Greek organizations at Washington & Jefferson College
Encyclopedia
Washington & Jefferson College
is host to 10 Greek organizations
and a significant percentage of the undergraduate student body is active in Greek life. With 37% of the student body participating in "greek life
," The Princeton Review
named Washington & Jefferson College 12th on their 2010 list of "Major Frat and Sorority Scene" in the United States. As of 2010, the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life recognized 6 fraternities, Alpha Tau Omega
, Beta Theta Pi
, Delta Tau Delta
, Phi Delta Theta
, Phi Gamma Delta
, and Phi Kappa Psi
, and four sororities, Delta Gamma
, Kappa Alpha Theta
, Kappa Kappa Gamma
, and Pi Beta Phi
. The fraternities are governed by a local Interfraternal Council
and the sororities are governed by a local Panhellenic Council
, while the Greek Judiciary manages broad policy violations at the chapter-level. All Greek organizations occupy College-owned houses on Chestnut Street on campus. All members of fraternities and sororities must pay the $100 "Greek Membership Fee," a levy designed to fund leadership seminars and other educational events for Greeks.
During the 19th century, three national fraternities were founded at Jefferson College; thus, the two surviving organizations, Phi Gamma Delta
and Phi Kappa Psi
are collectively known as the Jefferson Duo. A third fraternity was founded at Jefferson College, Kappa Phi Lambda
, but it dissolved after a decade of existence amid a dispute between chapters. In 1874, a fourth fraternity was founded at W&J, the short-lived Phi Delta Kappa
. The new fraternity grew to several chapters before falling apart in 1880.
," fraternities and sororities play a significant role in student life at W&J. In 1992, that percentage was as high as 65% and 49% in 2001. The Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life recognizes 6 fraternities, Alpha Tau Omega
, Beta Theta Pi
, Delta Tau Delta
, Phi Delta Theta
, Phi Gamma Delta
, and Phi Kappa Psi
, and four sororities, Delta Gamma
, Kappa Alpha Theta
, Kappa Kappa Gamma
, and Pi Beta Phi
. The fraternities are governed by a local Interfraternal Council
and the sororities are governed by a local Panhellenic Council
, while the Greek Judiciary manages broad policy violations at the chapter-level. All members of fraternities and sororities must pay the $100 "Greek Membership Fee," a levy designed to fund leadership seminars and other educational events for Greeks.
and Phi Kappa Psi
grew into full-fledged national fraternities and are collectively known as the Jefferson Duo.
In 1848, Phi Gamma Delta
was formed in the "Fort Armstrong" dormitory at Jefferson College. While the fraternity grew in a southward direction, the Jefferson chapter survived only a short time after unification with the Washington chapter in 1865, dissolving in 1879. In 1852, the Phi Kappa Psi
fraternity was founded at Jefferson College by two students who had formed a bond while treating their classmates during a typhoid outbreak on campus. By 1863, the Jefferson and Washington chapters merged, as most members had enlisted to fight in the American Civil War
. In 1862, the Kappa Phi Lambda
fraternity was founded at Jefferson College. It dissolved in 1874. The two surviving fraternities are colloquially referred to as the Jefferson Duo.
In 1874, a fourth fraternity was founded at W&J, when the national Iota Alpha Kappa
structure dissolved, allowing the W&J chapter to reconstitute itself as a new fraternity, Phi Delta Kappa
. The new fraternity grew to several chapters before falling apart in 1880. In 1881, the W&J chapter joined Phi Gamma Delta
, reclaiming the "Alpha" designation that had belonged to the founding chapter at Jefferson College.
