ShaedyKD- Syracuse Univ. Syracuse, NY- Alpha Gamma Delta, Gamma Phi Beta, and Alpha Phi were all founded there.

AOII and AEPhi were both founded at Barnard College.

Howard University in Washington DC was the founding place of the following:
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc

This says it all.
 

THE STORY BEHIND THE FOUNDING: Told by Frank Reed Horton, Founder, Alpha Phi Omega

During the first world war, I served as an ensign in the United States Navy aboard a minesweeper (SS Whipporwhill) in the North Sea. Our ship and its partner exploded more than 1,000 magnetic mines. My law school background at Boston University led to my appointment to try court martial cases in our Division. When we reached ports some of the sailors ran wild. Many court martial cases resulted. I saw young boys in their teens getting into trouble.

Because of these experiences, I made a firm resolution within myself that if I returned alive, I would try to do two things and do them with all my power. First, do my best to help young people get the right start in life by holding up before them a "standard of manhood" that would withstand the test of time! Second and just as important, try to help the nations of the world settle their disputes in a more sensible and legal manner than by war.

After the war, I became a student at Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania. One evening, while attending an American Legion banquet during my sophomore year, I sat next to an inspiring man named Herbert G. Horton. We were not related but we became fast friends. He, too, had been a naval officer but was now serving as the local Scout Executive. He helped me to become a Deputy Scout Commissioner. One of the troops needed a leader, so I became a Scoutmaster as well.

Through these experiences, I found that the Scout Oath and Law were what I had been seeking - a standard of manhood that would withstand the test of time and a code of ideals created and accepted by some of the greatest leaders the world has ever known.

The summer of my junior year was spent as an Associate Camp Director at the Easton Scout Reservation. Here I was impressed with the religious tolerance in the hearts of the boys. This I have not found so easily among older people. Scouts of the Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant faiths worked together in everything at camp, and everyone had an opportunity to worship on his Sabbath in his own way.

My Brothers in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity house, where I lived, who were outstanding for high ideals and clean living, were all former Scouts. I felt a college organization should be formed that would strengthen men in these ideals, and give them an opportunity for Leadership experience and for Service to others.

As a senior at Lafayette College, I talked to some of the men with a Scouting background and the response was good. These men would join an organization based on the ideals of Scouting. I created the name Alpha Phi Omega, the motto and the Greek words and their meaning and wrote the Ritual. Everett W. Probst designed the pin and drew the Coat-of-Arms. Thane S. Cooley suggested the handclasp. Ellsworth S. Dobson and Gordon M. Looney helped write the Constitution and Bylaws.

Fourteen undergraduates signed as charter Members. Scouting advisors were Dr. Ray O. Wyland and Herbert G. Horton.

The Lafayette College Faculty approved the petition for recognition. On December 16, 1925, I conducted the Ritual Initiation at Brainerd Hall, second floor, and Alpha Phi Omega was born.

My purpose was to make Alpha Phi Omega an organization for college men who cooperated with all youth movements, especially Scouting. I also anticipated that our Service program would expand to help people in need everywhere and to do service on the campus of each Chapter.

As Scouting is worldwide, so should Alpha Phi Omega be worldwide, gradually in the colleges and universities of all the nations. Alpha Phi Omega can help bring about, through the future statesmen of the world, that standard of manhood and international understanding and friendship that will lead to a better, more peaceful world in which to live and in which to make a living and a life.

Well, aside from the Farmville Four and others mentioned above, there are:

The Union College Triad: Delta Phi, Kappa Alpha Society and Sigma Phi

The Miami College Triad: Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi

The Lexington (Virginia) Triad: Sigma Nu and Alpha Tau Omega (at VMI) and Kappa Alpha Order (at Washington and Lee next door)

The Wesleyan (Georgia) Duo: Alpha Delta Pi and Phi Mu

The Monmouth Illinois Duo: Pi Beta Phi and Kappa Kappa Gamma

The University of Virginia Duo: Pi Kappa Alpha and Kappa Sigma

Theta Chi was founded because our founders didn't like the hazing going on at Norwich University, a military academy in Vermont. The story is different but similar I think to that of Sigma Nu's.

If a TKE could respond to this, I'd appreciate it.

I heard that TKE started out as a local that was going to petition Phi Delta Theta, but after several attempts and turn downs, TKE decided to form it's own National. Is that true?

I didn't see Delta Zeta in the posts. Any DZ's wanna post how they got started? I looked on some websites, but, the info was kinda incomplete or vague.

Alright to the Phi Sigs who posted! Since about two of you already posted, I won't go and say the same stuff everyone already read. But I have to say that I love the fact that from our founding, we were a place where any women of any faith por background can join. I think the same holds true. I can't say the same for some other sororities (I am not trying to diss anyone but at my campus, the other sororities can be extrememly selective to the point of snobiness and just being plain mean.) I like that we look at rushees for personality, not faith or looks or legacy or anything like that. Plus, we even take in grad students which I don't think other sororities do! Gotta say, Phi Sig is the best!

We started out trying to become a chapter of Sigma Pi. It didn't work out (pm me if you want details), but the colony refused to disband itself.

