Alpha Lambda Tau

Alpha Lambda Tau
ΑΛΤ
The Coat of Arms of Alpha Lambda Tau
FoundedOctober 8, 1916; 108 years ago (1916-10-08)
Oglethorpe University
TypeSocial
Former AffiliationNIC
StatusDefunct
Defunct DateFall 1946
ScopeNational
Colors  Old gold and   Black
FlowerAmerican Beauty Rose
PublicationAlpha Lambda Tau and The Rose Leaf
Chapters23
Headquarters
United States

Alpha Lambda Tau (ΑΛΤ) was a men's college fraternity founded in 1916 at Oglethorpe University. For its first decade Alpha Lambda Tau permitted expansion only within the southern states. At the start of its fourth decade, in 1946, the national organization of Alpha Lambda Tau dissolved; the majority of its chapters affiliated with Tau Kappa Epsilon.

History

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Alpha Lambda Tau was founded at Oglethorpe University, of Brookhaven, Georgia (a northeastern suburb of Atlanta) on October 8, 1916.[1] The organization at Oglethorpe became Alpha chapter on March 27, 1921.[1] Being of southern origin, it was originally decided that the fraternity would not expand north of the Mason–Dixon line. By 1927, the anti-northern expansion policy was met with disapproval at the fraternity's national convention. The policy was dropped in 1927, and a charter was issued to a new chapter at the University of Illinois.[2]

Alpha Lambda Tau became a junior member of the NIC in 1928.

In 1946, the national organization of Alpha Lambda Tau dissolved. Five of the eight chapters that were active in 1946 merged with Tau Kappa Epsilon. Several chapters went to other national fraternities.[3] However, there was no official merger between Alpha Lambda Tau and another organization.

Chapters

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These were the chapters of Alpha Lambda Tau. Those active at the time of the merger are noted in bold, those inactive are noted in italics. Where chapters affiliated with ΤΚΕ their status is noted as "Merged"; where they joined other fraternities they are listed as "Withdrawn".[4][5]

Chapter Institution Location Dates Status Notes Reference
Alpha Oglethorpe University Brookhaven, GA March 27, 1921–1943 Dormant [a][5]
Beta Auburn University[b] Auburn, AL 1922–July 1947 Merged Became the Beta-Lambda chapter of ΤΚΕ. [b][c][5]
Gamma Mercer University Macon, GA October 13, 1923–1948 Withdrew Revived the Eta chapter of ΣΝ. [d][6]
Delta Louisiana Tech University Ruston, LA May 31, 1925–April 1947 Merged Became the Beta-Zeta chapter of ΤΚΕ in April 1947. [e][7]
Epsilon University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC 1925–1930 Dormant [f][5]
Zeta North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC January 22, 1925–January 1947 Merged Became the Beta-Beta chapter of ΤΚΕ in January 1947. [8]
Eta Samford University[g] Homewood, AL April 15, 1926–1940 Dormant [g][h][9]
Theta University of Georgia Athens, GA 1928–1942 Dormant [i][5]
Iota Presbyterian College Clinton, SC 1927–1951 Withdrew Became the Zeta-Theta chapter of ΣΝ in January 1951. [j]
Kappa Wofford College Spartanburg, SC January 14, 1928–1947 Dormant [k][10]
Lambda University of Illinois Champaign, IL 1928–1932 Dormant [l]
Mu University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 1928–1936 Dormant [m][5]
Nu Lyon College Batesville, AR 1929–1930 Dormant [n][11]
Xi University of Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN May 5, 1929–1947 Withdrew Became the Delta Epsilon chapter of ΠΚΑ in 1947. [o][12][13]
Omicron Transylvania University Lexington, KY 1929–1941 Withdrew Became the Beta Mu chapter of ΔΣΦ in 1947. [p][14]
Pi University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL 1931–1938 Dormant [5]
Rho Culver–Stockton College Canton, MO 1931–1932 Dormant [q][5]
Sigma University of Kentucky Lexington, KY January 30, 1932–1935 Dormant [r][15]
Tau University of Maryland College Park, MD December 15, 1934–February 1947 Merged Became the Beta-Delta chapter of ΤΚΕ in February 1947. [s][16]
Upsilon Michigan State East Lansing, MI 1934–193x ? Dormant [5]
Phi Missouri Mines Rolla, MO September 1935–1940 Dormant [t][5][17]
Chi ? Western Colorado University Gunnison, CO 1936–1937 Dormant [u][v]
Psi Trine University (Tri-State)[w] Angola, IN June 7, 1936–March 1947 Merged Became the Beta-Epsilon chapter of ΤΚΕ.
ΤΚΕ charter revoked.
Later became Theta-Xi chapter of ΚΣ (1966). 		[w][x][y][18]

Alumni chapters existed as of 1941 in Chicago, Birmingham and Atlanta.[18]

