Who We Are: History

The Story of Our Founding
Determined to have the same sense of belonging and status the fraternity men enjoyed, one small band of young women, with the help of a local dentist, established the secrets, symbolism and rites that today bind together over 300,000 women from over 170 campuses and in more than 250 alumnae chapters.

• Founding Date: April 5, 1895 a the University of Arkansas.
• First Chapter Name: Psi Chapter.
• Founding Members: 5 founders - 14 original members.
• From the beginning, Chi Omega's leaders had the foresight to create a national organization.
• First secret was that Chi Omega didn't have any secrets. The founders wore ribbons tied together on their blouses to tease the boys. The colors of the ribbons were olive and crushed plum. Why? Because they were the ugliest colors the founders put together!
• Dr. Richardson crafted the pin out of dental gold.
• Chi Omega was founded on Six Purposes.

Chi Omega's Early Years
The organization grew locally that first year with 11 out of the 14 original members returning to the university in September of 1895. During this time, Chi Omega began to acquire a reputation for determination and poise, and for doing things well.

Chi Omega was founded with the intent of becoming a national organization and it expanded naturally and easily into every part of the country. Whenever a new chapter was installed, members in other chapters wore the colors beneath their pins and sent letters of welcome and congratulations.

By 1904, Chi Omega extended through Texas, Nebraska and California, and as far north as Virginia and Washington, D.C. The Fraternity realized the need to enter the Northeast, and over the next few years founded chapters in Pennsylvania, Maine, and New York City.