The Club Hispano Americano (Hispanic American Club) is the first known Latin American student organization founded at the collegiate level in the United States. It was founded at

Lehigh University Lehigh University (LU), in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States, is a private university, private research university. The university was established in 1865 by businessman Asa Packer. Lehigh University's undergraduate programs have been mixed ...

in 1887. The club was created by international Latin American students who came to the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

to study before returning to their countries. Most of the members in the Club Hispano Americano were in

fraternities A fraternity (; whence, " brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club or fraternal order traditionally of men but also women associated together for various religious or secular aims. Fraternity in the Western conce ...

. After its creation in 1887, other Latin American students started forming similar clubs throughout the northeast. An example of this is the Club Hispano Americano, founded at

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (; RPI) is a private university, private research university in Troy, New York, United States. It is the oldest technological university in the English-speaking world and the Western Hemisphere. It was establishe ...

(RPI) in 1890, became another organization to serve wealthy international Latin American students. The Club Hispano Americano at RPI became the first Latin American student organization at RPI. Some of its members were also in Anglo fraternities on campus. The Club Hispano Americano served as a foundation for other student groups that would follow its lead into the twentieth century.

References

{{Reflist Student organizations in the United States Hispanic and Latino American organizations Student organizations established in 1887 1887 establishments in Pennsylvania