Theta Upsilon Omega (ΘΥΩ), was a national collegiate
fraternity in the United States. Representatives of several local fraternities at a December 1, 1923[2] meeting of locals, organized by the
National Interfraternity Conference, determined to form a new national through amalgamation, resulting in the creation of Theta Upsilon Omega on May 2, 1924.
On April 23, 1938, Theta Upsilon Omega merged with
Sigma Phi Epsilon.
Creation
The following nine locals were part of this meeting and concluded to form Theta Upsilon Omega.
In addition, at the Charter Arch Convocation (held at Bucknell on February 21–23, 1924), Pi Rho Phi of
Westminster College petitioned for membership and was granted as the youngest charter chapter.[2]
Merle C. Cowden, of Worcester, was chosen first national president.[3]
Additional chapters were chartered, but growth stalled during the
Great Depression.
In 1938, following negotiations, Theta Upsilon Omega merged with
Sigma Phi Epsilon. Of its thirteen active chapters, four Theta Upsilon Omega chapters merged with existing
SigEp chapters, and seven others were granted new charters in Sigma Phi Epsilon. One chapter reverted to local status under its original name, and one chapter merged with
Theta Chi on its campus.[4]
Badge - Small pin of blue enamel with a circular contour and in the center of which is a ten-pointed gold star enclosing a cut diamond. The badge will have three short arms which are equidistant around the pin, and on them, in gold, will be the letters Theta Upsilon Omega. In the spaces between the arms will be six pearls, two between each pair of arms. Only charter members will be privileged to wear the diamond centered pins, and initiated members will have to substitute a ruby for the diamond or wear a plain pin.
Pledge button - A cross fitchée of midnight blue with a border of gold
Recognition pin - A mural crown from the top of which issues a dragon's head
Official seal - A voided fusil bearing inscriptions regarding the fraternity and having in the center, the Squire's helmet facing to the left
Colors - Midnight blue and gold
Flower - dark red rose
Chapters
Chapter information from The Omegan of ΘΥΩ, The Journal of ΣΦΕ, Baird's Manual (20th), and the Baird's Manual Online Archive. Active chapters at the time of the merger noted in bold, inactive chapters at the time of the merger noted in italics.[6][7][1][8]
^The Epsilon Alpha chapter was created from Kappa Sigma Phi (local), a group that dated from 1920.
^This chapter became the Pennsylvania Mu chapter of
Sigma Phi Epsilon in 1938.
^The Zeta Alpha chapter was created from Beta Kappa Psi (local), a group that dated from 1920.
^This chapter became the Pennsylvania Kappa chapter of
Sigma Phi Epsilon in 1938.
^The Eta Alpha chapter was created from Kappa Tau Omega (local), a group that dated from 1921.
^The Theta Alpha chapter was created from Sigma Beta (local), a group that dated from 1921.
^In 1936 this chapter reverted to local status as Sigma Beta (local), where it remains active today.
^The Iota Alpha chapter was created from Delta Kappa Nu (local), a group that dated from 1921. After creation it absorbed another small local, Pi Kappa Nu.
^In 1938 this chapter merged into the pre-existing Omega chapter of
Theta Chi, formed in 1919.
^The Kappa Alpha chapter was created from Phi Alpha Pi (local), a group that dated from 1922. Baird's Archive suggests it ceased operations in 1935.
^
abThe Lambda Alpha chapter was previously the revived Alpha chapter of Pi Rho Phi, a small, six chapter fraternity formed at Westminster in 1854. In 1868 it merged with
Delta Tau Delta but only lasted a year with them, and went dormant. It was revived, again, as Pi Rho Phi in 1872, then became a founding member of Theta Upsilon Omega in 1924. Two years later the only other surviving (unnamed, possibly Gamma) chapter of Pi Rho Phi, established in 1910 at Monmouth, would also join Theta Upsilon Omega as its Zeta Beta chapter. That Monmouth group had originally been Tau Lambda Phi (local), formed in 1907.
^This chapter became the Pennsylvania Lambda chapter of
Sigma Phi Epsilon in 1938.
^The Beta Beta chapter was created from Phi Sigma Phi (local), a group that dated from 1923. Name similarity to the national fraternity, ΦΣΦ, formed in 1987 is coincidental. Baird's Archive suggests the chapter ceased operations in 1935, with no successor named.
^The Gamma Beta chapter was created from the Tilicum Club (local), a group that dated from 1913. Name similarity to the local club of that era at the University of Minnesota, Tillikum, is coincidental.
^The Delta Beta chapter was created from the Druids Club (local), a group that dated from 1923. Name similarity to the national fraternity, ΦΣΦ, formed in 1987 is coincidental.
^This chapter became the Pennsylvania Iota chapter of
Sigma Phi Epsilon in 1938.
^The Epsilon Beta chapter was created from Eta Nu (local), a group that dated from 1927. The chapter apparently ceased operations in 1934 or 1935. Baird's Archive shows no successor even though there was a campus chapter of ΣΦΕ, apparently a casualty of the Great Depression.
^The Zeta Beta chapter returned to local status as Pi Rho Phi in 1934, apparently ceasing operations in 1937. The Baird's Archive has a typo suggesting the year "19937", which likely means 1937, a casualty of the Great Depression.
^The Theta Beta chapter originated as Theta Delta Psi (local) in 1925. Three years later, in 1928 it merged into Sigma Zeta, a small, general fraternity formed in 1926 to become its Theta chapter. But that organization itself failed several years later, with the Rensselaer group opting to join Theta Upsilon Omega in 1933.
^This chapter became the New York Delta chapter of
Sigma Phi Epsilon in 1938.