Alpha Delta Theta (social)

Alpha Delta Theta (ΑΔΘ) was a national collegiate sorority operating in the United States from 1919 to 1939. The sorority officially affiliated with Phi Mu fraternity on August 30, 1939.

Alpha Delta Theta
ΑΔΘ
FoundedNovember 10, 1921 (November 10, 1921)
Transylvania University
TypeAcademic Sorority
AffiliationNPC (former)
ScopeNational
MottoΟΥΚ ΕΣΤΙΝ ΑΡΧΗΧΩ ΡΙΣΑΙΤΙΑΣ
Colors  Turquoise Blue,   Scarlet and   Silver
SymbolLit candlestick
FlowerFrench Sweet Pea
PublicationThe Silhouette (1924-1929)
   The Portals (1929-1939)
Chapters25 originally
13 at merger with ΦΜ
MergedPhi Mu (1939)
WebsitePhi Mu Homepage

Beginnings

Ten female students at Transylvania College in Lexington, Kentucky formed Alpha Theta, a local sorority. Alpha Theta approached an unnamed national sorority about membership; their request was denied because of Alpha Theta's affiliation with Hamilton, a junior college for women. Having heard that the National Panhellenic Conference "declared the number of national sororities was too small", the Alpha Thetas decided to form their own national group. On November 10, 1921, Alpha Theta became Alpha Delta Theta (Lamb, p. 45),[1][2] though "The Pledge Handbook of Alpha Delta Theta" cites the founding date as November 10, 1919.[3]

A National Organization

Within three years of existence, Alpha Delta Theta created 8 collegiate chapters. The sorority was granted "associate membership" by the National Panhellenic Conference in October 1923. Three years later, the sorority had full membership. "It was admitted to the Congress at an earlier date in its history than any other fraternity" (Lamb, p. 45).[1]

On March 15, 1926, Alpha Delta Theta is incorporated as a national organization in the state of Kentucky (Lamb, p. 45).

Alpha Delta Theta grew quickly and with much strength in its twenty years of existence. Two years after its founding, the sorority began expanding to other campuses. The History of Phi Mu: The First 130 Years (1982) mentioned that Alpha Delta Theta had installed "a total of 25 collegiate chapters and 21 alumnae groups" (p. 45). The 1932- 1933 academic year was especially noteworthy for ADT, as "it had the distinction of breaking all fraternity records in scholarship... when 34 per cent of its chapters held first place in scholarship on their respective campuses" (Lamb, p. 45).[2][1]

Merger with Phi Mu

In spite of these gains, Alpha Delta Theta had come into its flowering somewhat late when compared to the other established chapters on its campuses, and thus faced several difficulties.

During the 1920s, while Alpha Delta Theta was prospering in the establishment of chapters, competing organizations had not been idle. There was a massive wave of building projects sweeping through those same venerable campuses where Alpha Delta Theta was placing its chapters. A decade, or sometimes multiple decades of alumni were able to bankroll and guarantee these projects where a startup chapter may not have such resources. Perhaps in a more kind economy, the passage of time would have resolved this in Alpha Delta Theta's favor, but the strain of the Great Depression meant that Greek participation dropped precipitously; larger chapters became shells of themselves, while small chapters were wiped out. Rather than a steep downturn followed by a quick, roaring reset to the economy, the Great Depression lingered, and more than anything, this led to a crisis where chapter after chapter failed: valued chapters on impressive campuses. National officers and chapter alumnae were faced with the potential of complete loss, a prospect that had been unthinkable just five years prior. (Lamb, p. 42)

Thus, Alpha Delta Theta was not able to survive the 1930s. "With some larger chapter houses that were unable to cope with the post-depression years and with the extensive campus building programs necessary to be competitive, its Grand Council decided to take an unprecedented step" (Lamb, p. 42). In the summer of 1938, Alpha Delta Theta officers sought out a national organization with history, values, and ideals similar to their own- Phi Mu was ultimately chosen. Carefully and quietly, Alpha Delta Theta and Phi Mu prepared the Letter of Agreement and other pertinent legal documents required for the distribution of Alpha Delta Theta's assets. "All officers, chapters and alumnae groups were contacted in January 1939, and by May the unanimous approval as required by both Constitutions, was in hand" (Lamb p. 42). "Unanimous approval" was an extraordinary feat in itself, and makes clear the focus that this crisis allowed these leaders. The summer was spent answering questions and resolving concerns about the merger. The affiliation became official on August 30, 1939 (Lamb, p. 43).

