List of Colgate University societies

Since being founded in 1819, Colgate University has had a rich tradition of student societies. Literary societies, Greek letter fraternities and sororities, non-Greek letter organizations, honor societies, and secret societies have all played a part in Colgate history.

Social fraternities came to Colgate in 1850 when Alpha Delta Phi was granted a chapter. The first sorority was brought to Colgate in 1982 when a chapter of Gamma Phi Beta (Gamma Phi) received a charter.

Secret or underground organizations have had a widespread existence at Colgate University. Many of the school's original societies had roots as underground organizations. In terms of secret honor societies, Colgate has also had its fair share. Two secret Honor Societies, the Gorgon's Head and Skull and Scroll, enjoyed a period as rival societies until 1934 when they merged to form Konosioni, now known as the Tredecim Senior Honor Society. Even with its history, Tredecim is no longer a secret society but is now seen as a leadership society, with only 26 members of each graduating class peer-selected to membership.

Following is a list of Colgate University societies, organized by charter date. Active organizations are indicated in bold.

NameCharter date and rangeType Status Ref.
Society for Inquiry 1824 Literary Inactive
Gamma Phibef. 1833–1840Literary Inactive
Pi Deltac. 1834–1840Literary Inactive
Adelphian Society1840–1880Literary and oration Inactive
Aeonian Society1840–1887Literary and oration Inactive
Alpha Delta Phi 1850–1851; 1964–1972 Social fraternity Inactive
Delta Kappa Epsilon1856–2009Social fraternity Inactive
Delta Upsilon1865Social fraternity Active
Aldelphia 1872–1880 Social fraternity Merged
Delta Phi 1874–1876 Social fraternity Inactive
Aeonia 1880–1887 Social fraternity Merged
Union Debating Society 188x ?–1887 Literary and oration Merged
Beta Theta Pi1880Social fraternity Active
Theta Nu Epsilon 1880 Social fraternity Inactive
Phi Kappa Psi1887–1982Social fraternity Inactive
Phi Gamma Delta1886–1969, 1976–1989Social fraternity Inactive
Madison Club 1902–1917 Literary and oration Inactive
Owls Club 1907–1908 Non-Greek fraternal organization Inactive
Gorgon's Head 1908–1934 Secret senior honor society Merged
Sigma Alpha 1909–1918 Social fraternity Merged
Theta Mu 1911–1912 Social fraternity Merged
Skull and Scroll 1912–1934 Secret senior honor society Merged
Theta Chi1912Social fraternity Active
Theta Delta Sigma 1914–1917 Social fraternity Merged
Lambda Chi Alpha1916–1972Social fraternity Inactive
Alpha Tau Omega1917–2000Social fraternity Inactive
Sigma Nu1917–1968Social fraternity Inactive
Kappa Delta Rho1917–1972, 1985–2003Social fraternity Inactive
Phi Delta Theta1918–1968, 1973Social fraternity Active
Theta Pi Delta 1923–1930 Social fraternity Merged
Delta Pi Sigma 1927–1937 Social fraternity Merge
Colgate Commons Club1927–1960Counter-culture fraternal organization Inactive
Alpha Psi Omega 1928–May 2023 Honor society, theater Inactive
Sigma Chi1930–1963, 1971–2015Social fraternity Inactive
Tredecim Senior Honor Society.(previously Konosioni) 1934–20xx ? Senior leadership society Active
Phi Kappa Tau1937–1971, 2007Social fraternity Active
Psi Chi May 18, 1950 Honor society, psychology Active
Alpha Beta 1951–1956 Social fraternity Merged
Tau Kappa Epsilon 1956–1972 Social fraternity Inactive
Alpha Chi Epsilon 1960–1964 Social fraternity Merged
Beta Beta Beta 1971 Honor society, biology Active
Phi Tau 1971–20xx ? Social fraternity, local Inactive
Delta Nu 1979–1981 Social sorority Merged
Delta Sigma Upsilon 1980–1988 Social sorority, local Inactive
Chi Omega Rho1981–1990Social fraternity, co-ed, local Inactive
Gamma Phi Beta1982Social sorority Active
Phi Eta Sigma 1982 First-year academic honor society Active
Phi Psi 1982–1992 Social fraternity, local Inactive
Alpha Theta Pi 1984–1988 Social sorority, local Merged
Kappa Psi Lambda 1984–1986 Social sorority Merged
Zeta Delta Pi 1985–1988 Social sorority Merged
Pi Beta Phi 1986–1992 Social sorority Inactive
Kappa Alpha Theta1988–2008Social sorority Inactive
Kappa Kappa Gamma1988Social sorority Active
Pi Beta Phi1986–1992Social sorority Inactive
Alpha Chi Omega1988–1996Social sorority Inactive
Delta Delta Delta1996Social sorority Active
Brothers of Colgate1999Social fraternity, local Active
Alpha Epsilon Pi 2005–2013 Social fraternity Inactive
Blue Diamond Society2006Social fraternity, local Active
Sorella Society 2008 Social sorority, local Active

