Extremely Interesting Book
 

Brothers,
I recently spoke with my chapter's High Pi and he has informed me that there is a book that explains, in extreme detail, the history of our fraternity. It was published in 1992; however, the author's name escapes me. There is a lot of controversy regarding its topics because it frames some of our founders in a very negative light and adds to the historical divisions of the factions of Cole and Mason. If anyone has any information about a copy of this book please let me know. Other than that I would like to add that this is my first post on this site, but I read the threads every day. I hope all is well and that as many of you as possible can attend the Leadership Conference and witness the unveiling of our new True Brother Program.

in ZAX
andrew holzmann
Pi Epsilon Zeta 041
High Phi

Author Peyser, Charles S Title Lambda Chi Alpha : a historical perspective / Charles S. Peyser with Ernest Vargo II ; with contributions by Tozier Brown ... [et al.] Publish info [Boston, Mass.] : Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, c1992

Amazingly enough a Library in Ohio has it, just had it delivered to me. At school. Cannot wait to read it. Tom says there are quite a few inaccuracies in it, shall see when I get it. Rumor has it, its about impossible to get a copy of the history books anymore. Wonder what other stuff I can dig up.

no longer in publish
 

As my High Pi said it is completely out of print. I would love to get a copy and read it myself, is there any way I could get a copy.

Pry my copy out of my cold, dead hands.

Any thoughts on the accuracy and validity of the book?

ill buy it
 

if you have a copy i would gladly buy it from you.

I heard that there is a lot of controversy because it frames cole in a bad light. From what I hear there was a large division within our fraternity a number of years ago between the "cole faction" and the "mason faction", which led to the expulsion of our main founder cole. of course there are always rumors but in my opinion rumors always have some sort of truth.

Sorry. It was a Christmas gift from my parents while I was an undergrad (1990-1994.) It was advertised in the Cross and Crescent, and I asked for it and got it. I can't sell it, because it's so very unlikely I'll ever get another one.

As for the accuracy, I have no idea. I'm not the historian that Brothers Hren and Raymond are. It's very detailed and interesting reading, but I have no idea how much is fact and how much is opinion. It does get into the divisions. There was the "Cole Faction," the "Mason Faction," and I believe there was a third, as well. If I get time, I'll excerpt that section and post it.

how long is the book...

Spend a few hours going through the Lambda Chi Daily Facts thread where ever it went, probably back a page, you will learn a lot. It gets talked about in there every once in a while.

Different thread:
http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...ad.php?t=63967 Pretty much details the whole thing.

Descript'n ix, 290 p. : ill. ; 25 cm

I don't recall exactly. It starts with King Rene in the 1300s or whatever, and then moves to our founding and follows right up through. The back half or 1/3 is all lists of Order of Merit recipients and stuff.

Probably 100 pages or so of actual history.

wow im impressed with the reply time. it is amazing to post something and no more than 2 minutes later i get a reply its awesome thanks for the help...

I'm stuck in this office 8 hours a day. Replying to these posts is as exciting as it gets. :)

what type of work do you do. and i personally love the quote you end with...

Brothers,

I believe that this in reference to The History of The Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity published in 1992; with a slightly revised edition published in 1996.

This is the second official history of our Fraternity. This book is rare and is seldom seen even on eBay! The last copy on eBay that I saw sold for $500.00.

The first official history was the "History Number" of the PGG Magazine published in 1929.

I happen to own Warren A. Cole's personal copy of this "History Number." It is complete with his signature and notations. It is a "one of a kind" historic treasure!

Quite Rare!

At this time, I have this on good authority, the official history book is being revised and expanded for release in 2009 as The Centennial History of The Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. The title is subject to change.

Stay Tuned!

Yours in ZAX,

Mike Raymond,
ZU-Zeta

The quote, actually, is re-quoted from the very book we're discussing. I think it's from the notes Mason sent to General Assembly when he couldn't attend. (Not sure. The book's at home and I'm at work.)

As for the kind of work I do, I am "in public relations," which could mean anything or nothing. What I actually do is handle advertising and customer relations for a fire truck manufacturer in southern PA. I do a web site and about half a dozen print ads a month, as well as sending out pictures of work in progress to our customers and "other duties as assigned."

Andrew, welcome to Greek Chat. Always nice to meet another 41 and High Phi.

We love Lambda Chi for what it is. History doesn't change or threaten that fact. We are what we are today, regardless of what may have happened 80 or 90 years ago.

Documents and letters are still being uncovered to this day, making history more and more accurate as we go along.

When it comes to history, the truth sheds neither a negative light nor a positive light. Just more light.

It's a well-known fact that Cole was forced to resign. I figure if we weathered that, we can weather just about anything.

I hope you can find Peyser's book.