At the conclusion of the 26th session of the National Panhellenic Conference in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, on November 4, 1939, ADT's NPC delegate Violet Young Gentry announced her organization's affiliation with Phi Mu fraternity. The next day, Alpha Delta Theta corporation was dissolved. Phi Mu officers began initiating collegiate and alumnae members of Alpha Delta Theta. Phi Mu gained five new chapters through affiliation and eight through campus mergers. Four new alumnae groups from Alpha Delta Theta were installed as Phi Mu alumnae chapters; ADT's eighteen alumnae groups in cities where Phi Mu had alumnae chapters were disbanded and absorbed into Phi Mu (Lamb, p. 43).[2][1]

Alpha Delta Theta Insignia and Traditions

The local, Alpha Theta, used "Esse Non Videri" for the motto; the sweet pea for the flower; silver and Turquoise blue for the colors.

The badge of Alpha Delta Theta is described as being of yellow gold, Delta shaped, and "superimposed upon a gold key placed horizontally" (Lamb, p. 44). The center of the Delta was black enamel. Within the Delta, the Alpha was in the lower left hand angle, the Delta in the apex, and the theta in the lower right hand angle. Between the Alpha and theta was a "lighted candle in a candlestick.... with crossed palm branches above" (Lamb, p. 44). The border could have fifteen pearls with an emerald at each angle of the Delta.[4]

The pledge pin was "a vertical bar of silver, bearing the raised letters, Alpha Delta Theta, one above the other" (Lamb, p. 44).

Emily H. Butterfield, in College Fraternity Heraldry, (1931) described the coat-of-arms as "argent; on a chief gules three keys of the first per fess, in base two palm branches saltirewise vert. Crest. A candle argent in candlestick flared of the same. Supporters. Two unicorns proper" (p. 28). The motto, a Greek phrase, was written on a banner under the shield. This coat-of-arms was adopted at the national convention in 1928- it is based entirely on ritualistic symbolism (Butterfield, p. 28).

The official publications were The Portals and The Silhouette (Lamb, p. 45)[4]

The national philanthropy was the supplying of books and periodicals to Buffalo School, Moore's Creek, Kentucky (Lamb, p. 45). The school was remote, rural, and obviously in need of reading materials.

Founder's Day was celebrated every November 10. All members gave one dollar to the Alpha Delta Theta philanthropic project (Lamb, p. 45).[2]

Chapters

The chapters of Alpha Delta Theta at the time of the merger are as follows. Active chapters at that time are in bold, inactive chapters noted in italics. Notes indicate whether two chapters merged or a new chapter was formed on the campus.[2][1][5]

Name Chartered Institution Location Status Notes Reference
Alpha November 10, 1919–November 6, 1939 Transylvania University Lexington, KY Merged, ΦΜ Became the Delta Theta chapter of ΦΜ [6]
Beta 1922–1937 University of Kentucky Lexington, KY Inactive [7]
Gamma 1923–1939 University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH Merged, ΦΜ Joined the Delta Zeta chapter of ΦΜ [8]
Delta 1923–1934 University of Illinois Champaign, IL Inactive [9]
Epsilon 1923–1933 Butler University Indianapolis, IN Inactive [10]
Zeta 1923–1932 University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE Inactive [11]
Eta 1924–1932 Ohio State University Columbus, OH Inactive [12]
Theta 1924–1936 University of Washington Seattle, WA Inactive [13]
Iota 1924–1934 University of California Berkeley, CA Inactive [14]
Kappa 1925–1934 Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware, OH Inactive [15]
Lambda 1926–1939 George Washington University Washington, D.C. Merged, ΦΜ Joined the Beta Alpha chapter of ΦΜ [16]
Mu 1926–1939 University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Merged, ΦΜ Joined the Eta Delta chapter of ΦΜ [17]
Nu 1927–December 6, 1939 Nebraska Wesleyan University Lincoln, NE Merged, ΦΜ Became the Zeta Kappa chapter of ΦΜ [18]
Xi 1927–1939 Adelphi University Garden City, NY Merged, ΦΜ Joined the Psi chapter of ΦΜ [19]
Omicron 1928–1939 Brenau University Gainesville, GA Merged, ΦΜ Joined the Mu chapter of ΦΜ [20]
Pi 1928–1938 (revived?) Howard College (Samford) Homewood, AL Merged, ΦΜ Joined the Alpha Gamma chapter of ΦΜ [21]
Rho 1929–1935 Ohio University Athens, OH Inactive [22]
Sigma 1930–December 13, 1939 University of Tulsa Tulsa, OK Merged, ΦΜ Became the Epsilon Gamma chapter of ΦΜ [23]
Tau 1931–1935 University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN Inactive [24]
Upsilon 1931–1933 University of Missouri Columbia, MO Inactive [25]
Phi 1931–1939 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Merged, ΦΜ Joined the Iota Sigma chapter of ΦΜ [26]
Chi 1932–1938 University of Nevada Reno, NV Inactive [27]
Psi 1932–1939 Queens University of Charlotte Charlotte, NC Merged, ΦΜ Joined the Gamma Gamma chapter of ΦΜ [28]
Omega 1932–November 18, 1939 Bethany College Bethany, WV Merged, ΦΜ Became the Beta Nu chapter of ΦΜ [29]
Alpha Alpha 1934–November 12, 1939 College of Charleston Charleston, SC Merged, ΦΜ Became the Alpha Kappa chapter of ΦΜ [30]

