Delta Omicron Alpha Explained

Delta Omicron Alpha
Letters:Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΟΑ
Crest:File:The_crest_of_Delta_Omicron_Alpha.png
Birthplace:Tulane University
Affiliation:Independent
Status:Merged
Successor:Kappa Psi
Type:Professional
Emphasis:Medical
Scope:National
Chapters:8
Lifetime:1,063
Colors: Gold and White
Flower:White rose
Publication:Delta Alpha Omicron Quarterly
City:New Orleans
State:Louisiana
Country:United States

Delta Omicron Alpha (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΟΑ) was an American medical fraternity that operated from 1907 to 1917.[1] This national professional fraternity was established at Tulane University and merged with Kappa Psi in 1917.[2]

History

Delta Omicron Alpha was established in 1907 at the College of Medicine of Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. It created by-laws and a constitution, along with a ritual.[3] The fraternity was managed through a Grand Chapter and held annual conventions.

The fraternity expanded to Columbia University by creating its Beta chapter in 1908. In 1910, the Gamma chapter and Delta chapter were established at the University of Tennessee and Southwestern University, respectively. Four additional chapters were added between 1911 and 1914. However, several medical schools closed or merged around 1915 because of a reduction in the number of students, resulting in two chapters closing and others struggling.[4]

Delta Omicron Alpha merged with the medical and pharmaceutical fraternity Kappa Psi on November 17, 1917. Before the merger, the fraternity had initiated 1,063 members.

Symbols and traditions

The fraternity's badge was a black enameled triangle, margined in jewels. It was decorated with gold Greek letters in the center. A gold star was above the letters, with a gold serpent below the letters. Its colors were gold and white, and the flower was a white rose. The fraternity's publication was the Delta Omicron Alpha Quarterly.[5]

Chapters

Following is a list of the chapters of Delta Omicron Alpha. Inactive chapters and institutions are indicated in italics.

ChapterChartered date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatusReferences
Alpha – December 1, 1917Tulane University College of MedicineNew Orleans, LouisianaMerged
Beta – November 17, 1917Columbia UniversityNew York City, New YorkMerged
Gamma – 191x ?University of TennesseeKnoxville, TennesseeInactive
Delta–1915Southwestern University College of MedicineGeorgetown, TexasInactive
Epsilon – November 29, 1917University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AlabamaMerged
Zeta–1915Birmingham Medical CollegeBirmingham, AlabamaInactive[6]
Eta – December 15, 1917Fort Worth School of MedicineFort Worth, TexasMerged[7]
Theta – November 17, 1917Chicago College of Medicine and SurgeryValparaiso, IndianaMerged[8]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities; a Descriptive Analysis of the Fraternity System in the Colleges of the United States, with a Detailed Account of Each Fraternity. . 1923 . James T. Brown, editor and publisher. . Baird . William Raimond . 10th . New York . 514–515 . Taylor . James Taylor . Hathi Trust.
  2. Web site: Our History . 2023-04-05 . Kappa Psi . en-US.
  3. Bliss . A. Richard . May 1922 . A Brief History of the Kappa Psi Fraternity . Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association . XI . 5 . 354–355 . Google Books.
  4. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/nyp.33433075999544?urlappend=%3Bseq=20%3Bownerid=9007199255963294-26 "Delta Omicron Alpha, Phi Delta, Kappa Psi Merger
  5. Book: Corolla yearbook . 1915 . Board of Publications, University of Alabama . 242 . 5 April 2023.
  6. Web site: Batesel . Paul . Birmingham Medical College, Birmingham, Alabama . 2023-04-05 . America's Lost Colleges . en.
  7. Web site: Batesel . Paul . Fort Worth University, Fort Worth, Texas . 2023-04-05 . America's Lost Colleges . en.
  8. Web site: Batesel . Paul . American College of Medicine and Surgery, Chicago, Illinois . 2023-04-04 . America's Lost Colleges . en.