Sort of
 

Our founders didnt like the Fraternities at there College...Weselyn Illinois.... mainly because they where all about how much money you had or who your Daddy was...Our founders didnt fit that mold...from this comes "Not for wealth rank or honor, but personal worth and character".....from that comes us taking people other organizations would not look at, usually for monatary or lineage reasons... So they started the Knights of Classic Lore....They had planned on being their own Fraternity but, an Alumni of Phi Delta Theta contacted them about recolonizing Weselyn, he told them to pick letters in order to make them more appealing to the Phi Delts.....So they went along with it for a while, they petitioned four times and got turned down.....So from this came the "Oppurtunity out of Defeat" speach. The jist of that speach was that maybe it was a blessing in disguise....and that they should form their own national org and they should show up Phi Delta Theta for giving them the snub.........I think we took care of that goal......Other triumphs include going from almost bankrupt at the turn of the century to being the first fraternity to reach 300 chapters in the sixties, this has not been matched by any other Farternity since, even though many of our competiters where established 50 years earlier.....We know have around 270 and more being colonized this year.....I think the new ones are Oklahoma U. , Clarion, North Alabama, South Florida....soon to be this year are Colorado, and Umass Dartmouth, and Denver U. after that....and I heard rumors about College of Charleston, and Shippensburg....
So you better get ready, TKE is coming to your University next.....

copy and pastedfrom national's web site
 

"On January 4, 1852, Mary Ann DuPont (Lines), Mary Elizabeth Myrick (Daniel) and Martha Bibb Hardaway (Redding) founded an organization called the Philomathean Society at Wesleyan Female College in Macon, Georgia. Wesleyan was the first institution to grant college degrees to women.

For the next two months the Founders were busy gathering additional members, creating a constitution, devising an initiation service and adopting a secret and an open motto. On March 4, 1852, the members announced the formation of their new society, which became the Alpha Chapter of Phi Mu Fraternity. Since that time, March 4 has been observed as Founders' Day.
By the turn of the century, the Philomathean Society had developed a strong body of alumnae, a history rich in tradition and the confidence to expand into a national organization. On August 1, 1904, the Philomathean Society was chartered by the State of Georgia as a national organization with the exclusive use of the Greek letters FM and the right to establish additional chapters on other campuses.

Today Phi Mu has grown to encompass a diverse membership of more than 140,000 women nationwide."


And to add another interesting fact....one of our founders was roomates with one of the founders of Alpha Delta Pi.

Richmond College, where Sigma Phi Epsilon was founded in the early 20th century, was at the time attended by a mere 200 students, and perhaps between a third and a half of this number belonged to five fraternities. Kappa Alpha Order had come there in 1870, Phi Kappa Sigma in 1873, Phi Gamma Delta in 1890, Pi Kappa Alpha in 1891, and Kappa Sigma in 1898. Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Chi, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon also had established chapters there, which had expired. The little Baptist college was founded in 1830, and many of its graduates became Baptist ministers.

Most of the national fraternities, as their histories show, have been established simply because they were needed. The desire for brotherhood was in young men's souls. Sigma Phi Epsilon was founded because twelve young collegians hungered for a campus fellowship based on Judeo/Christian ideals that neither the college community nor the fraternity system at the time could offer. Sigma Phi Epsilon was needed.

Sigma Phi Epsilon Founded

Carter Ashton Jenkens, the 18-year-old son of a minister, had been a student at Rutgers University, New Jersey, where he had joined Chi Phi Fraternity. When he transferred to Richmond College in the fall of 1900, he sought companions to take the place of the Chi Phi brothers he had left behind at Rutgers. During the course of the term, he found five men who had already been drawn into a bond of informal fellowship, and he urged them to join him in applying for a charter of Chi Phi at Richmond College. They agreed, and the request for a charter was forwarded to Chi Phi only to meet with refusal because Chi Phi felt that Richmond College, as any college with less than 300 students was too small for the establishment of a Chi Phi chapter.

Wanting to maintain their fellowship, the six men, Jenkens, Benjamin Gaw, William Carter, William Wallace, Thomas Wright, and William Phillips, decided to form their own local fraternity.

The First Meeting

While in the formative stages, the six original members found six others who were also searching for a campus fellowship that neither the college campus nor the existing fraternity system could offer. The six new members were Lucian Cox, Richard Owens, Edgar Allen, Robert McFarland, Franklin Kerfoot, and Thomas McCaul.

The twelve met one day in October 1901, in Gaw and Wallace's room on the third floor of Ryland Hall to discuss organization of the fraternity they would call "Sigma Phi". The exact date of this meeting is not known, and if any minutes were kept, they have been lost. However, the meeting was probably held before the middle of the month, because the twelve founders are named as members on November 1, 1901, in the first printed roster of the Fraternity. Jenkens is listed as the first member.

Fraternity Recognized

A committee of Jenkens, Gaw, and Phillips was appointed to discuss plans for recognition with the administration of the college. These men met with a faculty committee, where they were requested to present their case. The faculty committee requested that the new group explain:

The need for a new fraternity since chapters of five national fraternities were on the campus and the enrollment at Richmond College was less than 300.
The wisdom of this attempt to organize a new fraternity, with twelve members, of whom seven were seniors.
The right to name the new fraternity Sigma Phi, the name of an already established national fraternity.
Jenkens, Gaw, and Phillips answered along this line:

"This fraternity will be different, it will be based on the love of God and the principle of peace through brotherhood. The number of members will be increased from the undergraduate classes. We will change the name to Sigma Phi Epsilon."

Though the discussion lasted some time, the faculty committee was friendly, and permission was granted for the organization of the new fraternity to proceed, provided full responsibility for the consequences would rest on the group of twelve students.

Immediately at the close of the meeting with the faculty committee, the fraternity committee rushed to Jenkens' room to borrow Hugh Carter's Greek-English Lexicon, convinced themselves that Epsilon had a desirable meaning, and then telegraphed jeweler Eaton in Goldsboro, North Carolina, to add an E at the point of each of the twelve badges which were manufactured and ready for shipment. Before the job of adding an E on the badges was complete, eight other students were invited to join SigEp. The purchase order was then increased to twenty badges at $8 each, with the initials of each man engraved on the back of his badge.

These twenty original heart-shaped badges were of yellow gold, with alternating rubies and garnets around the edge of the heart, with the Greek characters S f and the skull and crossbones in gold and black enamel in the center and a black E in gold at the point. (William Hugh Carter's and Thomas V. "Uncle Tom" McCaul's original badges are on display at Zollinger House.)

