Wikipedia

Phi Delta Gamma (professional)

Phi Delta Gamma (ΦΔΓ) was an American professional fraternity in the field of forensics (public speaking).[1][2] It merged into Tau Kappa Alpha in 1935.[3][1]

Phi Delta Gamma
ΦΔΓ
FoundedJune 7, 1924; 99 years ago (1924-06-07)
College of William and Mary
TypeProfessional
AffiliationPFA (former)
EmphasisForensics
ScopeNational (U.S.)
PublicationThe Literary Scroll
Merged withTau Kappa Alpha (1935)

History edit

Phi Delta Gamma was founded on June 7, 1924, at the College of William & Mary, combining local literary society's from the University of Iowa, Georgetown University School of Law, the University of Minnesota, the University of Illinois, Ohio University, George Washington University, and the University of Southern California.[1][4] Its founders were members of a committee that was organized after a 1922 meeting held in Urbana, Illinois.[3]

The founders were:[5][3]

  • William O. Moore, State University of Iowa
  • George O. Hurley, State University of Iowa
  • Kenneth E. Oberholtzer, University of Illinois
  • Dean William A. Hamilton, College of William and Mary
  • Russell D. Tubaugh, Ohio University
  • Paul A. Lomax, University of Southern California
  • William Waldo Girdner, George Washington University
  • Carl E. Anderson, University of Minnesota.

The fraternity's purpose was to "maintain and stimulate a greater interest in the work of literary societies, debate clubs, and dramatic organization in colleges and universities and to foster the upbuilding of literary societies."[1]

Phi Delta Gamma was a founding member of the Professional Interfraternity Conference in 1928.[6] Phi Delta Gamma merged into Tau Kappa Alpha in 1935.[3][1]

Symbols edit

The fraternity's badge was illustrated in Baird's as a diamond shape with an enameled center that featured a scroll with the Greek letters ΦΔΓ on it in the diagonal, from the left corner of the scroll to the bottom right corner. There was a star above and below the scroll.

 
Phi Delta Gamma University of Minnesota, 1924

Membership edit

Phi Delta Gamma's members included male undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty.[2][7][4] Membership was through a pledging and initiation process, with new members being elected based on debating experience, qualities of scholarship, and interest in literary events.[8][9][10] The fraternity also awarded honorary memberships.[11]

Activities edit

Phi Delta Gamma pursued intersociety rather than intercollegiate forensics.[1][12] Its activities included debates and forensic contests, awarding silver loving cups to members of the winning team.[1][13] The DC Alpha chapter awarded a silver loving cup annually to winner of a freshman oratory contest, while he CA Alpha chapter awarded a loving cup annually for the best speech in the state.[14][15][16] The VA Alpha chapter purchased three gold medals to be awarded annually for "unusual merit" to a men and women in forensics and either a man or woman for dramatics at the College of William and Mary.[17] The society's members also organized guest speakers and social events such as an annual banquet.[11][18][19]

The fraternity's magazine was The Literary Scroll[5][1]

Governance edit

Chapters elected the following officers: president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer; some chapters had a sergeant-at-arms and chaplain.[17][20][21]

Chapters edit

Following is a list of the chapters of Phi Delta Gamma. [a]

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
IA Alpha June 4, 1924 – 1935 Iowa State University Ames, Iowa Merged (ΤΚΑ) [3]
OH Alpha June 4, 1924 – 1935 Ohio University Athens, Ohio Merged (ΤΚΑ) [3]
CA Alpha June 4, 1924 – 1935 University of Southern California Los Angeles, California Merged (ΤΚΑ) [3]
DC Alpha June 4, 1924 – 1935 George Washington University Washington, D.C. Merged (ΤΚΑ) [3]
VA Alpha June 4, 1924 – 1935 College of William & Mary Williamsburg, Virginia Merged (ΤΚΑ [3][4]
MN Alpha June 4, 1924 – 1935 University of Minnesota Minneapolis Merged (ΤΚΑ) [3][2]
IL Alpha March 3, 1925 – 1935 University of Illinois Urbana, Illinois Merged (ΤΚΑ) [3][22][23][4][b]
AL Alpha March 22, 1925 – 1935 Auburn University Auburn, Alabama Merged (ΤΚΑ) [3][24]
TX Alpha 1925–1935 University of Texas Austin, Texas Merged (ΤΚΑ) [3]
IL Beta April 9, 1927 – 1935 Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois Merged (ΤΚΑ) [3][25]
OH Beta 1927–1935 Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio Merged (ΤΚΑ) [3]
IN Alpha May 16, 1928 – 1935 Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana Merged (ΤΚΑ) [3][21]
IA Beta University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Inactive [26]
  1. ^ Names are likely, but conjectural. The Minnesota chapter listing is mentioned in Minnesota Gopher yearbooks as the MN Alpha chapter of the fraternity.
  2. ^ Sources indicate this chapter was founding chapter, established before June 1924. However, it was not authorized as a campus organization until March 3, 1925.

