Alpha Epsilon Iota Explained

Alpha Epsilon Iota
Letters:Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΑΕΙ
Crest:File:Alpha_Epsilon_Iota_medical_sorority_pin.jpg
Birthplace:University of Michigan
Affiliation:Independent
Status:Defunct
Successor:Some chapters continued as locals
Type:Professional
Scope:National
Emphasis:Medical
Symbol:Serpent
Jewel:Emerald
Chapters:31, all dormant
Publication:The Directory-Journal
Country:United States

Alpha Epsilon Iota (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΑΕΙ) was an American professional fraternity for women in the field of medicine.

History

Alpha Epsilon Iota was established as a medical fraternity for women on February 26, 1890 at the University of Michigan. Its Founders were:

Founded prior to the turn of the 20th Century, Alpha Epsilon Iota was thereby one of the earliest of the professional medical fraternities to serve women. It quickly expanded to a Beta chapter at the University of Chicago that same year, cementing its national intentions.[1] [2]

By the turn of the century two additional chapters had formed, with seven more added by 1910. Later, growth slowed for the most part, with a flurry of new groups in the 1920, but no new chapters after 1949.

The fraternity dissolved as a national organization in March 1963. Some chapters continued on as local entities. Minnesota's Epsilon chapter remained active through the 1970s at which time there was a marked expansion of female enrollment in the growing medical school there, but ΑΕΙ sold its properties in 1979, splitting then into two groups, the AEI Foundation which continues to provide scholarships, and a networking organization called Minnesota Women Physicians.[3]

Traditions and insignia

The colors of Alpha Epsilon Iota were black, white, and green.

The fraternity flower is the White Carnation.

The official badge is described as a "black enameled faceted pentagon, having a gold star at the apex with an emerald inset. The three upper facets contained the Greek letters Α Ε Ι in gold, the two lower facets, a gold serpent."

The biannual publication is The Directory Journal.

Six grades of members were created: Collegiate, Graduate, Honorary, Affiliate, Non-graduate, and Associate.

Chapters

Chapter information from Baird's Manual (20th), which reports there were approximately 4,000 members.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jack L. . Anson . Robert F. . Marchenasi . Baird's Manual of American Fraternities . 20th . 1991 . 1879 . Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. . Indianapolis, IN . 978-0963715906 . VIII-37.
  2. Early chapters noted in the Web site: 1922 Alpha Epsilon Iota Directory. https://web.archive.org/web/20200805223025/https://idea.library.drexel.edu/islandora/object/lca%3A1357#page/6/mode/2up. 2020-08-05., from the collection of the Medical College of Pennsylvania, accessed 10 Sept 2020.
  3. As noted in the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center Archives, accessed 10 Sept 2020.