Founder Lucian Cox reflected on the "Brotherhood that had inspired him and his brothers" when he wrote in the Sigma Phi Epsilon Journal, Vol. 1 No. 1, March 1904:

"As a member of an ideal fraternity, the resources of every member of that body are my resources, the product of their lives is my daily life. The fraternity is a common storehouse for experience, moral rectitude, and spirituality; the larger and purer the contribution of the individual, the greater the resources of each member."

Five men were invited to join before Christmas and became members in January, 1902. Three more of the first group of 21 joined February 1, 1902.

Find out more: http://www.sigep.org/history_new/default.asp

Miami University (Oxford, OH):
Beta Theta Pi - 1839
Phi Delta Theta - 1848
Sigma Chi - 1855
Delta Zeta - 1902
Phi Kappa Tau - 1906

Beta Theta Pi was founded to create a bond of brotherhood without the "evils" that the Alpha Delta Phi's had. There were a few literary societies back in that day, in which Pater Knox was President of. He was asked to join Alpha Delta Phi several times, but decided to start his own fraternity. He did not like what he saw in the Alpha Delt's and was not satisfied with their ideals....hence, Beta Theta Pi was formed on August 8, 1839.

The Snowball Rebellion about killed Alpha Delta Phi and Beta Theta Pi....but thats a whole new topic. Would Phi Delta Theta exist today, if the Snowball Rebellion would not have happened? Who knows?

*Sigma Chi fromed when six members of DKE disbanded.
*TKE was an interest group that was denied colony status from Phi Delta Theta....now look at them, 8,000,000 chapters.

Assistant NM ed jumps in for DZ
 

First off we were found at Miami University in Oxford, OH, with the Miami Triad!


Delta Zeta is turning 100 this year!!!!!!! October 24, 2002 :D


This is from our New Member handbook:

Soon after college opened, these alert young women decided that they would organize a YWCA to offer them the kind of friendshio and activity whey the existing YMCA provided the men. The new organization announced itseld with an all-campus party, successful and kindly praised in the Miami Student. Talking it over afterward, several girls expressed a wish for continued enjoymeny of social affairs, and some with friends or relatives on the fraternities commented a bit envious of the advantages those societies could offer. Miami had not provided any dormitory living for its recruited women, and they in boarding houses ot with friends in town. Presently Alfa Lloyd, a coed whose home was in Oxford, entertained a small group of friends with a Welsh rarebit party, popular just then. Here some more seious talk too place, and led to a metting, three days later, in which their wishes crystallized into the decision to form into a sorority. (though obviously these girls did not know much of the women's Greek-letter groups on othese Ohio campuses, they DID know that the word "Sorority" which had been coined for the name of Gamma Phi Beta, when it was formed some years earlier at Syracuse University). "It shall be Alpha Delta Zeta", they decided, and went on to ponder flowers, colors, and suitable emblem, all the features they know the fraternities bethought themselves to keep! Their favored flowere was a new hybrid rose, becoming very popular, the Killarney rose. Logical colors would be those of rose, but in fairness, they did try a number of combinations with "baby ribbon" in the Oxford store. Rose and green won, however, and were adopted.

Early in their discussion they realized that they needed expert, friendly council, and had no hesitancy about going directly to President Benton about this. A member of Phi Delta Theta hiself, he was immediately sympathetic, full of wise inspriration and practical giudance. Wasting no time, the group of six congenial friends made a public debut by marching in the parade of Street Fair which was a traditional Fall event in Oxford. The University students were expected to participate, and this year the public had its first view of "the Miami women" when our little group, obviously enjoyed this experience, marched in the parade carrying not only the red, white, and blue canes where were standard Fair equipment, but long streamers of rose and green breezing from each one. Our founders day is on Alfa Lloyds B-day as a tribute to her, October 24, 1902. Her home was the scene of an elaborate "Rose Reception" which was the formal announcment to the student body and the town of the new organization.

The purpose for which said corporation is formed is as follows:

To build up the character and cultivate truest and seepest friendship among its members. To stimulate one another in the pursuit of knowledge and the attainment of high standard of morality; to inculcate elevated sentiments and noble principles and to afford each other every possible assistance and to incite all the attainment of a memorable fame.

Our founders: Alfa Lloyd, Mary Collins, Anna Keen, Julia Bishop, Mabelle Minton, and Anne Simmons.

Dr Guy Potter Benton aided in the preparation of a ritual and was names Grand Parton, the ONLY man ever privileged to wear the Delta Zeta badge. Elizabeth Coulter was the first pledge to be initiated under the new ritual.

We are starting 3 NEW chapters this year! Pi Alpha, Pi Beta, and Pi Gamma!!!!!

At last count we have 165 awsome college chapters are distributed from coast to coast! !

FYI: I don't know when the Alpha was dropped and
just became Delta Zeta...

Nikki
Iota Iota Chapter
Middle Tennessee State University

Don't forget the "Jefferson Duo" (Washington and Jefferson College in Canonsburg, PA) where Phi Kappa Psi and Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) were founded! :D

Proud of the Green and Gold.
 

My sorority was found on the base of sisterhood. Sisterhood goes beyond just pledging with someone. Sisterhood is when you stay up all night because your soror needs someone to talk to. Sisterhood is laughing at something your soror says and you are the only one who gets it. Sisterhood is getting together and remebering the good and bad times. Sisterhood is something no money could ever buy! That is why I am a Kappa Pi Omega!

Chi Omega!
 

Chi Omega was founded at the University of Arkansas in 1895. A few girls wanted to be a part of a greek letter fraternity, and decided to make their own (instead of join another previously formed group) with the help of a nice dentist :-)

The rest is history!

