Omicron Alpha Tau
Omicron Alpha Tau | |
---|---|
ΟΑΤ | |
![]() | |
Founded | 1912 Cornell University |
Type | Social |
Former Affiliation | NIC |
Status | Merged |
Merge Date | 1934 |
Successor | Tau Delta Phi |
Emphasis | Jewish |
Scope | National |
Colors | OrangeandBlue |
Flower | Goldenrod |
Publication | OAT Digest Later,The Oath |
Chapters | 21? |
Headquarters | United States |
Omicron Alpha Tau(ΟΑΤ) was an historically Jewish fraternity founded in 1912. It merged withTau Delta Phiin 1934.[1][2][3]
History
[edit]Omicron Alpha Tau was founded at Cornell University in the Spring of 1912. No intention at this time was made to forming a Greek Letter Fraternity which would develop into a national. Founders were Joseph Seidlin, James Castelle, Jack Grossman, Benjamin Brickman, Nat Shiren, Jules Jokel, Abraham Haibloom.
The fraternity remained a local fraternity until 1915 when David Browman founded a second chapter at the College of Dental and Oral Surgery of New York.[a]
Growth continued through New York, extending to eastern and southern schools. Its first Midwest chapter was established in 1924 atValparaiso.An international branch atMcGillin Montreal was established in 1927 asRho chapter,with additional Midwestern chapters established atIllinoisandChicago,also in 1927. TheMarquettechapter was formed in 1928 as the Fraternity'sUpsilon chapter.This Marquette unit may have been the last chapter formed; Baird's notes "at least 18 chapters were installed", ending its list withUpsilon,but the 1930 edition ofThe Illionotes there were 21 chapters as of its publication.[4]
Baird's notes that several chapters died in the earlyDepression,predicating national dissolution. In 1934,Tau Delta Phiabsorbed the chapters at Rutgers, NYU, Marquette and Cornell. The chapter at Syracuse was absorbed byPhi Epsilon Piand the chapter at the University of Pennsylvania byPhi Beta Delta.[5]
Symbolism and traditions
[edit]The colors of the Fraternity were orange and blue.[6]
The Fraternity's flower was the Goldenrod.[6]
Omicron Alpha Tau was particularly known for their houses having adherence to traditionalJewish dietary laws.Several chapters maintained kosher kitchens. It was known at Cornell as "the most Jewish of fraternities."[3]: 79
One of the songs of the Fraternity was "Onward Our O.A.T.":[6]
Onward our O.A.T.
Forever onward greater to be,
For with the Orange and Blue
Leading sons ever true
We fear no adversity.
Lead us, Oh, Orange and Blue
Oh lead us on to honor you,
For where'er your sons may be,
We shall always fight for thee,
Oh, Onward Our O.A.T.
Magazine
[edit]The Fraternity's magazine, as of 1923, was called theOAT Digestand was distributed monthly. Later, the magazine's name was changed toThe Oathissued three times a year.
Conventions
[edit]- 9th -Milwaukee, Wisconsin- April 28, 1935[7][8]
Honorary members
[edit]Chapters
[edit]The Chapters of Omicron Alpha Tau include:[1][2][5]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^In 1925 thisBeta chapterwould merge into the Fraternity'sGamma chapter,which had formed the following year, also at Columbia.
- ^Became theTau Beta chapterofTau Delta Phi.
- ^Baird's indicates an earlier start to this chapter, in 1913.
- ^The fraternity'sBeta chapterconsolidated with itsGamma chapterin 1925.
- ^Gamma chapterwas dormant by 1927 or earlier.
- ^Delta chapterwas dormant by 1918 or earlier.
- ^Absorbed by theGamma chapterof Tau Delta Phi.
- ^May have been absorbed in 1930 by the slightly olderChi chapterofPhi Epsilon Pi.Baird's records are unclear.
- ^Joined theEta chapterofPhi Beta Delta,which later merged with Pi Lambda Phi.
- ^The Baird's Manual Online Archive notes formation of this chapter in1917,but listed in order as if it was created in1927.This appears to be a typo in Baird's; needs confirmation, perhaps with a check of the yearbooks.
- ^Became theTau Gamma chapterof Tau Delta Phi.
- ^Originally formed in 1925 as the Evergreen Club (local).
- ^One reference notedUpsilon chapterbecame a Tau Delta Phi chapter, but this is not supported by Baird's. This appears to have been an error; the Marquette chapter met its demise in the same year as other chapters merged and the national ceased operations.
- ^Originally formed in 1927 as Sigma Beta Tau (local). Name similarity with the non-sectarian national of that same name appears to have been coincidental.
References
[edit]- ^abWilliam Raimond Baird (1991).Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities.Baird's Manual Foundation, Incorporated. p. VIII-8.
- ^abBaird's Manual of American College Fraternities.G. Banta Company. 1923. p. 216.
- ^abSanua, Marianne Rachel (2003).Going Greek: Jewish College Fraternities in the US, 1895- 1945.Wayne State University Press.ISBN978-0-8143-2857-6.Retrieved2008-11-14.
- ^SeeThe Illio,p.484,accessed 2 Apr 2021.
- ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvWilliam Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.)."Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive)".Student Life and Culture Archives.University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives.The main archive URL isThe Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
- ^abcAs noted inThe Recordyearbook for Valparaiso University, 1930,accessed 2 Apr 2021.
- ^"Milwaukee is Site of 9th Fraternity Parley".Jewish Telegraphic Agency.1935-04-21.Retrieved2020-09-25.
- ^"News Brief".Jewish Telegraphic Agency.1934-04-25.Retrieved2020-09-25.
- ^Radio Personalities 1935 - p142