National History

Alpha Xi Delta's 100+ year history began at a small school in Galesburg, Illinois, known as Lombard College. In the late 19th century, Lombard had very few activities for women that were not strictly academic. One organized women's group existed on campus, Pi Beta Phi, along with two organizations for men, Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Nu. Two young women, Harriet McCollum and Cora Bollinger, decided they wanted to form a local sorority to "encourage personal friendship, promote friendlier contacts with the entire student body, and be of active service to the college." They recruited eight other women to assist with planning for such a group. Since attempts by other groups to organize societies had failed, the women vowed secrecy until their group was officially announced.

Two of the other organized groups on campus, Pi Phis and Phi Delts were closely aligned. Sigma Nu welcomed the idea of another women's group on campus. As a result, several of their brothers assisted the women with organizational ideas. The work progressed: the constitution and by-laws were drafted and signed, and a service, song, whistle, and yell composed. In addition, Lewie Strong had designed a badge for each woman to wear. This badge took the form of a quill pen, coming from the quote, "The pen is mightier than the sword." Double blue were chosen as the colors, and the pink killarney rose was chosen to compliment the white rose of Sigma Nu. On April 17, in the year 1893, the women startled the students at chapel when they entered together, adorned in double blue ribbons and pink roses. Congratulatory surprise, led by the Sigma Nus, welcomed Alpha Xi Delta to Lombard College.

During the years that followed, the chapter grew in membership. Originally, it was the intent to join with a national fraternity. However, as the ideals of the chapter became more defined, it was determined that Alpha Xi Delta had much to give to other women as it was. With this idea in hand, two women and a Sigma Nu attorney designed a national constitution. A group of women in the PEO chapter at Iowa Wesleyan had indicated that they were interested in becoming the Beta chapter. When they were added as Alpha Xi Deltas, in 1902, a gold ribbon was added to the original double blue. The following year, Alpha Xi Delta, along with with nine other national women's groups, organized the National Panhellenic Council.

Today, Alpha Xi Delta has over 110,000 members nationwide in over 100 chapters. It is a lifetime experience, spanning past college chapters into alumnae organizations and, of course, into the national organization itself. "Our college days are just the beginning of our lifelong friendship with Alpha Xi Delta. Her values and ideals will guide us forever. It has been said that none of us suddenly becomes something overnight - the preparations have been in the making for a lifetime. For our lifetimes, Alpha Xi Delta will challenge us to be our best, to set high expections for ourselves and those around us, to take time to imagine and reflect, to serve our community, and to support and encourage our friends in Alpha Xi Delta to achieve their potential. We write our own destiny. We will become what we do."

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