The History of Alpha Xi Delta

Nationally, Alpha Xi Delta was founded on April 17, 1893 at Lombard College in Galesburg, Illinois.  On the campus at Lombard College were 2 fraternities, Sigma Nu and Phi Delta Theta, and one sorority, Pi Beta Phi.  The Phi Delts and the Pi Phis were already close, the Sigma Nu's were more than happy to have another women's group on campus.  After many meeting, the double blue and gold colors, the quill, and the pink rose were all chosen to represent Alpha Xi Delta.

The Ten Founding Sisters: Cora Bollinger Block  (1869-1944) Alice Bartlett Bruner  (1878-1966) Almira Lowery Cheney  (1875-1946) Frances Elizabeth Cheney  (1869-1901) Bertha Cook Evans  (1874-1957) Eliza Drake Curtis Everton  (1867-1934) Julia Maude Foster  (1875-1948) Lucy W. Gilmer  (1972-1939) Harriet Luella McCollum  (1874-1948) Lewie Strong Taylor  (1867-1950)

At Towson (State) University, the local sorority recognized as Alpha Sigma Delta was started by several close friends in the fall semester of 1988.  One evening, a few friends were sitting around their dorm room in Newell Hall in Towson (State) University.  They proposed the idea of starting their own sorority.  This sorority would be a sharing of friends in college and campus life.  Its members were anxious to unite each other along with the other greek lettered organizations and various other organizations at T(S)U, hoping to make a positive difference among the students in the university.  Their individual involvement in campus activities was already evident but it was time to take it one step further.  An executive board was formed after several meetings with interested women, and the group established itself with 22 members.  Other positions were also assigned.  Greek letters were selected to name and represent the organization--Alpha Sigma Delta.  Also chosen were the mascot (the swan), the flower (the lily of the valley), the colors (navy and pink) and the philanthropy (Lupus).  The next step was to be affiliated with the Towson (State) University Student Government Association.  This was a required policy of the University and consisted of many formalities and procedures.  The group was to be recognized only after a formal constitution was written and approved by the the Student Government.  The Constitution was adopted November 22, 1988. After developing strong relationships with other Panhellenic and Interfraternity organizations and participating in other greek activities, the Alpha Sig's were given the opportunity to become a national  sorority.  After meeting with several national groups, they recognized that Alpha Xi Delta best matched their character, goals and beliefs.  They needed the approval of Alpha Xi Delta's Nationals concerning colonization and the approval of Towson (State)'s panhellenic board to colonize on campus.  This board consisted of 5 other sororities.  The Panhellenic's vote was favorable and on October 14th, 1989, one year after local colonization, Alpha Sigma Delta was now a colony of Alpha Xi Delta.  This major step was further enhanced when the chapter recieved its national charter on April 8, 1990 and became the Theta Delta chapter of Alpha Xi Delta.

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