| Beta Sigma Rho | |
|---|---|
| ΒΣΡ | |
 | |
| Founded | October 12, 1910 Cornell University |
| Type | Social |
| Former affiliation | NIC |
| Status | Merged |
| Merge date | December 12, 1972 |
| Successor | Pi Lambda Phi |
| Emphasis | Jewish, originally |
| Scope | National |
| Member badge |  |
| Colors | Blue and Gold |
| Publication | The Beta Sigma Rho New Letter |
| Chapters | 15 |
| Members | 5,380 lifetime |
| Headquarters | New York City, New York United States |
Beta Sigma Rho (ΒΣΡ) was an American social fraternity founded at Cornell University in 1910. Most of its active chapters were absorbed into Pi Lambda Phi fraternity in 1972.
History
Beta Sigma Rho was formed on October 12, 1910, at Cornell University. It was originally named Beta Samach (Βס), "the Greek Beta and the Hebrew Samach suggesting the application of the Greek society idea to the social and cultural life of the Jewish undergraduate".[1] Its founders were Nathaniel E. Koenig, Lester D. Krohn, M. H. Milman, and M. M. Milman.[2]
Beta Samach was notable for a lack of initiation fees and dues and was slow to establish a constitution, ritual or the other surface attributes standard to other fraternal organizations.[1] No formal expansion program existed for its first decade even while a Beta chapter emerged at Penn State, and Gamma chapter at Columbia. By the end of its first decade, growing pressure on the fraternity's trustees by its members resulted in the establishment of a structure of dues and fees, along with a constitution and new operational program.
On April 21, 1920, pragmatic adjustments resulted in a recasting of Beta Samach with a new name, Beta Sigma Rho, around the time of the establishment of its Delta chapter at Buffalo.[3]
During the fraternity's approximately 62-year history, it eventually chartered chapters at fifteen colleges, including two in Canada.[1] The fraternity gradually removed religious requirements from its governing documents, reflecting this change in its ritual in 1950.
Merger
Beta Sigma Rho merged with Pi Lambda Phi on December 12, 1972, whose records indicate the latter fraternity gained five active chapters and merged two chapters.[4][a] At Cornell, the original Beta Sigma Rho house survived the merger, with the Pi Lambda Phi house folding, and the Beta Sig house was renamed Pi Lambda Phi starting the next school year. That Pi Lam chapter folded several years later.
The chapter at Pennsylvania State University's main campus would not agree to a merger with the existing Pi Lambda Phi chapter on the campus, therefore the Beta chapter of Beta Sigma Rho became the local fraternity Beta Sigma Beta.[5]
At the time of the merger, Beta Sigma Rho's total membership was 5,380.[1] Its headquarters were in New York City.[2]
Symbols
The badge was a shepherd's staff crossed with a sword behind a shield. A plumed helmet was atop the shield, with 13 pearls placed on the circumference, and the letters ΒΣΡ placed vertically. The badge was gold, highlighted with black.
Colors of the society were blue and gold.[1] Its publication was The Beta Sigma Rho New Letter.[2]
Chapters
These were the chapters of Beta Sigma Rho.[6]
- ^ Note that Pi Lambda Phi participated in two mergers during this period, adding similarly named fraternities Beta Sigma Tau and Beta Sigma Rho to its rolls. An earlier merger had occurred in 1941 with the absorption of Phi Beta Delta.
- ^ Withdrew and became Beta Sigma Beta (local). It remains active as of August 2021.
- ^ This chapter had originated as Alpha Pi (local) in 1919.
- ^ This chapter had originated as "Theta House" (local) in 1933.
- ^ Chapter withdrew at the time of the national merger and became a location fraternity. Baird's Manual does not list the successor name; appears to have soon dissipated.
See also
- List of social fraternities
- List of Jewish fraternities and sororities
- Beta Sigma Tau
- Phi Beta Delta
- Pi Lambda Phi
References
- ^ a b c d e Anson, Jack L.; Marchesani Jr., Robert F., eds. (1991). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VIII–5. ISBN 978-0-9637159-0-6. OCLC 25278937.
- ^ a b c Robson, John, ed. (1963). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: George Banta Co. p. 239. OCLC 1819883.
- ^ "Beta Samach Changed to Beta Sigma Rho". The Cornell Daily Sun.
- ^ "Pi Lambda Phi History". Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ Beta Sigma Beta website Archived August 9, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, accessed 17 Mar 2020. The local chapter's History section notes a rejection of the Pi Lam merger.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive)". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved August 18, 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- Pi Lambda Phi
- Defunct former members of the North American Interfraternity Conference
- Student organizations established in 1910
- 1910 establishments in New York (state)
- Historically Jewish fraternities in the United States
- Jewish organizations established in 1910
- Defunct Jewish organizations based in the United States
- Merged fraternities and sororities
- Student organizations disestablished in 1972
