History of Gamma Sigma Fraternity
Founded in Brockport NY in 1869
On Monday afternoon, October 11th, 1869 Eighteen young men met in the old chemistry room of the Brockport Normal School in Brockport, New York to form a society for the purpose of improving themselves in debate, in original composition and in other literary exercises.
The following Friday, October 15th, the first regular meeting was held. The idea of such a literary society had first been conceived by Professor Charles D. McLean, the Principle of the Brockport Normal School.
He was the originator and founder of the Society and a driving force behind its formation. However it was not until a meeting held on November 6th, 1869 that he became an honorary member of the Society.
Professor McLean secured a room on campus for the Society and advanced just over two hundred and fifty dollars with which to furnish the room suitable for comfortable meetings.
The motto, GNOTHI SOPHIAN, from which the Greek letters Gamma Sigma here derived, was proposed by the committee on name and was adopted by the membership on November 13th 1869.
In the first few years the society sought to pay off its debt to Professor McLean as quickly as possible and began charging admission fees to their public literary entertainments. The debt was cleared on January 26th 1872.
The Gamma Sigma Society was incorporated under the Laws of the State of New York on April 11th 1872 after a grant had been issued by the Supreme Court of the Seventh Judicial District of the State of New York.
The Society had a name and a motto from the very first month, but up to 1877 it had existed without an emblem. On March 16th 1877 a design was adopted which is still in use today. This badge design can be found on several award pins designed for rewarding achievements by members.
On June 22nd, 1878 a proposal was made at an annual dinner, "Resolved that a committee of four be appointed to confer with several Normal Schools of the State in regard to making Gamma Sigma a fraternity and that they be empowered to act as a whole or individually."
However at that time the proposal was tabled and no action was taken until around 1890.
In that same year, a second chapter was added, (Beta chapter). The original Gamma Sigma Society was renamed to Alpha chapter of Gamma Sigma Society as the Beta chapter was added. Around this time it was proposed by Edward F. Wellington to have the Gamma Sigma Society become Gamma Sigma Fraternity.
As mentioned there were annual Gamma Sigma suppers held each June which became the annual convocations. The first such convocation was held on June 25th 1891 in Brockport New York marking the 22nd anniversary of Gamma Sigma.
Over the last few years Gamma Sigma had grown into three chapters; Alpha, Beta, and Gamma.
In short order, a Grand Council was formed known then as the Grand Chapter. It was made up of officers and delegates. The Grand Chapter became an official recognized body in 1899 and remains so with few changes until recent years.
The first official constitution was adopted at the Convocation of 1891. It has been amended on numerous occasions over the years.
In 1891, the official colours of Gamma Sigma, "Old Rose and White" were adopted. For decorative purposes at fraternity events, roses and carnations of the proper shades were employed.
The fraternity ritual was adopted at the 27th Convocation in 1896 and was in use right up to the last known active chapters in the 1990s.
A regular publication was established in 1902 by Lloyd E. Brown and became known as "The Pyramid and Crescent".
Gamma Sigma adopted its own coat of arms in 1907 and the official colouring of the shield is old rose with a white chevron, while the crescent, pyramids and outlines are gold. The motto at the base is also of gold with black lettering.
In 1917 the Great War saw many sons of Gamma Sigma enlist and some chapters reported that the entire membership joined the war effort. Following the war an intensive reconstruction of the original fraternity structure was necessary and the 1920s became the restorative years for Gamma Sigma. Precious records had been lost during the war and it was necessary to start anew.
At the 53rd Convocation in 1922 October 11th was authorized as the official Founders day and in subsequent years future convocations were on or about October 11th.
Another major milestone was met in 1927 when a new chapter Alpha Zeta, was inducted in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, making Gamma Sigma the first International fraternity.
Growth for Gamma Sigma came steadily as it added another twenty three chapters through the 1930s.
When the world was plunged into war for a second time, commitment to war efforts replaced fraternity obligations as duty demanded and over the next several years the fraternity suffered.
