Sororities were booming in 1920. All 26 of the current NPCs had formed.
Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta and Zeta Phi Beta, three of the four current NPHC sororities, formed. Other sororities, some that eventually joined the NPC (ex. Achoth/Phi Omega Pi), were in existence. Pedagogical sororities (ex. Pi Kappa Sigma) came together in the AES. Sororities like Eta Upsilon Gamma were for women in junior colleges. Then there were the sororities that which never affiliated with an umbrella organization, ex. Kappa Sigma Tau and Pi Alpha Tau.
High school girls formed sororities, too. Some groups went on to become national, non-collegiate, philanthropic, community sororities, ex. Sigma Alpha and Psi Iota Xi.
But what about women who were no longer in high school and never enrolled in college? Would they have the opportunity to enter the bonds of a sisterhood, preferably one with two or three Greek letters in its name? Now, if such women were to have a sisterhood particular to their non-collegiate status, would there be a program in place for educational and cultural opportunities? Pi Omicron was an option.
"The object of the National Pi Omicron sorority is to prepare its members ' to attain a greater share in the beauties and benefits of cultural and liberal education.'
The sorority is the outgrowth of the adult educational movement thru [sic] which large numbers of people outside of universities and colleges are seeking higher education. The many students who each year are turned away from overcrowded educational institutions are taking outside courses, say leaders of the group, and the sorority in its numerous chapters offers these seekers after knowledge the benefits of group study in the most important branches of adult education.
Courses are outlined for the chapters by the University guild in Atlanta, Ga., which also furnishes the library used in the courses. Each member receives 24 volumes of text material in one three-year course and the courses include not only biographies of famous individuals who have contributed to world progress in the arts and sciences, but the outstanding fiction of the day. " (Hartough, Toledo News-Bee, Sept. 4, 1929)
Here are a few examples of their scholastic endeavors:
March 17, 1931- San Jose chapter - University Guild- members listened to discourse by Dr. Carl Holiday.
March 7, 1932 - The St. Petersburg chapter was lectured on the life and works of Sidney Lanier and Francis Bacon and heard a review of Crane's The Red Badge of Courage.
November 14, 1934- The Salt Lake City chapter met for lecture on the life and works of Robert Louis Stevenson.
June 28, 1936- The Saint Joseph, Missouri chapter had completed its active season with reviews of plays, poetry recitals, mythology study, and discussion of the Social Security Act.
September 12, 1944- Youngstown, Ohio chapter discussed various world events.
Pi Omicron celebrated Founders Day on April 1. The founding year was 1928 or 1929. It was probably organized in Atlanta, Ga., with many early chapters forming in the Toledo, Oh. area. Some chapters catered to business women; at least one chapter was for mothers.
The colors were blue and gold. The flower was the yellow rose.
In 1933, headquarters was located in Chicago; in 1979, it was Fort Wayne, Indiana. Ceremonies included installations for elected officers and new members, with new members receiving "... a symbolic candlelight ceremony..."
Pi Omicron was active at least through 1980, judging solely by newspaper articles.
Hartough, Marie Cochran. XI Chapter, Pi Omicron Sorority, Will Be Installed and Officers Elected Friday Evening. Toledo News- Bee. Sept. 4, 1929, p. 9.
Deseret News. Pi Omicron Sorority. Nov. 13, 1934, p. 14.
San Jose News. Pi Omicron Sorority. Mar. 21, 1931, p. 14
St. Joseph News- Press. Pi Omicron Sorority Will Close Season With Dinner. Jun. 28, 1936, section B, p. 1
St. Petersburg Times., Pi Omicron Hears Interesting Talk. Mar. 9, 1932, section 2, p. 4.
Youngstown Daily Vindicator. Pi Omicron Chapters Observe Founders Day. Apr. 5, 1978, p. 45.
Youngstown Daily Vindicator. Handicapped Helped by Pi Omicron. Oct. 19, 1979, p. 29.
Youngstown Vindicator. Pi Omicron to Review World Events. Sep. 11, 1944, p.12.
Youngstown Vindicator. Pi Omicron Installs New Sorority Members. Oct. 27, 1944, p. 24.
