Sigma Eta Chi

Sigma Eta Chi
ΣΗΧ
Founded	May 1, 1923 (1923-05-01) Ohio State University
Type	Social
Affiliation	Independent
Status	Defunct
Defunct Date	After 1958
Emphasis	Christian; Congregational
Scope	National
Colors	Azure blue and   Silver
Symbol	Candlestick
Flower	Rose and Blue Larkspur
Publication	Luchnokaia
Chapters	8
Headquarters	United States

Sigma Eta Chi (ΣΗΧ) was a national sorority operating in the United States.

History

At Ohio State University on May 1, 1923, fourteen female students chartered a sorority for Congregational women. The purpose of the sorority was "to form a social unit in which spiritual and intellectual development might advance in harmony".

In 1928, plans were put in place for the sorority to become a national organization. A national constitution was written, national officers were elected, and the first national convention took place in June of the same year.

The sorority continued at least into the middle of the 20th century, though the final date of dissolution is unknown. A chapter in Ames, Iowa was meeting in 1948. The Kansas State Royal Purple Yearbook of 1948 not only notes the growth of its chapter, but also a special ceremony called Luchnokaia. The yearbook describes the service as happening during one Sunday in Lent. Each member lit a candle from seven candles, the seven representing the seven "great guiding lights" of Christianity. Each member left the church "pledging to live a more consecrated life". The University of Nebraska Cornhusker Yearbook of 1958 lists the president of the sorority.

The organization later would affiliate members of the Evangelical and Reformed churches, in addition to Congregational. The records of the University of Northern Iowa indicate that Sigma Eta Chi was classified as a Congregational sorority well into the 1950s. However, in the early 1970s, a group with the same name emerged as a service sorority.

Baird's Manual notes that the sorority later became non-exclusive with membership and other sororities permissible. It eventually disbanded.

Symbols

Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities described the badge as "a lighted candle in a candlestick with a ruby set for the flame, the letters ΣΗΧ on a background of blue enamel with a border of white or yellow gold set with white or blue stones; the letters being arranged vertically to the right of the candle". The pledge pin was "a lighted candle in a candlestick, cast in silver".

The sorority's colors were azure bue and silver. Its flowers were the rose and blue larkspur. Its publication was the Luchnokaia was published three times a year.

Chapters

The sorority grew to include six chapters by 1930, with possibly two more by the late 1950s.

Chapter	Charter date and range	Intitution	Location	Status	References
Alpha	May 1, 1923 – 19xx ?	Ohio State University	Columbus, Ohio	Inactive
Beta	1925–19xx ?	University of Michigan	Ann Arbor, Michigan	Inactive
Gamma	1927–19xx ?	University of Washington	Seattle, Washington	Inactive
Delta	1928–19xx ?	University of Kansas	Lawrence, Kansas	Inactive
Epsilon	1928–19xx ?	University of Nebraska	Lincoln, Nebraska	Inactive
Zeta	1923–19xx ?	Oregon State University	Corvallis, Oregon	Inactive
	19xx  ?–1945	Iowa State University	Ames, Iowa	Inactive
	19xx  ?–c. 1959	University of Northern Iowa	Cedar Falls, Iowa	Inactive