Phi Alpha (fraternity)

Defunct American collegiate Jewish fraternity

For other organizations named "Phi Alpha", see Phi Alpha (disambiguation).

Phi Alpha

Founded| October 14, 1914; 110 years ago (1914-10-14)
George Washington University
Type| Social
Former affiliation| NIC
Status| Merged
Merge date| April 6, 1959
Successor| Phi Sigma Delta
Emphasis| Jewish
Scope| National
Member badge|
Colors|  Maroon and  Blue
Flower| Rose
Publication| Phi Alpha Quarterly
Chapters| 33
Members| 7,000 lifetime
Headquarters|
United States

Phi Alpha (ΦΑ) was an American historically Jewish fraternity founded in 1914. It merged with Phi Sigma Delta in 1959. It was a member of the National Interfraternity Conference. It merged with Zeta Beta Tau in 1959.

## History

[edit]

Phi Alpha was founded at George Washington University on October 14, 1914.[1] It was a Jewish fraternity.[1] Its founders were David Davis, Maurice H. Herzmark, Edward Lewis, Reuben Schmidt, and Hyman Shapiro. The first pledge ceremony was held in February 1915, and was followed by the establishment of a chapter house.[1]

Dr. Edward Cafritz transferred to University of Maryland, Baltimore and helped start Beta chapter, which was installed on February 22, 1916.[1] This was followed by Gamma chapter at Georgetown University on December 26, 1916.[1]

In 1921, Phi Alpha became a member of the National Interfraternity Conference.[1] In 1926, the fraternity was incorporated nationally.[1] Its national convention was held annually during the latter part of December.[1]

On April 6, 1959, Phi Alpha merged with Phi Sigma Delta. Phi Sigma Delta's records note that there were sixteen active Phi Alpha chapters at the time of the merger.[2] Both fraternities had chapters at three campuses, two of which were "readily resolved," and in the case of the third, this chapter was released to join another fraternity.[3] At the time of the merger, Phi Alpha had initiated around 7,000 members.[2]

Ten years later in 1969, Phi Sigma Delta merged with Zeta Beta Tau.[4][2]

## Symbols

[edit]

The fraternity's badge was a gold rectangular plaque, wider than it was tall, and superimposed with the raised letters ΦΑ and surrounded with a row of pearls.[1] Its pledge button was circular, containing a blue circle within a red circle.[1] Phi Alpha's colors were maroon and blue.[1] Its flower was the rose.[1]

Its magazine, the Phi Alpha Quarterly began publication in 1917.[1] Its member-only, "esoteric" publication was the Phi Alpha Bulletin.[1]

## Chapters

[edit]

This is the list of the 35 chapters of Phi Alpha fraternity.[1][3][5][2]

Chapter  | Charter date and range  | Institution  | Location  | Status  | References