at Jefferson College in 1842, Delta Tau Delta
in 1861 at both Jefferson and Washington Colleges, Phi Kappa Sigma
in 1854, Phi Delta Theta
in 1875, and Alpha Tau Omega
in 1882, which had been a chapter of Alpha Gamma
before the national fraternity dissolved the previous year. A number of fraternities from that time period did not survive the union of the two colleges, including Sigma Chi
, Delta Kappa Epsilon
, and Delta Upsilon
. The chapter of Theta Delta Chi
was founded in 1858 and was dissolved in 1872. The W&J chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon
was founded in 1902 and dissolved in 1906. In the early 2000s, two fraternities that were founded in the 19th century, Kappa Sigma
and Lambda Chi Alpha
, had their charters revoked by their national organizations after alcohol violations, and a third, Zeta Beta Tau
dissolved due to a lack of membership. All four sororities were formed during the 1970s, when women were first admitted to the College.
was formed in the "Fort Armstrong" dormitory at Jefferson College. While the fraternity grew in a southward direction, the Jefferson chapter survived only a short time after unification with the Washington chapter in 1865, dissolving in 1879.
fraternity was founded at Jefferson College by two students who had formed a bond while treating their classmates during a typhoid outbreak on campus. By 1863, the Jefferson and Washington chapters merged, as most members had enlisted to fight in the American Civil War
.
fraternity was founded at Jefferson College. It dissolved in 1874. The two surviving fraternities are colloquially referred to as the Jefferson Duo.
structure dissolved, allowing the W&J chapter to reconstitute itself as a new fraternity, Phi Delta Kappa
. The new fraternity grew to several chapters before falling apart in 1880. In 1881, the W&J chapter joined Phi Gamma Delta
, reclaiming the "Alpha" designation that had belonged to the founding chapter at Jefferson College.
at Jefferson College in 1842,
in 1861 at both Jefferson and Washington Colleges, Phi Kappa Sigma
in 1854,
in 1882, which had been a chapter of Alpha Gamma
before the national fraternity dissolved the previous year.
, Delta Kappa Epsilon
, and Delta Upsilon
. The chapter of Theta Delta Chi
was founded in 1858 and was dissolved in 1872. The W&J chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon
was founded in 1902 and dissolved in 1906.
and Lambda Chi Alpha
, had their charters revoked by their national organizations after alcohol violations, and a third, Zeta Beta Tau
dissolved due to a lack of membership.
Barron Patterson McCune
was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha
.
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
is host to 10 Greek organizations
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
and a significant percentage of the undergraduate student body is active in Greek life. With 37% of the student body participating in "greek life
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
," The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review is an American-based standardized test preparation and admissions consulting company. The Princeton Review operates in 41 states and 22 countries across the globe. It offers test preparation for standardized aptitude tests such as the SAT and advice regarding college...
named Washington & Jefferson College 12th on their 2010 list of "Major Frat and Sorority Scene" in the United States. As of 2010, the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life recognized 6 fraternities, Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega is a secret American leadership and social fraternity.The Fraternity has more than 250 active and inactive chapters, more than 200,000 initiates, and over 7,000 active undergraduate members. The 200,000th member was initiated in early 2009...
, Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
, Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta is a U.S.-based international secret letter college fraternity. Delta Tau Delta was founded in 1858 at Bethany College, Bethany, Virginia, . It currently has around 125 student chapters nationwide, as well as more than 25 regional alumni groups. Its national community service...
, Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
, Phi Gamma Delta
Phi Gamma Delta
The international fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta is a collegiate social fraternity with 120 chapters and 18 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1848, and its headquarters are located in Lexington, Kentucky, USA...
, and Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1852. There are over a hundred chapters and colonies at accredited four year colleges and universities throughout the United States. More than 112,000 men have been...
, and four sororities, Delta Gamma
Delta Gamma
Delta Gamma is one of the oldest and largest women's fraternities in the United States and Canada, with its Executive Offices based in Columbus, Ohio.-History:...
, Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Alpha Theta , also known as Theta, is an international fraternity for women founded on January 27, 1870 at DePauw University, formerly Indiana Asbury...
, Kappa Kappa Gamma
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Kappa Kappa Gamma is a collegiate women's fraternity, founded at Monmouth College, in Monmouth, Illinois, USA. Although the groundwork of the organization was developed as early as 1869, the 1876 Convention voted that October 13, 1870 should be recognized at the official Founders Day, because no...
