college closed in 1931
^ This chapter originated as Mu Phi Psi (local), established before 1902. The chapter went dormant when its college closed in 1909, selling its property without merger to Western Kentucky Normal School.
^ Chapter withdrew to become Beta Sigma Beta (local)
^ The college closed in 1951, selling its property without merger to the Tennessee Baptist Convention, using the grounds and buildings to establish Belmont University
^ The school name was variously reported as "Fairmount" or "Fairmont", the latter being the usage reflected here. Project editors assume this was due to a 100-year-old typo; same city, same founder. The same school briefly hosted chapters from ΑΣΑ, ΒΣΟ, and ΚΔ.
^ The college closed in 1932
^ The college closed briefly in 1924, reopened as a junior college in 1930, and closed again in 1934.
^ This chapter originated as Sigma Theta Pi (local) before 1907. It withdrew to form Phi Beta (local) in consolidation with a second group, Phi Mu Gamma (local). Two years later, in 1915, Phi Beta (local) joined the Alpha Epsilon chapter of Delta Delta Delta.
^ The chapter went dormant when the college closed.
^ This chapter originated as Sigma Tau Phi (local) before 1908. The chapter went dormant when a fire on February 13, 1913 destroyed the college. Although the college soon merged with nearby William Jewell College, the chapter did not survive the process.
^ his school closed in 1929. Its grounds have been the site of several later schools, including Bob Jones College and later, Lee University.
^ This chapter originated as Lambda Mu (local) in 1899.
^ This chapter had its origin in Kappa Kappa Kappa (local) in 1905. It withdrew to become Beta Kappa (local). In 1919, it became the Upsilon Beta chapter of Chi Omega.
^ This chapter had its origin as Delta Pi (local) before 1914.
^ This chapter originated as Pi Sigma Phi (local) in 1913.
^ TLindenwood's four original sororities abruptly ceased in 1920 and 1921, with the campus welcoming replacements seventy years later.
^ The chapter originated as Mu Delta (local) in 1903.
^ The college closed in 1936.
^ The chapter originated as Sigma Omega Sigma (local) in 1923.
^ The chapter originated as Sigma Delta (local) in 1924.
^ The chapter originated as Omega Rho (local) in 1923.
^ The chapter originated as Alpha Iota Sigma (local) in 1922.
^ The chapter originated as Sigma Phi Delta (local) in 1923. In 1930, it absorbed the Delta chapter of Pi Sigma Gamma, a small national sorority that ceased operations fully in 1932. That chapter, (ΠΣΓ's), had its origin as Phi Delta Gamma (local) in 1925.
^ The chapter originated as Chi Kappa (local) in 1925. It became the Delta Phi chapter of SZeta Tau Alpha.
^ The chapter originated as Delta Psi (local) in 1923.
^ The chapter originated as Theta Omicron (local) in 1924.
^ The chapter originated as Delta Chi Delta (local) in 1922. In 1932 it absorbed the Alpha chapter of Pi Sigma Gamma, a small national it had founded in 1919 but which ceased operations fully that year.
^ The chapter originated as Delta Mu (local) in 1923.
^ The chapter originated as Pi Delta Phi (local) in 1923.
^ The chapter originated as Alpha Mu Alpha (local) before 1928.
^ The chapter originated as Delta Xi (local) in 1925.
^ The chapter originated as Zeta Tau Delta (local) in 1925.
^ The chapter originated as Phi Lambda Sigma (local) in 1870. It became the Delta Upsilon chapter of Alpha Phi
^ The chapter originated as Kappa Gamma (local) in 1923. It became Delta Tau chapter of Alpha Phi.
^ The chapter originated as Zeta Sigma (local) in 1926.
^ The chapter originated as Alpha Delta Sigma (local) in 1921. The chapter closed in 1964; no merger was effected.
^ The chapter originated as Sigma Alpha Omega (local) in 1921.
^ The chapter originated as Phi Sigma Omega (local) in 1918.
^ The chapter originated as Kappa Upsilon (local) in 1928.
^ The chapter originated as Iota Pi (local) in 1919. It became Delta Chi chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha.
^ The chapter originated as the Kumtex Club (local) in 1921, which in 1922 became the Beta chapter of Pi Sigma Gamma, a small national that dissolved in 1932.
^ The chapter originated as Epsilon Nu (local) in 1920, which in 1926 became the Gamma chapter of Pi Sigma Gamma, a small national that dissolved in 1932. It became the Beta Alpha chapter of Beta Sigma Omicron in 1932 but reverted to local status at the time of the 1964 merger with Zeta Tau Alpha.
^ The chapter originated as Sigma Iota Chi (local) in 1924. Became Delta Psi chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha.
^ The chapter originated as Omicron Mu Gamma (local) in 1928. It became Delta Omega chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha.
^ The chapter originated as Chi Phi Delta (local) before 1941. It withdrew to form Beta Sigma Delta (local) in 1964, rather than participate in the national merger.
^ The chapter originated as the Kallozetia Club (local) in 1945.
^ The chapter originated as Omega Delta Phi (local) in 1946.
^ Became Zeta Alpha chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha.
^ The chapter originated as Alpha Sigma Pi (local) in 1919. It became the Zeta Beta chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha.
^ The chapter originated as Zeta Kappa Delta (local) in 1950. It became the Delta Phi chapter of Alpha Phi.
^ The chapter originated as a Beta Sigma Omicron colony in 1951. It became the Zeta Gamma chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha.
^ The chapter originated as Lambda Sigma Chi (local) in 1934. It reverted to local status at the time of the national merger with Zeta Tau Alpha.
^ The chapter withdrew to form Alpha Beta Nu (local) the year before the national merger with Zeta Tau Alpha. This chapter became the Gamma Epsilon chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma in 1972.