In ZAX,
Jono

Check your local libraries. I am surprised as hell that one around here has it. Hopefully it will be in the mail today so I can have it by tomorrow or Saturday. Ohio has a great system where all of the public university libraries are interconnected. I imagine I will be making some photocopies.

What would be the copyright laws on this history book.........would it be acceptable to scan it.........I mean its out of print, and there is clearly a want for the newer guys to get their hands on it. Maybe someone at IHQ could get it done and then post it on the National Site.......they can eve lock the PDf itself, and charge a small fee to get the password........just a thought.....or maybe it could just be emailed around in PDF format......not to sure about the laws on it myself......just throwing some possible solutions out there.

I was pondering that and might see what I can accomplish while I have it in my hands. Ill leave it at that until someone with more expertise on the subject can comment.

What would be the copyright laws on this history book.........would it be acceptable to scan it.........I mean its out of print, and there is clearly a want for the newer guys to get their hands on it. Maybe someone at IHQ could get it done and then post it on the National Site.......they can eve lock the PDf itself, and charge a small fee to get the password........just a thought.....or maybe it could just be emailed around in PDF format......not to sure about the laws on it myself......just throwing some possible solutions out there.

I don't know who owns the copyright on it, HQ or Peyser. They both might have a claim to it, since HQ was selling it. Would have to see the book myself, i'm sure someone else could elaborate.

Screw the Mason faction,

I'M DOWN WITH COLE!

He sounds like a man of my own heart, kinda just made everything up as he went along. Sounds like a guy you would like to bullshit with at the bar.

Copyright Notice
 

Brothers,

The copyright notice is as follows:

c 1992 by The Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Yours in ZAX,

Mike Raymond,

Z-Y Zeta

There was a cache of the books found at IHQ right before the 2000 General Assembly. I was able to get my copy but I can't explain how. The easiest way to get a copy is to find a brother who has one and kill him. Seriously. I wouldn't sell my copy for $500, so if you find one on Ebay buy it. As for an undate version I heard the same rumor in 2000 so we will just have to wait and see.

I was dissapointed with the content, but at least it is something. I would expect the history of Lambda Chi to be about 500 pages and detail the histories of many of it's chapters, etc. This is what many other org's national histories contain. It should be more like some of the recent stories in the C&C.

Pysers Book is still a good read, but as many old Paeds., it gives a lot to be desired about Warren Cole the Founder!

But I am sure, the new writer of the Updated History will be very accurate!:D

You have read his History reports om C & C.!:)

I do request a signed Copy!:)

Any idea what the minor revisions the 96 version has different than the 92?

Dever is right. Cole just seems like the guy you can have a beer with. I think it would take a personality like Cole's to have the balls to actually start a fraternity like LXA.

Mason, not so much. From what I read, he reminds me of the kid in class that reminds the teacher she forgot to assign the homework!

Maybe, have to give credit where credit is due. It would be a very very different place without Mason, probably not for the better. Hard to say though, another Mason could have came along, but Cole was no Mason from what I have read. He had the big ideas but didn't have the literal skills to put them on paper. Compare coles ritual to masons, mason was on a whole different level.

My school has the book through our interlibrary loan.

I think I can eat the $20 fine for "losing" this one...eh?

Is that all it is?.... I mean you are paying for it... I hope mine comes soon.

I checked last night...the actual narrative runs 175 pages. That's where the lists start.

Having an understanding of what Cole went through as I and others have started locals, it is never easy and a lot of hard work, with a lot of luck and drive.

I often wonder if I could have expanded Beta Chi to a national fraternity, but of course, I am very glad that I did not and affiliated with LXA!

The difference between Cole and Mason of course is like day and night.

But because of both of these men and others is the reason LXA is where it is today! It took and takes each and all members to climb where we are today in actually a short time span of Greek Social history.

Credit due when it is due.:D

If you want to witness the founding of our fraternity, watch this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdYdQ...elated&search=

It's from a 1999 TV movie called "Pirates of Silicon Valley." The first 1:30 of this particular part shows Bill Gates selling IBM an operating system he did not yet own. It makes me think of W.A. Cole convincing people to join his new and growing fraternity. The clip before this one shows him and his associates buying a necktie from a guy in an airport bathroom so they could make their pitch.

Lambda Chi Alpha : a historical perspective / Charles S. Peyser with Ernest Vargo II ; with contribu IN TRANSIT CIRCULATION DESK
:)

Just came from founders day, with Ed Leonard as the keynote speaker. Had a great time. We started talking about the history books and how I will soon be coming across a copy of the 92 history book. Mentioned that I was looking forward to Mike Raymond's upcoming history book.

Straight from the man himself: "Ask Mike if he plans on white-washing history, or if he plans on telling it like it is." Nice guy to talk to, gave a great speech. He was very excited about the true brother program they are unveiling this summer. Can't wait for Memphis.

The truth shall set you free. Hallelujah!