Tau Beta Sigma
Tau Beta Sigma is a co-educational national honorary band sorority dedicated to serving college bands and band programs. The sorority has over 100 active chapters at universities across the country.
Crest of Tau Beta Sigma
Wava Banes
The idea for a "Tech Band Sorority" started in the spring of 1939 at Texas Technical College (now known as Texas Tech) in order to have an organization for college bands that women could participate in. It was started by Wava Banes along with Emily SoRelle and Ruth La Nell Williams. Patterned after Kappa Kappa Psi, the purpose of Tau Beta Sigma was to be an honorary service and leadership recognition society.
In 1943, members of Tau Beta Sigma petitioned the Grand Council of Kappa Kappa Psi to become an auxiliary unit of the National Fraternity. Due to World War II, the decision was postponed. Beginning in 1945, the National Executive Secretary of Kappa Kappa Psi, A. Frank Martin, worked closely with the members of Tau Beta Sigma to help them become a National Organization.
A. Frank Martin
Due to corporation laws at the time, Tau Beta Sigma at Texas Tech could not become the first chapter of a National Organization. Consequently, the Alpha Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma was founded at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) and the Beta Chapter was founded at Texas Tech. Tau Beta Sigma came into existence on March 26th, 1946. At the 1947 National Convention of Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma was officially accepted as a "Sister Organization" of the fraternity.
School logos of Texas A&M and Oklahoma State University
Flag of Tau Beta Sigma