I don't have the whole story with me, but here's the short story of Phi Kappa Tau's beginnings. The organization now known as Phi Kappa Tau was founded by four men at Miami (Oxford, OH) on March 17, 1906. It's a little amusing that they originally called their group the "Non-Fraternity Association," to distinguish themselves from the groups that already existed on campus. As they expanded, though, they took on Greek qualities, changing their name to Phrenocon in 1909. In March 1916, amidst what must have been a bit of controversy, Miami chapter withdrew and named itself Phi Kappa Tau. Nine months later, the rest of the organization followed it, reunifying the fraternity as Phi Kappa Tau.

Phi Sigma Kappa was founded on March 15, 1873 by six men on the campus of Massachusetts Agricultural College (now UMass-Amerherst).

Our fraternity was founded on the principles of Brotherhood, Scholarship, and Character.

To OnePlus: Your fraternity system isn't all piss and vinegar, our Alpha chapter is there, and from what I've heard it is doing quite well! Does your IFC make light of the fact that a national fraternity was founded on your campus?

I think I told this before, but its worth saying again so no one has to dig for it. Theta Chi was founded to get rid of hazing and to make the Alma Mater (Norwich at founded, but whatever chapter) a better place for all students.

I know some of my sisters have probably already posted our history but, in short, there was a need for another womens group on the Syracuse campus and we were formed with the intent of becoming national!!

Yeah!!:)

Bringing back old threads to add some excitement to GC
 

I'm not too sure exactly why Sigma Nu Phi was formed, I'm sure i can go through our record and find something, but I do know we were the first sorority at EMU, and I'm sure one of the reasons was to create a sorority at EMU, i *think* the only other GLO on campus was the Arm of Honor ( local fraternity) but don't quote me on that.

THE FOUNDING OF ALPHA SIGMA PHI

Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity was founded at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, on December 6, 1845 by three students: Louis Manigault (pronounced Man-e-go) (1828-1899) of Charleston, South Carolina, Stephen Ormsby Rhea (1825-1873) of Louisiana, and Horace Spangler Weiser (1827-1875) of York, Pennsylvania. Alpha Sigma Phi was originally founded as a sophomore class society for Yale students.

In 1845, the undergraduate atmosphere at Yale University was markedly different from colleges and universities today: the academics were strict, and the lectures of the professors and academics provided no opportunity for class discussion. Extracurricular activities were not fostered by the college, and student class societies provided the the outlet for student energies and interests.

Manigault was very much interested in the class society system at Yale and noted the class fraternities provided experience for their members and prepared them for competion in literary contests. At that time there was only one sophomore class society, known as Kappa Sigma Theta, which had a reputation for displaying an attitude of superiority towards non-fraternity members, even though they were their fellow classmates. Manigault revealed a plan to his friend Rhea a plan for founding another sophomore class society, in direct competition with Kappa Sigma Theta. Rhea felt at first that such an undertaking would be next to impossible, given Kappa Sigma Theta's prominence. Both finally agreed to help organize such a new society, and with Manigault's approval enlisted the help of Weiser and the three became the founders of a fraternity that now counts its members in the thousands.

The first official meeting was held in Manigault's room on Chapel Street on December 6, 1845. Between then and June 28, 1846, when the Fraternity was publicly announced, the three founders wrote the constitution and ritual, and designed the Fraternity's Badge. On June 24, 1846, the first pledge class was initiated into the Mystic Circle of Alpha Sigma Phi. The new society was welcomed by the junior class societies at Yale because it gave them a greater selection of candidates for membership. It was also cordially received by the members of the potential sophomore class, who now had a choice between two societies. But it also aroused anxiety and fear among the members of Kappa Sigma Theta.

EARLY DAYS AT YALE

The rivalry between Alpha Sigma Phi and Kappa Sigma Theta was extremely competitive and bitter, extending even to their publications. Kappa Sigma Theta's The Yale Banger in its November, 1846 issue, attacked Alpha Sigma Phi. The Fraternity retaliated with the publication of The Yale Tomahawk the following year. This rivalry between the two papers continued until 1852, when the Yale faculty expelled the editor and the contributors of the Tomahawk for violating an order from the faculty to cease publication. The rivalry between Alpha Sigma Phi and Kappa Sigma Theta continued until 1858, when Kappa Sigma Theta was suppressed by the Yale faculty.

During the 1850's many fraternities began to expand their influence in establishing chapters at other colleges. A charter was granted to Amherst College in 1847 and a committee appointed to install the chapter, but conditions were not conducive to fraternities at Amherst, and the charter was returned. To this day, there still remains confusion about the naming of Alpha Sigma Phi's early chapters. Some records indicate that the Amherst chapter was named Beta, while a fragmentary document in the Yale University library indicated that Beta Chapter was chartered in 1850 at Harvard University (Alpha being the mother chapter at Yale) and that Gamma was chartered at Princeton in 1854. When the Amherst chapter was restored, it was designated Delta Chapter, though for some unknown reason the Delta designation was also given in 1860 to Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio. That same year, the Amherst Delta chapter folded.

DELTA BETA XI

During the Civil War, the mother chapter at Yale was rent by internal dissension and then actually disappeared. Less attention was paid to the literary aspects of the society, and more to social activities, especially after Alpha Sigma Phi became the sole sophomore class society at Yale in 1858. In 1864, the Alpha Sigma Phi members pledged to Delta Kappa Epsilon, at the time a junior class society (it was the custom at Yale and many other colleges and universities at that time for men to belong to more than one fraternity) atempted to turn the control over to Alpha Sigma Phi over to Delta Kappa Epsilon. This was thwarted by the Alpha Sig members pledged to the two other junior class societies, Alpha Delta Phi and Psi Upsilon. A conflict ensued, and to prevent violence and end disorder, the faculty at Yale suppressed Alpha Sigma Phi and forbade the initiation of the 1864 pledge class.

