Pi Lambda Sigma () was an American collegiate sorority for Catholic women.Templar 1935 p 236 "The organization admits only Catholic girls from any undergraduate school" It merged with Theta Phi Alpha in 1952.
History Pi Lambda Sigma was founded on June 24, 1921 at Boston University College of Liberal Arts, in Boston, Massachusetts, by women who felt that their need for close relationships and social life could best be fulfilled by a sorority. As commuters, they felt that they had little or no chance to form lasting friendships that would draw them back to their university after graduation.University of New Hampshire - Granite Yearbook (Durham, NH)- Class of 1943 page 130 Pi Lambda Sigma was originally going to be a non-sectarian sorority. The founders, after further consideration, decided that the needs of Catholic women students required a Catholic sorority.
The founders were Constance Bartholomew, Mary O'Shaughnessey Brennan, Lauretta Nally Cushing, Anne Donohue, Viola Mac-Eachern Horrigan, Mary Lyons Laffoley, Margaret McDermott, Teresa Talamini, and Helen Wilson.
In 1923-1924, the chapter joined the National Pan-Hellenic Society of Boston University.University of New Hampshire - Granite Yearbook (Durham, NH)- Class of 1947 page 188
On June 28, 1952, Theta Phi Alpha agreed to a merger, with the four active chapters of Pi Lambda Sigma becoming part of Theta Phi Alpha. Two of the chapters merged with the Theta Phi chapters on their respective campuses and two became new chapters of Theta Phi Alpha.
Merger with Theta Phi Alpha
According to Ruth Thompson, a Pi Lambda Sigma sister (at the time) who worked on the merger:
"Pi Lambda Sigma was faced with several alternatives: a.) merger; b.) dissolution with assets set up in scholarship funds; and c.) each collegiate chapter would make its own decision whether to merge, go local, etc. The final vote was for the merger. I visited the Dean of Women at the University of Cincinnati and asked for advice. The administration was in favor of the merger and was helpful. We checked all NPC groups and sent questionnaires to four sororities. We received two responses besides Theta Phi's. It took two years to finalize our merger with Theta Phi Alpha. The decision was made because the ideals of both sororities were similar and we hoped that together we would become strong."
At the Pi Lambda Sigma national convention in May 1952, the members of Pi Lambda Sigma voted to merge with Theta Phi Alpha. At Theta Phi Alpha's Nineteenth National Convention in Chicago, Illinois on June 28, 1952, this merger was ratified by representatives of the full membership. At the Theta Phi Alpha convention, the National President of Pi Lambda Sigma, Alison Hume Lotter, was initiated into Theta Phi Alpha and the merger was accomplished.
Symbols Pi Lambda Sigma's insignia's badge was a black enamel shield surrounded by pearls with the Greek letters inscribed in gold. Its pledge pin was a gold Greek cross and circle. Its insignia was a cross, circle, torch, and shepherdess' crook.Templar 1930 p 227
The colors of Pi Lambda Sigma were white and gold. The sorority's patron saint was St. Margaret of the Dragon. Its flower was the Marguerite daisy, named for its patron saint. Its jewel was the pearl.Templar 1929 p 269 Its motto was "One Fold, One Shepherd". Its publication was The Torch.
Chapters Pi Lambda Sigma had eight chapters in its history.Templar 1936, p.232, accessed 21 July 2015.
ChapterCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatusAlpha – Boston University College of Liberal ArtsBoston, MassachusettsMerged ()Beta – 193x ?Boston University School of EducationBoston, MassachusettsInactiveGamma – Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaInactiveTemple University - Templar Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA) - Class of 1935 page 233Delta – ?University of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignChampaign-Urbana, IllinoisInactiveEpsilon – University of New HampshireDurham, New HampshireInactiveZeta – University of CincinnatiCincinnati, OhioMerged ()Eta – Quincy CollegeQuincy, IllinoisMerged ()Theta – Creighton UniversityOmaha, NebraskaMerged ()
Governance Chapter student officers were President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Registrar, and Ritualist. Chapters also had Patronesses and an Adviser.Templar 1933 p 288
National Conventions As of 1939, Pi Lambda Sigma held annual conventions. The convention in 1939 was in Virginia Beach, Virginia.Templar 1939 p 130 The Convention in June 1946 was in Boston, Massachusetts.Cincinnatian 1946 p 156 The July 1950 convention was in Cincinnati, Ohio.Cincinnatian 1951 p 145 The Final convention was held in May 1952 in Boston.
See also List of social sororities and women's fraternities
References