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Sigma Iota Chi

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Sigma Iota Chi
ΣΙΧ
FoundedDecember 15, 1903; 122 years ago (December 15, 1903)
St. James & St. Xavier Academy
TypeSocial
Former affiliationNJCP
StatusDefunct
Defunct datec. 1989
Emphasis2-year colleges
ScopeNational
MottoDeus, Libertas, Lex
Colors  Purple and   Gold
SymbolSkull and crossbones, scroll
FlowerViolet
JewelAmethyst
MascotEagle
PublicationThe Parchment
Chapters70
Headquarters
United States

Sigma Iota Chi (ΣΙΧ) was a national junior college sorority in the United States. Sigma Iota Chi was established as a literary sorority in 1903 and installed at least 70 chapters in secondary schools and colleges. It was a founding member of the National Junior College Panhellenic. The sorority's last chapter closed in the 1980s.

History

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Sigma Iota Chi literary sorority was founded on December 15, 1903, at the St. James & St. Xavier Academy in Alexandria, Louisiana.[1][2][3] Its founders were faculty members Greer Duncan and Kathryn Hardtner, along with honor students from the academy and graduates of the two colleges that merged to create the academy.[4] Duncan created the framework for the sorority.[4]

Many of the sorority's early chapters were established at other secondary schools or pre-college boarding schools.[1] In 1914, it had nine chapters and two alumnae associations, with 400 total initiates.[3] Four years later, in 1918, it had eleven active chapters, five alumnae associations, and 800 initiates.[2]

By 1921, Sigma Iota Chi became a junior college sorority and dropped its pre-college chapters.[1] It had 100 active members at six chapters, with a total of 1,200 initiates and five alumnae associations in 1921.[5] The sorority was governed by a Grand Chapter, elected at an annual convention.[5][6]

In 1929, Sigma Iota Chi was the largest junior sorority in the United States, with 23 chapters.[7] It was a founding member of the National Junior College Panhellenic.

As many of its host institutions became four-year colleges, some chapters of Sigma Iota Chi withdrew to join larger National Panhellenic Conference sororities.[1] Sigma Iota Chi had several active chapters in the 1970s, with at least one continuing until 1989.[1]

Symbols

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Sigma Iota Chi's motto was Deus, Libertas, Lex.[5] Its insignia or coat of arms featured a shield with a raised arm and a star, with an eagle above and the motto on a scroll below.[5][8]

The sorority's badge was a gold shield with a skull and crossbones in black enamel and a white scroll that bore the Greek letters ΣΙΧ.[2][5] Its pledge pin was a purple shield bearing the Greek letters ΣΙΧ in gold.[5]

The sorority's colors were purple and gold.[2][4] Its flower was the Violet and its jewel was the amethyst.[4][5] Its magazine was The Parchment, first published in 1907.[2][5]

Chapters

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Sigma Iota Chi chartered at least 70 chapters.[1][2][4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (July 11, 2025) "Sigma Iota Chi". Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed October 16, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Martin, Ida Shaw (1918). The Sorority Handbook (6th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/George Banta Publishing Company. p. 87. – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b Martin, Ida Shaw (1911). The Sorority Handbook (4th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: Geo. Banta Publishing Co. pp. 89-90. – via Hathi Trust
  4. ^ a b c d e Shepardson, Francis Wayland, ed. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 12th edition. Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/George Banta Publishing Company, 1930. pp. 337. via Hathi Trust.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Martin, Ida Shaw (1921). The Sorority Handbook (7th ed.). Boston: Ida Shaw Martin Publishing. pp. 101–102 – via Internet Archive.
  6. ^ The Ledger (yearbook) Smithfield, Rhode Island: Bryant College, 1939. p. 70.
  7. ^ "Local Chapter of Sigma Iota Cho is Organized Here". The Shreveport Journal. 1929-09-24. p. 7. Retrieved 2025-10-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Entre Nous (yearbook). Greenville Woman's College. 1932. p. 108. Retrieved October 16, 2025 – via Furman University Special Collections.