1909-2009 Decade by Decade

Author’s Note: This article attempts to give an overview of the development of Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity and the impact of historical events on the Fraternity over its first ten decades. This is not intended to be an all–encompassing history, that task I leave to others. Sources for this work include The Octagonian of Sigma Alpha Mu, ΣΑΜ archives, historical interviews and “Going Greek: A Social History of Jewish College Fraternities in the United States”, by Marianne Sanua, Ph.D.

1909-1919

“Foundation for Success”

Sigma Alpha Mu was born in the twilight of the first decade of the twentieth century. A time before World Wars, global warming and computers. There were just nine provinces in Canada and 46 United States. The modern state of Israel would not be born for 39 years. Two other fraternal organizations share November 1909 birthdays. Lambda Chi Alpha came into existence at Boston College November 2 and on the 27th, the North American Interfraternity Conference was formed at the University Club in New York City.

November 26, 1909 was a Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Reports indicate the city was covered with snow as eight City College sophomores made their way to the home of Hyman Jacobson. The eight students were: Ira N. Lind, Jacob Kaplan, Lester Cohen, Samuel Ginsburg, Hyman I. Jacobson, David D. Levinson, Abram N. Kerner and Adolph I. Fabis; no one knew all of the others. The idea of a fraternity was put forth by Jack Kaplan. After briefly considering calling the new fraternity “Cosmic Fraternal Order” and using Hindu letters instead of Greek, the “stalwart eight”, as the Founders were later called, soon decided to follow the practice of using Greek letters and a secret motto. In their early days at CCNY, the “Sammies", as we later became known, had a free-wheeling spirit.

Sigma Alpha Mu was not the first Jewish fraternity; Zeta Beta Tau (1898), Pi Lambda Phi (1895), Phi Epsilon Pi (1904), and Phi Sigma Delta (1909), were already on the college campus. ΣΑΜ was the first Jewish fraternity to draw largely from Russian Jewish immigrants or their children. The first new candidate, Meyer Grollman, was initiated at David Levinson’s 12th Street apartment February 21, 1910; he was followed by Samuel Miller on May 7, 1910. The first badges issued to Alpha members were larger than the current badge, with either one pearl or ruby on each octagon facet. The current design was adopted in 1911, with the installation of Beta.

Once deciding on a fraternity, the founders never intended to be a local. Operations of Alpha chapter were rapidly consolidated, and on September 2, 1911, just 22 months after ΣΑΜ’s founding, Beta chapter at Cornell was chartered. With Beta’s chartering, a Constitution was adopted and the first Octagon elected at a joint Alpha and Beta meeting September 16, 1911. The first official meeting of the Octagon took place October 8, 1911 at the home of Lester Cohen. The founders planned well with the first Convention being held December 22, 1912 in New York. Before the founders graduated in 1912, there were six chapters. With the graduation of the founders, the leadership of ΣΑΜ moved forward with development of the infrastructure of a true fraternity. A quarterly publication, first called “The Fra” was first published in 1912, quickly developed into the Octagonian, and standardized membership materials were developed. In 1913, the Founders established the Founders Cup for best overall chapter (awarded first to Eta at Syracuse). Between December 1912 and the United States entry into the Great War in February 1917, seven new chapters were established, bringing the chapter roll to 12. ΣΑΜ was also recognized as a fraternity with the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC). Not only were chapters started outside New York, but the 1914 and 1915 conventions took place in Philadelphia. While WWI led to the drafting of over four million able-bodied men, the United States’ involvement lasted about 22 months and did not totally disrupt life on U.S. campuses. During the War, the Convention met and four chapters were installed.

While a young fraternity, ΣΑΜ sent numbers of its sons to the armed forces, including Founders David Levinson and Ira Fabis. Among ΣΑΜs recognized for their service were Louis Edelman, Harvard ’19, awarded the Navy Cross for gallantry in the North Sea, and Founder Levinson who earned a battlefield commission in action in France. No official Fraternity records of fraters lost were maintained.

