The History of Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority

 

          The first school west of the Allegheny Mountains was established at Ypsilanti, Michigan in 1849. The name was changed to Michigan State Normal College in 1889 and to Eastern Michigan University in 1959.

          One name at Ypsilanti that has not changed is Alpha Sigma Tau. It has been on that campus since November 4, 1899 when a group of girls met at the home of Ruby Pratt on Huron Street to organize a little club or sorority.

          As told by founding member Harriet Marx Pfeiffer, "There were present at this first meeting, Helene Rice, her sister Adriance, Eva O'Keefe, May Gephart, Mayene Tracy, Mable Chase, Ruth Dutcher, and myself. There were three other sororities on campus at the time: Pi Kappa Sigma, Sigma Nu Phi and Zeta Phi (now inactive). The name Alpha Sigma Tau was chosen and purple and gold were chosen for the colors. Thus it was Alpha Sigma Tau, the third oldest educational sorority, was organized. A dozen or more very enthusiastic girls were present at this meeting."

          The next meeting was a little party where Helene and Adriance Rice, Eva O'Keefe, and Harriet Marx lived.  Here it was decided that the next day should witness the introduction of a newly born sorority to the world at large and to the student body in particular. Accordingly, the members attended chapel en masse, everyone wearing the chosen colors. Imagine their surprise when the members of the Zeta Phi informed them that the Alpha Sigma Tau was using their colors. The group then chose emerald green and gold.

          Mrs. E.A. Lyman was chosen patroness. During the first year of its existence the sorority did not display any marked activity. The charter was not received until the second year when Edith Silk, Myrtle Oram, Zoe Waldron, Grace Townley, Marie Gedding, Louise Agrell, and Mable Pitts had joined the organization and with the organizers were the charter members. On the suggestion of Mrs. Lyman, Miss Pearce and Miss Norton were asked to be patronesses. The charter members were very, very close friends and have ever remained so ....

Our Founders
          The record of many human institutions is personified in the endeavors of individual men and women - people endowed with positive vision, creative resourcefulness and inspired integrity. The Founders of Alpha Sigma Tau were women who possessed these qualities. It is to them that the present organization is indebted for the vigorous opening pages in the sorority records. The women who conceived an idea and constructed a reality - those eight women who founded the notion:

Helene M. Rice
May Gephart
Mable Chase
Eva O'Keefe
Adriance Rice
Mayene Tracy
Ruth Dutcher
Harriett Marx

        

 

Written by Courtney Monillas

 

---