Phi Alpha (fraternity)

Phi Alpha
ΦΑ
FoundedOctober 14, 1914; 111 years ago (1914-10-14)
George Washington University
TypeSocial
Former affiliationNIC
StatusMerged
Merge dateApril 6, 1959
SuccessorPhi Sigma Delta
EmphasisJewish
ScopeNational
Member badge
Colors  Maroon and   Blue
FlowerRose
PublicationPhi Alpha Quarterly
Chapters33
Members7,000 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 1969.

History

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

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

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

  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 chapter 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

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Anson, Jack L.; Marchesani Jr., Robert F., eds. (1991). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VIII–13. ISBN 978-0-9637159-0-6. OCLC 25278937.
  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.; Marchesani Jr., 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 978-0-9637159-0-6. OCLC 25278937.
  4. ^ Our Antecedent Groups – Phi Alpha
  5. ^ Phi Alpha Quarterly. 1936.