Alpha Mu Sigma (ΑΜΣ) was an historically Jewish fraternity founded in March 1914 at Cooper Union. It disbanded in 1963.
| Alpha Mu Sigma | |
|---|---|
| ΑΜΣ | |
 | |
| Founded | March 21, 1914 Cooper Union |
| Type | Social |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| Status | Defunct |
| Defunct date | 1963 |
| Emphasis | Jewish |
| Scope | National |
| Colors | Black and Gold |
| Flower | Yellow chrysanthemum |
| Publication | The Shield |
| Chapters | 23 |
| Headquarters | United States |
History
editAlpha Mu Sigma was founded at Cooper Union on March 21, 1914.[1][2][3] According to Baird's Manual, "The original plan was to limit membership to men of the Jewish faith and the first expansion was limited to similar engineering institutions."[4] Its founders were:
- Irwin S. Chanin
- Henry Charles Dinney
- Irving H. Fisher
- Edward D. Fox
- Henry I. Gilbert
- Theodore F. Haynes
- Julius Liebing
- Benjamin Rothstein
- Saul Shaw
- Samuel H. Solodar
- Jonas I. Speciner
- Joseph Spies
The fraternity expanded many chapters in the 1920s.[4] However, only a few survived the Great Depression.[4] Its total membership in 1945 was 1,500.[4]
The national fraternity disbanded in 1963, with the remaining four chapters becoming inactive or being absorbed by other, larger Jewish fraternities.[4] Alpha chapter at Cooper Union functioned until 1971.[5]
Symbols
editAlpha Mu Sigma's badge is a black concave shield with the Greek letters ΑΜΣ vertically in gold with a border of sixteen pearls and sapphires in the corners.[6] Its pledge ben is a black enamel shield, with a jagged white streak through it.[6]
The fraternity's colors are black and gold.[6] Its flower is the yellow chrysanthemum.[6] Its magazine is The Shield.[6]
Chapters
editFollowing is a list of the chapters of Alpha Mu Sigma, with inactive chapters and institutions in italics.[5][6][4]
- ↑ Became the "Tau Nu chapter" of Tau Epsilon Phi in 1936.
- ↑ Chapter formed from Sigma Lambda Chi (local), established in 1925.
- ↑ Chapter formed from Lambda Iota Upsilon (local), established in 1927.
- ↑ Became the Tau Xi chapter of Tau Delta Phi in 1956. Some of ΤΔΦ's records were lost; While the Almanac notes in the listing for ΤΔΦ that the Alpha Mu Sigma chapter from which it evolved dates to 1920, this appears to be an error. A 1928 start date for Pi chapter of ΑΜΣ is more likely, confirmed by the Baird's Manual chapter list for ΑΜΣ and the date of the originating local.
- ↑ Became the "Tau Omicron chapter" of Tau Epsilon Phi in 1963.
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ Sanua, Marianne Rachel (2003). Rischin, Moses; Sarna, Jonathan D. (eds.). Going Greek: Jewish College Fraternities in the United States 1895–1945. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8143-2857-6. LCCN 2002007160.
- ↑ Jewish National Organizations in the United States 1937–1938 The American Jewish Year Book 39 (1937): 611–94. JSTOR 23601962.
- ↑ "Interfraternity Notes and Statistics". The Palm of Alpha Tau Omega: 179. April 1930.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 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.3. ISBN 978-0-9637159-0-6. OCLC 25278937.
- 1 2 Carroll Lurding; Fran Becque (eds.). "Inactive Men's Organizations: Alpha Mu Sigma" (PDF). Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – via University Library: Student Life and Culture Archives.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Robson, John, ed. (1963). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: George Banta Co. pp. 361–362. OCLC 1819883.