Phi Lambda Theta

Phi Lambda Theta () was a social fraternity founded at Pennsylvania State College (now Pennsylvania State University) in 1920 for students who belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. It was originally named Three Links.

History

Phi Lambda Theta originated as the Three Links in 1920, at Pennsylvania State College in State College, Pennsylvania.Shepardson, Francis Wayland, ed.
Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 12th edition
'. Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/George Banta Publishing Company, 1930. p. 167. ''via'' Hathi Trust. It was organized by J. Clifford Jenkins and Charles W. Reed to unit students who belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The group's first meeting after being recognized by the college's board of fraternal affairs was on November 18, 1920, the date the fraternity designated as its Founders' Day.

The fraternity changed its name from Three Links to Phi Lambda Theta on May 11, 1922. Phi Lambda Theta ended its affiliation with the Odd Fellows in January 1924, following changes to the requirements for non-collegiate lodges on September 13, 1922.

A second chapter, ''Beta'', was established at Kansas State University in 1923, followed by ''Gamma'' at Bucknell University in 1925. ''Delta'' was chartered at Waynesburg University in 1927, followed by ''Epsilon'' at Susquehanna University in 1928. In 1930, Phi Lambda Theta was admitted to junior membership in the North American Interfraternity Conference. That year, it had initiated 400 members and three chapters owned houses. The fraternity also had an alumni association.

Phi Lambda Theta was governed by an annual national convention that elected five grand officers and a board of trustees. Each chapter sent two representatives to the convention, along with one delegate from the alumni association. Its executive committee oversaw operations between national conventions, and included the grand president, the grand vice president, and the grand secretary-treasurer.

Rather than a coordinated merger strategy, the dissolution of Phi Lambda Theta appears to have been a sudden rush for the door, late in the Great Depression. The Kansas State and Susquehanna chapters became chapters of Beta Kappa in through separate petitions, and the founding chapter was absorbed into Alpha Tau Omega.

Shortly after these departures, the chapter at Bucknell became a local under that name. In , it joined Chi Phi as the ''Phi Lambda Theta chapter'', a nod to its former national name. Meanwhile, the ''Waynesburg chapter'' opted for Kappa Sigma Kappa, its home for eighteen years; the chapter would later withdraw from ''that'' fraternity and merge into Theta Chi. Thus eventually, three of Phi Lambda Theta's five chapters were absorbed by Theta Chi, through later mergers. The main archive URL i
The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage

Symbols

The Phi Lambda Theta badge was diamond-shaped, with a black enamel center that featured the Greek letters , with a pearl above and below. Its pledge button was the shield of Penn State in blue and white.

The fraternity's colors were purple, gold, and grey. Its flag had a purple field, a grey border, and the Greek letters in gold. Its flower was the yellow chrysanthemum. Its publication was ''Star and Balance,'' first published in 1926''.''

Chapters

Phi Lambda Theta had five chapters. All were active at dissolution.

See also

* List of social fraternities

References

{{North American Interfraternity Conference

Defunct former members of the North American Interfraternity Conference
Student organizations established in 1920
1920 establishments in Pennsylvania