|
|
|
|
|

Alpha | October 14, 1914 – April 6, 1959  | George Washington University | Washington, D.C. | Merged (ΦΣΔ)  | [a]
Beta | February 22, 1916 – April 6, 1959  | University of Maryland, Baltimore | Baltimore, Maryland | Merged (ΦΣΔ)  | [b]
Gamma | December 26, 1916 – 1947  | Georgetown University | Washington, D.C. | Inactive  |
Delta | February 15, 1918 – 1924  | Northwestern University | Evanston, Illinois | Inactive  |
Epsilon | April 2, 1919 – April 6, 1959  | University of Maryland, College Park | College Park, Maryland | Merged (ΦΣΔ)  | [c]
Zeta | December 7, 1919 – 1925  | Yale University | New Haven, Connecticut | Inactive  |
Eta | December 30, 1919 – 1938; 1955 – 1959  | Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, Maryland | Withdrew  | [d]
Theta | 1920 – April 6, 1959  | New York University | New York City, New York | Merged (ΦΣΔ)  | [e]
Iota | February 20, 1920 – 1925  | Columbia University | New York City, New York | Inactve  |
Kappa | March 3, 1921 – 1939; 1952 – April 6, 1959  | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Merged (ΦΣΔ)  | [f]
Lambda | February 19, 1921 – 1927  | DePaul University | Chicago, Illinois | Inactive  |
Mu | April 16, 1922 – 1947  | University of Virginia | Charlottesville, Virginia | Merged (ΦΣΔ)  |
Nu | March 16, 1924 – 1940; 19xx ? – April 6, 1959  | Clark University | Worcester, Massachusetts | Merged (ΦΣΔ)  | [g]
Xi |  |  |  | Unassigned  |
Omicron | 1924 – April 6, 1959  | University of New Hampshire | Durham, New Hampshire | Merged (ΦΣΔ)  | [h]
Pi | December 14, 1924 – April 6, 1959  | Boston University | Boston, Massachusetts | Merged (ΦΣΔ)  | [i]
Rho | February 6, 1925 – April 6, 1959  | University of Richmond | Richmond, Virginia | Merged (ΦΣΔ)  | [j]
Sigma | October 25, 1925 – 1933; 1938 – April 6, 1959  | Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute | Brooklyn, New York | Merged (ΦΣΔ)  | [k]
Tau | March 31, 1927 – 1953  | College of William & Mary | Williamsburg, Virginia | Inactive  | [l]
Upsilon | April 24, 1927 – 1940  | University of Chicago | Chicago, Illinois | Inactive  |
Phi | March 19, 1927 – April 6, 1959  | Duquesne University | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Merged (ΦΣΔ)  | [m]
Chi | October 15, 1927 – 1959  | Duke University | Durham, North Carolina | Inactive  | [n]
Psi | February 20, 1928 – 1930  | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Inactive  | [o]
Omega | May 11, 1928 – 1943  | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Inactive  |
Alpha Alpha | December 1, 1928 – 1935  | West Virginia University | Morgantown, West Virginia | Inactive  |
Alpha Beta | May 4, 1929 – April 6, 1959  | Temple University | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Merged (ΦΣΔ)  | [p]
Alpha Gamma | December 7, 1930 – 1958  | Wayne State University | Detroit, Michigan | Inactive  | [q]
Alpha Delta | 1930–1941  | University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit, Michigan | Inactive  | [r]
Alpha Epsilon | 1937–1942  | St. John's College | Annapolis, Maryland | Inactive  | [s]
Alpha Zeta | 1938–1941  | St. John's University | New York City, New York | Inactive  | [t]
Alpha Eta | 1940 – April 6, 1959  | City College of New York | New York City, New York | Merged (ΦΣΔ)  | [u]
Alpha Theta | 1941–1947  | Washington College | Chestertown, Maryland | Inactive  |
Alpha Iota | 1953 – April 6, 1959  | Cornell University | Ithaca, New York | Merged (ΦΣΔ)  | [v]
Alpha Kappa | 1957 – April 6, 1959  | Bronx Branch of Hunter College | The Bronx, New York City, New York | Merged (ΦΣΔ)  | [w]
Alpha Lambda | 1958 – April 6, 1959  | City College of New York Uptown  | Manhattan, New York | Merged (ΦΣΔ)  | [x]
Alpha Mu | 1958 – April 6, 1959  | Pratt Institute | Brooklyn, New York | Merged (ΦΣΔ)  | [y]

1. ^ Became the Phi Alpha chapter of Phi Sigma Delta with the national merger of the two fraternities.
2. ^ Became the Phi Beta chapter of Phi Sigma Delta with the national merger of the two fraternities.
3. ^ Became the Phi Epsilon chapter of Phi Sigma Delta with the national merger of the two fraternities.
4. ^ Became a chapter of Tau Epsilon Phi.
5. ^ Merged with an existing Phi Sigma Delta chapter with the national merger of the two fraternities.
6. ^ Merged with the Zeta chatper of Phi Sigma Delta with the national merger of the two fraternities.
7. ^ Became the Phi Nu chapter of Phi Sigma Delta with the national merger of the two fraternities.
8. ^ Chapter formed from Tau Gamma Phi, established in 1922. It became the Phi Omicron chapter of Phi Sigma Delta with the national merger of the two fraternities.
9. ^ Became the Phi Pi chapter of Phi Sigma Delta with the national merger of the two fraternities.
10. ^ Chapter formed from Tri Phi, established in 1916. It became the Phi Rho chapter of Phi Sigma Delta with the national merger of the two fraternities.
11. ^ Chapter formed from Tau Kappa Rho, established in 1917. It became the Phi Sigma chapter of Phi Sigma Delta with the national merger of the two fraternities.
12. ^ Chapter formed from Zeta Theta Pi, established in 1924.
13. ^ Chapter formed from Phi Delta Rho, established in 1927. Its became the Phi Phi chapter of Phi Sigma Delta with the national merger of the two fraternities.
14. ^ Chapter formed from Alpha Pi Delta, established in 1922.
15. ^ Chapter formed from Delta Beta Gamma, established in 1923.
16. ^ Chapter formed from Koffee Klub, established in 1927. It became the Phi Alpha Beta chapter of Phi Sigma Delta with the national merger of the two fraternities.
17. ^ Chapter formed from Epsilon Tau, established in 1927.
18. ^ Chapter formed from Epsilon Tau, established in 1923.
19. ^ Chapter formed from the Key Society, established in 1932.
20. ^ Chapter formed from Phi Iota Lambda.
21. ^ Became the Phi Alpha Eta chapter of Phi Sigma Delta with the national merger of the two fraternities.
22. ^ Merged with the Beta chapter of Phi Sigma Delta with the national merger of the two fraternities.
23. ^ Became the Phi Alpha Kappa chapter of Phi Sigma Delta with the national merger of the two fraternities.
24. ^ Became the Phi Allpha Mu chapter of Phi Sigma Delta chapter with the national merger of the two fraternities.
25. ^ Merged with the Alpha Omicron chapter of Phi Sigma Delta with the national merger of the two fraternities.

