History

Sigma Alpha Iota is an international music fraternity for women. It was founded at the University School of Music in Ann Arbor, Michigan on June 12, 1903. The seven founding members were Mary Storrs Anderson, Elizabeth A. Campbell, Francis Caspari, Nora Crane Hunt, Leila Farlin Laughlin, Georgina Potts, and Minnie Davis Sherrill.

SAI includes Sigma Alpha Iota Philanthropies, Inc., which was created in 1947 to promote all aspects of music creation, performance, and scholarships. SAI has been a pioneer in supporting music education, performance, and composition in colleges, communities, the nation, and throughout the world.

Members include undergraduate and graduate music students, alumnae, professional musicians, and outstanding music patrons. An invitation to membership is an opportunity to join leaders in the world of music. By the fall of 2006, there were 212 college chapters, 121 alumnae chapters, and 1 international chapter. The total number of initiated members was 105,376 spreading across 57 provinces. Currently, there are 20 active members in the Beta Epsilon Chapter.

The Beta Epsilon Chapter started on March 5, 1948. The Evansville College Music Club was originally a student group sponsored by the Musician's Club. It was organized by Genevieve Erickson and the Evansville Alumnae Chapter as they petitioned for membership into Sigma Alpha Iota. On April 16, 1948, auditions were held. Twenty-one women, including two faculty members, went through the pledge service, followed by the initiation service on Novemeber 5, 1948. Chapter Patronesses were also initiated. Mrs. Kathleen Davidson and Mrs. Edna Rait Hutton were the installing officers.

In 1954, the Patronesses established a scholarship fund to be used for temporary aid to SAI members. In 1956, Sigma Alpha Iota and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia presented their first "All-American Recital," a tradition that continues today. The proceeds of the early recitals went to the Mrs. Romayne Benedict Memorial Scholarship Fund for music majors. Beta Epsilon Chapter hosted a Beta Province State Day in 1969, 1981, 1988, 1995, and 2002. In 1989-1990, the Beta Epsilon Chapter received the Beta Province College Chapter Achievement Award and the National College Chapter Achievement Award in 1990-1991. In 1999, the chapter received the College Chapter Achievement Award for the Beta A Province once more for outstanding fulfillment of the National Objectives.

Beta Epsilon’s Founders are: Betty Brown, Carol Jean McIntyre, Greta Elmgren, Ruth Grossman, Mary Ann Hahs, Aileen Hoffman, Virginia Newman, Wilma Pierce, Marilyn Ramsey, Shirley Ray, Joyce Robinson*, Mary Coleen Jewel, Lois Lutz, Mary Martino*, Ruth Sansom*, Anna Lee Schmidt*, Catherine Tiemann, Eulalie Wilson, Gwendolyn Eades, Mrs. Wesley Shepard*

*deceased

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