ETA LAMBDA CHAPTER OF TAU BETA SIGMA
Tau Beta Sigma History
Before 1939, there was not an established college band sorority for women. It was the work of Wava Banes Turner Henry and her two friends Emily SoRelle and Ruth La Nell Williams, when they expressed their idea of a band sorority to their band director D.O. Wiley at Texas Technological College that changed this. They decided to mold their idea after the Kappa Kappa Psi and named the organization Tau Beta Sigma. Its purpose at Texas Tech was to not only provide service and leadership but create positive experiences for women in band. By Spring 1940, the organization was officially recognized by the Dean of Women, Mary Doak.
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Through this time, the ritual and National Constitution for Tau Beta Sigma was finalized, with the help of A. Frank Martin, and the sorority badge and pledge pin were established. The women at Texas Tech submitted their work and the name Tau Beta Sigma to the Kappa Psi women’s band sorority at Oklahoma A&M to propose the articles of incorporation in Oklahoma. This chapter at Oklahoma A&M became the Alpha Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma. The chapter at Texas Tech became the Beta Chapter and would be recognized as the founding location of Tau Beta Sigma and Wava Banes would be known as the official founder. On March 26, 1946, the sorority was granted a chapter by the Department of State for the State of Oklahoma as “Tau Beta Sigma, National Honorary Band Sorority.”
Through this time, the ritual and National Constitution for Tau Beta Sigma was finalized, with the help of A. Frank Martin, and the sorority badge and pledge pin were established. The women at Texas Tech submitted their work and the name Tau Beta Sigma to the Kappa Psi women’s band sorority at Oklahoma A&M to propose the articles of incorporation in Oklahoma. This chapter at Oklahoma A&M became the Alpha Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma. The chapter at Texas Tech became the Beta Chapter and would be recognized as the founding location of Tau Beta Sigma and Wava Banes would be known as the official founder. On March 26, 1946, the sorority was granted a chapter by the Department of State for the State of Oklahoma as “Tau Beta Sigma, National Honorary Band Sorority.”
To learn more about Tau Beta Sigma visit our National Website