Alpha Chi Omega
Albion College ~ Beta Chapter

Founded May 27, 1887

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History

Alpha Chi Omega was founded on October 15, 1885, at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. Professor James Hamilton Howe, Dean of the Music School, invited seven young women from the school to attend a meeting for the purpose of forming a society. The first appearance of the seven founders - Anna Allen Smith, Olive Burnett Clark, Bertha Deniston Cunningham, Amy DuBois Reith, Nelly Gamble Childe, Bessie Grooms Keenan, and Estelle Leonard was in Meharry Hall, wearing scarlet and olive green ribbon streamers attached to their dresses.

Alpha Chi Omega's Founders chose "Alpha," the first letter of the Greek alphabet, because they were forming the first fraternity in the school of music. Since they thought they might also be founding the last such fraternity, "Omega" seemed appropriate. "Kai," meaning "and," was added to form the beginning and the end. "Kai" was soon changed to "Chi," a letter of the Greek alphabet.

The Symphony of Alpha Chi Omega
"To see beauty even in the common things of life, to shed the light of love and friendship round me, to keep my life in tune with the world that I shall make no discords in the harmony of life, to strike on the lyre of the universe only the notes of happiness, of joy, of peace; to appreciate every little service rendered; to see and appreciate all that is noble in another, be her badge what it may; and to let my lyre send forth the chords of love, unselfishness, sincerity.  This is to be my symphony."

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