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DRau · #1 11-21-2002, 06:53 PM

I am SURE this has been discussed before but a search of more than a few terms hasn't really turned up anything.

I am writing a report on the history of Greek Orgs and Masonic socities, and to start me in the right direction:

Which fraternity was the VERY first (after Phi Beta Kappa) to be founded in any way, shape, or form? The IFC website has the directory portion password-protected and I didn't want to browse a million websites.

If anyone knows a thread I could be pointed to it would be great.

Thanks all

madmax · #2 11-21-2002, 07:19 PM

This info is in my manual but I dont have it in front of me so I might be off a little. An order of Kappa Alpha was started in 1812 but they were short lived and then later restarted. I think Kappa Alpha Society at Union College was the next oldest and longest continuous behind Phi Beta Kappa.

I will check tonight and get back to you.

PiKapp Raider · #3 11-21-2002, 08:06 PM

KA Society (not to be concused with KA Order) according to my book started in 1825 at Union College. Which was later joined by Sigma Phi and Delta Phi in 1827 forming the Union Triad. In 1847 Beta Theta Pi was established at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. It was joined by Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi to form the Miami Triad. Alpha Delta Pi was established at Wesleyan Female College in 1850, being the first female Greek organization.

breathesgelatin · #4 11-21-2002, 09:36 PM

Right. I know that the Kappa Alpha Order wasn't founded until after the civil war. The Kappa Alpha Society is probably the older one.

I posted this somewhere else recently but as far as NPC sororities go:

Alpha Delta Pi was the first sisterhood, in 1850 (founded as Adelphian Society... *I think* (ADPis, help me out!))

Pi Beta Phi was the first women's fraternity, in 1867 (founded as IC Sorosis), founded at Monmouth College, Monmouth Illinois

and Kappa Alpha Theta was the first women's GLO. Not sure of the date on that one. And I think at what is now DePauw University.

And I believe that Alpha Kappa Alpha was the first of the future NPHC sororities, founded at Howard University.

DRau · #5 11-21-2002, 10:48 PM

Thanks! That helps a lot!

Lindz928 · #6 11-22-2002, 12:54 AM

Alpha Delta Pi WAS the first secret society for college women! We were founded as the Adelphean Society on May 15, 1851. If you have any other questions about us, just ask, I'm pretty much an expert!

I believe Phi Mu was the second sorority. They were also founded at Wesleyan Female College, but in 1852.

Lindsey

CarolinaDG · #7 11-22-2002, 02:06 AM

Kappa Alpha Theta was founded at DePauw University, January 27, 1870... I don't know what you mean about the first women's society... Alpha Delta Pi is the first women's fraternity, and Kappa Alpha Theta is still technically a fraternity. I'm not sure, I'll need help from an Alpha Chi on this one, but I think Alpha Chi Omega was the first sorority to actually be a sorority not a women's fraternity. Anyone founded before Alpha Chi is called a fraternity.

And Phi Mu was the second women's fraternity founded, on January 4, 1852 at Wesleyan College.

(I don't have this memorized, I'm getting it out of a book... so don't start to worry about me.

)

TKESweetheart · #8 11-22-2002, 09:16 AM

ADPi is the first womens secret society b/c they wern't a greek letter org originally. They were the Adelphean Society (there are still adelphian chapters out ther !) and Phi Mu was the second-the Philanthropian (spell?) society. They bothe got greek letter names later-after pi phi. I believe Pi Phi (If I am wrong let me know) likes to say they are the first GLO for women. That's really just a technicality. The word sorority was coined by a man for Gamma Phi Beta although they are a womens fraternity. Delta Zeta was the first womens GLO to use the name sorority instead of womens fraternity. ADPi is not a womens fraternity though, they are a sorority. They just got greek letters a bit later some of the sororities. I think some one here posted before, but there are really only 6-I think-"sororities" and the rest are womens fraternities. But it doesn't really matter. I mean, I consider them all sororities and I thinkmost others do too.

**these are just the facts as I (think I) remember themfrom pledging...so...long...ago.. I could be off a bit.***

GeekyPenguin · #9 11-22-2002, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lindz928
Alpha Delta Pi WAS the first secret society for college women! We were founded as the Adelphean Society on May 15, 1851. If you have any other questions about us, just ask, I'm pretty much an expert! I believe Phi Mu was the second sorority. They were also founded at Wesleyan Female College, but in 1852.

Lindsey

Well, technically, Gamma Phi Beta was the first sorority, as the word was coined for us.

GeekyPenguin · #10 11-22-2002, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TKESweetheart
. The word sorority was coined by a man for Gamma Phi Beta although they are a womens fraternity.....

**these are just the facts as I (think I) remember themfrom pledging...so...long...ago.. I could be off a bit.***

No, we are a sorority, not a women's fraternity.

Greekgrrl · #11 11-22-2002, 10:45 AM

I know this subject has been hashed and rehashed but...

1851 Adelphian Society -- became Alpha Delta Phi, then Alpha Delta Pi around the turn of the century (1890s/1900s?).

1852 Philomathean Society -- became Phi Mu around the same time.

1867 I.C. Sorosis -- Became Pi Beta Phi around 1880 something, I believe

1870 Kappa Alpha Theta -- had greek letters from the beginning.

And of course Gamma Phi Beta, the first sorority.

Even though Sigma Kappa is older than Gamma Phi Beta and still a sorority, Gamma Phi Beta is the 'first' sorority because the name was given to it first.

MysticCat · #12 11-22-2002, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TKESweetheart (in part)
... Phi Mu was the second-the Philanthropian (spell?) society.

Phi Mu's correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the original name was the Philomathean Society (as in FiloMathean.

ADPi did start out as the Adelphian Society, so when they decided to "go greek" they chose the name ADF (as in ADelFian.) Soon, they discovered however that there is an ADF Fraternity, founded in 1832 at Hamilton College. (ADF also uses the name "Adelphian," and its Dartmouth Chapter was the inspiration for "Animal House.")

Kevin · #13 11-22-2002, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MysticCat81
Phi Mu's correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the original name was the Philomathean Society (as in FiloMathetean.

ADPi did start out as the Adelphian Society, so when they decided to "go greek" they chose the name ADF (as in ADelFian.) Soon, they discovered however that there is an ADF Fraternity, founded in 1832 at Hamilton College. (ADF also uses the name "Adelphian," and its Dartmouth Chapter was the inspiration for "Animal House.")

EVERYONE says they're the inspiration for Animal House

You're loaded with info though. Interesting stuff.

Angelic · #14 11-22-2002, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TKESweetheart
I believe Pi Phi (If I am wrong let me know) likes to say they are the first GLO for women. That's really just a technicality.

Actually Pi Phi is the first national women's fraternity. We were the first women's fraternity to have more than one chapter.

MysticCat · #15 11-22-2002, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ktsnake (in part)
EVERYONE says they're the inspiration for Animal House

Ain't that the truth!

The Dartmouth Adelphians are the only ones who can do it legitimately, though. Chris Miller, one of the writers of "Animal House" (along with Harold Ramis and Doug Kenney) was an ADF at Dartmouth. "Animal House" started as Miller's short story, The Night of the Seven Fires in the National Lampoon (although some characters -- Pinto and Mandy Pepperidge -- made their appearance earlier in Doug Kinney's High School Yearbook in the Lampoon.)