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Alpha Gamma (ΑΓ) was an American collegiate fraternity. It was founded at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee in 1867. Perhaps 21 chapters may have developed, with prominent chapters at Washington & Jefferson College, Trinity College (Duke), Mercersburg College, Southwestern Presbyterian University, Cumberland University, and the West Virginia University. Eight of these are known.[1]
| Alpha Gamma | |
|---|---|
| ΑΓ | |
| Founded | 1867[1] Cumberland University Lebanon, Tennessee |
| Type | Social |
| Chapters | 9 known |
| Outcome | Dissolved (1880s) several chapters joined ΑΤΩ |
| Headquarters | US |
The fraternity's badge consisted of a golden shield with a globe, six stars, and a pennant with the letters ΑΓ centered on the globe.[2]
The fraternity eventually disbanded, with Baird's indicating that this occurred in the 1880s.[1] The Trinity (Duke) and West Virginia chapters met their demise because of local anti-fraternity laws.[1] Several chapters, including those at Washington & Jefferson College, Southwestern Presbyterian University at Alabama became chapters of Alpha Tau Omega, with the Washington & Lee chapter joining Chi Phi. These chapter withdrawals occurred over a period of several years, with no specific merger process.[2][1]
Chapters edit
Known chapters of Alpha Gamma include the following. Those which merged into other national organizations are in bold, those which went dormant are in italics.[2]
| Name | Chartered | Institution | Location | Status | Notes | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | March 1867–18xx ? | Cumberland University | Lebanon, Tennessee | Dissolved | ||
| Beta | 186x–March 12, 1882 | Washington & Jefferson College | Washington, Pennsylvania | Withdrew | Became the Alpha Pi chapter of ΑΤΩ | [3] |
| Gamma | 18xx–18xx | Trinity College (Duke) | Durham, North Carolina | Dissolved | Killed by anti-fraternity legislation | |
| Delta | 18xx–18xx | Mercersburg College | Mercersburg, Pennsylvania | Dissolved | [4] | |
| Epsilon | 1878–April 10, 1881 | Southwestern Presbyterian University (Rhodes College) | Memphis, Tennessee | Withdrew | Became the Alpha Tau chapter of ΑΤΩ | [5] |
| Zeta | 18xx–18xx | West Virginia University | Morgantown, West Virginia | Dissolved | Killed by anti-fraternity legislation | |
| Eta | 18xx–18xx | unknown | ||||
| Theta | 1875–October 24, 1885 | University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Withdrew | Became the Beta Delta chapter of ΑΤΩ | |
| Name? | 186x ?–February 19, 1872 | Washington and Lee University | Lexington, Virginia | Withdrew | Became the Nu chapter (Northern Order) of ΧΦ | [6] |
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Baird, William Raimond (1905). "Alpha Gamma". Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (6th ed.). The Alcolm Company. p. 433.
- ^ a b c 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 10 March 2022. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
- ^ In 1883, soon after the merger, this chapter closed. ΑΤΩ reopened it in 1901.
- ^ Now a prep school, Mercersburg had a collegiate section until 1893.
- ^ During its existence, this chapter was situated in Clarksville, Tennessee. In 1925 the school was moved to Memphis.
- ^ The dates for this chapter may not quite line up. Baird's Archive indicates the chapter formed in the late 1860s, allowing it to become the Nu chapter of Chi Phi on February 19, 1872, which seems to be a firm date. However, this would have made the unnamed Alpha Gamma fraternity unit a chapter earlier than its implied order in Baird's. Was it Alpha Gamma's Eta chapter? Could a chapter of Chi Phi have been formed on the W&L campus independently, which then absorbed the Alpha Gamma chapter? The Chi Phi chapter appears to have withdrawn from ΑΓ in 1871, joined Chi Phi, and then gone dormant in 1878.