Beta Sigma Rho (ΒΣΡ) was a social fraternity founded on October 12, 1910, at Cornell University. Most of its active chapters were absorbed into Pi Lambda Phi fraternity in 1972, following a similar course as two other smaller Jewish fraternities that joined that national society.
History
Beta Sigma Rho was formed on October 12, 1910, at Cornell University. It was originally named Beta Samach (Βס), "the Greek Beta and the Hebrew Samach suggesting the application of the Greek society idea to the social and cultural life of the Jewish undergraduate".[1] Its founders were:
M. H. Milman
M. M. Milman
Nathaniel E. Koenig
Lester D. Krohn
Beta Samach was notable for a lack of initiation fees and dues and was slow to establish a constitution, ritual or the other surface attributes standard to other fraternal organizations.[1] No formal expansion program existed for its first decade even while a Beta chapter emerged at Penn State, and Gamma chapter at Columbia. By the end of its first decade, growing pressure on the Fraternity's trustees by its members resulted in the establishment of a structure of dues and fees, along with a constitution and new operational program.
On April 21, 1920, pragmatic adjustments resulted in a recasting of Beta Samach with a new name, Beta Sigma Rho, around the time of the establishment of its Delta chapter at Buffalo.[2]
During the fraternity's approximately 62-year history, it eventually chartered chapters at fifteen colleges, including two in Canada.[1] The fraternity gradually removed religious requirements from its governing documents, reflecting this change in its ritual in 1950.
Merger
Beta Sigma Rho merged with Pi Lambda Phi on December 12, 1972, whose records indicate the latter fraternity gained five active chapters and merged two chapters.[3][a] At Cornell, the original Beta Sigma Rho house survived the merger, with the Pi Lambda Phi house folding, and the Beta Sig house was renamed Pi Lambda Phi starting the next school year. That Pi Lam chapter folded several years later.
The chapter at Pennsylvania State University's main campus would not agree to a merger with the existing Pi Lambda Phi chapter on the campus, therefore the Beta chapter of Beta Sigma Rho became the local fraternity Beta Sigma Beta.[4]
The badge was a shepherd's staff crossed with a sword behind a shield. A plumed helmet was atop the shield, with 13 pearls placed on the circumference, and the letters ΒΣΡ placed vertically. The badge was gold, highlighted with black.
^Note that Pi Lambda Phi participated in two mergers during this period, adding similarly named fraternities Beta Sigma Tau and Beta Sigma Rho to its rolls. An earlier merger had occurred in 1941 with the absorption of Phi Beta Delta.
^Withdrew and became Beta Sigma Beta (local). It remains active as of August 2021.
^This chapter had originated as Alpha Pi (local) in 1919.
^This chapter had originated as "Theta House" (local) in 1933.
^Chapter withdrew at the time of the national merger and became a location fraternity. Baird's Manual does not list the successor name; appears to have soon dissipated.
^ abcdeAnson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VIII–5. ISBN978-0963715906.
