Alpha Delta Alpha (ΑΔΑ) was an American fraternity, established in 1920. It ceased operation as a national in December 1934 with six chapters continuing as local organizations, and of these, at least three eventually merging into another national.
Alpha Delta Alpha was founded at Coe College in 1920 as a local scientific and radio society, emerging out of a radio club that had existed for the previous decade. It became a national fraternity shortly thereafter in a merger with a similar society at the University of Iowa.[1][2]
By 1923 it had shifted focus to become a general social fraternity, adding within a few years chapters at six additional regional institutions in Iowa and Indiana.
A merger was discussed with Beta Phi Theta in the early 1930's, but was not consummated.
The organization was dissolved in December 1934, at a national meeting held in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Baird's notes no single national successor group, however several chapters continued as locals, sooner or later joining other national fraternities.
ΑΔΑ's Gamma chapter at Northern Iowa was present for nine years after the national was disbanded, operating as a local fraternity according to that institution's yearbooks. Due to WWII enlistment, by 1944 all fraternity activity on the campus appears to have ceased; no fraternities are shown in the 1944 yearbook; the sororities at Northern Iowa continued in operation.[1][3] On that campus, other fraternities resumed in 1946 but these did not include Alpha Delta Alpha.
The Beta chapter appears to have withdrawn from ΑΔΑ by 1924, forming (or reforming) as a local for three years. Some of its members went on to join a new chapter of Theta Tau on that campus.
The Tri-State (Trine) Eta chapter joined Alpha Kappa Pi in 1935, a national organization which later merged into Alpha Sigma Phi.[2]
Symbols
The badge of Alpha Delta Alpha was an equilateral triangle, one point down, having a border of 21 pearls. The inner triangle was formed of black enamel with a single pearl, a radio antenna, and the letters Α, Δ and Α.
The fraternity's colors were red, white and purple.[4]
Chapters
The Baird's Manual Archive notes the formation of eight chapters by 1932. Active chapters at the time of dissolution in December 1934 listed in bold, inactive chapters listed in italics. [2]
^Alpha chapter originated out of a Radio Club (local) that had formed on the Coe campus in 1910. After dissolution in December 1934 this chapter continued as a local, then became the Zeta–Alpha chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha, in 1946.
^This chapter appears to have fizzled as ΑΔΑ by 1924, straddling the line between social and professional. Some members continued as Chi Delta Sigma (local, professional technology) per the 1925 yearbook, and a few years later some ΧΔΣ members would join Theta Tau, but not all. This appears to have been a consolidation, as Theta Tau's Omicron chapter had already formed by 1923.
^This chapter originated as Gamma Kappa Delta (local) in 1925. It appears to have gone dormant at the time of national dissolution.
^This chapter originated as Sigma Lambda Chi (local) in 1924. After dissolution it revived the dormant Chi chapter of Sigma Chi in 1936.
^ abTri-State University was renamed Trine University in 2008.
^This chapter originated as Phi Lambda Tau (local) in 1924. After dissolution of ΑΔΑ it became the Alpha Beta chapter of ΑΚΠ in 1935. In 1946, ΑΚΠ merged into ΑΣΦ, where the chapter became the Beta Omicron chapter of that fraternity.
^This chapter originated as Delta Chi Upsilon (local) in 1908. It appears to have lingered for some years as a local fraternity after the national dissolution.
References
^ abcdefghijAnson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VIII-37. ISBN978-0963715906.
^ abcWilliam Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive)". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 13 Aug 2022. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
^ abThe 1941 Iowa State Teachers College Old Gold yearbook, p.157 notes Alpha Delta Alpha as a continuing organization, seven years after national dissolution. It dropped the Gamma name after the 1934 edition, continuing as a local. Accessed 16 Nov 2020.
^ abAccording to the 1930 Coe College Acorn yearbook, the Alpha chapter was located at 116 South Twelfth Street, accessed 16 Nov 2020. Chapter was present thru the 1943 yearbook, with scattered graduates after WWII until 1947.
^Noted in the Hawkeye yearbook, 1923, p.306. Accessed 16 Nov 2020.
^Noted in the 1931 Rudder yearbook, accessed 16 Nov 2020.
