Chi Omega has a rich history dating back to its founding at the University of Arkansas on April 5, 1895.  Born in the decade following the Civil War, Chi Omega’s four women founders grew to adulthood as a rapidly expanding economy fostered industrialization and urbanization.  They were instilled with the spirit of America, with values of independence, pioneering, innovation and adventure.

      The Fraternity’s five founders, Jobelle Holcombe, Jean Vincenheller, Ina May Boles, Allie Simonds, and Dr. Charles Richardson, wrote the Chi Omega Constitution and Ritual. Dr. Richardson designed and crafted the first badge out of dental gold. 

     In the early 1900s, social service was regarded as a collegiate activity of the highest importance and Chi Omegas gave countless hours of time, unbounded energy, and hard-earned monies to their local communities.   In 1909, the Chi Omega Symphony was written in by Ethel Switzer Howard, a pledge of Xi Chapter at Northwestern University. She wrote the poem in preparation for her initiation and felt that the words exemplified goals to which Chi Omegas aspired.  Ethel Switzer Howard's Symphony has since become every Chi Omega's creed.

     Chi Omega was founded with the intent of becoming a national organization and it expanded naturally and easily into every part of the country. Whenever a new chapter was installed, members in other chapters wore the colors beneath their pins and sent letters of welcome and congratulations.

     Over the last century, Chi Omega has grown to an organization with over 300,000 initiates from over 170 collegiate chapters.