Alpha Sigma Tau
| Alpha Sigma Tau | |
|---|---|
| ΑΣΤ | |
 | |
| Founded | November 4, 1899 Michigan State Normal College, (Ypsilanti, Michigan) |
| Type | Social |
| Affiliation | NPC |
| Former affiliation | AES |
| Status | Active |
| Scope | National |
| Motto | "Defining Excellence" |
| Pillars | Intellect, Excellence, Graciousness, Respect, Connections |
| Slogan | Defining Excellence |
| Colors | Emerald Green and Gold |
| Symbol | Anchor |
| Flower | Yellow rose |
| Jewel | Pearl |
| Publication | The Anchor |
| Philanthropy | Women's Wellness Initiative |
| Chapters | 73 active |
| Members | 72,000+ lifetime |
| Headquarters | 3334 Founders Road Indianapolis, Indiana 46268 United States |
| Website | www |
Alpha Sigma Tau (known as ΑΣΤ or Alpha Tau) is a national sorority founded November 4, 1899, at Eastern Michigan University (formerly Michigan State Normal College). A member of the National Panhellenic Conference, the sorority has 78 active collegiate chapters at colleges and universities around the U.S. and over 65,000+ lifetime members.
History
[edit]On November 4, 1899,[1] eight women founded Alpha Sigma Tau's first chapter at Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University).[2][3] The founders were Mabel Chase, Ruth Dutcher, May Gephart, Harriet Marx, Eva O’Keefe, Adriance Rice, Helene M. Rice, and Mayene Tracy.[4]
The name "Alpha Sigma Tau" was chosen, and emerald green and gold were chosen for the colors. Alpha Sigma Tau was initially founded as an educational sorority. There were three other sororities at Michigan State Normal College at the time: Pi Kappa Sigma (merged into Sigma Kappa), Sigma Nu Phi (local),[5] and Zeta Phi (local, inactive).
Effie E. Polyhamus Lyman was selected as patroness. During the first year of its existence, the sorority did not display marked activity. The charter was received the following year, as Edith Silk, Myrtle Oram, Zoe Waldron, Grace Townley, Marie Gedding, Louise Agrell, and Mable Pitts had joined the organization and were the charter members. By suggestion of Mrs. Effie E. Polyhamus Lyman, Ms. Abigail Pearce, and Ms. Ada A. Norton were asked to be patronesses.[6]
The Beta chapter was founded in 1905[7] at Central Michigan University (formerly Central Michigan Normal College) in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.[3] Its fifth chapter, Sigma, was chartered at Buffalo State College in 1925. That same year. Alpha Sigma Tau held its first convention in Detroit, Michigan; and published the first issue of the The Anchor magazine.
In 1926, Alpha Sigma Tau became an initiated member of the Association of Education Sororities (AES). In order to be recognized, the sorority needed to hold a national convention, have five active chapters, and publish a magazine St. Louis, Missouri was chosen to be the location of the first national headquarters, in 1949 by then national president Dorothy Robinson.
In December 1951, AES merged with the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC). This merger permitted Alpha Sigma Tau to begin establishing chapters at any accredited school and admit members regardless of major.
The sorority's national philanthropy is the Women's Wellness Initiative.[8]National headquarters was relocated to Birmingham, Alabama, in 1994.[9]
Symbols
[edit]Alpha Sigma Tau's motto is "Defining Excellence".[10][11] Its core value or pillars are Intellect, Excellence, Graciousness, Respect, and Connections.[12]
Its colors are emerald green and gold.[8] Its flower is the yellow rose.[8] Its jewel is the pearl.[10] Its symbol is the anchor which symbolizes hope and strength.[11] Its publication is The Anchor.[8]
The sorority's badge is a six-pointed shield with a black enamel center that features the Greek letters ΑΣΤ and a gold border set in pearls.[8] Its new member pin is a gold monogram of the Greek letters ΑΣΤ.[8]
Chapters
[edit]In 2025, Alpha Sigma Tau has 73 collegiate chapters and 37 alumni groups in North America.[3][13][12]
Notable members
[edit]The sorority has initiated more than 72,000 members.[12]
- Mildred Doran (Alpha) – aviator[14]
- Gwen Frostic (Alpha) – nature artist and environmentalist; inducted into Michigan Women's Hall of Fame[15]
- Terri Utley (Upsilon) – Miss Arkansas USA 1982; winner of Miss USA 1982[16]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ LaRon Torbenson, Craig; Parks, Gregory, eds. (2009). Brothers and Sisters: Diversity in College Fraternities and Sororities. Associated University Presse. p. 179. ISBN 978-0-8386-4194-1.
- ^ 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. IV-21, 22. ISBN 978-0963715906.
- ^ a b c William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), showing Alpha Sigma Tau chapters". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 30 December 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
- ^ "Alpha Sigma Tau Celebrates 100th Anniversary". Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 105th Congress, Second Session. Vol. 144 Part 9. United States Government Printing Office. 1998-06-23. pp. 13418–13419. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
- ^ Not to be confused with the professional law fraternity of the same name, Sigma Nu Phi.
- ^ "Who We Are – History", AlphaSigmaTau.org.
- ^ "History". Alpha Sigma Tau. 2015-12-02. Retrieved 2019-08-06.
- ^ a b c d e f "Manual of Information" (PDF). National Panhellenic Conference (23rd ed.). January 2018. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-06-18. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
- ^ "National Headquarters". Alpha Sigma Tau. Archived from the original on 2008-04-30. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
- ^ a b "Alpha Sigma Tau (AST)". SUNY Geneseo. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ a b "Announcing Alpha Sigma Tau's Updated Logo and Tagline". Alpha Sigma Tau. August 17, 2015. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ a b c "Our Sisterhood". Alpha Sigma Tau. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "Collegiate Chapter Directory". alphasigmatau.org. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
- ^ Becque, Fran; Ph.D. (2016-03-14). "#WHM - Mildred Doran, Alpha Sigma Tau Aviator, #notablesororitywomen". Fraternity History & More. Retrieved 2019-08-06.
- ^ James, Sheryl (March 1, 1999). "Gwen Frostic: Michigan artist crafts nature into a rich life". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 2001-05-06. Retrieved 2007-09-17.
- ^ Alpha Sigma Tau (1982). "1982 Fall Anchor". Issuu. Retrieved 2019-08-06.