It was rescued from potential obscurity by the bold efforts of Robert M Weir who headed the fraternity from overseas during the later years of World War II. His correspondences kept a chain of command going and fueled interest in keeping Gamma Sigma intact to be restored in full when the war ended.
With the close of the war in 1945, fraternity activity began again in earnest. The next five years were times of extensive reconstruction and reorganization. Many chapters lost during the war were reactivated and much progressive legislation was adopted.
In 1947 Gamma Sigma became the founder of the International Fraternity Congress and Robert M Weir became the first president of that body.
In that same year it was proposed that some kind of manual would help new members and chapters get up and running more efficiently so brothers Frank Cooper and Jack Burnett published a preliminary book called, "Introduction to Gamma Sigma. After many rewrites and iterations it became the official Red Manual that eventually was issued free to each new member. (as legislated at Convocation in 1968)
In 1959 on October 11th the McLean Room was opened in the Seymour Library of Brockport to hold and display valuable and historical memorabilia from the long history of Gamma Sigma. The room was maintained for the next several decades until only very recently, when former Grand President Pete Somverville, Gamma Phi, '77, undertook extracting the contents and brought them all back to Niagara Falls Canada where they are being documented and distributed to a local museum and high school for display.
By the mid 1960s our fraternity strength had shifted to Canada and Toronto became the hub for fraternal activity. Just as well, since Gamma Sigma suffered a crushing blow from anti fraternity legislation in the United States and especially in Maryland. A court battle to challenge those laws would have been too costly for Gamma Sigma to fight so unfortunately we lost all chapters in Baltimore and the surrounding areas as a result.
In 1962, a "Welcome To Brockport" sign was erected by Gamma Mu chapter from Fonthill on the edge of the city of Brockport in New York. The sign had the badge and coat of arms of Gamma Sigma and was maintained over the years by various brothers. Any brother making the pilgrimage to Brockport coveted a photo standing under that sign.
On October 1969, Gamma Sigma celebrated the 100th anniversary at convocation in Toronto under the leadership of Grand President Joseph W. Atkinson who is also responsible for publishing our treasured, Gamma Sigma -The First One Hundred Years book. (which can be accessed as a digital copy here.)
Our alumni is working to add here the final stories of active chapter life though the 1970s and 1980s.
To the best of our knowledge the last active chapter attended the 125th convocation in St Catharines on October 15th 1994.
Check back here for future updates as we uncover them.
Our Founder
Charles D McLean 1834-1905
Charles Donald McLean was born of Scottish parents in County Antrim in Ireland on November 7,1834.
The McLeans emigrated from County Antrim in 1835 and settled initially in Preston, Ontario. Less than a year later after the death of Charles' father, the family moved to Watertown in upper New York state. In 1840 the young widow moved her family to Clarkson, Monroe County, N.Y. where young Charles attended public school and academy. He graduated from Brockport Collegiate in 1850 and was admitted to the University of Rochester. It was here that he would have become acquainted with the Delphic Society. Abandoning his career as a lawyer, he took up a teaching position at Brockport Normal School in 1865 and in 1869 he became the principal of the school.
McLean was a great teacher, a profound thinker and a versatile scholar. He was greatly admired by his faculty and respected by his students.
Outside the classroom he modelled health and fitness. He was a regular pitcher on the baseball team, was a proficient boxer and a wrestler of high repute. His physical powers were more remarkable because of his short stature and slight build. He compensated with muscle and nerve, a strong constitution, and a love for clean sport.
Although his means were never considered, "wealthy', Professor McLean was always eager to lend financial aid to an earnest student who could otherwise not afford schooling. McLean's generosity and benevolence
was remembered by many successful men who he helped obtain a better education.
List of Gamma Sigma Past Presidents
Memorabilia from our history.
L.G. BALFOUR Jewelry created for Gamma Sigma from the collection of the Brockport Museum.
Alpha Delta 1930?
Awards and Plaques
