The term Triad is used to designate a grouping of three national college
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 ...
or sororities that were founded at the same place.
The most famous and oldest triad is the Union Triad at
Union College
Union College is a Private university, private liberal arts college in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, and second in the s ...
in
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady ( ) is a City (New York), city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the United States Census 2020, 2020 census, the city's population of 67,047 made it the state's ninth-most populo ...
which includes some of the oldest national fraternities still in existence.
The second triad that formed is the Miami Triad at
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 ...
in
Oxford, Ohio
Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States. The population was 23,035 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. A college town, Oxford was founded as a home for Miami University and lies in the southwestern portion ...
.
There is also the Syracuse Triad at
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 ...
in
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse ( ) is a City (New York), city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States. With a population of 148,620 and a Syracuse metropolitan area, metropolitan area of 662,057, it is the fifth-most populated city and 13 ...
and the Lexington Triad in
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an Independent city (United States)#Virginia, independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 7,320. It is the county seat of Rockbridge County, Virg ...
.
There are also groupings of two fraternities that were established at the same place that are called Duos, including the Monmouth Duo at
Monmouth College
Monmouth College is a Private college, private Presbyterian Church (USA), Presbyterian Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Monmouth, Illinois. It enrolls 727 students in Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science de ...
in
Monmouth, Illinois and the Jefferson Duo at
Jefferson College in
Canonsburg,
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
.
Lexington Triad
The Lexington Triad is a group of three fraternities founded immediately after the
Civil War
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
by students from two colleges in
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an Independent city (United States)#Virginia, independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 7,320. It is the county seat of Rockbridge County, Virg ...
:
Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega (), commonly known as ATO, is an American social Fraternities and sororities, fraternity founded at the Virginia Military Institute in 1865 by Otis Allan Glazebrook. The fraternity has around 250 active and inactive chapters an ...
,
Kappa Alpha Order and
Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu () is an undergraduate Fraternities and sororities in North America, college fraternity founded at the Virginia Military Institute in 1869. Since its founding, Sigma Nu has chartered more than 279 chapters across the United States and Ca ...
.
Alpha Tau Omega was founded in
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. ...
in 1865 by students from
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute (VMI) is a public senior military college in Lexington, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1839 as America's first state military college and is the oldest public senior military college in the U.S. In k ...
.
Kappa Alpha Order was founded in 1865 at
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University (Washington and Lee or W&L) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States. Established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, it is among ...
.
Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu () is an undergraduate Fraternities and sororities in North America, college fraternity founded at the Virginia Military Institute in 1869. Since its founding, Sigma Nu has chartered more than 279 chapters across the United States and Ca ...
was founded in 1869 at Virginia Military Institute. The national headquarters of the Kappa Alpha Order and Sigma Nu are still in Lexington.
Miami Triad
The Miami Triad refers to three fraternities founded at
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 ...
in
Oxford, Ohio
Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States. The population was 23,035 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. A college town, Oxford was founded as a home for Miami University and lies in the southwestern portion ...
, in the 19th century:
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi (), commonly known as Beta, is a North American social Fraternities and sororities in North America, fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. One of North America's oldest fraternities, , it consist ...
in 1839,
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta (), commonly known as Phi Delt, is an international secret and social Fraternities and sororities in North America, fraternity founded in 1848, and currently headquartered, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, alo ...
in 1848, and
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi () International Fraternity is one of the largest North American social Fraternities and sororities, fraternities. The fraternity has 244 active undergraduate chapters and 152 alumni chapters across the United States and Canada and has ...
in 1855.
Some fraternal historians compare the significance of the Miami Triad to that of the earlier
Union Triad
The term Triad is used to designate a grouping of three national college fraternities or sororities that were founded at the same place. The most famous and oldest triad is the Union Triad at Union College in Schenectady, New York which includes so ...
.
Delta Zeta
Delta Zeta (, also known as DZ) is an international college Fraternities and sororities in North America, sorority founded on October 24, 1902, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Delta Zeta has 163 collegiate chapters in the United States and C ...
sorority was founded at Miami University in 1902, and
Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau (), commonly known as Phi Tau (), is a collegiate fraternity located in the United States. The fraternity was founded in 1906. As of May 2024, the fraternity has 161 chartered chapters, 83 active chapters, 7 associate chapters, a ...
fraternity in 1906.