The traditions of Alpha Sigma Phi, however, did not die there, as two new sophomore societies, Delta Beta Xi and Phi Theta Psi, each claiming to be the legitimate descendant of Alpha Sigma Phi, were founded. Of the two societies, Delta Beta Xi had clear title as the legitimate successor to Alpha Sigma Phi, changing almost nothing in the objectives of the Fraternity, preserving the motto, signs and insignia which it altered only by substituting the Greek letters Delta Beta Xi where Alpha Sigma Phi appeared. At the same time, Louis Manigault reestablished his ties to his brothers in Alpha Sigma Phi. He was aware of Delta Beta Xi and considered it to be the continuation of the Fraternity; he ws not aware that Delta Chapter at Marietta existed. Delta Beta Xi continued until 1875, when it was abolished by the Yale faculty for violating an 1864 agreement regarding alcoholic beverages. Delta Beta Xi continues today as the highest award for service to Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity.

MARIETTA KEEPS THE FRATERNITY ALIVE

For all practical purposes Delta at Marietta College was a local fraternity after 1864, and it kept alive the traditions, customs, ideals and ritual of the Fraternity. It attempted to to charter chapters at several colleges universities, all without success. The chapter was kept alive by its emphasis on scholarship and by the support of its local alumni and the Cincinnati alumni chapter though at one time Delta considered petitioning a national fraternity since the mother chapter at Yale was inactive. In 1882, a "Sig Bust" by the Cincinnati alumni assured the perpetuation of Delta Chapter. The events that transpired during the Sig Bust so impressed the undergraduates that the petition to join another fraternity was withdrawn. To show their appreciation, the members of Delta formally recognized the Cincinatti alumni chapter with an engrossed charter. During the next several decades, the alumni chapter held meetings at various times and places and extended membership to Yale and Amherst members, and also assisted in pledging and initiating a class in 1901 when there were no active members in the Marietta campus.

REBIRTH AT YALE

In December of 1906, four students, all members of the Yale Masonic Club, were playing cards in the room shared by Robert L. Ervin and Benjamin F. Crenshaw. Visiting them was Arthur S. Ely and Edwin Morey Waterbury. Talk turned to the old Yale fraternity system, which was unique in that there had been fraternities for the freshmen, sophomore junior and senior classes, so it was not unusual for one man to often belong to four fraternities (a practice unheard of today, as virtually all social fraternities, including Alpha Sigma Phi, prohibit membership in another social fraternity). In 1906, only the junior and senior societies were still in existence. The four men concluded that the Yale system over-emphasized class and department loyalty at the expense of developing a strong university spirit.

Waterbury suggested that the four give thought to establishing a new fraternity or petitioning a national fraternity for a chapter at Yale, one that would be an all-class society. He informed the four of finding in the Yale library records of the societies that once existed at Yale University and told them about one of the most active, interesting and famous of these dormant societies -- Alpha Sigma Phi. Waterbury was aware of the existence of Delta Chapter at Marietta. He then suggested that efforts be made to reestablishing Alpha Sigma Phi at Yale. Other men were recruited, including Frederick H. Waldron and Wayne Montgomery Musgrave. Ervin, who knew some of the alumni members of Delta in his home state of Ohio, was asked to send the frist letter to Marietta. While they waited for an answer, additional were added to the movement. Unknown to the members of the revived Alpha movement, Reverend Mr. Evans, a member of Delta then filling a pastorate in Connecticut, came to New Haven and made discreet inquiries about the proposed membership of the revived Alpha Chapter. Pleased with the information he obtained, he recommended to Delta Chapter that the new Alpha be welcomed into the Mystic Circle.

Through letters, arrangements were made for the New Haven group to send a delegation to Marietta to be initiated into Alpha Sigma Phi. The Yale group then voted to send the first six men who had been identified with the reorganization: Crenshaw, Ely, Ervin, Musgrave, Waldron and Waterbury. With the exception of Ervin, who was unable to go at the last moment, the five men, boarded a train for Marietta on March 27, 1907. Arriving at mid-day the next day, they were met by a delegation of Delta undergraduate and graduate brothers. The men were initiated into Alpha Sigma Phi, taught how to perform the rituals, and instructed on Chapter organization and management. Returning to New Haven, one of the first things the group did after obtaining the required equipment for performing the ritual was to welcome Ervin into the Mystic Circle, since he had missed out on the Marietta trip. This first initiation took place in Musgrave's suite at the New Haven YMCA. The new Alpha Chapter leased the Lenox Hall in York Square, the former meeting place of the Yale Masonic Club. It was there that the remaining men became members of the new Alpha Chapter.

THE SECOND FOUNDERS

Edwin Morey Waterbury did much more than rediscover and help rekindle the spark of Alpha Sigma Phi; he played a major role in creating the creating the Fraternity organization that was to become the major force in the American Greek-letter fraternity system. Waterbury resurrected the Black Lantern Processional. On the night of March 27, 1908, Alpha Chapter at Yale signaled a new life with the traditional march. Waterbury became Grand Secretary and Grand Corresponding Secretary from 1907 to 1913. In the spring of 1909, he revived The Tomahawk which he continued to edit until 1913. His newspaper firm continued to print and publish each issue of the magazine for over 30 years. Waterbury died in December 1952, soon after writing: "I am afraid that I will have to be disappointed once more in my cherished desire to attend at least one more national convention before I shuffle off this mortal coil."

