The largest sorority in the U.S. was founded in Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Arkansas is no stranger to Greek life.

The Panhellenic Council at the University of Arkansas recently shared on Instagram that over 2,100 students have signed up for the Fall 2024 recruitment week. According to the post, this figure marks the second-highest registration number in the university’s history.

The University of Arkansas also happens to be the birthplace of Chi Omega, the largest sorority in the United States in 2024.

By the numbers

Chi Omega, also called “Chi O” currently has 411,000 initiated members since its founding in 1985, according to their website .

The sorority has 181 college students and 248 alumnae chapters, 21,000 current collegian members and 279,000 living alumnae.

Chi Omega is the only sorority in the National Panhellenic Conference to have been founded in Arkansas.

The state of Arkansas has three collegiate Chi Omega chapters: Xi Chapter (University of Arkansas), Gamma Zeta (University of Arkansas at Little Rock) and Omicron Zeta (Arkansas State University).

Chi Omega’s official motto is “Sisters on Purpose.” Their colors are Cardinal and Straw, with a Skull and Crossbones symbol. The flower is the White Carnation, jewels are Pearl and Diamond and the mascot is the owl.

Although it is a women’s organization, Chi Omega prefers to refer to itself as a women’s fraternity rather than a sorority.

Founding and early years

Chi Omega was established on April 5, 1895, at the University of Arkansas by four female students and a dentist, according to a 1904 edition of The Eleusis , the sorority’s official publication .

Dr. Charles Richardson, a Kappa Sigma initiated into the Omikron Chapter at Emory and Henry College on January 5, 1883, graduated from Vanderbilt University Dental School and opened his practice in Fayetteville.

On May 29, 1890, he founded the Xi Chapter of Kappa Sigm a at the University of Arkansas, which remains the largest Kappa Sigma chapter at 4438 initiates total all time .

During this period, social gatherings in private homes were common, and Dr. Richardson often visited the Vincenheller boarding house on Sundays. There, Ina May Boles and Jean Vincenheller approached him with the idea of starting a women’s fraternity, according to Chi Omega archives .

Richardson helped the women write the beginnings of Chi Omega’s constitution and develop the official policies and standards. He even designed the first badge from dental gold in his office, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas .

The founding members signed the constitution in Jobelle Holcombe’s parlor on the evening of April 5, 1895, officially establishing Chi Omega Psi.

Dr. Richardson remains Chi Omega’s only honorary member, male or female.

Chi Omega Psi on campus

In 1930, Chi Omega donated $31,225 to build an outdoor theater on the University of Arkansas’s Fayetteville campus, inspired by the theater of Dionysus in Athens, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas .

Used for commencements, ceremonies, concerts and pep rallies, the lower stage area also served as a practice firing range for nearly 50 years.

Since its construction in the 1920s, 940 W Maple Street has served as a meeting place and residence for the University of Arkansas’s Chi Omega members.

In 2016, the house was completely renovated to accommodate its 555 members, according to Chi Omega Psi’s website . The updated house includes a Founders Library with Psi artifacts and custom paintings of the five founders, as well as a co-ed study and other new additions.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.