Kappa Phi Lambda (fraternity)

Kappa Phi Lambda (ΚΦΛ) was an American collegiate fraternity. It was established in 1862 at Jefferson College and was dissolved in 1874. Kappa Phi Lambda is considered one of the members of the "Jefferson Triad" of fraternities founded at Jefferson College, with the other two being Phi Gamma Delta and Phi Kappa Psi.[1] However, with the demise of Kappa Phi Lambda, the remaining two fraternities are known as the Jefferson Duo.[1]

Kappa Phi Lambda
ΚΦΛ
Founded1859; 165 years ago (1859)
August 3, 1862 (1862-08-03)
Jefferson College
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
TypeSocial
AffiliationIndependent
MottoMentes Multæ Consilium Unum
SymbolA Balance; a Sunburst; a Mountain
PublicationThe Palladium
Chapters10
Dissolved1874
MergerScattered

History edit

Kappa Phi Lambda was established as a local fraternity in 1869.at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania (now Washington & Jefferson College).[2][3][1] Its founder was Jacob Janeway Belville.[4]

On August 3, 1862, it was incorporated as a national fraternity and added a chapter at Mount Union College. Other chapters were formed at University of Michigan, Monmouth College, Northwestern University, Moore's Hill, Ohio Wesleyan University, University of Virginia, Denison University, Westminster College (Pennsylvania), Western University of Pennsylvania.[2] A national Kappa Phi Lambda convention was held in Philadelphia in 1867.[1] Following that convention, the Denison University chapter became disenchanted with the authoritarianism of the national leadership and joined the Beta Theta Pi.[1]

Following dissolution in 1874, the Mount Union College chapter joined Delta Tau Delta, the University of Michigan chapter joined Psi Upsilon, and the Northwestern University chapter joined Sigma Chi.[2]

The last known chapter of Kappa Phi Lambda was at Westminster College (Pennsylvania). It operated sub-rosa until 1920 and petitioned Phi Gamma Delta. In 1948, it became the Epsilon Pi chapter of Sigma Nu.[5]

Symbols edit

The fraternity's official badge consisted of a shield, with a balance, a sunburst, a mountain, and a pennant bearing the fraternity's letters.[1] Its motto was "Mentes Multae Consilim Unum" or "Many Minds Conspire One".[2] Its publication was The Palladium.[1]

Notable members edit

Notable alumni include Robert M. Nevin, a Congressman from Ohio.[1]

Chapters edit

These are the known chapters of Kappa Phi Lambda Fraternity. Chapter names are conjectural, from the order in Baird's Manual. The fraternity is dormant, while some chapters lived on as part of other fraternities.

Chapter Charter date and range Institution City State Status References
Alpha 1959–1869 Jefferson College Cannonsburg Pennsylvania Inactive [a][b]
Beta ? August 3, 18621874 Mount Union College Alliance Ohio Merged (ΔΤΔ) [c]
Gamma ? 18651870 University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan Dispersed (ΨΥ, others) [1]: 483 [d]
Delta ? 186x ? – 187x ? Monmouth College Monmouth Illinois Inactive
Epsilon ? 18641869 Northwestern University Evanston Illinois Merged (ΣΧ) [e]
Zeta ? 186x ?–18xx ? Moores Hill Collegiate Institute
Moores Hill Indiana Inactive
Eta ? 1864–187x ? Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware Ohio Inactive
Theta ? 18641874 University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia Inactive
Iota ? 18671869 Denison University Granville Ohio Merged (ΒΘΠ) [f]
Kappa ? 1864–1948 Westminster College New Wilmington Pennsylvania Merged (ΣΝ) [g].

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ The "PhiGam" reference explains this chapter began in 1859, explaining that the Baird's date in 1862 is incorrect. 1859 appears correct, due to the level of detail in the PhiGam reference. Nevertheless, the fraternity appears to have celebrated the 1862 date. Perhaps as the date of becoming a national?
  2. ^ Chapter ceased under anti-fraternity pressure as Jefferson College merged with Washington College, in 1865-1868.
  3. ^ Chapter became the Sigma Prime chapter of Delta Tau Delta, lasting in that form until 1886.
  4. ^ When the chapter closed, its members joined several fraternities, with the majority entering the existing Phi chapter of Psi Upsilon
  5. ^ Chapter became the Omega chapter of Sigma Chi.
  6. ^ Chapter formed from Eta Eta (local), established in 1866. Its became the Alpha Eta chapter of Beta Theta Pi.
  7. ^ This chapter continued as a local fraternity after the end of the fraternity. In 1948 it became the Epsilon Psi chapter of Sigma Nu

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Chamberlin, William F. (1907). "Kappa Phi Lambda". The Phi Gamma Delta. Vol. 30. Indianapolis. pp. 482–483.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ a b c d Baird, W.M. Raimond (1905). "Kappa Phi Lambda". Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (6 ed.). New York: The Alcom Company. p. 434.
  3. ^ Torbenson, Craig L.; Gregory S. Parks (2009). "Appendix: National College Fraternities and Sororities". Brothers and Sisters: Diversity in College Fraternities and Sororities. Associated University Presse. p. 278. ISBN 978-0-8386-4194-1.
  4. ^ Eaton, Samuel John Mills; Woods, Henry (1902). "J. Janeway Belville". Biographical and Historical Catalogue of Washington and Jefferson College. Philadelphia: G.H. Buchanan and Company. OCLC 2379959. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
  5. ^ Herron, James. "Kappa Phi Lambda Fraternity, 1862-1874". The Jefferson College Times. The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. Retrieved 29 September 2013.