On April 5, 1895, four young women at the University of Arkansas joined together with a professor and great friend, Dr. Charles Richardson, with a common purpose in mind: to form an organization which values the talents of women and encourages them in realizing their greatest potential. Though a dentist by trade, Dr. Richardson was a Kappa Sigma and supporter of local Fraternity life who served as the first advisor of Chi Omega, helping the girls create their rituals, constitution, and badge (originally made from dental gold).

Based on the principles of friendship, high standards of personnel, sincere learning and credible scholarship, participation in campus activities, career development, and community service, Chi Omega grew and achieved national status within its first decade. Today, Chi Omega has grown into the largest fraternal organization in the world with 173 collegiate chapters and over 300,000 women initiated into our sisterhood.

The Psi Kappa chapter of Chi Omega at Clemson University has deep roots in Clemson’s Greek Life as well.

In 1963, less than ten years after Clemson began admitting girls to the University, a group of girls living in Ms. Ellie Newman’s Boarding house (now the Mello Mushroom near downtown Clemson) formed a secret Greek organization called Sigma Beta Chi. Under the direction of their advisor Mrs. Reel, they held their first rush in April of 1963 giving out seven bids to complement the seven members.

In 1969, the Clemson Board of Trustees allowed local sororities and fraternities to contact national offices to achieve national affiliations. After a week-long visit by the Chi Omega national treasurer, Sigma Beta Chi was chosen out of the three Greek groups on campus as the organization that would become a chapter of Chi Omega, making them the first sorority on campus to be nationally affiliated. Officially chartered in the spring of 1970, Chi Omegas were quickly known around campus as leaders, with Nancy Miller becoming the first female editor of TAPS, Ann Barnes being the first female marching band member, and numerous other Psi Kappas showing the strength and unity of Chi Omega women.

Chi Omega has continued its legacy and has remained one of the top sororities on campus for more than 39 years.

For more information on the history of Chi Omega, please visit our national website chiomega.com.