Wikipedia

Kappa Nu

Kappa Nu (ΚΝ) was an American college fraternity that was active from 1911 to 1961 when it merged with Phi Epsilon Pi.[1]

Kappa Nu
ΚΝ
FoundedNovember 12, 1911; 112 years ago (1911-11-12)
University of Rochester
TypeSocial
Former AffiliationNIC
StatusMerged
Merge DateOctober 14, 1961
SuccessorPhi Epsilon Pi
EmphasisJewish
ScopeNational
Colors  Purple and   White
SymbolStar
JewelAmythest
PublicationKappa Nu
Chapters27
HeadquartersRochester, New York
United States

History

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Kappa Nu was founded at the University of Rochester on November 12, 1911.[2] The founders were:

  • Joseph Bernhardt
  • Abraham Levy
  • Joseph Lazarus
  • Harold Leve
  • Morris Lazersohn
  • Louis Gottlieb

All six were pre-medical or medical students.[1] Their intention was to create a local-only fraternity for Jewish students.[2]

In 1917, five loosely connected groups (U of Rochester and others created by men who had left Rochester) held a convention in Rochester and set up Kappa Nu as a National Fraternity. By the 1918 convention, Kappa Nu had ten chapters. It continued to add chapters through 1931.[3] Its executive offices were in Rochester, New York.[2]

On October 14, 1961, Kappa Nu's thirteen active chapters voted to merge with Phi Epsilon Pi fraternity.[2] Of these, three chapters declined to participate in the merger at campuses where Phi Epsilon Pi already existed.[2] In 1970, Zeta Beta Tau absorbed Phi Epsilon Pi.[4][2]

Symbols

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The badge is a diamond shield displaying a monogram of the Greek letters ΚΝ arranged horizontally along one plane below which is a six-pointed star and above which are קנ (Kuf Nun, the equivalent letters in Hebrew), standing for קשר נעורים or Kesher Neurim ("Ties of Youth").[1]: 54  The jeweled base of the pin is surrounded by twenty pearls with an amethyst set at each of the corners. Its colors were purple and white.[5][4]

As of 1920, the fraternity had a semi-annual publication called Kappa Nu.[5] It also published a magazine, The Reporter, three times a year.[2]

Chapters

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Kappa Nu established 27 chapters.[1][5][4][2]

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status Location
Alpha November 12, 1911 – October 14, 1961 University of Rochester Rochester, New York Inactive
Beta 1915–1935; 1947 – October 14, 1961 New York University New York City, New York Merged ΦΕΠ [a]
Gamma 1915–1926 Columbia University New York City, New York Inactive [b]
Delta 1915–1925 Union College Schenectady, New York Inactive
Epsilon 1917–1934 Boston University Boston, Massachusetts Inactive
Zeta 1917 – October 14, 1961 University at Buffalo Buffalo, New York Merged ΦΕΠ
Eta 1918–1934 Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts Inactive
Theta March 1918–1919 New York State College for Teachers Albany, New York Inactive [6]
Iota 1918 – October 14, 1961 Union College Schenectady, New York Merged ΦΕΠ [c]
Kappa 1918 – October 14, 1961 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, New York Withdrew

ΖΒΤ

[d]
Lambda 1919–1927 Western Reserve University Cleveland, Ohio Inactive
Mu 1919–1953 University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Inactive
Nu 1919 – October 14, 1961 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Withdew ΠΛΦ [e]
Xi 1921–1932; 1948 – October 14, 1961 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Withdrew

ΖΒΤ

[f][d]
Omicron 1921–1934 University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois Inactive [g]
Pi 1921 – October 14, 1961 University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama Merged ΦΕΠ [h]
Rho 1921–1923 University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio Inactive [7]
Sigma 1922–1956 Tulane University New Orleans, Louisiana Inactive [i]
Tau 1922 – October 14, 1961 University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, California Merged ΦΕΠ
Upsilon 1931–1941 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas Inactive [j]
Phi 1933 – October 14, 1961 Alfred University Alfred, New York Merged ΦΕΠ [k]
Chi 1939–1942 Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, Louisiana Inactive [l]
Psi 1935–1937 University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Inactive [m]
Omega 1951–19xx ? New York University, Washington Square Greenwich Village, New York City, New York Inactive
Alpha Beta 1951 – October 14, 1961 Cornell University Ithaca, New York Withdrew ΦΣΕ [n]
Alpha Gamma Unassigned
Alpha Delta 1952 – October 14, 1961 University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, California Merged ΦΕΠ [o]
Alpha Epsilon Inactive
Alpha Zeta 195x ? – October 14, 1961 City University of New York New York City, New York Merged ΦΕΠ
Alpha Omega 1952 – October 14, 1961 Wayne State University Detroit, Michigan Merged ΦΕΠ
  1. ^ Chapter formed from Rho Sigma Alpha. After going dormant, it was re-established as a colony in 1946.
  2. ^ Chapter formed from Rho Sigma Beta.
  3. ^ Chapter formed from the Apollo Club, established in 1917.
  4. ^ a b Became a Zeta Beta Tau chapter.
  5. ^ Became a Pi Lambda Phi chapter
  6. ^ Chapter formed from Omega Kappa (local), established in 1920. After dormancy, it reformed as a colony in 1947.
  7. ^ Chapter formed from Rho Delta Rho, established in 1920.
  8. ^ Chapter formed from Alabama Club, established in 1920.
  9. ^ Chapter formed from Kayen Club, established in 1921.
  10. ^ Chapter formed from Phi Epsilon, established in 1930.
  11. ^ Chapter formed from Kappa Eta Phi, established in 1930.
  12. ^ Chapter formed from Garson Club (local), established in 1927.
  13. ^ Chapter formed from Beta Tau Delta.
  14. ^ Became a Phi Sigma Epsilon chapter.
  15. ^ Chapter formed from Delta Nu, established in 1947.

Notable members

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Sanua, Marianne Rachel (2003), Going Greek: Jewish College Fraternities in the United States, 1895–1945, Wayne State University Press, ISBN 0-8143-2857-1
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (July 6, 2024) "Kappa Nu". Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed August 20, 2024.
  3. ^ Our Antecedent Groups - Kappa Nu
  4. ^ a b c 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-9–10. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  5. ^ a b c Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. G. Banta Company. 1920. pp. 217–218.
  6. ^ "Bnai Chaim - Kappa Beta Fraternity - SUNY Albany - U Albany - Alumni". Kappa Beta Fraternity. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  7. ^ University of Cincinnati Going Greek: Fraternities
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