References

^ ^a ^b William Raimond Baird (1912). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. G. Banta Company. pp. 474–475.
^ This school was founded by Dr. Arthur Ramsey in 1899, near the area of 19th and Belmont Rd, according to a July 11, 1920 article in the Washington Post, accessed 26 Aug 2020. Baird's notes that it closed, but does not note the date of closure.
^ Ida Shaw Martin (1909). The Sorority Handbook. Roxburgh Press. pp. 67–68.
^ Prevention of such poaching was a major factor in establishment of the NPC, and for that matter, the NIC.
^ ^a ^b ^c William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), section showing Beta Sigma Omicron chapters". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 28 Jul 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
^ Baird's (20th ed.) has an error in the name of this group, calling it "Pi Sigma Tau" in the essay on p.I-21.
^ ^a ^b Fall 2014 Themis, page 50-51
^ Mrs. Ida Shaw Martin (1919). The Sorority Handbook. Banta. pp. 84–85.
^ Linden Leaves 1918-1919 p 93
^ Robson, John, ed. (1963). "Non NIC Members". Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: Banta Publishing Company. p. 365.
^ "Crescent College and Conservatory". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved 11 June 2022.

[11] The college closed in 1928.

[12] The chapter went dormant when the high school closed; its successor and the sole high school in Sedalia is Smith-Cotton High School, established in 1925.

[13] The college closed in 1931

[14] This chapter originated as Mu Phi Psi (local), established before 1902. The chapter went dormant when its college closed in 1909, selling its property without merger to Western Kentucky Normal School.

[15] Chapter withdrew to become Beta Sigma Beta (local)

[16] The college closed in 1951, selling its property without merger to the Tennessee Baptist Convention, using the grounds and buildings to establish Belmont University

[17] The school name was variously reported as "Fairmount" or "Fairmont", the latter being the usage reflected here. Project editors assume this was due to a 100-year-old typo; same city, same founder. The same school briefly hosted chapters from ΑΣΑ, ΒΣΟ, and ΚΔ.

[18] The college closed in 1932

[19] The college closed briefly in 1924, reopened as a junior college in 1930, and closed again in 1934.

[21] This chapter originated as Sigma Theta Pi (local) before 1907. It withdrew to form Phi Beta (local) in consolidation with a second group, Phi Mu Gamma (local). Two years later, in 1915, Phi Beta (local) joined the Alpha Epsilon chapter of Delta Delta Delta.

[22] The chapter went dormant when the college closed.

[23] This chapter originated as Sigma Tau Phi (local) before 1908. The chapter went dormant when a fire on February 13, 1913 destroyed the college. Although the college soon merged with nearby William Jewell College, the chapter did not survive the process.

[24] s school closed in 1929. Its grounds have been the site of several later schools, including Bob Jones College and later, Lee University.

[25] This chapter originated as Lambda Mu (local) in 1899.

[26] This chapter had its origin in Kappa Kappa Kappa (local) in 1905. It withdrew to become Beta Kappa (local). In 1919, it became the Upsilon Beta chapter of Chi Omega.

[27] This chapter had its origin as Delta Pi (local) before 1914.

[28] This chapter originated as Pi Sigma Phi (local) in 1913.

[29] TLindenwood's four original sororities abruptly ceased in 1920 and 1921, with the campus welcoming replacements seventy years later.

[30] The chapter originated as Mu Delta (local) in 1903.

[31] The college closed in 1936.

[32] The chapter originated as Sigma Omega Sigma (local) in 1923.

[33] The chapter originated as Sigma Delta (local) in 1924.

[34] The chapter originated as Omega Rho (local) in 1923.

[35] The chapter originated as Alpha Iota Sigma (local) in 1922.

[36] The chapter originated as Sigma Phi Delta (local) in 1923. In 1930, it absorbed the Delta chapter of Pi Sigma Gamma, a small national sorority that ceased operations fully in 1932. That chapter, (ΠΣΓ's), had its origin as Phi Delta Gamma (local) in 1925.

[37] The chapter originated as Chi Kappa (local) in 1925. It became the Delta Phi chapter of SZeta Tau Alpha.

[38] The chapter originated as Delta Psi (local) in 1923.

