Alpha Chi Sigma is a National Professional Co-ed Chemistry
Fraternity. Open to undergraduates, faculty, graduate students, and
members of the chemical industry, it joins its members with a common
interest- the chemical sciences. Founded December 11, 1902 at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison, it has since expanded, currently
having 50 active collegiate chapters.
Much of the lore and
tradition involved in Alpha Chi Sigma has roots in alchemy. Many
alchemical symbols, such as those for the Elixir of Life,
Philosopher's Stone, the Planetary metals, and others have
extensive meaning within the fraternity, and are commonly seen
throughout the history explored. Pledging is a semester-long
commitment, and membership is for life.
The Objects of the Fraternity are:
- To bind its members with a tie of true and lasting friendship.
- To strive for the advancement of chemistry both as a science and as a profession.
- To aid its members by every honorable means in the attainment of their ambitions as chemists throughout their mortal lives.
Famous members include (the qualification for being "famous" being having won a Nobel Prize):
- Petrus Josephus Wilhelmus Debye (Chemistry, 1936)
- Edward Adelbert Doisy (Physiology or Medicine, 1943)
- Glenn Theodore Seaborg (Chemistry, 1951)
- Linus Carl Pauling (Chemistry, 1954)
- Vincent du Vigneaud (Chemistry, 1955)
- Edward Lawrie Tatum (Physiology or Medicine, 1958)
- Willard Frank Libby (Chemistry, 1960)
- Linus Carl Pauling (Peace, 1962)
- Robert W. Holley (Physiology or Medicine, 1968)
- Lars Onsager (Chemistry, 1968)
- Paul John Flory (Chemistry, 1974)
- William N. Lipscomb (Chemistry, 1976)
- Herbert C. Brown (Chemistry, 1979)
- Robert Bruce Merrifield (Chemistry, 1984)
- George H. Hitchings (Physiology or Medicine, 1988)
- Elias James Corey (Chemistry, 1990)
- Rudolph A. Marcus (Chemistry, 1992)
- Alan G. MacDiarmid (Chemistry, 2000)
- Raymond Davis Jr. (Physics, 2002)
- Paul C. Lauterbur (Physiology or Medicine, 2003)