Collection: Tau Beta Sigma
In 1937, the first practical idea for establishing an organization for band women was presented to D. O. Wiley, Director of the Texas Tech University Band. Wava Banes, a member of the band, now Wava Banes Henry of Midway, Utah, along with her classmates, Emily Surell and Rosell Williams, discussed many of the possibilities and requirements necessary for the formation of a National Band Sorority.
Their Plans and discussions came to fruition in 1939, when a group of women in the Tech Band founded a local organization, know as “Tau Beta Sigma,” modeled both in principle and idealism after Kappa Kappa Psi. Just like the Fraternity, Tau Beta Sigma was designed to serve as an honorary, service, and leadership recognition society which provided special social and educational experiences that were useful to women during the days of the “all male world” of collegiate bands.
