Triangle Alumnae Chapter

History of AOII

Alpha Omicron Pi is an international women's fraternity founded on January 2, 1897, at Barnard College at Columbia University in New York City. In 1898, national expansion began. Now, AOII has over 170 chartered collegiate chapters in 39 states and Canada and over 230 chartered alumnae chapters. Over 100,000 women, collegiate and alumnae, represent a full range of diverse backgrounds and interests.

Alpha Omicron Pi was founded by Stella George Stern Perry, Elizabeth Heywood Wyman, Jessie Wallace Hughan, and Helen St. Clair Mullan.

In 1939, Stella George Stern Perry spoke these words as she explained the reasons for the founding of this fraternity:

"We wanted a society that should continue our companionship through life, and extend the like joys to others, usefully, unselfishly, and without pettiness.

We wanted to be sure of a democratic fraternity, democratic in choosing members, democratic in internal government, so that all members to come must share our responsibility and feel bound to exercise for themselves the motives that impelled the founders.

We especially wanted no snobbery, no ostentation, no extravagance, no silly "superiorities", no trivial limitations, nothing based only on "society"; in the narrow sense, nothing good excluded on financial, religious, or other factitious grounds, one with it's members chosen for character."

"We formed AOII to continue the friendships we made in college throughout our lifetimes."

For more information, refer to these AOII HQ Web sites AOII History and Symbols & Traditions.