Phi Lambda Alpha

Latino American fraternity (1919–1931)

Phi Lambda Alpha

ΦΛΑ
Founded| June 21, 1921; 103 years ago (1921-06-21)
New York City, New York, US
Type| Social
Affiliation| Independent
Status| Merged
Merge date| December 26, 1931
Successor| Phi Iota Alpha
Phi Sigma Alpha
Emphasis| Latino
Scope| North America
Motto| Semper Parati
Semper Juncti
Publication| Boletin de Fi Lambda Alfa
Chapters| 7
Headquarters|
United States

Phi Lambda Alpha (ΦΛΑ) was the first Latin American–based Greek lettered collegiate fraternity in the Western United States. It was established in 1921.[1] It merged to form Phi Iota Alpha in 1931.

## History

[edit]

Phi Lambda Alpha fraternity was a local fraternity established in 1919 at the University of California, Berkeley.[1][2] It established communications with Pi Delta Phi, established in 1916 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[2] Later, they included a non-Greek letter secret society, the Union Hispano Americana, established at Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1898.[2] The three organizations merged, adopting the name of Phi Lambda Alpha Fraternity, with Pi Delta Phi's distinctive emblem and constitution and the goals and motto of Union Hispano American, This new union formalized on June 19, 1921, in New York City, New York.[2]

After Phi Lambda Alpha was organized, other societies joined as new chapters. The Club Latino-Americano founded in 1919 at Colorado School of Mines became the Delta chapter in 1927.[2] The Federación Latino-Americana founded in 1926 at Columbia University joined in 1928 as the Epsilon chapter.[2] The Club Hispania founded in 1929 at Cornell University, joined in 1931 as the Zeta chapter.[2] The Club Hispano-Americano founded in 1921 of Tri-State College joined in 1929 as the Eta chapter.[2] In addition, the Alfa Tenoxtitlan Militant chapter was established in 1929 by alumni of Phi Lambda Alpha in Mexico.[3]

On December 26, 1931, Phi Lambda Alpha merged with Sigma Iota fraternity to form Phi Iota Alpha.[2] Phi Sigma Alpha in Puerto Rico also traces their origins to Phi Lambda Alpha.[4]

## Symbols

[edit]

Phi Lambda Alpha's motto was Semper Parati Semper Juncti. Its annual publication was Boletin de Fi Lambda Alfa.[2]

## Chapters

[edit]

Following are the chapters of Phi Lambda Alpha.[2][5]

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

|
|
|
|
|

Alpha | June 19, 1921 – December 26, 1931  | Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute | Troy, New York | Merged (ΦΙΑ) | [a][b]
Beta | June 19, 1921 – December 26, 1931  | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Merged (ΦΙΑ) | [c][b]
Gamma | June 19, 1921 – December 26, 1931  | University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, California | Merged (ΦΙΑ) | [1][d][b]
Delta | 1927–1931  | Colorado School of Mines | Golden, Colorado | Inactive  | [e]
Epsilon | 1928 – December 26, 1931  | Columbia University | New York City, New York | Merged (ΦΙΑ) | [f][b]
Zeta | 1929 – December 26, 1931  | Cornell University | Ithaca, New York | Merged (ΦΙΑ) | [g][b]
Eta | 1931 – December 26, 1931  | Tri-State College | Angola, Indiana | Marged (ΦΙΑ) | [h][b]
Alfa Tenoxtitlan Militant | 1929–1931 ?  |  | Mexico | Inactive  | [i]

1. ^ Chapter formed from Union Hispano Americana, established in 1898.
2. ^ a b c d e f Became a chapter of Phi Iota Alpha with the national merger with Sigma Iota.
3. ^ Chapter formed from Pi Delta Phi, originally established in 1916, when the two fraternities merged.
4. ^ Chapter formed from Phi Lambda Alpha, established in 1919.
5. ^ Chapter formed from Club Latino-Americano, established in 1919.
6. ^ Chapter formed from the Federación Latino-Americana, established in 1926.
7. ^ Chapter formed from the Club Hispania, established in 1929.
8. ^ Chapter formed from the Club Hispano-Americano, established in 1921.
9. ^ This was an alumni chapter.

## See also

[edit]

* Cultural interest fraternities and sororites
* List of Latino fraternities and sororities

## References

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1. ^ a b c University of California Berkeley Blue & Gold Yearbook. Berkeley, California: University of California Berkeley. 1922. p. 600.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (October 20, 2024) "Phi Lambda Alpha". Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed December 4, 2024.
3. ^ "Sigma History" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
4. ^ "Historia Sigma". https://www.phisigmaalpha.org (in Spanish). Phi Sigma Alpha. Retrieved December 5, 2024. `{{cite web}}`: External link in ``|website=`` (help)
5. ^ "Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc. History: Origins, Milestones, and Traditions". Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity Inc. Retrieved 2024-12-04.