Alpha Chi Omega was founded at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana on October 15, 1885. The Dean of the Music School, Professor James Hamilton Howe, invited seven young women to form a society, which led Anna Allen, Olive Burnett, Bertha Deniston, Amy DuBois, Nellie Gamble, Bessie Grooms and Estelle Leonard to become the first members of Alpha Chi Omega. Together, wearing streamers of scarlet and olive green attached to their dresses, the founders chose their letters: "Alpha," the first letter of the Greek alphabet, because this society would be the first society in the school of music; "Omega" because they believed it would also be the last of such societies to be formed; and "Chi" meaning "and" to connect the two titles.

   Scarlet red and olive green were chosen as the colors of Alpha Chi Omega to symbolize the autumn in Greencastle, Indiana where the Fraternity was founded. To exemplify the color scarlett, the red carnation was chosen to serve as the official flower of the Fraternity. Lastly, the symbol of Alpha Chi Omega is a golden Greek lyre with three strings diagonally twisted together. The Alpha Kappa chapter of Alpha Chi Omega was founded June 22, 1921 in Eugene, Oregon.

Alpha Chi Omega's crest of arms     October 15: Founders' Day March 1st: Hera Day February: MacDowell Month   "Together Let Us Seek The Heights"