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Chi Omega (Upsilon Alpha Chapter) Collection

An inventory of its collection at the Syracuse University Archives


Finding aid created by: Anna Smallwood
Date: 2016

Historical Note

Photograph of Chi Omega Sorority

The Chi Omega sorority was established at the University of Arkansas in 1895. Syracuse University's chapter of Chi Omega originated in 1904 as Rho Beta Upsilon, a society for female art students at the University. In 1911 Rho Beta Upsilon successfully petitioned to become affiliated with Chi Omega and formed Syracuse University's Upsilon Alpha chapter. In 1957, Syracuse University alumnae of Chi Omega established the J. Winifred Hughes Endowment Scholarship. Hughes was a Syracuse University administrator and was herself an alumna of the sorority. In 1992, the Upsilon Alpha chapter of Chi Omega voted to dissolve its charter. For the majority of its history, the sorority's chapter house was located at 1003 Walnut Avenue (now 300 Waverly Avenue), and Upsilon Alpha alumnae retained private ownership of the building after the sorority's dissolution. In 2025, Upsilon Alpha Alumnae of Syracuse, NY Inc. donated the former chapter house to Syracuse University. The building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is to become a gathering place for social and professional Greek letter organizations that do not have their own headquarters on the University campus.

Scope and Content Note

The Chi Omega (Upsilon Alpha Chapter) Collection contains materials concerning the operations, traditions, and alumnae of the Upsilon Alpha chapter of the Chi Omega sorority at Syracuse University. The collection includes an alumnae directory, a songbook, and newspaper clippings documenting the activities of the sorority and its members, some of which are collected in a scrapbook. The collection also features a certificate issued for the establishment of the J. Winifred Hughes Endowment Scholarship by Chi Omega alumnae. Also present are two publications: The Eleusis of Chi Omega, the sorority's national quarterly newsletter, and The Hoot, a student bulletin published by Syracuse University's Upsilon Alpha chapter.

This collection contains materials that users may find objectionable due to racist imagery. The representations contained in this collection were conventional at the time of their creation, although no less harmful and inaccurate than they are today. The collection is preserved and presented for its historic and research value.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

More information on the Upsilon Alpha chapter of Chi Omega can be found in the Syracuse University Clippings File and the Syracuse University Photograph Collection. Further information on the life and work of J. Winifred Hughes can be found in the J. Winifred Hughes Papers.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Chi Omega.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

Greek letter societies.
Higher education.

Types of Material

Alumni directories.
Bulletins.
Certificates.
Clippings (information artifacts)
Newsletters.
Scrapbooks.
Songbooks.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Chi Omega (Upsilon Alpha Chapter) Collection,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

The Archives does not hold any information regarding the acquisition of these materials.

Processing Information

Materials were placed in acid-free folders and acid-free boxes.

Arrangement

Materials are arranged in alphabetical order.

Table of Contents

Sorority materials

Inventory