Tau Kappa Alpha () was a collegiate

honor society In the United States, an honor society is an organization that recognizes individuals who rank above a set standard in various domains such as academics, leadership, and other personal achievements, not all of which are based on ranking systems. ...

devoted to the promotion of

public speaking Public speaking, is the practice of delivering speeches to a live audience. Throughout history, public speaking has held significant cultural, religious, and political importance, emphasizing the necessity of effective rhetorical skills. It all ...

(forensics). Established in 1908, it merged with Delta Sigma Rho, a similar society, to form Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha in 1963

History

Tau Kappa Alpha was organized on May 13, 1908, at

Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis ( ), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, Marion ...

, primarily through the efforts of Oswald Ryan, a student at

Butler University Butler University is a private university in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university has over 60 major academic fields of study within six colleges in the arts, business, communic ...

From the description of Delta Sigma Rho--Tau Kappa Alpha archives, 1939-1974. (Butler University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 43964512
/ref> and Hugh Thomas Miller who was the

Lieutenant Governor of Indiana The lieutenant governor of Indiana is a Constitution of Indiana, constitutional office in the US state of Indiana. Republican Party (United States), Republican Micah Beckwith, who assumed office January 13, 2025, is the incumbent. The office hol ...

.Robson, John, ed. (1963). ''Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities'' (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. pp. 605-606. They were assisted by James J. Boyle, G. Claris Adams, Herbert R. Hyman, William Heilman, and Roger W. Wallace. The organization of the group was unusual. Charters were not granted to institutions but to eligible persons in each state upon the petition of students from a representative institution or institutions in such state. Expansion within that state was entrusted to the charter members of the state chapter. This plan aimed to enable the election of desirable men from colleges not large enough or perhaps not strong enough to warrant the installation of or to maintain a separate chapter. The structure was found to be impracticable. In a 1914 convention, the society was reorganized and chapters were given an independent existence in the usual way. Women were admitted into Tau Kappa Alpha in 1916. The professional fraternity, Phi Delta Gamma merged into Tau Kappa Alpha in 1935. The society became a member of the

Association of College Honor Societies The Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) is a voluntary association of national collegiate and post-graduate honor societies. It was established on December 30, 1925 by six organizations: Alpha Omega Alpha, the Order of the Coif, Phi B ...

in 1955. In 1963, it had 101 active chapters, 47 inactive chapters, and 22,500 initiates. Its headquarters were located at the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

Ann Arbor, Michigan Ann Arbor is a city in Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The 2020 United States census, 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851, making it the List of municipalities in Michigan, fifth-most populous cit ...

. Tau Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Rho merged to form Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha on August 18, 1963.

Symbols

The Greek letters stood form "Honor for Merit". Its motto was "Intelligent, Responsible, and Free Speech in a Free Society". The society's emblem was key in the shape of a scroll, featuring the Greek number of for the year of establishment and the Greek letters , surrounded by eleven stars representing the eleven founders and a laurel wreath of reward. Its colors were light and dark purple. Its quarterly publication was ''The Speaker,'' first published in 1914.''''

Membership

The principal qualification for membership was participation in an intercollegiate oratorical or debating contest. Members were elected by the several state councils in their respective states. Alumni of accredited institutions could also be elected.

Chapters

Tau Kappa Alpha chartered 148 chapters.

Notable members

Guy Potter Benton Guy Potter Benton (May 26, 1865 – June 29, 1927) was an American educator who was president of Upper Iowa University, Miami University, the University of Vermont, and the University of the Philippines. He was instrumental in the founding of Del ...

, president of

Upper Iowa University Upper Iowa University (UIU) is a private university in Fayette, Iowa, United States. It enrolls around 3,000 students and offers distance education programs that include centers in the U.S., an online program, an independent study program, an ...

Miami University Miami University (informally Miami of Ohio or simply Miami) is a public university, public research university in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the second-oldest List of colleges and universities in Ohio, university in Ohi ...

, the

University of Vermont The University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, commonly referred to as the University of Vermont (UVM), is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Burlington, Vermont, United States. Foun ...

, and the

University of the Philippines The University of the Philippines (UP; ) is a Higher education in the Philippines#State universities and colleges, state university system in the Philippines. It is the country's national university, as mandated by List of Philippine laws, Re ...

* Herman T. Briscoe, professor of chemistry at

Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a state university system, system of Public university, public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. The system has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration o ...

* Russell L. Caldwell, historian and academic * Fred Pierce Corson,

bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...

of The Methodist Church and the

United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a worldwide mainline Protestant Christian denomination, denomination based in the United States, and a major part of Methodism. In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was ...

* Horace Hall Edwards,

Virginia House of Delegates The Virginia House of Delegates is one of the two houses of the Virginia General Assembly, the other being the Senate of Virginia. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbe ...

and mayor of

Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...

Paul Elliott Martin Paul Elliott Martin (31 December 1897 – 1975) was an American bishop of the Methodist Church and the United Methodist Church, elected in 1944. He also distinguished himself as a Methodist pastor and district superintendent, as well as by notable ...

of The Methodist Church and the

* Thomas L. Martin, soil

agronomist An agriculturist, agriculturalist, agrologist, or agronomist (abbreviated as agr.) is a professional in the science, practice, and management of agriculture and agribusiness. It is a regulated profession in Canada, India, the Philippines, the Uni ...

and professor and dean of the College of Applied Sciences at

Brigham Young University Brigham Young University (BYU) is a Private education, private research university in Provo, Utah, United States. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is the flagship university of the Church Educational System sponsore ...

* Edward J. O'Neill,

United States Army General In the United States military, a general is the most senior general-grade officer; it is the highest achievable commissioned officer rank (or echelon) that may be attained in the United States Armed Forces, with exception of the Navy and Coast G ...

Harold B. Singleton Harold Brown Singleton (April 19, 1906 – January 17, 1994) was an American lawyer, fourteen-year member of the Virginia House of Delegates and for years judge in Lynchburg and Bedford and Amherst Counties. Early and family life Harold Singlet ...

and judge in Lynchburg, Bedford County, and

Amherst County Amherst County is a county, located in the Piedmont region and near the center of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The county is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area, and its county seat is also named Amhers ...

William Angie Smith William Angie Smith (21 December 1894 – 1974) was a bishop of The Methodist Church and the United Methodist Church, elected in 1944. Birth and family William was born 21 December 1894 in Elgin, Texas, the son of William Angie , Sr. and Mary ...

of The Methodist Church and the

Matthew Lyle Spencer Matthew Lyle Spencer (7 July 1881 – 10 February 1969) was an American minister, writer and professor. He was the president of the University of Washington and later served as the Dean of the School of Journalism at Syracuse University. Early ...

, president of the

University of Washington The University of Washington (UW and informally U-Dub or U Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington, United States. Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast of the Uni ...

and the dean of the

School of Journalism A journalism school is a school or department, usually part of an established university, where journalists are trained. 'J-School' is an increasingly used term for a journalism department at a school or college. Journalists in most parts of the ...

Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York, United States. It was established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church but has been nonsectarian since 1920 ...

Robert Whitehead Robert Whitehead may refer to: * Robert Whitehead (engineer) (1823–1905) was an English engineer and entrepreneur who built the first modern torpedo. * Robert Whitehead (Derbyshire) (1856–1938), English land owner and businessman * Robert Whi ...

References

{{Association of College Honor Societies Honor societies Public speaking organizations Merged fraternities and sororities Student organizations established in 1908 Former members of Association of College Honor Societies

History

Symbols

Membership

Chapters

Notable members

See also

References