Wayne Montgomery Musgrave was an honors graduate of New York University, Yale and Harvard. He provided the organizational spark that fanned Alpha Sigma Phi into national prominence. He was twice HSP (President) of Alpha Chapter and served as Grand Junior President (GJP) of the Fraternity from 1907 until 1923. Realizing that fraternities had a poor image, he authored the Fraternity's Principles of Conduct. He also put together the Fraternity's expansion policy which said in part that the petitioners should have scholarship above the average in their institution. Under his leadership, he guided the Fraternity's expansion efforts -- twenty chapters were added to the Fraternity while he was Grand Junior President. In 1923, Musgrave was elected Grand Junior President Emeritus. He continued his interest in Alpha Sigma Phi, even writing a major history of the Fraternity. He entered Omega Chapter on July 22, 1941. His headstone is marked with the letters Alpha Sigma Phi.

EXPANSION

By the end of 1908 there were three new chapters of Alpha Sigma Phi -- Zeta at Ohio State, Eta at the University of Illinois and Theta at the University of Michigan. Beta at Harvard was revived at Harvard through the efforts of Brother Musgrave while he was completing graduate studies there. In 1913, the designation of the chapter chartered at Massachusetts Agriculture College (now the University of Massachusetts) at Amherst became a problem as it was not a continuation of the pre-Civil War Amherst chapter, nor was it located on the same campus. But, on the basis that the former chapter at Amherst was designated Gamma, that chapter was given the designation. World War I, despite an immense mobilitation, did not interrupt the flow of college enrollments. Alpha Sigma Phi was able to add a few more chapters during this period.

In the 1920's Alpha Sigma Phi expanded further, adding a new chapter every year for the next ten years. The crash of the stock market in 1929, followed by the Great Depression halted the expansion process. In 1937, the Fraternity reorganized, creating a Grand Council of nine members elected by the convention. The Grand Council was vested with broad powers, including the power to establish new chapters and alumni councils. In 1939, Phi Pi Phi Fraternity, founded at Northwestern University in 1915 merged with Alpha Sigma Phi. All members of Phi Pi Phi were given full rights and privileges as members of the Fraternity.

CONSOLIDATION

After World War II, Alpha Sigma Phi continued its growth. On December 6, 1845, the Fraternity celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of its founding with rallies in various cities and a national rally in New York presided by Grand Senior President Willbur Cramblet. On September 6, 1946 Alpha Kappa Pi Fraternity consolidated with Alpha Sigma Phi, adding the thirty-six chapters of Alpha Kappa Pi into the Mystic Circle of Alpha Sigma Phi.

Alpha Kappa Pi was founded in 1926 at Wagner College, Staten Island, New York (now Alpha Sigma Chapter), though its Alpha Chapter was established at Newark College of Engineering (now Alpha Rho Chapter at the New Jersey Institute of Technology). The Reverend Albert H. Wilson, a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity, was their fraternity advisor until the consolidation with Alpha Sigma Phi.

Unlike the merger with Phi Pi Phi in 1939, the consolidation with Alpha Kappa Pi brought about many changes to Alpha Sigma Phi. The constitution, bylaws and ritual were changed, and the Alpha Kappa Pi Badge became the Pledge Pin of the Fraternity The Sister Pin of Alpha Kappa Pi was adopted as the official sister pin by replacing the Greek letters Alpha Kappa Pi with Alpha Sigma Phi.. All chapters of Alpha Kappa Pi were added, including a considerable number that were never reactivated after World War II.

Also in 1946, the Fraternity moved its headquarters from New York City to 24 West William Street in Delaware, Ohio, where it provided services to the membership for fifty years until the Fraternity moved its headquarters to Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1996.

In 1965, Alpha Gamma Upsilon Fraternity merged with Alpha Sigma Phi. Alpha Gamma Upsilon was founded at Anthony Wayne Institute in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1922, the merger adding five new chapters to The Old Gal.

THE FRATERNITY TODAY

Alpha Sigma Phi continues to be one of America's premier college fraternities, and in 1995 it celebrated its sesquicentennial (the one hundred fiftieth) anniversary of its founding. New chapters continue to be added to the rolls, and chapters that once were dormant are being reactivated. New growth has resulted for Alpha Sigma Phi. And she continues, through her members, to seek new directions, new achievements and to continue to pass down the timeless values, purposes and objectives that were first stated in 1845.

the National history was already posted, but as for my chapter we were founded as a local Lambda Sigma Pi in the 20's I think. there were 2 other locals on campus that had affiliated with national GLOs, Tri-Sig in 1929, and ASA in 1941. During that time LSPi started looking to affiliate with a national sorority, and AST was chose.

Tri Sigma was founded by a young group of students at an all female teacher's college- now Longwood Univ. They wanted a secret club that focused on friendship primarily. They couldn't find what they were looking for, and started their own. :)

The Kappa Phi Club was founded in Jan. 1916 @ the Univ. of Kansas, by a Methodist minister's wife- Harriet Thompson. She wanted a place for women to bond in a non secret environment, while focusing on worship, fellowship and primarily, service. :)

augh! i wanna share my chapters story so bad because it's super super cool, but alas...

subscribing...interesting stories :)

I don't believe the Syracuse Triad has been mentioned..

Alpha Phi- 1872
Gamma Phi Beta- 1874
Alpha Gamma Delta- 1904

I'm also going to post up Gamma Phi's history. Just give me a minute. :D

In a society where women were discouraged from entering college due to their "insufficient brainpower" and "delicate health," four women from Syracuse University came together to form a society they named Gamma Phi Beta. Now, 130 years later, we celebrate the vision and dedication of those women and all that have come since then, who have built Gamma Phi Beta into one of the largest and most well-respected sororities in the world.

Founders

Helen Mary Dodge was born September 26, 1850 in Verona, New York. She was a member of the second freshman class at Syracuse University, took the classical course and graduated in 1876. A talented musician and member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and other organizations, Helen’s chief interest was the mission work sponsored by her church. She married the Reverend J. V. Ferguson, who preceded her in death. Helen died October 21, 1937, leaving a substantial bequest to Syracuse University for scholarships for members of Gamma Phi Beta.