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Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta and Zeta Phi Beta, three of the four current NPHC sororities, formed. Other sororities, some that eventually joined the NPC (ex. Achoth/Phi Omega Pi), were in existence. Pedagogical sororities (ex. Pi Kappa Sigma) came together in the AES. Sororities like Eta Upsilon Gamma were for women in junior colleges. Then there were the sororities that which never affiliated with an umbrella organization, ex. Kappa Sigma Tau and Pi Alpha Tau.
High school girls formed sororities, too. Some groups went on to become national, non-collegiate, philanthropic, community sororities, ex. Sigma Alpha and Psi Iota Xi.
But what about women who were no longer in high school and never enrolled in college? Would they have the opportunity to enter the bonds of a sisterhood, preferably one with two or three Greek letters in its name? Now, if such women were to have a sisterhood particular to their non-collegiate status, would there be a program in place for educational and cultural opportunities? Pi Omicron was an option.
"The object of the National Pi Omicron sorority is to prepare its members ' to attain a greater share in the beauties and benefits of cultural and liberal education.'
The sorority is the outgrowth of the adult educational movement thru [sic] which large numbers of people outside of universities and colleges are seeking higher education. The many students who each year are turned away from overcrowded educational institutions are taking outside courses, say leaders of the group, and the sorority in its numerous chapters offers these seekers after knowledge the benefits of group study in the most important branches of adult education.
Courses are outlined for the chapters by the University guild in Atlanta, Ga., which also furnishes the library used in the courses. Each member receives 24 volumes of text material in one three-year course and the courses include not only biographies of famous individuals who have contributed to world progress in the arts and sciences, but the outstanding fiction of the day. " (Hartough, Toledo News-Bee, Sept. 4, 1929)
Here are a few examples of their scholastic endeavors:
March 17, 1931- San Jose chapter - University Guild- members listened to discourse by Dr. Carl Holiday.
March 7, 1932 - The St. Petersburg chapter was lectured on the life and works of Sidney Lanier and Francis Bacon and heard a review of Crane's The Red Badge of Courage.
November 14, 1934- The Salt Lake City chapter met for lecture on the life and works of Robert Louis Stevenson.
June 28, 1936- The Saint Joseph, Missouri chapter had completed its active season with reviews of plays, poetry recitals, mythology study, and discussion of the Social Security Act.
September 12, 1944- Youngstown, Ohio chapter discussed various world events.
Pi Omicron celebrated Founders Day on April 1. The founding year was 1928 or 1929. It was probably organized in Atlanta, Ga., with many early chapters forming in the Toledo, Oh. area. Some chapters catered to business women; at least one chapter was for mothers.
The colors were blue and gold. The flower was the yellow rose.
In 1933, headquarters was located in Chicago; in 1979, it was Fort Wayne, Indiana. Ceremonies included installations for elected officers and new members, with new members receiving "... a symbolic candlelight ceremony..."
Pi Omicron was active at least through 1980, judging solely by newspaper articles.
Hartough, Marie Cochran. XI Chapter, Pi Omicron Sorority, Will Be Installed and Officers Elected Friday Evening. Toledo News- Bee. Sept. 4, 1929, p. 9.
Deseret News. Pi Omicron Sorority. Nov. 13, 1934, p. 14.
San Jose News. Pi Omicron Sorority. Mar. 21, 1931, p. 14
St. Joseph News- Press. Pi Omicron Sorority Will Close Season With Dinner. Jun. 28, 1936, section B, p. 1
St. Petersburg Times., Pi Omicron Hears Interesting Talk. Mar. 9, 1932, section 2, p. 4.
Youngstown Daily Vindicator. Pi Omicron Chapters Observe Founders Day. Apr. 5, 1978, p. 45.
Youngstown Daily Vindicator. Handicapped Helped by Pi Omicron. Oct. 19, 1979, p. 29.
Youngstown Vindicator. Pi Omicron to Review World Events. Sep. 11, 1944, p.12.
Youngstown Vindicator. Pi Omicron Installs New Sorority Members. Oct. 27, 1944, p. 24.
copyright 2013, womensfraternities.com
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