  1. ^ Founded as a local called the Alpha Lambda Club in 1916, became Alpha Lambda Tau's Alpha chapter on March 27, 1921.
  2. ^ a b Auburn University was named Alabama Polytechnic Institute until 1960.
  3. ^ This chapter originated as Omicron Tau Phi (local) in 1920.
  4. ^ This chapter originated as Alpha Lambda (local) in 1921.
  5. ^ This chapter originated as Alpha Omega (local) in 1901.
  6. ^ This chapter originated as Gamma Psi (local) in 1824 (!), most likely a typo for 1924 in the Baird's Archive.
  7. ^ a b Samford University had been known as Howard College until 1965.
  8. ^ This chapter originated as Phi Beta Tau (local) in January 1925.
  9. ^ This chapter originated as Kappa Phi Alpha (local) earlier in 1928, or before that year.
  10. ^ This chapter originated as the Rapier Club of Presbyterian College in 1926 prior to joining Alpha Lambda Tau.
  11. ^ This chapter originated as Beta Phi (local) in 1924.
  12. ^ This chapter originated as Phi Nu Beta (local) in 1923. It was the first chapter granted north of the Mason–Dixon line.
  13. ^ This chapter originated as the College Men Club (local) prior to 1928.
  14. ^ Originated as Eta Beta Kappa in 1925.
  15. ^ Originated as Phi Beta Gamma (local) in 1921.
  16. ^ Originated as Alpha Gamma Chi (local) in 1925. Withdrew from ΑΛΤ in 1941.
  17. ^ Originated as Phi Beta Epsilon (local) in 1926.
  18. ^ Originated as Phi Psi Phi (local) on October 26, 1930.
  19. ^ Originated as Iota Nu Delta (local) fraternity in 1914.
  20. ^ Originated as the Bonanza Club (local) in 1914.
  21. ^ Originated as Theta Tau Omega (local) in 1925.
  22. ^ The name of the Western Colorado chapter is conjectural; no name is listed in Baird's Archive, only the school. This could also have been the Omega chapter (or colony), as Baird's Archive, normally noting chapters in order of formation, lists it after Psi. Still, its chartering occurred in the same year.
  23. ^ a b Trine University was called Tri-State University until 2008.
  24. ^ Originated as the Alpha chapter of Sigma Mu Sigma in 1921.
  25. ^ Through no fault of its own, after being granted the name Beta-Epsilon chapter of ΤΚΕ in March 1947, ΤΚΕ was forced by NIC rules to revoke Beta-Epsilon's charter because Tri-State was not (yet) accredited; the chapter then affiliated with Kappa Sigma Kappa in 1952. In 1962 ΚΣΚ nationally merged with ΘΞ, but due to the accreditation issue the chapter reverted to local status again, calling itself Tau Kappa Lambda (local) [possibly Tau Kappa Sigma, some records showed this as Tau Kappa Sigma (local), in what appears to have been a typo.] In 1966, once school accreditation was in place, it would become the Theta-Xi chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity, with that new name a coincidence having no relation to the national fraternity into which its former national merged. To complete the historical record, ΤΚΕ's Beta-Epsilon chapter was recolonized in a separate effort on the Trine campus in 1989.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Yamacraw (Oglethorpe Yearbook), 1923 p.103
  2. ^ Noted in "Fraternity News" section, The Tri-Angle of Tri-State College, November 11, 1946, p.4.
  3. ^ Noted by Teke in its online history, accessed 6 Dec 2019.
  4. ^ William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), page with Alpha Lambda Tau records". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VIII–2–3. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  6. ^ Noted in the 1924 Cauldron (Mercer College Yearbook), p.173.
  7. ^ Noted in the 1933 Lagniappe (Louisiana Tech Yearbook), p.161
  8. ^ Noted in the 1944 Agromeck (NCSC yearbook), p.142.
  9. ^ Noted in the 1930 Entrenous (Howard College Yearbook) p.158.
  10. ^ Noted in The Bohemian of 1936 (Wofford College Yearbook), p.182.
  11. ^ Lyon College, 1872-2002: The Perseverance and Promise of an Arkansas College, accessed 18 Jul 2022.
  12. ^ The University of Chattanooga Sixty Years, p.225
  13. ^ The Shield and Diamond - Jun 1948, p34
  14. ^ John D. Wright Jr. (13 January 2015). Transylvania: Tutor to the West. University Press of Kentucky. p. 350. ISBN 978-0-8131-4920-2.
  15. ^ The Kentucky Kernel of January 19, 1932, p1, notes this chapter's formation as local Phi Psi Phi on October 26, 1930 for the purpose of eventual expansion into Alpha Lambda Tau.
  16. ^ Maryland Alumni News December 1934
  17. ^ 1936 Rollamo (MSM Yearbook) p 81
  18. ^ a b Noted in the 1941 Modulus (Tri-State College Yearbook) p 78.
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