Sigma Alpha Mu ended its first decade with five charterings in 1919, bringing the ΣΑΜ roll to 20 chapters, including ΣΑΜ’s first Canadian chapter chartered at McGill in November 1919. The 10th Anniversary Convention was celebrated in Boston. Sigma Alpha Mu’s first decade was one of great growth and success and took place in an era of great change in the world. As reported in the 75th Anniversary Octagonian, “Those…..fortunate to (be) in Sigma Alpha Mu in the first years of its existence enjoyed an experience in fraternity which is difficult to describe. It was a period when fraters gave of themselves, without thought of recognition or recompense, all for the sake of a cherished ideal, to build and develop a fraternity that would be an inspiration to its members and a mark of respect and distinction to the world.” Founder Jacobson put it more humbly: “We only had a determination to succeed.” So they did!


1920-29

“Age of Progress”

The 1920s have been called the Golden Age of the American College fraternity. The 1920s saw the number of fraternity chapters increase dramatically, saw the campus Greeks become trendsetters and saw the emergence of fraternities as a major supplier of student housing. The Jewish Greeks became the preeminent Jewish student groups; a 1927 survey found nearly 25,000 students belonged to Jewish Greek chapters. The 1920s saw over 20 “national” Jewish Greek organizations and dozens of locals.

While there was much positive going on in the 1920s, the decade also saw a marked increase in anti-Semitism, limits on Jewish immigration to the U.S., and the imposition of quotas limiting the number of Jewish students on campus. Sigma Alpha Mu would face and work to address these inequities. Finally the imposition of prohibition had an impact on society, campus life and the college fraternity system.

Sigma Alpha Mu started the 1920s having installed 19 chapters; the 1920s were to see the chapter roll nearly double with 18 new groups installed including ΣΑΜ powerhouses such as Ohio State (ΣΒ), Indiana (ΣΖ), Texas (ΣΘ) and Michigan (ΣΙ).

With the installation of the last “single letter” chapter at Toronto (Omega) on February 20, 1920, the Octagon, at its May 9, 1920 meeting, determined that the designation of the next series of chapters begin with “Sigma”, hence Sigma Alpha chapter was installed at the University of Oklahoma on May 22, 1920.

In 1926 with the installation at UCLA (ΣΠ), ΣΑΜ had its first chapter in California and truly became a fraternity that spanned the North American continent. In addition, the Fraternity hosted annual conventions away from the east coast with conventions in Chicago, IL, St. Louis, MO., Columbus, OH; Toronto, ON; Pittsburgh, PA; and Detroit, MI. Conventions were also held in Philadelphia PA and New York City.

In 1920 the Regional Advisory System was created, a system that despite many criticisms and failures over the past 77 years remains with us today. The system has provided many an alumnus an opportunity to get engaged as a volunteer, and in the early days of ΣΑΜ before the advent of professional staff, Regional Advisors were primary visitation officers of the Fraternity.

A permanent Fraternity office was established and for much of the 1920s, ΣΑΜ operated out of 15 Park Row, New York, NY. A permanent office also ushered in the beginning of the Sigma Alpha Mu professional staff with the hiring of clerical support. The first was a Miss Fitzpatrick. Working with her was the dedicated Grace Bender, hired in 1924, who would remain with ΣΑΜ until her retirement in 1968, at which time she was said to be the longest-serving employee in the fraternity movement.

In 1925, the Convention created the Sigma Alpha Mu Endowment Fund for the purposes of financial stability of ΣΑΜ and support for chapter housing, purposes the ΣΑΜ Endowment Fund continues to live up to today. Samuel Miller, Alpha ’12, was chosen as the first Endowment Fund Chairman, a post he held until 1973. Through its history, the ΣΑΜ Endowment Fund has assisted dozens of chapters in securing/improving permanent housing. Chapters assisted include Cornell, Columbia, Cincinnati, Illinois, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Tulane, Rutgers, Indiana, Purdue, Texas, Michigan, Nebraska, Miami University and many more.

The 1920s Conventions also addressed ceremonial matters. My Girl of Sigma Alpha Mu, written by Fras M.A. Blumenthal and L.S. Biespiel of Illinois (Rho), was adopted by the 1922 Convention as the Fraternity’s official “sweetheart song”. Fast and Firm was adopted as the official Fraternity song by the 1924 Convention, sung to the tune of Amici, as are songs of Cornell and other schools. The current official Fraternity Flag was also approved by delegates in 1924; 1920s convention agendas also addressed the grip, officer regalia and ritual issues. The office of Vice Supreme Prior came into being in 1922 and Consul James C. Hammerstein was elected by the Octagon as the first.