Notable members edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Robson, John, ed. (1963). Baird's Manuel of American College Fraternities (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. p. 751.
  2. ^ a b c "The Year in Forensics". The Gopher: Annual Publication of the Student Body of the University of Minnesota. 39: 238. 1925 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p William Raimond Baird (1977). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. G. Banta Company. pp. 820–821.
  4. ^ a b c d "Frat Installed Here by Phi Delta Gamma". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. 1924-06-10. p. 9. Retrieved 2023-08-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b Banta's Greek Exchange: Published in the Interest of the College Fraternity World. Vol. 16. George Banta Company, Incorporated. 1928. p. 274.
  6. ^ "Ely Represents Alpha Rho Chi at Conferences in Steps Taken for Proposed Professional Interfraternity" (PDF). The ARCHI of Alpha Rho Chi. Vol. IX, no. 7. July 31, 1928. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  7. ^ Rahe, Herbert Edgar (1939). The History of Speech Education in Indiana Colleges 1820-1938. Vol. 2. University of Wisconsin--Madison. p. 253 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ "Phi Delta Gamma". The Daily Illini. Urbana, Illinois. 1925-10-28. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-08-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Student Debaters Awarded Honors". Austin American-Statesman. Austin, Texas. 1926-03-09. p. 10. Retrieved 2023-08-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Six Men Are Initiated by Forensic Honorary". The Daily Illini. Urbana, Illinois. 1926-05-26. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-08-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b "Phi Delta Gamma". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. 1926-06-09. p. 10. Retrieved 2023-08-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Inter-College Debates Plan to be Pushed". The Daily Illini. Urbana, Illinois. 1926-01-16. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-08-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "AG Debaters Reach Final Contest". The Illini Aggravator. 4 (8): 1. May 1925 – via Google Books.
  14. ^ "Student Wins Cup". Los Angeles Evening Express. 1929-12-11. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-08-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Douglas Bement Speaks". Evening Star. Washington, D.C. 1929-02-17. p. 10. Retrieved 2023-08-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Freshmen to Orate". Evening Star. Washington, District of Columbia. 1929-03-15. p. 27. Retrieved 2023-08-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b "Purchased Medals for the Students; Will Be Awarded Men and Women Prominent in Debate". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. 1925-05-17. p. 23. Retrieved 2023-08-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Forensic Group Sponsors W. & M. Address". The Richmond News Leader. Virginia. 1935-04-02. p. 7. Retrieved 2023-08-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "McNutt is Chief Speaker at Annual Dinner Honoring Leading Students". The Indianapolis Star. Indiana. 1935-06-02. p. 30. Retrieved 2023-08-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Phi Delta Gamma Picks Pruden '27 as President". The Daily Illini. Urbana, Illinois. 1926-01-24. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-08-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ a b "New I.U. Fraternity: Phi Delta Gamma Organized". The Indianapolis Times. Indiana. 1928-05-16. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-08-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Inter-Coolege Debates Plan to be Pushed". The Daily Illini. Urbana, Illinois. 1926-01-16. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-08-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "New Groups Win Okeh of Council". The Daily Illini. Urbana, Illinois. 1925-03-04. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-08-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Fraternity Gets Charter". The Birmingham News. Alabama. 1925-03-23. p. 13. Retrieved 2023-08-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Weller to Assist in Installation at N.U." The Daily Illini. Urbana, Illinois. 1927-04-10. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-08-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ Gerber, John C. (2010-09-13). A Pictorial History of the University of Iowa. University of Iowa Press. p. 120. ISBN 978-1-60938-023-6 – via Google Books.
  27. ^ "Monticello Boy to Edit Daily Iowan". The Gazette. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 1927-05-13. p. 11. Retrieved 2023-08-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Ap (1988-07-09). "Theodore F. Koop, 81, Former CBS Executive". The New York Times. p. 33, Section 1. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  29. ^ Lovienger Nomination, Hearing Before the Committee on Commerce United States Senate. U.S. Government Printing Office. June 4, 1963. p. 2 – via Google Books.
  30. ^ Baumgarter, William A.; Reitz, Bruce A.; Gott, Vincent L.; Shumway, Sara J. (February 2009). "Norman E. Shumway, MD, Ph.D.: Visionary, innovator, humorist". JTCVS: Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 137 (2): 269–277. doi:10.1016/j.jtcvs.2008.11.008. PMID 19185135.
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