[39] The chapter originated as Theta Omicron (local) in 1924.

[40] The chapter originated as Delta Chi Delta (local) in 1922. In 1932 it absorbed the Alpha chapter of Pi Sigma Gamma, a small national it had founded in 1919 but which ceased operations fully that year.

[41] The chapter originated as Delta Mu (local) in 1923.

[42] The chapter originated as Pi Delta Phi (local) in 1923.

[43] The chapter originated as Alpha Mu Alpha (local) before 1928.

[44] The chapter originated as Delta Xi (local) in 1925.

[45] The chapter originated as Zeta Tau Delta (local) in 1925.

[46] The chapter originated as Phi Lambda Sigma (local) in 1870. It became the Delta Upsilon chapter of Alpha Phi

[47] The chapter originated as Kappa Gamma (local) in 1923. It became Delta Tau chapter of Alpha Phi.

[48] The chapter originated as Zeta Sigma (local) in 1926.

[49] The chapter originated as Alpha Delta Sigma (local) in 1921. The chapter closed in 1964; no merger was effected.

[50] The chapter originated as Sigma Alpha Omega (local) in 1921.

[51] The chapter originated as Phi Sigma Omega (local) in 1918.

[52] The chapter originated as Kappa Upsilon (local) in 1928.

[53] The chapter originated as Iota Pi (local) in 1919. It became Delta Chi chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha.

[54] The chapter originated as the Kumtex Club (local) in 1921, which in 1922 became the Beta chapter of Pi Sigma Gamma, a small national that dissolved in 1932.

[55] The chapter originated as Epsilon Nu (local) in 1920, which in 1926 became the Gamma chapter of Pi Sigma Gamma, a small national that dissolved in 1932. It became the Beta Alpha chapter of Beta Sigma Omicron in 1932 but reverted to local status at the time of the 1964 merger with Zeta Tau Alpha.

[56] The chapter originated as Sigma Iota Chi (local) in 1924. Became Delta Psi chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha.

[57] The chapter originated as Omicron Mu Gamma (local) in 1928. It became Delta Omega chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha.

[58] The chapter originated as Chi Phi Delta (local) before 1941. It withdrew to form Beta Sigma Delta (local) in 1964, rather than participate in the national merger.

[59] The chapter originated as the Kallozetia Club (local) in 1945.

[60] The chapter originated as Omega Delta Phi (local) in 1946.

[61] Became Zeta Alpha chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha.

[62] The chapter originated as Alpha Sigma Pi (local) in 1919. It became the Zeta Beta chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha.

[63] The chapter originated as Zeta Kappa Delta (local) in 1950. It became the Delta Phi chapter of Alpha Phi.

[64] The chapter originated as a Beta Sigma Omicron colony in 1951. It became the Zeta Gamma chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha.

[65] The chapter originated as Lambda Sigma Chi (local) in 1934. It reverted to local status at the time of the national merger with Zeta Tau Alpha.

[66] The chapter withdrew to form Alpha Beta Nu (local) the year before the national merger with Zeta Tau Alpha. This chapter became the Gamma Epsilon chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma in 1972.

[Baird1912-1] William Raimond Baird (1912). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. G. Banta Company. pp. 474–475.

[Fairmont-2] This school was founded by Dr. Arthur Ramsey in 1899, near the area of 19th and Belmont Rd, according to a July 11, 1920 article in the Washington Post, accessed 26 Aug 2020. Baird's notes that it closed, but does not note the date of closure.

[Martin1909-3] Ida Shaw Martin (1909). The Sorority Handbook. Roxburgh Press. pp. 67–68.

[4] Prevention of such poaching was a major factor in establishment of the NPC, and for that matter, the NIC.

[Baird's_Manual_Online-5] William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), section showing Beta Sigma Omicron chapters". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 28 Jul 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.

[6] Baird's (20th ed.) has an error in the name of this group, calling it "Pi Sigma Tau" in the essay on p.I-21.

[Themis-7] Fall 2014 Themis, page 50-51

[Martin1919-8] Mrs. Ida Shaw Martin (1919). The Sorority Handbook. Banta. pp. 84–85.

[9] Linden Leaves 1918-1919 p 93

[Baird1963-10] Robson, John, ed. (1963). "Non NIC Members". Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: Banta Publishing Company. p. 365.

[20] "Crescent College and Conservatory". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved 11 June 2022.

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Beta Sigma Omicron
ΒΣΟ

Founded	December 12, 1888; 135 years ago (1888-12-12) University of Missouri
Type	Social
Affiliation	NPC (former)
Status	Merged
Scope	National (US)
Motto	We Live to Do Good
Colors	Ruby and Pink
Symbol	Stars, Covenant, Lamp, Laurel
Flower	Red and Pink Carnations
Jewel	Ruby
Patron Greek divinity	Hestia
Publication	The Beta Sigma Omicron (open) The Lamp (esoteric), and The Urn
Chapters	61
Members	15,000 lifetime
Merged	Zeta Tau Alpha