Omicron Alpha Tau
Omicron Alpha Tau (ΟΑΤ) was a historically Jewish Fraternity founded in 1912. It merged with Tau Delta Phi in 1934.[1][2][3]
History
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 and Abraham Haibloom. The fraternity remained a local fraternity until 1915, when David Browman founded a chapter at the College of Dental and Oral Surgery of New York.
Omicron Alpha Tau was particularly known for their houses having adherence to traditional Jewish dietary laws.
In 1934, Tau Delta Phi absorbed the chapters at Rutgers, NYU, Marquette and Cornell. The chapter at Syracuse was absorbed by Phi Epsilon Pi and University of Pennsylvania by Phi Beta Delta.
Magazine
The magazine, as of 1923, was called the OAT Digest and was distributed monthly. Later, the magazine's name was changed to The Oath issued three times a year.
Conventions
- 9th - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - April 28, 1935[4][5]
Chapter list
The Chapters of Omicron Alpha Tau were:[1][2]
- Alpha - Cornell University - 1912
- Beta - College of Dental and Oral Surgery - 1915 (later combined with Gamma)
- Gamma - Columbia University - 1916
- Delta - University of Kentucky - 1916 (inactive 1918)
- Epsilon - New York University - 1919
- Zeta - Syracuse University - 1921
- Iota - Harvard University - 1921
- Kappa - Connecticut State College - 1922
- Lambda - University of Pennsylvania - 1922
- Nu - Valparaiso University - 1924
- Xi - University of Buffalo - 1925
- Omicron - University of Alabama - 1927
- Pi - University of Illinois - 1927
- Rho - McGill University - 1927
- Sigma - University of Chicago - 1927
- Tau - George Washington University - 1928
- Upsilon - Marquette University - 1928
Honorary members
References
- William Raimond Baird (1991). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. Baird's Manual Foundation, Incorporated. p. VIII-8.
- Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. G. Banta Company. 1923. p. 216.
- Sanua, Marianne Rachel (2003). Going Greek: Jewish College Fraternities in the US, 1895- 1945. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8143-2857-6. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
- "Milwaukee is Site of 9th Fraternity Parley". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 1935-04-21. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
- "News Brief". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 1934-04-25. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
- Radio Personalities 1935 - p142