Sigma Nu Fraternity: History, Symbols, and Traditions

Sigma Nu Fraternity: A Comprehensive History

Founders

• Alpha 1: James Frank Hopkins (Born December 30th, 1845, in Ripley, Mississippi)
• Alpha 2: Greenfield Quarles (Born April 1st, 1847, in Helena, Arkansas)
• Alpha 3: James McIlvaine Riley (Born December 16th, 1849, in St. Louis, Missouri)

Key Figures

• Spiritual Founder: Francis H. Smith (Also known as "Specs")
• Keeper of the Rock: Ora Mathias Baldinger
• Author of the Creed: Walter James Sears
• First Legacy: John Carmichael Jr.
• Founder of the Delta Chapter: John Alexander Howard
• Designer of the Coat of Arms: Ellwood H. McClelland

Founding and Milestones

• Spiritual Founding: One starry night by the rock at VMI in October 1868
• Public Founding: January 1st, 1869
• Original Name: The Legion of Honor
• First National Convention: 1884
• First Headquarters Established: 1915, in Indianapolis
• Current Headquarters Location: Lexington, Virginia

First Five Chapters

• Alpha: VMI
• Beta: University of Virginia
• Gamma: Duke University
• Delta: University of South Carolina
• Epsilon: Bethany College

Symbols and Their Meanings

• Badge: Modeled after the White Cross of the French Legion of Honor
• Colors:
  • White: Truth
  • Gold: Love
  • Black: Honor
• Rock: Enduring Strength
• Flower: Classic, five-petaled, wild, white English Floribunda, representing Purity of Purpose
• Sword: Military Tradition
• Book: The Bible

Significant Paintings

• A Serpent, A Rose, and A Star: Painted by Elmer Paul Catts Jr. (Delta Chapter, April 1883)
• The Quest: Painted by Michael Jaszczak
• The Founding of Sigma Nu: Painted by James Bowles Settles

Epsilon Eta Chapter (University of Tennessee)

• Established: June 6th, 1921
• Address: 1824 Fraternity Park Drive, Knoxville, TN

Epsilon Eta Chapter Notable Members

• James Eun (EH 1650), Statistics, Knoxville, TN
• Will Coker (EH 1570), Philosophy, Collierville, TN
• Zach Long (EH 1609), Business Analytics and Supply Chain, Murfreesboro, TN
• Luke McConnell (EH 1665), Business Analytics, Murfreesboro, TN
• Andrew Testerman (EH 1652), Supply Chain, Rogersville, TN
• Will Hensley (EH 1695), Business Analytics
• Andrew Laport (EH 1653), Engineering, Baltimore, MD
• Jerry Adam (EH 1575), Accounting, Piney Creek, NC

The Lexington Triad

Sigma Nu is part of the Lexington Triad, along with:

• Kappa Alpha Order
• Alpha Tau Omega