, and Pi Beta Phi
Pi Beta Phi
Pi Beta Phi is an international fraternity for women founded as I.C. Sorosis on April 28, 1867, at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. Its headquarters are located in Town and Country, Missouri, and there are 134 active chapters and over 330 alumnae organizations across the United States and...
. The fraternities are governed by a local Interfraternal Council
North-American Interfraternity Conference
The North-American Interfraternity Conference , is an association of collegiate men's fraternities that was formally organized in 1910, although it began on November 27, 1909. The power of the organization rests in a House of Delegates where each member fraternity is represented by a single delegate...
and the sororities are governed by a local Panhellenic Council
National Panhellenic Conference
The National Panhellenic Conference , founded in 1902, is an umbrella organization for 26 national women's sororities.Each member group is autonomous as a social, Greek-letter society of college women and alumnae...
, while the Greek Judiciary manages broad policy violations at the chapter-level. All Greek organizations occupy College-owned houses on Chestnut Street on campus. All members of fraternities and sororities must pay the $100 "Greek Membership Fee," a levy designed to fund leadership seminars and other educational events for Greeks.
During the 19th century, three national fraternities were founded at Jefferson College; thus, the two surviving organizations, Phi Gamma Delta
Phi Gamma Delta
The international fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta is a collegiate social fraternity with 120 chapters and 18 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1848, and its headquarters are located in Lexington, Kentucky, USA...
and Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1852. There are over a hundred chapters and colonies at accredited four year colleges and universities throughout the United States. More than 112,000 men have been...
are collectively known as the Jefferson Duo. A third fraternity was founded at Jefferson College, Kappa Phi Lambda
Kappa Phi Lambda (fraternity)
Kappa Phi Lambda was an American collegiate fraternity. It was founded on February 19, 1862 at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania...
, but it dissolved after a decade of existence amid a dispute between chapters. In 1874, a fourth fraternity was founded at W&J, the short-lived Phi Delta Kappa
Phi Delta Kappa (fraternity)
Phi Delta Kappa was an American collegiate fraternity.-History:It was founded in 1874 at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania when a chapter of Iota Alpha Kappa resolved to continue after Iota Alpha Kappa's dissolution...
. The new fraternity grew to several chapters before falling apart in 1880.
The greek system
With 37% of the student body participating in "greek lifeFraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
," fraternities and sororities play a significant role in student life at W&J. In 1992, that percentage was as high as 65% and 49% in 2001. The Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life recognizes 6 fraternities, Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega is a secret American leadership and social fraternity.The Fraternity has more than 250 active and inactive chapters, more than 200,000 initiates, and over 7,000 active undergraduate members. The 200,000th member was initiated in early 2009...
, Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
, Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta is a U.S.-based international secret letter college fraternity. Delta Tau Delta was founded in 1858 at Bethany College, Bethany, Virginia, . It currently has around 125 student chapters nationwide, as well as more than 25 regional alumni groups. Its national community service...
, Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
, Phi Gamma Delta
Phi Gamma Delta
The international fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta is a collegiate social fraternity with 120 chapters and 18 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1848, and its headquarters are located in Lexington, Kentucky, USA...
, and Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1852. There are over a hundred chapters and colonies at accredited four year colleges and universities throughout the United States. More than 112,000 men have been...
, and four sororities, Delta Gamma
Delta Gamma
Delta Gamma is one of the oldest and largest women's fraternities in the United States and Canada, with its Executive Offices based in Columbus, Ohio.-History:...
, Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Alpha Theta , also known as Theta, is an international fraternity for women founded on January 27, 1870 at DePauw University, formerly Indiana Asbury...
, Kappa Kappa Gamma
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Kappa Kappa Gamma is a collegiate women's fraternity, founded at Monmouth College, in Monmouth, Illinois, USA. Although the groundwork of the organization was developed as early as 1869, the 1876 Convention voted that October 13, 1870 should be recognized at the official Founders Day, because no...
