Arethusa Potsdam Chapters

Lambda and Iota

In the fall of 1926, the Leu De Cra Society was formed with four charter members.

The organization grew in numbers and activities, and shortly adopted the name Lambda Society.
In May 1929, the group was recognized as the Lambda Delta Chi Sorority.
On March 8, 1930, the sorority became the Lambda Chapter of the Arethusa Fraternity.

The following information was compiled through the efforts of Margaret Weitzmann at the College Archives Library at SUNY Potsdam.

The Leu De Cra society was formed as an organization designed for social purposes.

The organization grew in numbers and adopted the name the Lambda Society. The meetings of the Lambda Society, while once of a social nature only, changed to be held regularly every week for both literary and social purposes.

 

"W e strive to keep a high standard of scholarship among our members.

We aim to be of a real service in up-holding and promoting the standards of our Alma Mater."

(- from the 1929 Pioneers yearbook at Potsdam College)

Lambda was not listed among the Greeks until 1929, when it became Lambda Delta Chi Sorority. It used the name Arethusa for three years, 1930 through 1932.

In 1933, two Arethusan sisters, Madeline Gage and Alice Mayne, migrated to Kappa Chi Delta, which conjoined three sororities -- Chi Beta Mu, Pi Phi Omega, and Arethusa - - in that year.

The other remaining Arethusan sisters did not show up in the roster of any other sorority.

Kappa Chi Delta seems to have folded between 1940 and 1941. Between 1937 and 1941 it occupied the house currently occupied by the Agonians.

Arethusa's chapter at Potsdam is unique in its history.                                              The first chapter was established in 1930 as the Lambda Chapter.

The current, Iota Chapter, was established in 1989.

Arethusa Lambda at

Potsdam Normal School

established March 8, 1930

Folded 1932