Beta Omicron Chapter History and Founding

Siobhan Wilkes, TBSigma National Vice President for Special Projects (2019-2021) | From the TBS 75th Anniversary Podium Special Edition

Every member of Tau Beta Sigma knows the history of at least three chapters: the Alpha Chapter at Oklahoma State University;  the Beta Chapter at Texas Tech University; in their home chapter. Our organization’s founding begins with the Tech Band Sorority and the Alpha Chapter as the organization’s trailblazers. However, many of our chapters do not know about the third most crucial chapter within our history: Tau Beta Sigma’s First Black Chapter, the Beta Omicron Chapter at Texas Southern University.

The Gamma Omega chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi at Texas Southern University (TSU) was installed in the Spring of 1957, which served as an inspiration to the TSU band students. Mr. James H. Lark, Jr., TSU Director of Bands, also wanted a chapter of Tau Beta Sigma so that the women of their band would have an even more extensive network of people to network with as they went into their careers as music educators.

In October 1957, Mr. Lark handpicked ten bandswomen majoring in music education to become the petitioning group called “The Clef Club.” Many of the petitioning members were involved in other organizations and societies and musical ensembles that demanded their time and energies. Still, they remained committed to the process of establishing their chapter. As Mr. Lark stated in his letter of support for the Clef Club, “…They have shown their loyalty to [me and] the band through many unselfish acts and deeds of devotion. They have cooperated 100% in all activities the band has undertaken. But above all, they have conducted themselves as honorable young ladies at all times.” On April 12th, 1958, the Tau Chapter at the University of Houston walked down Wheeler Avenue to install our first chapter at a Historically Black College: The Beta Omicron Chapter.

The Tau Chapter welcomed the members Beta Omicron into the Sorority and then immediately returned to their home campus because, in 1958, segregation was at an all-time high. The Director of Bands had wanted a Tau Beta Sigma Chapter at TSU to give the members more connections within the band world. However, the constraints of segregation and discrimination prevented this and forced the members to network amongst themselves.

The Civil Rights movement was in full swing across the United States of America, and college campuses became the home of the movement going into the 1960s. Texas Southern University is the only HBCU in Houston, Texas, and the students there could not sit idly by while members of the black community continued to be treated poorly. Many TSU students, and even Tau Beta Sigma members, participated in sit-ins and protests following the “A&T Four” from Greensboro, North Carolina. These students were faced with harsh consequences from the university officials who were instructed to expel any student who participated in a protest. The Beta Omicron Chapter members never stopped fighting for the rights of the black community, and one of the charter members, Dr. Fannie Lovelady Spain, along with a few other students from the university were told that if they stopped protesting and not speak with the press about it, their transcripts would be spared from being blackballed from attending other colleges. Fannie agreed and was able to transfer and finish her education at North Texas State University.

Tau Beta Sigma as an organization continued to grow during this time. However, and due to limitations with communication, there was little discussion on an organizational level about participation in protests and the civil rights movement. We have little information about how the Sorority responded to major events other than encouraging members to “Lean on our Values.”

Despite all of the chaos in the country, the chapter continued to serve and represent the Texas Southern University Bands. In the mid-1960s the State of Texas imposed new educational requirements for professors, which forced the band to change their leadership to a white director. The culture and traditions of the band changed and this caused a decline in members within the band. The style of marching changed, the curriculum changed, and morale was lost under this new director, and the chapter could no longer exist.

“At the close of the Spring 1969 Concert Season, we heard rumors of a new band director for the Fall season. Based on the facts of the rumor the director was a black man. Of course, experience had taught us not to build our hopes too high because in previous years the rumors were always false. To our great surprise, this was no longer a rumor, but the Divine Truth! July 1969 we were proudly introduced to our “Black Moses” of our times of trouble: Mr. Benjamin J. Butler II and the birth of the “Ocean of Soul!” – From Rags to Riches: the Actual Story of the Texas Southern University Band (1972 Petitioning Documents)

In 1972, after three years of growth under the new Director of Bands, Benjamin J. Butler II, the chapters of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma were reactivated at Texas Southern University!

The chapter was reinstalled in 1972 and again in 2002 and through the past 63 years the legacy and impact of this chapter lives on. I had the opportunity to speak with three alumnae of the Beta Omicron Chapter about the history and legacy of their chapter: Trudy Green (current BO Sponsor and Alumna), Joselyn Coats(2002-2003 BO Chapter President), Joyce Wooden (1958 Charter Member). They shared the bits of history from over the years and their experiences as a member of Beta Omicron. Every member of the chapter was[is] selected to serve the Ocean of Soul is a leader in some way: top musicians, section leaders, and outstanding bandswomen in their band. When asked what makes their chapter special, Joselyn was quick to answer:

“One of the things I noticed that just makes our chapter so different is that we all know each other and it does not matter when you became a member. I know and have a relationship with sisters that joined in the ’50s, ‘70s, ‘80s, 90s, and even the newest members of the chapter. We all are connected. When we celebrated our 60th-anniversary a few years ago it was not awkward because we often see each other at homecomings and other chapter events. Beta Omicron is a chapter that creates lifelong friendships that span across the 60+ years of our existence.”

Many of the petitioning members did not know that they started the first black chapter of TBSigma.

“I did not know the significance of being a charter member of the Beta Omicron Chapter, and it was not until I met Joselyn online that she made me aware that we were the first. I attended an NAACP convention about 4 years ago and I met a woman who was selling scarves as a vendor. We stood there and chatted a while and lo’ and behold we found out that we were double soror’s: she was a Delta [Delta Sigma Theta] and also a Tau Beta Sigma Soror! When I told her I was from the Beta Omicron Chapter at TSU she gasped with excitement and bowed down to me because I am a charter member of the First Black Chapter of the Sorority.” – Joyce Wooden

The establishment of this chapter was the beginning of the Sorority expansion at 30+ other historically black chapters- all of which know and celebrate the legacy of our First Black Chapter- Beta Omicron of Texas Southern University.

Special Thanks to Joselyn Coats, Trudy Green, Joyce Wooden for allowing me to interview them to learn more about their chapter. Other resources include the 1958 and 1972 Beta Omicron Petitioning