Frances E. Haven was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan on May 27, 1854, while her father was teaching at the University of Michigan. When he became president of Northwestern University, Frances entered with the first group of women students. After he was named chancellor of Syracuse University, she transferred there and graduated in 1877. Her diploma, signed by her father, is displayed in Gamma Phi Beta International Headquarters. Frances married Charles M. Moss in 1878 and moved with him to the University of Illinois where she was instrumental in establishing Omicron Chapter. She died June 16, 1937.

Eunice Adeline Curtis was born on December 22, 1854 in Moravia, New York. She graduated from Syracuse University in 1878 with a bachelor’s degree in music. She married Frank Curtis and they had one son, Edward. Adeline was the soprano soloist at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Syracuse for 33 years. She died January 14, 1923.

Mary Alice Bingham was born in Watertown, New York on August 30, 1856. She graduated from Syracuse University in 1878 with a degree in art. In 1883, she married M. E. Willoughby, who died in 1913. They had two children, a son Francis and a daughter Ernestine. Mary Willoughby and Helen Ferguson were the only Founders who were able to continue their close association after their college years, as both lived in Utica, New York. Mary died on January 14, 1916.

kk_gphib_01 adds: I can add that the four women met in the office of Dr. Brown, a professor at Syracuse, and the women chose to honor Dr. Brown with the sorority colors of brown and mode. Also, I believe Helen M. Dodge was offered a bid into Alpha Phi as a freshman but declined, forming Gamma Phi Beta two years later.

To add to naupi's comments on Alpha Delta Pi, from our not-yet-updated-but-supposedly-will-be-soon website:

"Founded May 15 in 1851 at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, Alpha Delta Pi holds the distinction of being the first secret society for women and the mother of today’s sorority system. Alpha Delta Pi was founded on the principles of scholarship, leadership, service to others and sisterhood. These principles still guide the policies and programs of the sorority today."


In my New Member book (which isn't at hand, unfortunately), there are some wonderful phrases that aren't in the latest NM books, such as Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald (our Founder) finding the number of students not taking their studies seriously "painfully shocking" (bear in mind that Wesleyan College was the first college for women, and had only been available for about 15 years).


Edited for confusing my sisters!

::Copying and pasting as well::

The 13 Noble Founders of Alpha Psi Lambda

Los Primeros

Diane Acevedo
Juan Casimiro
Carolyn Christian
James Cordero
Tammy Harris
Clara Isern
Marisol Lugo
Yolanda Natal
Saddy Rivera
Nancy Romo
Annette Saldivar
Annette Seda
Juan Vera

Important Dates in Alpha Psi Lambda history.

In Columbus, Ohio, in May of 1984 a group of undergraduate students led by Dr. Josue Cruz, Assistant Vice Provost to the Office of Minority Affairs, set out to research the country for other Greek lettered organizations and learn how to begin a Latino/a fraternity at the Ohio State University.

On March 10, 1985 at The Ohio State University, thirteen men and women were officially initiated into Alpha Psi Lambda. These individuals set the foundation for what is now the nation's first and largest co-ed Latino fraternity.

May 18, 1984

Several students attedning a Hispanic leadership retreat noted a need for Latino organizations at The Ohio State University. An exploratory group, led by Dr. Josue Cruz, Assistant Vice Provost to the Office of Minority Affairs, was formed to research possible fraternities and sororities. After reviewing their findings, the group decided to start a new Latino Greek organization.

February 11, 1985

Alpha Psi Lambda was established at The Ohio State University.

March 10, 1985

Thirteen individuals were officially initiated as the founders of Alpha Psi Lambda.

September 25, 1992

Alpha Psi Lambda was officially recognized as a National organization.

Today

Alpha Psi Lambda has grown to include sixteen chapters with over 1300 members. It is the nation's first and largest co-ed Latino fraternity.

CHAPTER HISTORY

In the Fall of 2000, a group of students at Loyola University Chicago began looking into the Greek system in search of organizations that would uphold their values, goals, and ideals. Each of these students wanted an organization that would not only help them to grow and mature as people, but that would also improve and add to the Loyola community. However, the existing sororities and fraternities on campus did not fit these qualities and the group of students found themselves at a loss. They decided instead to bring to Loyola an organization that would meet everyone's needs. That organization was Alpha Psi Lambda - the first coed Latina/o-interest fraternity in the nation.

The students first contacted Jaime González, then president of Gamma Chapter, to receive guidance on forming an interest group. He directed the students to contact Alfonso Martinez, Director of Expansion. Upon contacting Alfonso Martinez, the students were dismayed to learn that they would have to wait a semester to begin the chartering process, as majority were first-semester freshmen.

At the beginning of the Spring 2001 semester, the interested group met again on January 17, 2001 to begin the chartering process. At that meeting, the official letter of interest was signed and sent to Alfonso Martinez. Eleven interested individuals signed the letter. Soon thereafter the students were recognized as an official interest group of Alpha Psi Lambda and Gamma Chapter at Northern Illinois University was designated the parent chapter for the Loyola interest group.

On February 25, 2001, ten individuals from Loyola University Chicago became official Associate Members of Alpha Psi Lambda - National, Incorporated at Gamma Chapter. They joined together as a line to bring about the dream of establishing a chapter of Alpha Psi Lambda at Loyola.

After many struggles and hardships, the line finally saw the GOLD and WHITE. On May 6, 2001 at 3:51:20 AM, seven individuals were inducted into the Familia as the official founders of Alpha Psi Lambda - Xi Chapter. These seven founders known as "Los Inmortales" were Sandra "Soñadora" Carmona, Vanessa "Excentrica" Olivo, Claudia "Dinamica" Olivo, DeAnna "Fortaleza" Foster, Marco "El Retador" Rodriguez, Liliana "Ambición" Huerta and Steve "El Deseado" Valenzuela.

