History of Tau Beta Sigma
In 1919, ten members of the Oklahoma A&M College Band made plans for a national honorary society for bandsmen. On November 27, 1919, "Kappa Kappa Psi, Honorary Fraternity for Bandsmen" was established on the Oklahoma State University campus.
​As bands became more popular in the era between the World Wars, more and more women began joining their ranks. This initiated the idea of including qualified female band members into the existing structure of Kappa Kappa Psi Fraternity. Although the idea seemed to be well supported by bands with active fraternal chapters, a more attractive plan gained the widest acceptance - that of establishing a separate sorority for bandswomen.
In 1939, a group of bandswomen, headed by Wava Banes Henry, at Texas Technological College, founded a local organization called "Tau Beta Sigma" modeled in principle of Kappa Kappa Psi. Tau Beta Sigma's purpose was to serve as an honorary service and leadership recognition society, and to provide additional social and educational experiences needed by women in the band.
In June of 1943, the women petitioned their Grand Council of Kappa Kappa Psi to become an active member. However, the war made the next fraternity convention date uncertain. Rather than wait, a national charter was applied for, but encountered difficulties with the Texas State Corporation Commission. Because it would be easier to establish a national organization through the Oklahoma State Corporation Commission, the women from Texas Tech surrendered their name, Constitution, ritual, and jewelry designs to the local band club at Oklahoma State University (OSU) in January of 1946. This gave OSU the title of "Alpha, the mother chapter" and Texas Tech the title of "Beta Chapter." On March 26, 1946, a charter was granted by the Department of State for the state of Oklahoma, legally establishing "Tau Beta Sigma, National Honor Band Sorority," which was later amended to "Tau Beta Sigma."
History of the Zeta Omicron Chapter
The Zeta Omicron Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma began as the little sisters of the Eta Beta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. In the spring of 1977, the brothers felt that it was time a similar organization was established for the women of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI & SU) bands. They had two suggestions: the bands women could colonize their own chapter of Tau Beta Sigma, or the brothers could have a group of little sisters who might someday wish to form a Tau Beta Sigma colony. With the small number of women interested at the time, the second choice was more feasible. In the spring of 1977, they initiated the Alpha pledge class of Little Sisters. The Beta pledge class was initiated in the fall of 1977, followed by the Gamma pledge class of spring 1978.
The Little Sisters established a close working with the brothers, and helped with most of their service projects. However, they did not have voting privileges in fraternity decision making. With this in mind, three of the sisters took advantage of the opportunity to learn more about Tau Beta Sigma, and joined their brothers at the District IX Convention in March, 1978.
In May of 1978, the National Office of Tau Beta Sigma granted colony status to the group of little sisters. The chapter constitution was written that summer, approved by the colony in September, and approved by VPI & SU in December. January 1979 brought notification of the approval of the petitioning document, and installation plans were made for the Zeta Omicron chapter of Tau Beta Sigma, located at VPI & SU. The chapter was installed on April 7, 1979, by the Beta Eta chapter from the University of Maryland. The Alpha pledge class was initiated on April 28, 1979.