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Phi Lambda Theta
ΦΛΘ
FoundedNovember 18, 1920; 103 years ago (1920-11-18)
Pennsylvania State University
TypeSocial
Affiliation NIC (former)
EmphasisOriginally Odd Fellows, then General
ScopeNational (US)
Member badge
Colors  Purple and   Gold
Flower White Carnation
PublicationStar and Balance
Chapters5
Merged withScattered

Phi Lambda Theta (ΦΛΘ) was a social fraternity founded at Pennsylvania State College in 1920 for students who belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. [1] It was originally named Three Links.

History

November 18, 1920, is designated as Founders' Day as on that date the body first met as an organization officially recognized by the Pennsylvania College college board on fraternity affairs. The name was changed from Three Links to Phi Lambda Theta on May 11, 1922. Modification of the non-college lodge requirement was effected on September 13, 1922, and all lodge affiliations and connections were severed in January, 1924.

In 1930 it was admitted to Junior membership in the North American Interfraternity Conference. [2]

Chapters

These were the chapters of Phi Lambda Theta. All were active at dissolution: [3] [4]

Name Chartered Institution Location Status Notes Reference
Alpha November 18, 19201938 Pennsylvania State University University Park, Pennsylvania Merged Joined the Gamma Omega chapter of ΑΤΩ [5]
Beta April 29, 19231938 Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas Merged Became the Alpha Chi chapter of ΒΚ (see ΘΧ) [6]
Gamma 19251940 Bucknell University Lewisburg, Pennsylvania Withdrew Became a local fraternity in 1948.
Joined ΧΦ in 1984.
[7]
Delta 19271941 Waynesburg University Waynesburg, Pennsylvania Merged Became Lambda chapter of ΚΣΚ. It renamed itself ΚΦΝ
(local) in 1959, then joined ΘΧ.
[8]
Epsilon 19281938 Susquehanna University Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania Merged Became the Alpha Omega chapter of ΒΚ (see ΘΧ) [9]

Dissolution

Rather than a coordinated merger strategy, dissolution of Phi Lambda Theta appears to have been a sudden rush for the door, late in the Great Depression. The Kansas State and Susquehanna chapters became chapters of Beta Kappa in 1938 through separate petitions, and the founding chapter was absorbed into Alpha Tau Omega. Shortly after these departures the chapter at Bucknell became a local under that name. [10] In 1984 it would join Chi Phi as the Phi Lambda Theta chapter. Meanwhile, the Waynesburg chapter opted for Kappa Sigma Kappa, its home for 18 years in what looked to be the fourth of the scattered nationals. But it would later withdraw from that fraternity and merge into Theta Chi, as did the vast majority of chapters of ΒΚ. Thus eventually, three of ΦΛΘ's five chapters were absorbed by Theta Chi, considering mergers.

References

  1. ^ Tamara L. Brown; Gregory Parks; Clarenda M. Phillips (11 March 2005). African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 58–. ISBN  0-8131-2344-5.
  2. ^ "The Rattle of Theta Chi". XVIII (6). March 1930: 33–34. {{ cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= ( help)
  3. ^ Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (12 ed.). G. Banta Company. 1930. p. 167.
  4. ^ William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive)". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 17 December 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  5. ^ This chapter had its origination in the Three Links Club, formed in 1920.
  6. ^ This chapter had its origination in the Topeka Club (local), formed in 1921.
  7. ^ This chapter had its origination in a short-lived chapter of the Commons Clubs, formed in 1924.
  8. ^ This chapter had its origination in Theta Psi Omega (local), formed in 1912. After 18 years in ΚΣΚ it withdrew as a local, then joined ΘΧ as its Eta Omicron chapter.
  9. ^ This chapter had its origination in Phi Beta Rho (local), formed in 1923.
  10. ^ The Cross & Crescent. 1939. p. 146.