DU was founded in opposition to the Kappa Alpha Society and the Sigma Phi Society which had expanded to Williams College in 1832, DU was known as the equitable society and was formed on November 4, 1834.
DU was founded as an anti secret society as well, the Anti- Masonic party was also founded in the early 1830's ,some connection may exist between the anti masonic movement and DU.
In 1881, at the request of the Michigan Chapter, DU moved from an anti secret to a non secret position, As part of our non secret heritage, initiations are open to actives pledges and invited guests.

Delta Upsilon-Nothing Secret

Wow...I can't believe nobody posted Tri Delta's history.

Here's Tri Delta (copy & pasted)

Prologue:
In the late 19th century, a woman's place in society was very different from what it is today. Women were not permitted to vote, and few women were found in the workplace. In the frontier states of the mid-west, women began to attend the formerly all-male universities, but they were not welcomed by their male classmates. Because of this cool reception, it was natural for women students to join together in small groups for friendship and support. At first these groups were limited to their individual campuses, but as they developed they imitated the existing men's fraternities, and the various groups spread from one school to another.
By 1885 (when Sarah Ida Shaw entered Boston University), there were six of these "ladies' societies" with enough chapters to be called national organizations: Pi Beta Phi (founded 1867), Kappa Alpha Theta (founded 1870), Kappa Kappa Gamma (founded 1870), Alpha Phi (founded 1872), Delta Gamma (founded 1873) and Gamma Phi Beta (founded 1874). Other groups existed at that time but had only one chapter. They included: Alpha Chi Omega, Sigma Kappa and the societies which would later become Alpha Delta Pi and Phi Mu.
Expansion of these groups into conservative New England was slow. The first to come was Kappa Kappa Gamma to Boston University in 1882, followed by Alpha Phi (also at Boston) in 1883. A chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta opened at Vermont in 1883.

The Founding:
Although there were three women's groups represented at Boston University in 1888 (Kappa Kappa Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta and Alpha Phi), Sarah Ida Shaw saw a need for a group which would be different from the others. She said to her friend, Eleanor Dorcas Pond, "Let us found a society that shall be kind alike to all and think more of a girl's inner self and character than of her personal appearance."
So the two young women began the work of creating a new national fraternity. Later Sarah wrote, "...The two enthusiastic friends were unaware of the fact that there was something stupendous about the task they had set hands, heads and hearts to accomplish. They were working for a principle, and it never occurred to them that there could be such a thing as failure. Earnestness of purpose,energy and enthusiasm had brought them both success in college and why should not these same qualities bring assurance of good fortune to the new venture."
Not only did they found a fraternity, but at the same time they wrote the rituals and constitution, and designed the emblems. The choosing of the name was a joint decision. Eleanor suggested a triple letter and Sarah chose the letter and worked on the Greek mottos and passwords. Inspiration for these came from a variety of sources: Egyptian lore, Hindu mysticism, Greek and astronomy, reflecting the wide and various interests of Sarah Ida Shaw.
Never before had a sorority been founded so completely and with such depth of meaning from the very beginning, and the actual day of founding is beautifully described in Sarah's words. "At last, all was finished on Tuesday...November 27, 1888, but there was one more meeting of the two friends on the following afternoon before they separated for the Thanksgiving recess, at the top of the college building in what was then the Philological Library. It was there that the two girls embraced each other and said 'Tri Delta is founded'...It is not strange that the hearts of these sponsors were full of emotion as together they went out of the college building, for each felt there were added reasons why her Thanksgiving should be a very happy one. When they came to the parting of the ways at the historic Boston Common, Miss Pond said, 'We can make the girls we initiate promise secrecy, but what shall hold us two?' So there in the shadow of the old Park Street Church, with a bright new moon and three brilliant stars nearby...the two faithful friends clasped hands and said, 'In the presence of these myriads of witnesses, I swear eternal loyalty and fealty to Delta Delta Delta.'"

Alpha Chapter:
After vacation they began the task of building the chapter. Senior Florence Isabelle Stewart, a high school friend of Eleanor's, soon consented to join. Isabel Morgan Breed, another senior, was at first reluctant to join. She was deeply religious and felt fraternities were fundamentally wrong. When the girls convinced her that the aims of the society had strong Christian ideals and asked her to be the chaplain, she consented to join.
Three girls from the junior class, five sophomores and six freshman were then chosen. Since there was such a short time before the Christmas holiday, initiation was postponed until January. The history of Alpha Chapter describes that initiation: "At the opening of the college term, on Friday, January 15, 1889, the new fraternity pins were received, and in Prof. Browne's room in the college building on Somerset Street, the other seniors, Belle Breed and Flora Stewart were initiated."...followed later in the day by the juniors. The remaining 11 were initiated in the evening, bringing the chapter total to 18. "The first initiation service was quite elaborate...After the initiation we had a sumptuous banquet...followed by toasts and the shouting of our call."
The appearance of a new sorority startled the other "society people," who probably expected a weakling organization. The new chapter of Gamma Phi Beta had only 15 members, so they hastily initiated three more. But the Tri Deltas were determined to stay ahead of their rivals, and on March 7 initiated three more of their own, bringing their total to 21.
At 12 Somerset Street on Beacon Hill, Delta Delta Delta was not only created but was developed and expanded by the wise, successful and strong leadership of its two founders, as well as the early members of Alpha Chapter. Sarah Ida Shaw and Eleanor Dorcas Pond from the beginnings of Alpha Chapter included their two senior classmates, Isabel Morgan Breed and Florence Isabelle Stewart, as "founders." Therefore, the Fraternity has always recognized the four seniors as Founders of Delta Delta Delta.

Hijack:

Honey, it wasn't me who posted the history....that was nauadpi! :)

/hijack