Delta Sigma Epsilon sorority began there in 1914, merging in 1956 with Delta Zeta. The establishment of these numerous Greek organizations at Miami University resulted in it being known as the
Mother of Fraternities
The Mother of Fraternities usually refers to Union College in Schenectady, New York, U.S., or Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, U.S, both of which founded many early collegiate fraternities.
Origin
In the 19th century, multi-chapter collegiate f ...
.
It has been a tradition at some campuses that have chapters of each of the Miami Triad, such as the
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States. Two branch campuses are in the Kansas City metropolitan area on the Kansas side: the university's medical school and hospital ...
, and the
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi (Epithet, byname Ole Miss) is a Public university, public research university in University, near Oxford, Mississippi, United States, with a University of Mississippi Medical Center, medical center in Jackson, Miss ...
, to hold an annual party, formal, or ball, often referred to as "Miami Triad" or simply "Triad", to commemorate their tie to each other and the Miami Triad's place in Greek history. This tradition has waned in recent years and some schools have transformed the celebration into new events, such as the University of Kansas' Miami Triad Concert.
Pennsylvania Triad
The Pennsylvania Triad consists of
Phi Kappa Sigma, founded at the
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania (Penn or UPenn) is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. One of nine colonial colleges, it was chartered in 1755 through the efforts of f ...
in 1850, and
Phi Gamma Delta
Phi Gamma Delta (), commonly known as Phi Gam and sometimes written as FIJI, is a North American social fraternity with 139 active chapters and 13 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania ...
and
Phi Kappa Psi, founded in 1848 and 1852, respectively, at Jefferson College in
Canonsburg,
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
.
Syracuse Triad
The Syracuse Triad is the name given to the three women's sororities founded at
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 ...
:
Alpha Phi
Alpha Phi International Women's Fraternity (, also known as APhi) is an international Fraternities and sororities in North America, sorority with 175 active chapters and over 270,000 initiated members. Founded at Syracuse University in Syracuse, ...
,
Gamma Phi Beta, and
Alpha Gamma Delta
Alpha Gamma Delta (), also known as Alpha Gam, is an international Fraternities and sororities in North America, women's fraternity and social organization. It was founded in 1904 at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. It is the youngest m ...
.
Alpha Phi was founded in 1872 by 10 of the first 20 women admitted into the university.
Gamma Phi Beta was founded in 1874 and with it came the term "
sorority
In North America, fraternities and sororities ( and ) are social clubs at colleges and universities. They are sometimes collectively referred to as Greek life or Greek-letter organizations, as well as collegiate fraternities or collegiate sorori ...
", which was coined for it at the time of its founding.
Before that, women's Greek-letter organizations used the term "women's fraternity", since no more appropriate term existed. Alpha Gamma Delta completed the triad when it was established in 1904.
The three sororities maintain social bonds, coordinating special events and ceremonies for the three sororities on the Syracuse campus.
Union Triad
The Union Triad is a group of the three Greek-letter social fraternities in North America that were founded at
Union College
Union College is a Private university, private liberal arts college in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, and second in the s ...
in
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady ( ) is a City (New York), city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the United States Census 2020, 2020 census, the city's population of 67,047 made it the state's ninth-most populo ...
, including the
Kappa Alpha Society
The Kappa Alpha Society () is a North American social college fraternity. Founded in 1825, it was the progenitor of the modern fraternity system in North America. It is considered to be the oldest national, secret, Greek-letter social fraterni ...
that was established in 1825; the
Sigma Phi Society established in 1827; and the
Delta Phi
Delta Phi () is a fraternal society established in Schenectady, New York, on November 17, 1827. Its first chapter was founded at Union College, and was the third and final member of the Union Triad. In 1879, William Raimond Baird's '' America ...
established in 1827.
These three fraternities are also some of the oldest surviving national fraternities that provided the template for the modern social fraternity.
Other fraternities which owe their birth to Union College include
Psi Upsilon (1833),
Omicron Kappa Epsilon (1834),
Chi Psi (1841) and
Theta Delta Chi (1847). Collectively, these many fraternities have given Union College the title
Mother of Fraternities
The Mother of Fraternities usually refers to Union College in Schenectady, New York, U.S., or Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, U.S, both of which founded many early collegiate fraternities.
