Gamma Sigma Fraternity International

Gamma Sigma Fraternity International, initially founded as a literary society in 1869 in Brockport, NY, is known as the first international high school fraternity.[1] The organization no longer has active chapters on the secondary education level; however, it has an active alumni association based in Ontario, Canada.[2]

Wisdom stain-glass window dedicated to the Brockport Normal School Class of 1911 by the Gamma Sigma Fraternity.

History

The Gamma Sigma Society was founded on October 11, 1869, by Professor Charles Donald McLean at the Brockport Normal School (known today as SUNY Brockport). Charles McLean was the principal for the first several decades of the normal school and helped establish one of the major elements of the school's culture, the Greek Letter Societies. These societies flourished at the school from 1869 to 1940.[3]

The society formed chapters at other schools, both normal and high schools. At a convocation held in Brockport, June 1891, the Chapters of Gamma Sigma formed themselves into a general fraternity.[4] The first chapter of Gamma Sigma Fraternity outside of New York State was founded in Evanston, Illinois in 1894.[5]

The Gamma Sigma Fraternity was incorporated in New York State on May 1, 1907.[6]

By 1925, Gamma Sigma Fraternity had 26 chapters in eight states and the District of Columbia. A chapter in Niagara Falls, Ontario, in 1927 made it the first international secondary school fraternity in the world.[7]

On October 11, 2019, Gamma Sigma Fraternity International alumni gathered in Canada to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the organization.[8]

References
  1. Atkinson, Joseph W., Gamma Sigma: The First One Hundred Years - Centennial Publication of Gamma Sigma Fraternity (1969). Gamma Sigma Fraternity International Incorporated, Brockport, New York. https://archive.org/details/gammasigmafirsto00jose/mode/2up
  2. Gamma Sigma Fraternity 2019 Reunion Ad https://rtoero.ca/classifieds/gamma-sigma-fraternity/
  3. History of the College at Brockport https://www.brockport.edu/about/archives/college_history.html
  4. Mann, James, "Dedication of the New Building for the Practice School and Normal Hall" (1902). Papers on the History of the College at Brockport. 30. http://digitalcommons.brockport.edu/student_archpapers/30
  5. The Normalia student newspaper, Vol. VIII, No. 5, State Normal School, Brockport, NY, March 1908.
  6. NYS Department of State, Division of Corporations https://www.dos.ny.gov/corps/
  7. William G. Andrews with Eunice Chesnut, Mary Jo Gigliotti, Kathy Goetz, Hazel Kleinback, and Jennifer Quigley (2002). Around Brockport. Arcadia Publishing, New York. p. 113.
  8. Niagara Frontier Publications event listing https://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/current/2019/05/30/137332/gamma-sigma-fraternity-international-anniversary-this-fall
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