Notes

  1. ↑ Became Beta Theta Pi.
  2. ↑ Became Phi Kappa Psi.
  3. ↑ Became a chapter of Beta Theta Pi.
  4. ↑ Became a chapter of Phi Kappa Psi which, in turn, became Phi Psi.
  5. ↑ Became a chapter of Phi Gamma Delta.
  6. ↑ Became Phi Psi (local).
  7. ↑ Became Alpha Tau Omega.
  8. ↑ Became Sigma Alpha.
  9. 1 2 Gorgon's Head and Skull and Scroll merged to form Konosioni.
  10. ↑ Became chapter of Phi Delta Theta.
  11. ↑ Became a chapter of Theta Chi.
  12. ↑ Chapter became Sigma Nu.
  13. ↑ Became a chapter of Sigma Chi.
  14. ↑ Became a chapter of Phi Kappa Tau.
  15. ↑ The Konosioni Senior Honor Society changed its name to Tredecim Senior Honor Society.
  16. ↑ The Phi Kappa Tau chapter left and became Phi Tau (local) in 1971. It later reformed as a colony.
  17. ↑ Became a chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon.
  18. ↑ Was absorbed into Alpha Delta Phi, restarting its chapter at Colgate.
  19. ↑ Became a chapter of Gamma Phi Beta.
  20. ↑ Became a chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma.
  21. ↑ Became a chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta.
  22. ↑ Became a chapter of Pi Beta Phi.
  23. ↑ Became a chapter of Alpha Chi Omega.
  24. ↑ Became the local sorority Sorella.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 Carroll Lurding; Fran Becque, eds. (December 3, 2022). "Institutions (C): Colgate University" (PDF). Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Retrieved October 23, 2023 – via University Library: Student Life and Culture Archives.
  2. ↑ College literary societies
  3. ↑ The Record of Phi Kappa Psi - A Short History of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity by Guy Morrison Walker, 1906.
  4. ↑ "Colgate Beta - Home". www.colgatebeta.org.
  5. ↑ List of Phi Kappa Psi chapters and colonies
  6. ↑ List of Phi Gamma Delta chapters and colonies
  7. 1 2 "Spring Scene 2013". Issuu.
  8. 1 2 3 "- Get Involved at Colgate". www.getinvolved.colgate.edu.
  9. 1 2 3 Sportelli, Natalie (February 3, 2015). "Konosioni Senior Honor Society set to induct newest members". Colgate University. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  10. ↑ List of Lambda Chi Alpha chapters
  11. ↑ "Around the college (The Colgate Scene, January 2001)". www4.colgate.edu.
  12. ↑ "ISSUU - Multicultural Life at Colgate by Colgate University". Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Chapters – Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society". Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Find Out When Your Chapter Was Chartered". Psi Chi. April 29, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Beta Beta Beta Local Chapter". Archived from the original on April 15, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  16. ↑ Hamilton, Robert A. (July 12, 1987). "Fraternities Admit Women Into Ranks". New York Times.
  17. ↑ "Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society Chapter Directory". Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  18. ↑ "The Brothers of Colgate University". The Brothers of Colgate University.
  19. ↑ "The Lion - Summer 2014". Issuu.
  20. ↑ "- Get Involved at Colgate". colgate.campuslabs.com.

Bibliography