Phi Lambda Theta | |
---|---|
ΦΛΘ | |
Founded | November 18, 1920 Pennsylvania State University |
Type | Social |
Affiliation | NIC (former) |
Emphasis | Originally Odd Fellows, then General |
Scope | National (US) |
Member badge | |
Colors | Purple and Gold |
Flower | White Carnation |
Publication | Star and Balance |
Chapters | 5 |
Merged with | Scattered |
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.
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]
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, 1920–1938 | Pennsylvania State University | University Park, Pennsylvania | Merged | Joined the Gamma Omega chapter of ΑΤΩ | [5] |
Beta | April 29, 1923–1938 | Kansas State University | Manhattan, Kansas | Merged | Became the Alpha Chi chapter of ΒΚ (see ΘΧ) | [6] |
Gamma | 1925–1940 | Bucknell University | Lewisburg, Pennsylvania | Withdrew | Became a local fraternity in 1948. Joined ΧΦ in 1984. |
[7] |
Delta | 1927–1941 | Waynesburg University | Waynesburg, Pennsylvania | Merged | Became Lambda chapter of ΚΣΚ. It renamed itself ΚΦΝ (local) in 1959, then joined ΘΧ. |
[8] |
Epsilon | 1928–1938 | Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania | Merged | Became the Alpha Omega chapter of ΒΚ (see ΘΧ) | [9] |
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.
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