The Creed of Alpha Delta Theta

To live each day as if it were the last:

To lift each moment to its clearest height;

To profit by the pages of the past

That I may judge between the wrong and right;

To hold my friends above my own desire,

And take the heavy end of friendship's load,

Yet blame them not if they perchance should tire,

And choose a gentler path, a smoother road;

To serve humanity as though 'twere God,

And see the human in His face divine;

To answer Truth's command and Beauty's nod,

And make their splendid consummations mine;

To dare to follow where I cannot lead-

This is my Alpha Delta Theta creed!

(Lamb, p 45)

References
  • Butterfield, Emily H. (1931) College Fraternity Heraldry. The Collegiate Press: George Banta Publishing Co., Menasha, WI.
  • Lamb, Annadell Craig (1982) The History of Phi Mu: The First 130 Years. Phi Mu, Atlanta, GA with Maury Boyd and Associates, Compolith Graphics, Indianapolis, IN.
  • Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, multiple editions.
  1. William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), section showing Alpha Delta Theta chapters". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 31 December 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  2. Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VIII-29–30. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  3. The Pledge Handbook of Alpha Delta Theta. 1929.
  4. William Raimond Baird (1977). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. G. Banta Company. pp. 804–805., 19th ed.
  5. Staff (15 June 2015). "When Two Became One: The Alpha Delta Theta Merger". phimublog.com. Phi Mu Fraternity. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  6. The predecessor group called Alpha Theta (local), at then-Transylvania College originated in 1916.
  7. The predecessor group, originating at Kentucky in 1921 was called Beta Theta (local).
  8. The predecessor group, formed prior to 1923 at Cincinnati was called Theta Alpha Pi (local).
  9. The predecessor group, originating at Illinois in 1922 was called Aeolia.
  10. The predecessor group, originating at Butler in 1921 was called Delta Pi Omega (local).
  11. The predecessor group, originating at Nebraska in 1923 was called Alpha Theta (local).
  12. The predecessor group, originating at Ohio State in 1915 was called the Kleman Club (local).
  13. The predecessor group, originating at Washington in 1920 was called Alpha Nu Delta (local).
  14. The predecessor group, originating at Cal in 1919 was called the Keweah Club (local).
  15. The predecessor group, originating at Ohio Wesleyan in 1924 was called Gamma Theta Nu (local).
  16. The predecessor group, formed in 1921 at GW was called Phi Sigma (local).
  17. The predecessor group, formed earlier in 1926 at UCLA was called Phi Sigma Pi (local).
  18. The predecessor group, formed in 1907 at Nebraska Wesleyan was called Omega Rho Omega (local).
  19. The predecessor group, formed in 1922 at Adelphi was called Delta Phi Omega (local).
  20. The predecessor group, formed in 1927 at Brenau was called Delta Phi Sigma (local).
  21. The predecessor group, formed in 1925 at then-Howard College was called Beta Delta Sigma (local).
  22. The predecessor group, formed in 1922 at Ohio was called the Presome Club (local).
  23. The predecessor group, formed in 1894 at Tulsa was called Kappa Gamma Chi (local).
  24. The predecessor group, formed in 1927 at Minnesota was called Phi Delta Sigma (local). This chapter went inactive about four years prior to the national merger with ΦΜ, itself already present on the Minnesota campus.
  25. The predecessor group, formed in 1918 at Missouri was called Chi Beta Epsilon (local).
  26. The predecessor group, formed in 1927 at USC was called Delta Theta (local).
  27. The predecessor group, formed in 1923 at Nevada was called Beta Delta (local).
  28. The predecessor group, formed in 1925 at then-Queens College was called Kappa Kappa Chi (local).
  29. The predecessor group, formed in 1924 at Bethany was called Gamma Chi (local).
  30. The predecessor group, formed in 1927 at Charleston was called Pi Gamma Chi (local).
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