Question for all former ThKN chapters....

[JoinerLxa]

Question for all former ThKN chapters and any chapter chartered
between 1920-1950:

If you have access, could you check your Zeta roster and see
if there you have a #1 brother?? I have a theory that
Zeta #1 was never assigned for chapters chartered 1920-1950,
including the ThKN chapters (whose Zeta#s were all done
in 1939).

Our chapter (Kappa-Omega) doesn't have a #1 on the list...
all the old alums tell me there never was a #1 (at first I
thought #1 might have resigned, etc., but apparently not).

It seems to have been done intentionally. ThKN numbered
initiates at each chapter. But when we became LXA, "1" was
added to everyone's ThKN number to get their LXA Zeta#.
Thus my old friend Claude Shouse was originally ThKN #8,
but now is KOme#9. (I've met a few old alums who don't
even know their # was bumped by 1!)

My theory for why?

Cole (Alpha#1) was "expelled" in 1919/20, and they made
a big deal of removing A1 from all records and the official
chapter roster (a little unfortunate vitriole here, I think).
I believe it became "Lambda Chi tradition" that Zeta #1
be left blank (for all "new" chapters chartered after 1920).

Of course Cole was re-instated about 1950, so if the
tradition still existed at that point, it was probably done
away with.

Looking forward to your replies...interested in solving
this mystery!!!

Thanks,
KJ

[RACooper]

Well I don't know about the TKN chapters but the Toronto chapter (1927) has a Zeta # 1.... Godron Hutton 030-0001 according to my alumni directory.

[Tom Earp]

Kevin, never heard that before, but who knows, stranger things have happened!

But to point out, We never had a Colony # as of 1966, and as of Chartering in 1969, you can see my # in my Signature.

It seems that Steve Corbin-Rose Hulman mentioned this at one time but not sure if on site or via Ma Bell!

[EM1843]

We were chartered in 1933 and had a TKN chapter to merge with in 1939 that was around since the founding of TKN. As far as I know, we have an EM 1. I'll check our charter later.

[pman233]

The TKN archive used to be at Gettysburg until their chapter got yanked a few years ago. I know they are in some stage of reforming (wish I knew more), but highly doubt they are still in posession of anything of value.

Does anyone know who inherited the archive? You would probably find all of your answers there.

[Tom Earp]

What a shame that those Brothers of the Local could not have been included as TKN and then into LXA!


Hank Whitney one of the Original Founders of EKD, FlTech Ins. was Intiated as a LXA in the Fall of 2002, but of course it would have been as an AI.

Of course, it would be a moot point now as I am sure all have passed on!

But, I was given the # 1 on our Charter even though I had already Graduated. Of course, I had been Intiated when we were Colonized.

Even though those men were the foundation of what became LXA at Rose-Huleman!

PMan, wonder if IHQ might have that?? You might check! What a great find that would be

After all, Gettysburg was close as a LXA Zeta!

[lenoxxx]

Pizzaman,

The archive on Broadway st (LCA House at GC) never went anywhere the room was padlocked. All of the books and items are still there, the chapter has been back for three years and has like 50 brothers. You should go down sometime and look at it!

Come on now

Lenoxxx

[pman233]

The only house I ever knew was on Steinwehr, currently occupied by Kappa Sig (I think). Email me directions to current house when you get a chance. Not sure which street Broadway is.

I'll stop in on the bike some time and scare the hell out of them. It's what I do best.

[JoinerLxa]

OK, mystery solved (somewhat).

I've learned a lesson: "Never trust the memory of old geezers!"
(including me!)

I found one of our Zeta rosters from IHQ printed in 1972, and
it has #1 on it. Apparently he was dropped for some reason
after that...though I can't imagine why.

I was also able to check our "League and Covenant", the
little book that ThKN guys signed during their ritual, which
numbers the initiates. For the most part, the ThKN numbers
don't match their current LXA Zeta numbers. Many of them
are "off by 1", but others are WAY mixed up!

I suppose at the time, during the depression, and then our
chapter was inactive during WW2 (though not officially closed,
like most), alot of records were lost/messed up.

So like most conspiracy theories, "#1 not assigned as
a slight toward Cole" turns out to be incorrect.

But hey, it was fun while it lasted, right??

Thanks for the replies!

[JoinerLxa]

Oh, and on something else Tom mentioned:

Alums of locals:

I think its pretty standard practice (and has been for almost
forever) that if an alum of the local returns to the chartered
chapter for initiation, they are listed as a member of the
chapter/national. If they don't return, they're not listed.

With our chapter in 1928 (with ThKN), alums who returned
for the chapter installation were listed as charter members.

When colonizing at Vandy, I think the LXA (modern) rule
was that only those brothers who were initiated into the
LXA colony were charter members (including those who
graduated before installation). This could have included
any alums of the local who returned during the colony
period for initiation (like an honorary)...but I don't think
we had any of those.

Had I not already been initiated at Kappa-Omega, I would
have been a charter member at Gamma-Delta (Vandy),
since I was an active member during the colony period.
However, it's LXA's policy that "transfers" (initiated at
another Zeta/Colony) don't count as charter members.

We did have one guy who associated (but not initiated)
at Ga Tech, then transferred to Vandy. Since he was
initiated at Vandy, he is listed on the charter.