Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (1879)/Alpha Sigma Phi
Was the second sophomore society founded at Yale College in the class of 1848, and drew its members from Delta Kap in the freshman year. The Yale Chapter being denominated the "Alpha," others were established and named as follows:
- Alpha, Yale College, 1846 (died 1864).
- Beta, Harvard College, 1850 (died 1857).
- Gamma, Amherst College, 1847 (died 1862).
- Delta, Marietta College, 1860.
- Epsilon, Ohio Wesleyan University, 1865 (died 1865).
The Alpha was broken up by an election row at the time stated. The Beta was killed by the faculty. The remaining chapters did not confine their membership to the sophomore class, but ranked as a general fraternity. The Epsilon was but six weeks old at the time of its decease. The Delta is now the only survivor, and is flourishing.
The society badge is a rectangular slab about an inch in length, with a projecting trefoil at each corner. On this is displayed a shield bearing an open book engraved with hieroglyphics and crossed with a quill. Below the book are the letters "ΑΣΦ." The motto of the society is represented by the letters "C. L. V. E. N.," which at Yale was facetiously interpreted to mean "College Laws Violated Every Night." The significance of both the name and motto has been changed by the chapter at Marietta.
A chapter is said to have been established at Princeton, but the rumor cannot be authenticated.
The chapter at Marietta owns a fine chapter house, and is in a flourishing condition. The society's colors are stone-color and cardinal. The total number of the Delta’s members is about 200; the records of the remaining chapters have been either lost or destroyed.