What happened to Iota Alpha Pi?
 

I have had a request to research a former NPC sorority, Iota Alpha Pi, which voted to dissolve itself in July 1971. Here is what I have uncovered (much from old Baird's Manuals). Hopefully some of you can add further details.

Iota Alpha Pi was founded in March 1903 at New York Normal College which later became Hunter College. It was the oldest national sorority founded by Jewish women. It did not add a second chapter until 1913 and a third until 1922. The first five chapters were all in the New York City area. From that point forward its expansion policy was much more conservative than the four leading predominately Jewish sororities. By 1930 it was only half or one-third the size of the other groups.

Bairds Manual shows a total of 23 chapters granted by 1966 (the last time the sorority was listed). It indicates that approximately 6,000 women had been initiated by the sorority (a figure likely exaggerated). Wilson Heller, in a report at the time of the sorority's demise, says that three additional chapters were granted by 1969. On supposedly was at University of Baltimore and another at the Hunter-Park Avenue Branch.

Also, per the Wilson Heller report, Iota Alpha Pi was reasonably strong until 1968 when the sorority began to suffer dramatic drops in membership. This was a very trying period for all groups; however, the primarily Jewish groups suffered even greater because of the cessation of "Christian only" policy by a large number of fraternities and sororities further reduced the number of available candidates. Several predominately Jewish fraternities were absorbed by stronger groups. As with any failing organization, the lack of funds created a situation where the remaining chapters were more or less operating as locals under the same name. Although the listing in Baird's indicates that approximately a dozen chapters were operating at the time of the closure, according to Heller's report at least half were in name only.

The question has been asked why the remaining chapters did not merge with another sorority on campus. It would be very interesting to hear from some sorority women who were at those institutions in 1971. My guess is that the chapters were so weak, probably with mostly upper class members, that it was simpler to close than to pursue membership in another sorority.

Interestingly, there is a trace of one of the chapters existing today. A chapter of Iota Alpha Pi was installed at Rider University in 1947. In 1955 it withdrew and took the name Iota Sigma. One year later it merged with another group and became Iota Sigma Pi. In 1962 Iota Sigma Pi became Delta Sigma chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon.

Originally the headquarters was in New York City. At the time of its closure it had been relocated to Philadelphia. It was one of the very first sororities to engage in a philanthropic project -- settlement work in Lower East Side Manhattan. For many years it had a semi-annual publication called "The Heights." I have seen a picture of the Iota Alpha Pi pin on a Greek Chat site somewhere. If it can be located by someone it would be fitting to add it to this report.

Correction folks, it was University of Maryland at College Park, not University of Baltimore. Sorry.

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...threadid=31666

that's the thread that includes a picture of a badge, as well as some members from Iota Alpha Pi who have posted on GC.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...otaalphapi.gif

This is their badge, after it was modified to join the NPC.

Very cool -- I love the red enamel

In our centennial book, "There's To Our Fraternity 1898-1998," it mentions that 2 of ZBT founders married 2 IAII founders and that both ZBT and IAII were the only 2 national Jewish organizations in operation between 1903 to 1909. Ironically, both ZBT and IAII had University of Denver as their Iota chapters. In 1909 Sigma Alpha Mu (Sammy) and Phi Sigma Delta (Now ZBT) fraternities were founded, as well as Alpha Epsilon Phi (AEPhi) sorority.

[quote=DEVODUDE;1582101]In our centennial book, "Here's To Our Fraternity 1898-1998," it mentions that 2 of ZBT founders married 2 IAII founders and that both ZBT and IAII were the only 2 national Jewish organizations in operation between 1903 to 1909. Ironically, both ZBT and IAII had University of Denver as their Iota chapters. In 1909 Sigma Alpha Mu (Sammy) and Phi Sigma Delta (Now ZBT) fraternities were founded, as well as Alpha Epsilon Phi (AEPhi) sorority.

Also, a few of our older Alumni Brothers that serve on our National Assembly are married to IAII sisters.

I can remember seeing a pledge pin for Iota about 2 years ago. It was a pale blue diamond, with a "shadow" diamond of gold behind it - sort of like <<> . I admit, I wondered if it had anything to do with ADPi at first, because of the pale blue diamond!

Adding a bit more...
 

From Baird's: The colors of Iota Alpha Pi were red & black. The flower was the red rose. The pledge pin was diamond-shaped, having a gold shaft on a scarlet field. The recognition pin was IAII in gold.

honeychile, wonder where the light blue came in?

Why did it have to be modified to join NPC?

I know we've discussed it here before , but I can't find the link - it had something to do with looking too much like ADPi's badge, so they added the gold roses to the corners of the diamonds. Similar to how DPhiE changed their badge by adding the scroll at the bottom when they joined the NPC.

I have zero idea! The minute I saw the light blue, I was so sure it was somehow related to ADPi. This pin was on ebay, so who knows? It could have been a pin from a colony or such?

Looked too much like another diamond badge perhaps? Was it Tri Sigma or DPhiE that had to change their triangular badge a bit? (Or someone else entirely)

:)

Psh, I only read every OTHER post.

Sorry OrigamiTulip!

Nu Chapter from Wayne State University
 

Nu Chapter at WSU was very small compared to any sorority on campus during my college days (1965-1969) and was granted a 3rd rush period during the Winter quarter in 1967. It was then I was asked to rush. I did and became the first non-Jewish pledge (to my knowledge) in all of IAPi. Each of our chapter's pledge classes subsequent to my initiation had one non-Jewish pledge until 1969 when I graduated. I lost regular contact will all my sisters about 10 years ago when my pledge sister and dearest friend passed away.

The talk in the early 1970's when dissolution was being considered was that the identity of the sorority would be lost if they merged with another and it was my understanding that the majority wanted to continue with alumni meetings and maintain the intergity of what was and had been rather than change. My recall was there was also a lot of dissent regarding the admission of the non-Jewish members and what this might mean to the future, but that my only be my memory and not a significant factor. There was never any problem with diversity in the Nu chapter that I knew of.

This link should be able to answer any questions that you have
http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...ad.php?t=31666

Would any Iota Alpha Pi's be interested in archiving their sorority's information on the web? I research sorority history for fun and would hate to see all of IAP's information lost one day. I'd be more than willing to help get the archives going.

Also, I would like to know more about the University of Maryland chapter. Did it ever establish itself? Maryland has an amazing Greek system with gorgeous houses!

IAPi at Penn State merged with AEPhi. Iotas who were active when the national organization folded were offered membership in AEPhi.

How was that possible? I thought that once initiated in any NPC, one could never be initiated into another NPC. As noted, Iota Alpha Pi was not absorbed (on a national level) but dissolved. So I don't understand how a chapter could be offered membership in any other NPC.

At the point that IAII dissolved, it was no longer a member of NPC so that rule didn't necessarily apply. Another scenario is that maybe the IAII Grand Council could have released its members and chapters from their obligations. If that is so then those members and chapters were free to pursue other avenues. Just some thoughts.