April 13, 2023
alpha, delta, alpha, ΑΔΑ, american, fraternity, established, 1920, ceased, operation, national, december, 1934, with, chapters, continuing, local, organizations, these, least, three, eventually, merging, into, another, national, ΑΔΑfounded1920, years, 1920, co. Alpha Delta Alpha ADA was an American fraternity established in 1920 It ceased operation as a national in December 1934 with six chapters continuing as local organizations and of these at least three eventually merging into another national Alpha Delta AlphaADAFounded1920 103 years ago 1920 Coe CollegeTypeSocialAffiliationIndependentScopeNationalColors Red White and PurplePublicationThe CressetChapters6 active chapters at dissolutionMerger Scattered Contents 1 History 2 Symbols 3 Chapters 4 Notes 5 ReferencesHistory EditAlpha Delta Alpha was founded at Coe College in 1920 as a local scientific and radio society emerging out of a radio club that had existed for the previous decade It became a national fraternity shortly thereafter in a merger with a similar society at the University of Iowa 1 2 By 1923 it had shifted focus to become a general social fraternity adding within a few years chapters at six additional regional institutions in Iowa and Indiana A merger was discussed with Beta Phi Theta in the early 1930 s but was not consummated The organization was dissolved in December 1934 at a national meeting held in Cedar Falls Iowa Baird s notes no single national successor group however several chapters continued as locals sooner or later joining other national fraternities ADA s Gamma chapter at Northern Iowa was present for nine years after the national was disbanded operating as a local fraternity according to that institution s yearbooks Due to WWII enlistment by 1944 all fraternity activity on the campus appears to have ceased no fraternities are shown in the 1944 yearbook the sororities at Northern Iowa continued in operation 1 3 On that campus other fraternities resumed in 1946 but these did not include Alpha Delta Alpha The Beta chapter appears to have withdrawn from ADA by 1924 forming or reforming as a local for three years Some of its members went on to join a new chapter of Theta Tau on that campus The Tri State Trine Eta chapter joined Alpha Kappa Pi in 1935 a national organization which later merged into Alpha Sigma Phi 2 Symbols EditThe badge of Alpha Delta Alpha was an equilateral triangle one point down having a border of 21 pearls The inner triangle was formed of black enamel with a single pearl a radio antenna and the letters A D and A The fraternity s colors were red white and purple 4 Chapters EditThe Baird s Manual Archive notes the formation of eight chapters by 1932 Active chapters at the time of dissolution in December 1934 listed in bold inactive chapters listed in italics 2 Name Chartered Institution Location Status Notes ReferenceAlpha 1920 1946 Coe College Cedar Rapids Iowa Active local later to LXA a 1 4 Beta 1921 1924 University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa Withdrew local later to 8T b 1 5 Gamma 1923 1943 Iowa State Teachers College now UNI Cedar Falls Iowa Active local 1 3 Delta 1926 1936 Buena Vista University Storm Lake Iowa Active local 1 6 Epsilon 1927 1934 Simpson College Indianola Iowa Dormant 1 c Zeta 1928 1936 Hanover College Hanover Indiana Active local later to SX 1 d Eta 1930 1935 Tri State College Trine e Angola Indiana Active local later to ASF 1 f e Theta 1932 1947 Upper Iowa University Fayette Iowa Active local 1 g Notes Edit Alpha chapter originated out of a Radio Club local that had formed on the Coe campus in 1910 After dissolution in December 1934 this chapter continued as a local then became the Zeta Alpha chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha in 1946 This chapter appears to have fizzled as ADA by 1924 straddling the line between social and professional Some members continued as Chi Delta Sigma local professional technology per the 1925 yearbook and a few years later some XDS members would join Theta Tau but not all This appears to have been a consolidation as Theta Tau s Omicron chapter had already formed by 1923 This chapter originated as Gamma Kappa Delta local in 1925 It appears to have gone dormant at the time of national dissolution This chapter originated as Sigma Lambda Chi local in 1924 After dissolution it revived the dormant Chi chapter of Sigma Chi in 1936 a b Tri State University was renamed Trine University in 2008 This chapter originated as Phi Lambda Tau local in 1924 After dissolution of ADA it became the Alpha Beta chapter of AKP in 1935 In 1946 AKP merged into ASF where the chapter became the Beta Omicron chapter of that fraternity This chapter originated as Delta Chi Upsilon local in 1908 It appears to have lingered for some years as a local fraternity after the national dissolution References Edit a b c d e f g h i j Anson Jack L Marchenasi Robert F eds 1991 1879 Baird s Manual of American Fraternities 20th ed Indianapolis IN Baird s Manual Foundation Inc p VIII 37 ISBN 978 0963715906 a b c William Raimond Baird Carroll Lurding eds Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities Baird s Manual Online Archive Student Life and Culture Archives University of Illinois University of Illinois Archives Retrieved 13 Aug 2022 The main archive URL is The Baird s Manual Online Archive homepage a b The 1941 Iowa State Teachers College Old Gold yearbook p 157 notes Alpha Delta Alpha as a continuing organization seven years after national dissolution It dropped the Gamma name after the 1934 edition continuing as a local Accessed 16 Nov 2020 a b According to the 1930 Coe College Acorn yearbook the Alpha chapter was located at 116 South Twelfth Street accessed 16 Nov 2020 Chapter was present thru the 1943 yearbook with scattered graduates after WWII until 1947 Noted in the Hawkeye yearbook 1923 p 306 Accessed 16 Nov 2020 Noted in the 1931 Rudder yearbook accessed 16 Nov 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alpha Delta Alpha amp oldid 1104266740, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
