History of the Omega Chapter
Founding of the Omega Chapter
The Omega chapter of Sigma Chi at Northwestern was founded in 1869. Omega owes its origin to Lorin C. Collins, Jr., who brought to Northwestern the fraternity spirit he had gained while in the Prep school at Delaware, Ohio. It was at Delaware that Collins gained an appreciation of the merits of Sigma Chi through his association with members of the Gamma Chapter at Ohio Wesleyan University
Brother Collins transferred to Northwestern as a freshman, and found two fraternities on campus- Phi Kappa Psi and Phi Gamma Delta, but little genuine fraternity spirit. Neither fraternity met the expectations set for Brother Collins' fraternity experience by the Sigma Chi Gamma Chapter, and he became resolved to organize a chapter of Sigma Chi in Evanston.
The eight founding members were Lorin C. Collins Jr., Merritt C. Bragdon, Albert D. Langworthy, William H. Sparling, Frank Robinson, Clarence R. Paul, Ellery H. Beal, and George Lunt.
The charter was received on June 23, 1869, and Edgar L. Wakeman from Xi chapter at Greencastle, Indiana was commissioned to perform the installation. The ceremonies were performed at the Baptist Church in Evanston, at the corner of Hinman Avenue and Church Street in Evanston.
Brother Collins was the first to be initiated, and served as the chapter’s first Consul. The new chapter flourished during the following year, and was recognized by students and townspeople as the leading Greek organization at Northwestern. Since the founding in 1869, Omega Sigs have strived to uphold the honorable legacy laid out for them by their founders.
The 17th Grand Chapter in 1888, celebrated at the Omega Chapter house at Northwestern University
The eight founding members of the Omega Chapter of Sigma Chi
Omega’s Founding Site, Baptist Church in Evanston - 1869
An early picture of the Omega Chapter House - circa 1930
Meeting Places and Chapter Houses
During the earliest years of the Chapter after Omega's founding in 1869, meetings were held in various locations across campus in absence of a formal house and permanent gathering place.
In 1887 – 89, the chapter met at Omega’s first house, which was located at 418 University Place. After the street numbering change in 1891, this address was changed to 619 University Place, and is the current location of Kappa Alpha Theta (2013). While in this house, the Chapter Omega hosted a visit by delegates to the Seventeenth Grand Chapter on August 30, 1888. Between 1889 and 1912, Omega moved to several different properties across campus, but still had no enduring residence.
By 1911 plans had been drawn up for the construction of men's dormitories to be located north of Patten gymnasium. President Harris wrote the national secretaries of the Greek letter fraternities on campus urging their support of the project.
Brother Frank M. Elliot, Omega class of 1877, led the funding for the House, joined by over 300 Omega alumni. Construction began on the current Chapter House in May 1912. In February 1914, eleven units – seven affiliated with fraternities (including Sigma Chi) and four open houses – were ready for occupancy. The cost of the original building was $35,000. The house underwent significant remodeling efforts in 1955 and again in 1987-88, and several other improvement projects over the following years.
A celebration of the one hundred year anniversary of the construction of the Omega Chapter House was marked with a Centennial Celebration in November, 2013.