## See also

[edit]

* List of Jewish fraternities and sororities

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VIII–13. ISBN 978-0963715906.
2. ^ a b c d Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (April 12, 2025) "Inactive - Men's" Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed May 8, 2025.
3. ^ a b Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VIII–17–18. ISBN 978-0963715906.
4. ^ Our Antecedent Groups – Phi Alpha
5. ^ Phi Alpha Quarterly. 1936.

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North American Interfraternity Conference

Currently active members of the NIC|

* Acacia
* ΑΓΡ
* ΑΓΣ
* ΑΔΓ
* ΑΔΦ
* ΑΕΠ
* ΑΚΛ
* ΑΣΦ
* ΑΤΩ
* ΑΦΑ
* ΑΦΔ
* ΑΧΡ
* ΒΣΨ
* ΒΘΠ
* ΒΧΘ
* ΒΥΧ
* ΔΚΕ
* ΔΛΦ
* ΔΣΦ
* ΔΤΔ
* ΔΥ
* ΔΦ
* ΔΧ
* FarmHouse
* ΖΒΤ
* ΖΨ
* ΘΔΧ
* ΘΞ
* ΙΝΔ
* ΙΦΘ
* ΚΑ Society
* ΚΑΨ
* ΚΔΡ
* ΚΔΦ
* ΛΧΑ
* ΛΘΦ
* ΛΣΥ
* ΛΦΕ
* ΝΑΚ
* ΠΚΑ
* ΠΚΦ
* ΠΛΦ
* ΣΑΕ
* ΣΑΜ
* ΣΒΡ
* ΣΛΒ
* ΣΝ
* ΣΠ
* ΣΤΓ
* ΣΦ
* ΣΧ
* ΤΔΦ
* ΤΕΦ
* ΤΦΣ
* Triangle
* ΦΒΣ
* ΦΓΔ(FIJI)
* ΦΙΑ
* ΦΚΘ
* ΦΚΣ
* ΦΚΤ
* ΦΚΨ
* ΦΛΧ
* ΦΜΔ
* ΦΣΚ
* ΦΣΦ
* ΧΦ
* ΧΨ
* ΨΥ
* ΩΔΦ

Active former members of the NIC|

* ΔΕΨ
* ΔΨ
* ΚΑ Order
* ΚΣ
* ΦΔΘ
* ΣΦΔ
* ΣΦΕ
* ΤΚΕ
* ΘΧ

Defunct former members of the NIC|

* ΑΚΠ
* ΑΛΤ
* ΒΚ
* ΒΣΡ
* ΔΑΠ
* ΔΣΛ
* ΘΚΝ
* ΘΚΦ
* ΘΥΩ
* ΚΝ
* ΟΑΤ
* ΣΔΡ
* ΣΛΠ
* ΣΜΣ
* ΣΤΦ
* ΦΑ
* ΦΒΔ
* ΦΕΠ
* ΦΗΨ
* ΦΚ
* ΦΛΘ
* ΦΠΦ
* ΦΣΔ
* ΦΣΕ

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