Sigma Alpha (fraternity)

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Sigma Alpha
ΣΑ
Founded1859; 166 years ago (1859)
Roanoke College
TypeSocial
AffiliationIndependent
StatusDefunct
ScopeNational
MottoΕςτω Αφαήής
Member badge
Colors  Scarlet,   Blue and   Purple
SymbolSkull and crossbones, crossed swords
Chapters16
Members800+ lifetime
NicknameBlack Badge
HeadquartersLynchburg, Virginia
United States

Sigma Alpha (ΣΑ) also known as the Black Badge, was an American collegiate fraternity. It was established in 1859 at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia. The fraternity expanded to at least sixteen chapters before going inactive in 1882.

History

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Sigma Alpha was a social fraternity established in 1859 at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia.[1][2] Its founders were Thomas Carpenter, P. B. Gibson, C. R. Haden, J. K. Hardwicke, J. H. Irvine, R. H. Irvine, R. M. Jobe, B.C. Hartsook, R. M. Lawson, R. R. Lawson, J. R. Meek, G. A. Piper, B. S. Rice, and A. H. Turner.[2] The fraternity went inactive during the American Civil War when Roanoke College closed.[1][2]

Sigma Alpha was reestablished at Roanoke College in 1868.[2][3] A second chapter was chartered at Hampden–Sydney College in 1869.[1][2] It went on to form at least sixteen chapters, both collegiate and community-based chapters for alumni.[2] According to William Raimond Baird, the community chapters "were found to be unsatisfactory", resulting in their charters being withdrawn in 1876, except for Omicron in Lynchburg, Virginia.[1]

Omicron served as the fraternity's grand chapter.[3][4] Its officers were called the D.G., S.D., G.S., A.G.S., and G.T.[4] The fraternity held national conventions, with secret proceedings.[5][4] On January 1, 1874, the convention was held in Lynchburg.[5]

At Roanoke College, the fraternity sponsored an annual contest for the Orator's Gold Medal.[6][7][8]

By 1879, the fraternity had initiated 800 members.[1] Sigma Alpha collegiate chapters went inactive in 1882 for unknown reasons.[2][3] However, its alumni chapter continued to operate into the 20th century.[2]

Symbols

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Sigma Alpha was called Black Badge or Black Badge Fraternity because of the color of its badge.[1][2][6] Its badge was a black enameled rectangle on top of a cross-shaped plate.[1] On the vertical arms of the cross was the letter S and a skull and bones; on the horizonal arms were a pair of crossed swords.[1] On top of the rectangle was a white diamond bearing the fraternity's motto Εςτω Αφαήής.[1]

Its ritual was complicated and involved numerous degrees.[3] The fraternity's colors were scarlet, blue, and purple.[1]

Chapters

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Following are the known chapters of Sigma Alpha, with inactive chapters and institutions indicated in italics.[1][2][3]

Chapter Charter date and range Institutions Location Status References
Alpha 1859–1864, 1868–1879 Roanoke College Salem, Virginia Inactive
Beta 1869–1873 Hampden–Sydney College Hampden Sydney, Virginia Inactive
Gamma 1871–1877 University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Inactive
Delta 1872–1876 (Community-based) Bristol, Tennessee Inactive [a]
Epsilon 1873–1880 Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College Blacksburg, Virginia Inactive
Zeta 1873–1882 Salado College Salado, Texas Inactive
Eta 1873–1882 Baltimore Medical College Baltimore, Maryland Inactive
Theta 1873–1882 Washington and Lee University Lexington, Virginia Inactive
Iota 1873–1882 King's College Bristol, Tennessee Inactive
Kappa 1873–1876 (Community-based) Lynchburg, Virginia Inactive [a]
Lambda 1874–1876 (Community-based) Galveston, Texas Inactive [a]
Mu 1874–1876 (Community-based) Wytheville, Virginia Inactive [a]
Nu 1874–1876 (Community-based) Marion, Virginia Inactive [a]
Xi 1875–c. 1876 Somerville Institute Noxubee County, Mississippi Inactive [9][b]
Omicron 1875–19xx ? (Community-based) Lynchburg, Virginia Inactive [a]
Pi 1875–1876 (Community-based) New Orleans, Louisiana Inactive [a]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g All community-based alumni chapters were closed in 1876, except Omicron which served as the fraternity's Grand Chapter.
  2. ^ The institute closed in 1876.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Baird, William Raimond, ed. American College Fraternities, 1st edition. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co.,1879. pp. 108–109. via Hathi Trust.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (July 11, 2025) "Inactive Men's Organizations". Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed September 13, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e Baird, William Raimond, ed. American College Fraternities, 2nd revised edition. New York: Frank Williams, 1883. pp. 168-169. via Hathi Trust.
  4. ^ a b c "The Black Badge Fraternity". Staunton Spectator. 1877-05-29. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-09-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b "Black Badge Fraternity". The Tri-Weekly News. Lynchburg, Virginia. 1874-01-02. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-09-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b "Roanoke College - Commencement Exercises". The News and Advance. Lynchburg, Virginia. 1874-06-18. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-09-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Contest for Orator's Medal". Rockingham Register. Harrisonburg, Virginia. 1873-06-27. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-09-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Contest for Gold Medal in Oratory". Richmond Dispatch. 1872-06-19. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-09-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Summerville Institute Historical Marker". HMdb. Retrieved 2025-09-14.