Origin
In the 19th century, multi-chapter collegiate f ...
.
Other groupings
Farmville Four
Four sororities were formed at
Longwood University
Longwood University is a public university in Farmville, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1839 as Farmville Female Seminary and colloquially known as Longwood or Longwood College, it is the third-oldest public university in Virginia and one of ...
, which are billed as the Farmville Four. These include
Kappa Delta (1897),
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Sigma Sigma Sigma (), also known as Tri Sigma, is a national American women's Fraternities and sororities in North America, sorority. It was established in 1898 at what is now Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, Farmville, Virginia.The so ...
(1898),
Zeta Tau Alpha (1898), and
Alpha Sigma Alpha (1901). The four faces of the campus bell tower commemorate these four organizations.
Jefferson Duo
The Jefferson Duo includes the fraternities
Phi Gamma Delta
Phi Gamma Delta (), commonly known as Phi Gam and sometimes written as FIJI, is a North American social fraternity with 139 active chapters and 13 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania ...
and
Phi Kappa Psi, founded in 1848 and 1852, respectively, at Jefferson College in
Canonsburg,
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
.
A third,
Kappa Phi Lambda, was also founded there but dissolved in 1874.
In 1865, Jefferson College combined with Washington College to become
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College (W&J College or W&J) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, United States. The college traces its origin to three Presbyterian m ...
.
Macon Magnolias
Two national sororities were founded at
Wesleyan College
Wesleyan College is a Private university, private, Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts Women's Colleges in the Southern United States, women's college in Macon, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1836, Wesleyan was the fi ...
in
Macon, Georgia
Macon ( ), officially Macon–Bibb County, is a consolidated city-county in Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States. Situated near the Atlantic Seaboard fall line, fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is southeast of Atlanta and near the ...
:
Alpha Delta Pi which was established in 1851, and
Phi Mu which was established in 1852. General (social) sororities were banned on that campus in 1914, but this occurred long after the two organizations, called the Macon Magnolias, had expanded nationally.
Monmouth Duo
The Monmouth Duo consists of
Pi Beta Phi
Pi Beta Phi (), often known simply as Pi Phi, is an international Fraternities and sororities in North America, women's fraternity founded at Monmouth College, in Monmouth, Illinois on April 28, 1867, as I. C. Sorosis, the first national secret c ...
and
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Kappa Kappa Gamma (), also known simply as Kappa or KKG, is a collegiate Fraternities and sororities in North America, sorority founded at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois, Monmouth, Illinois, United States.
It has a membership of more than ...
, formed in 1867 and 1870, respectively, at
Monmouth College
Monmouth College is a Private college, private Presbyterian Church (USA), Presbyterian Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Monmouth, Illinois. It enrolls 727 students in Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science de ...
in
Monmouth, Illinois.
Monmouth College banned social fraternities and sororities in the late 1870s but the two sororities continued to operate sub rosa.
The two sororities became national organizations that survive today because they had formed chapters at other colleges before Monmouth's ban.
Virginia Circle
The members of the Lexington Triad are sometimes grouped as part of the Virginia Circle, which includes several other fraternities founded in Virginia roughly during period of the Lexington Triad:
Kappa Sigma
Kappa Sigma (), commonly known as Kappa Sig or KSig, is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at the University of Virginia in 1869. Kappa Sigma is one of the five largest international Fraternities and sororities in North America, fr ...
and
Pi Kappa Alpha at the
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia (UVA) is a Public university#United States, public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson and contains his The Lawn, Academical Village, a World H ...
and
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Phi Epsilon (), commonly known as SigEp, is a social college Fraternities and sororities, fraternity for male college students in the United States. It was founded on November 1, 1901, at Richmond College, which is now the University of ...
at
Richmond College.
See also
*
Mother of Fraternities
The Mother of Fraternities usually refers to Union College in Schenectady, New York, U.S., or Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, U.S, both of which founded many early collegiate fraternities.
Origin
In the 19th century, multi-chapter collegiate f ...
References
{{Reflist, 2
Union College (New York)
Fraternities and sororities in the United States
Lexington, Virginia
Washington and Lee University
Virginia Military Institute
Miami University
3 (number)