Lambda Omega

Lambda Omega (ΛΩ) was a national collegiate sorority operating in the United States from October 31, 1915 until 1933.

Lambda Omega
ΛΩ
FoundedUniversity of California, Berkeley
TypeSocial
AffiliationNPC, Jr. (former)
ScopeNational
MottoI Will Be Worthy
Member badge
Colors  Violet and   Green
SymbolPharetra, Torch
FlowerWood violet
JewelAmethyst
Patron Greek divinityArtemis
PublicationThe Pharetra (1925)
   The Norroena (esoteric, 1925)
Chapters10
Members1,000 lifetime
Merged withTheta Upsilon (1933)
   see Delta Zeta

History

The Norroena Club was founded in 1915 on the campus of University of California, Berkeley. The sorority remained a local for seven years. The name meant "Breath of the North". The ritual combined a Native American legend with a Norse motif. The motif emphasized the hardihood, hospitality, economy, and friendship of the Norse (Miner, p. 180).

In 1923, the name changed to Lambda Omega. Baird's 20th ed. notes that Lambda Omega's founding date was May 5, 1923 to coincide with this name change, and marked the decision to expand nationally. Expansion began immediately. By 1931, eight collegiate chapters had been chartered, with a total membership of 500. The sorority was granted associate membership in the National Panhellenic Conference (Martin, p. 70.)[1][2]

In 1933, Lambda Omega and Alpha Sigma Delta, which had joined Lambda Omega just 17 months earlier, were absorbed by Theta Upsilon (Miner, p. 180).[1]

Insignia and Traditions
  • Open Motto- I Will Be Worthy
  • Pledge pin- Silver pharetra
  • Member pin- Monogram of sorority letters
  • Colors- Violet and green
  • Flower- Wood violet
  • Jewel- Amethyst
  • Symbols- Pharetra, Torch
  • Patron- Artemis
  • Publications- The Pharetra (1925) The Norroena (esoteric, 1925)

(Martin, p. 70) [1]

Chapters

Chapters of Lambda Omega as of 1933 and the merger with ΘΥ were as follows. Active chapters at the merger are noted in bold, inactive chapters noted in italics.[1]

Name Chartered Institution Location Status Notes Reference
Alpha May 5, 1923–September 1933 University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, California Merged Merged into the Alpha chapter of ΘΥ in September 1933
Originated as the Norroena Club in October 31, 1915
Changed name in 1923 and began expansion.		 [3]
Beta 1923–September 1933 University of Illinois Urbana, Illinois Merged Merged into the Gamma chapter of ΘΥ in September 1933
 [4][5]
Gamma 1924–September 1933 Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio Merged Merged into the Delta chapter of ΘΥ in September 1933 [6]
Delta 1925–September 1933 University of Ohio Athens, Ohio Merged Merged into the Kappa chapter of ΘΥ in September 1933 [7]
Epsilon 1927–September 1933 Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois Merged Became the Epsilon Alpha chapter of ΘΥ. [8]
Zeta 1928–September 1933 University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, California Merged Merged into the Omicron chapter of ΘΥ in September 1933 [9]
Eta 1929–September 1933 University of Washington Seattle, Washington Merged Merged into the Rho chapter of ΘΥ in September 1933 [10]
Theta 1930–September 1933 University of Denver Denver, Colorado Merged Became the Zeta Alpha chapter of ΘΥ. [11]
Iota April 1932–September 1933 Colby College Waterville, Maine Merged Became the Theta Alpha chapter of ΘΥ.
From ΑΣΔ.		 [1]: VIII-30 and 32–33 
Kappa April 1932–September 1933 University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Merged Became the Eta Alpha chapter of ΘΥ.
From ΑΣΔ.		 [1]: VIII-30 and 32–33 

Alpha Sigma Delta Sorority
The Crest of Alpha Sigma Delta.

Iaqua Club was founded in 1919 at Berkeley (Miner, p. 181). It changed its name to Alpha Sigma Delta and had four chapters by the time it was absorbed by Lambda Omega. The Baird's archive notes that "supposedly five chapters were established." The known chapter list follows:[1]: VIII-30 and 32–33 [2]

The pin of Alpha Sigma Delta sorority.

Chapters of Alpha Sigma Delta
Name Chartered Institution Location Status Notes Reference
Alpha 1919–April 1932 University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, California Merged Merged into the Alpha chapter of ΛΩ in April 1932
Originated as the Iaqua Club (local) in 1918, changed its name to Alpha chapter of ΑΣΔ the following year.		 [2]
Beta 1925–April 1932 University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, California Merged Merged into the Zeta chapter of ΛΩ in April 1932 [12][2]
Gamma 1928–April 1932 Colby College Waterville, Maine Merged Became Iota chapter of ΛΩ in April 1932 [13][2][1]: VIII-30 and 32–33 
Delta 1929–April 1932 University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Merged Became Kappa chapter of ΛΩ in April 1932 [14][2][1]: VIII-30 and 32–33 
Epsilon ? ≥1929–April 1932 Unknown [2][15]

Alpha Sigma Delta published a quarterly magazine, called The Crown.

The badge was a shield of red enamel, bearing the Greek letters vertically.

The colors were Gold and White.[16]

Alpha Sigma Delta merged with Lambda Omega in April 1932

1962 merger with Delta Zeta

Lambda Omega and Alpha Sigma Delta sororities, through their absorption by Theta Upsilon, have their legacies in Delta Zeta sorority. In 1962, Theta Upsilon joined Delta Zeta (Miner, p. 181).[1]

References
  1. Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VIII-32–33. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  2. William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), page listing both Lambda Omega and Alpha Sigma Delta chapters". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 24 Nov 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  3. Absorbed Alpha chapter of Alpha Sigma Delta (originally the Iaqua Club of 1919) in April 1932.
  4. Began as Beta Phi Epsilon (local) in 1922.
  5. Absorbed a chapter of Alpha Sigma Delta when that small sorority merged into ΛΩ in April 1932.
  6. Began as Sigma Sigma Gamma (local) in 1923.
  7. Began as Sigma Beta Upsilon (local) in 1924.
  8. Began as a colony of Lambda Omega.
  9. Began as Phi Delta Zeta (local) in 1927.
  10. Began as Delta Omicron Chi (local) in 1923.
  11. Began as a colony of Lambda Omega in 1929.
  12. Began as Alpha Zeta Chi (local) in 1924.
  13. Began as Beta Chi Theta (local) in 1923.
  14. Began as Kappa Chi (local) in 1926.
  15. The second line of the body text for this sorority in Baird's Archive online notes there may have been this, a fifth chapter.
  16. Noted in the Colby Oracle yearbook, 1932, p.129.
  • Martin, Ida Shaw (1931). The Sorority Handbook, 11th edition. Published by Ida Shaw Martin, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Miner, Florence Hood (1983). Delta Zeta Sorority 1902- 1982: Building on Yesterday, Reaching for Tomorrow. Published by Delta Zeta Sorority, Compolith Graphics and Maury Boyd and Associates, Inc, Indianapolis, Indiana.
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