Kappa Phi Lambda (fraternity)

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Not to be confused with Kappa Phi Lambda, a modern-day sorority.
Kappa Phi Lambda
ΚΦΛ
Kappa Phi Lambda shield.jpg
Founded1859; 162 years ago (1859)[1]
August 3, 1862 (1862-08-03)[2]
Jefferson College
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
TypeSocial
AffiliationIndependent
MottoMentes Multæ Consilium Unum[2]
SymbolA Balance; a Sunburst; a Mountain
PublicationThe Palladium[1]
Chapters10
Dissolved1874

Kappa Phi Lambda (ΚΦΛ) was an American collegiate fraternity. It was founded on August 3, 1862 at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania (now Washington & Jefferson College).[2][3] The founder was Jacob Janeway Belville.[4]

The fraternity's official badge consisted of a shield, with a balance, a sunburst, a mountain, and a pennant bearing the fraternity's letters.[1]

Chapters existed at Mount Union College, University of Michigan, Monmouth College, Northwestern University, Moore's Hill, Ohio Wesleyan University, University of Virginia, Denison University, Westminster College (Pennsylvania), Western University of Pennsylvania.[2] A national Kappa Phi Lambda convention was held in Philadelphia in 1867.[1] Following that convention, the Denison University chapter became disenchanted with the authoritarianism of the national leadership and joined the Beta Theta Pi.[1]

Following dissolution in 1874, the Mount Union College chapter joined Delta Tau Delta, the University of Michigan chapter joined Psi Upsilon, and the Northwestern University chapter joined Sigma Chi.[2]

The last known chapter of Kappa Phi Lambda was at Westminster College (Pennsylvania). It operated sub-rosa until 1920, and petitioned Phi Gamma Delta. In 1948, it became the Epsilon Pi chapter of Sigma Nu.[5]

Kappa Phi Lambda is considered one of the members of the "Jefferson Triad" of fraternities founded at Jefferson College, with the other two being Phi Gamma Delta and Phi Kappa Psi.[1] However, with the demise of Kappa Phi Lambda, the remaining two fraternities are known as the Jefferson Duo.[1]

Notable alumni include Robert M. Nevin, a Congressman from Ohio, who was known to wear his Kappa Phi Lambda pin.[1]

Chapter list[]

These are the known chapters of Kappa Phi Lambda Fraternity. Chapter names are conjectural, from the order in Baird's Manual. The fraternity is dormant, while some chapters lived on as part of other fraternities.

Chapter Name Date Range College or University City State Notes
Alpha August 3, 1862-1869 [6] Jefferson College
(Merged with Washington College in 1865-68.) 		Cannonsburg Pennsylvania Ceased under anti-fraternity pressure as Jefferson college merged with Washington College, in 1865-1868.[6]
Beta ? 1862-1874 Mount Union College Alliance Ohio Became the Sigma Prime chapter of Delta Tau Delta, lasting in that form until 1886.
Gamma ? 1865-1870 University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan Scattered; members joined several fraternities, with the majority entering the existing Phi chapter of Psi Upsilon.[1]: 483 
Delta ? 186x-187x Monmouth College Monmouth Illinois
Epsilon ? 1864-1869 Northwestern University Evanston Illinois Became the Omega chapter of Sigma Chi.
Zeta ? 186x-18xx Moores Hill Academy
(merged into the University of Evansville) 		Moores Hill Indiana
Eta ? 1864-187x Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware Ohio
Theta ? 1864-1874 University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia
Iota ? 1867-1869 Denison University Granville Ohio Originally Eta Eta (local), formed in 1866. Became the Alpha Eta chapter of Beta Theta Pi.
Kappa ? 1864-1874 Westminster College New Wilmington Pennsylvania Continued as a local fraternity. In 1948 it became the Epsilon Psi chapter of Sigma Nu.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i Chamberlin, William F. (1907). "Kappa Phi Lambda". The Phi Gamma Delta. 30. Indianapolis. pp. 482–483.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Baird, W.M. Raimond (1905). "Kappa Phi Lambda". Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (6 ed.). New York: The Alcom Company. p. 434.
  3. ^ Torbenson, Craig L.; Gregory S. Parks (2009). "Appendix: National College Fraternities and Sororities". Brothers and Sisters: Diversity in College Fraternities and Sororities. Associated University Presse. p. 278. ISBN 978-0-8386-4194-1.
  4. ^ Eaton, Samuel John Mills; Woods, Henry (1902). "J. Janeway Belville". Biographical and Historical Catalogue of Washington and Jefferson College. Philadelphia: G.H. Buchanan and Company. OCLC 2379959. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
  5. ^ Herron, James. "Kappa Phi Lambda Fraternity, 1862-1874". The Jefferson College Times. The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b The "PhiGam" reference explains this chapter began in 1859, explaining that the Baird's date in 1862 is incorrect. 1859 appears correct, due to the level of detail in the PhiGam reference.Nevertheless, the fraternity appears to have celebrated the 1862 date. Perhaps as the date of becoming a national?
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