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SHSTC Sorority Row

 Item

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

This collection is composed of forty-four colorized, color, and black-and-white postcards from 1906-2000 depicting Sam Houston Normal Institute, Sam Houston State Teachers College, and Sam Houston State University.

Dates

  • 1906 - 2000

Biographical / Historical

Sorority Row, also known as Sorority Hill or The Hill, was constructed in 1956. Sorority Row consisted of eight small houses located north of 17th Street between Avenues I and J. It was demolished in March 2021 (during the Covid-19 pandemic), though all sororities had moved off campus at the end of the 2018-2019 academic year. TSTU Board of Regents approved the demolition of Sorority Row during their meeting in May 2011, but no date for demolition was set.

Seven different sororities lived on the Hill, though there were no more than six at a given time. Below are the sororities that lived on Sorority Row and their years of occupation.

- Alpha Chi Omega, Delta Kappa Chapter 1959-2021 - Alpha Delta Pi, Delta Mu Chapter 1959-2021 - Delta Zeta, Zeta Theta Chapter 1959-1990 (disbanded) - Kappa Delta, Gamma Rho Chapter 1959-1995 (disbanded) - Chi Omega, Sigma Theta Chapter 1965-2000 - Sigma Sigma Sigma, Eta Omicron Chapter 2002-2021 - Zeta Tau Alpha, Delta Zeta Chapter 1959-2021

At the time of Sorority Row's demolition, there were four sorority houses (Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi, Sigma Sigma Sigma, and Zeta Tau Alpha) and four non-sorority houses (Gibbs House, Houston House, Jackson House, and Shaver House). Jackson and Shaver houses appeared to have never housed a sorority or had their name changed.

Gibbs House was originally built to house the members of the Anne Gibbs Society. The society was founded in 1925 to promote friendship, scholarship, tolerance, and a spirit of service. In 1959, Delta Zeta moved in, with the house's name changing to reflect their presence. They were the first national sorority to install a chapter at Sam Houston. After Delta Zeta disbanded in 1990, the house reverted to its original name and became a coed residence for upperclassmen.

Houston House was originally built to house the members of the Loulie Estill Society, a literary group formed in 1939. The society dissolved in 1959 when the members became the charter members of the Gamma Rho chapter of Kappa Delta. When the chapter disbanded in 1995, the house was renamed the Houston House in honor of Margaret Houston, Sam Houston's wife. In the Fall of 2014, the house became the Criminal Justice Living Community for first years majoring in criminal justice.

Alpha Chi Omega House was originally built to house members of the Eclectics Club, a literary society since the 1890s. Membership for this club was coed at first, but by 1916 became a women's club. In 1959, members of the club became the charter members of the Delta Kappa chapter of Alpha Chi Omega. After the sorority left in 2019, the house was renamed Tripod after the university's beloved unofficial mascot, a three-legged dog.

Alpha Delta Pi House was originally built for the members of the Caroline Belvin Society (also known as the CBs), a literary society from the early 1900s. In 1959, members of the society became the charter members of Alpha Delta Pi. After the sorority left in 2019, the house was renamed Woodlawn after Sam Houston's home.

Sigma Sigma Sigma House was originally named the Margaret Houston House in honor of Margaret Houston, Sam Houston's wife, for members of a literary society. In 1965, the Sigma Theta Chapter of Chi Omega was founded, and in the late 1960s, they moved into the Margaret Houston House, changing the house's name. On September 26, 2000, the Sigma Theta chapter was dissolved, and the house was renamed the Stewart House. During the 2001-2002 academic year, Stewart House was the first residence hall to implement a Bearkat Learning Community. In 2002, the Bearkat Learning Community moved to the Vick and Randel Houses. The new Eta Omicron chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma moved into the house and renamed it to reflect their sorority's name.

Zeta Tau Alpha House was originally built for the members of the Philomatheans literary society (also known as Philos). In 1959, members of the society became charter members for the Delta Zeta chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha. In 2019, Zeta Tau Alpha moved off campus, and the house was renamed Texas House.

Extent

1 Sheets (In a clear archival sleeve in box 1.) : Postcard, color photograph.

Language of Materials

English

Physical Description

The color postcard is a front view of Sorority Row.

The postcard was photographed and published by John A. Stryker of Western Fotocolor. The postcard was never used.

Repository Details

Part of the Thomason Special Collections & SHSU University Archives Repository

Contact:
1830 Bobby K. Marks Drive
Huntsville TX 77341 US
9362941619