Growth of the chapter roll to major public institutions in the Midwest and West led to considerable membership growth. By 1919 ΣΑΜ had 465 total initiates; by 1929 there were 2,636 initiates, an increase of 2,171 during the 1920s. In the 1920s fraternity housing boom, Eta was the first ΣΑΜ chapter to buy a house (in 1920) and facilities were built or acquired at locations including the octagonal Rho house at Illinois. Unfortunately the 1920s saw the loss of several chapters including Delta at Long Island Medical and Sigma at Dickinson which was short-lived.

Octagon meeting minutes and Convention minutes record many discussions of expansion (then called extension), chapter health, alumni involvement, and limited financial resources; interestingly enough a review of Octagon minutes in the past ten years reveals many discussions of expansion, chapter health, alumni involvement and limited financial resources. As much as the Fraternity has changed, the issues facing ΣΑΜ are consistent and while the pendulum has swung on how Octagons and Conventions have addressed these issues, they will probably remain concerns in ΣΑΜ’s second century.

Much of Sigma Alpha Mu’s second decade was one of great progress, growth and vitality. Most of the Founders were still engaged in the operation of the Fraternity and a generation of men was recruited, initiated, and engaged, men would lead and support ΣΑΜ for many years. On October 29, 1929 the stock market crash that triggered the Great Depression had an impact that would be dramatic on ΣΑΜ and the college fraternity world through the 1930s and beyond.

Put in box:

ΣΑΜ In 1920

Undergraduate Dues $2

Alumni Dues $5

Number of Chapters Installed 19

Initiated Members 465

Cash on Hand $825


1930-1939

The decade of the 1930s was a time of turmoil, economic depression and war for much of the world, and Sigma Alpha Mu would feel the impact of these troubled times. It required the deep commitment of many fraters to preserve ΣAM and its ideals. Fraters would also work to address some of the challenges that darkened the world.

The world economic situation was one of high inflation, and terrible unemployment; ΣAM saw many chapters and members struggle to meet financial obligations to the Fraternity. Only careful financial stewardship by successive Octagons and the Endowment Fund helped preserve ΣAM. The 1932-33 Fraternity budget called for income of $8740 and expenses of $11,990, a loss of $3250!


While the Fraternity faced challenges, it continued to look to the future and address organizational needs. The 1930 Convention authorized a Song Book, a Pledge Manual, voted to create a scholarship at Hebrew University in Palestine and created the Chapter Improvement Cup (now called the Supreme Prior’s Award). Other 1930s Conventions would take up important topics such as honorary membership (defeated), biennial conventions (defeated), a prohibition of Fraternity business being conducted on the Sabbath, and the adoption of a Jewish endeavor program. In the first half of the 1930s, there was much talk of the need for “professional management” of the Fraternity, and successive Octagons noted that the Fraternity could not thrive without a professional executive. These discussions culminated at the 1934 Convention where delegates unanimously approved creation of the position of Executive Secretary and the Octagon hired James Hammerstein, Alpha ’19, as the Fraternity’s first full-time executive. Jimmy would serve ΣAM as Executive Secretary for 28 years until his retirement in 1962. Upon appointment, Fra Hammerstein immediately began an aggressive program of travel to chapters and alumni groups and his extensive reports to Octagons gave great insight into the activities of alumni and chapters.

Growing anti-Semitism and the deterioration of the situation for Jews in Germany was of growing concern. A Gallup poll showed 50% of Americans had a negative view of Jews. Prominent Americans such as Henry Ford and Charles Lindbergh were openly anti-Semitic and a “rogue” Catholic priest by the name of Father Coughlin had a regular radio program where he denounced Jews. In the May 1932 issue of the Octagonian, an article titled “Hitler Against the Jews!” by Bertram J. Friedman, Lehigh ’30, was published. The Jewish Interfraternity Conference met and the ten Jewish groups agreed to work together to combat anti-Semitism in the U.S. At the 1935 Convention, Sigma Alpha Mu adopted a Refugee Program to assist Jews in Germany seeking to attend U.S. universities. During the 1930s, ΣAM chapters would sponsor and host dozens of refugees, likely saving them from the horrors of the Holocaust.