, and Pi Beta Phi
Pi Beta Phi
Pi Beta Phi is an international fraternity for women founded as I.C. Sorosis on April 28, 1867, at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. Its headquarters are located in Town and Country, Missouri, and there are 134 active chapters and over 330 alumnae organizations across the United States and...
. The fraternities are governed by a local Interfraternal Council
North-American Interfraternity Conference
The North-American Interfraternity Conference , is an association of collegiate men's fraternities that was formally organized in 1910, although it began on November 27, 1909. The power of the organization rests in a House of Delegates where each member fraternity is represented by a single delegate...
and the sororities are governed by a local Panhellenic Council
National Panhellenic Conference
The National Panhellenic Conference , founded in 1902, is an umbrella organization for 26 national women's sororities.Each member group is autonomous as a social, Greek-letter society of college women and alumnae...
, while the Greek Judiciary manages broad policy violations at the chapter-level. All members of fraternities and sororities must pay the $100 "Greek Membership Fee," a levy designed to fund leadership seminars and other educational events for Greeks.
Early history and the Jefferson Duo
During the 19th century, three national fraternities were founded at Jefferson College. Two of them, Phi Gamma DeltaPhi Gamma Delta
The international fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta is a collegiate social fraternity with 120 chapters and 18 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1848, and its headquarters are located in Lexington, Kentucky, USA...
and Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1852. There are over a hundred chapters and colonies at accredited four year colleges and universities throughout the United States. More than 112,000 men have been...
grew into full-fledged national fraternities and are collectively known as the Jefferson Duo.
In 1848, Phi Gamma Delta
Phi Gamma Delta
The international fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta is a collegiate social fraternity with 120 chapters and 18 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1848, and its headquarters are located in Lexington, Kentucky, USA...
was formed in the "Fort Armstrong" dormitory at Jefferson College. While the fraternity grew in a southward direction, the Jefferson chapter survived only a short time after unification with the Washington chapter in 1865, dissolving in 1879. In 1852, the Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1852. There are over a hundred chapters and colonies at accredited four year colleges and universities throughout the United States. More than 112,000 men have been...
fraternity was founded at Jefferson College by two students who had formed a bond while treating their classmates during a typhoid outbreak on campus. By 1863, the Jefferson and Washington chapters merged, as most members had enlisted to fight in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. In 1862, the Kappa Phi Lambda
Kappa Phi Lambda (fraternity)
Kappa Phi Lambda was an American collegiate fraternity. It was founded on February 19, 1862 at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania...
fraternity was founded at Jefferson College. It dissolved in 1874. The two surviving fraternities are colloquially referred to as the Jefferson Duo.
In 1874, a fourth fraternity was founded at W&J, when the national Iota Alpha Kappa
Iota Alpha Kappa
Iota Alpha Kappa was an American collegiate fraternity.-History:It was founded at Union College in 1858. Roughly 20 chapters developed, including at Lafayette College, Washington & Jefferson College, Columbia College and Norwich University. Membership was not restricted to college students...
structure dissolved, allowing the W&J chapter to reconstitute itself as a new fraternity, Phi Delta Kappa
Phi Delta Kappa (fraternity)
Phi Delta Kappa was an American collegiate fraternity.-History:It was founded in 1874 at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania when a chapter of Iota Alpha Kappa resolved to continue after Iota Alpha Kappa's dissolution...
. The new fraternity grew to several chapters before falling apart in 1880. In 1881, the W&J chapter joined Phi Gamma Delta
Phi Gamma Delta
The international fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta is a collegiate social fraternity with 120 chapters and 18 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1848, and its headquarters are located in Lexington, Kentucky, USA...
, reclaiming the "Alpha" designation that had belonged to the founding chapter at Jefferson College.
Modern history
Many of the surviving fraternities on campus were founded during the mid to late 19th century, including Beta Theta PiBeta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
at Jefferson College in 1842, Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta is a U.S.-based international secret letter college fraternity. Delta Tau Delta was founded in 1858 at Bethany College, Bethany, Virginia, . It currently has around 125 student chapters nationwide, as well as more than 25 regional alumni groups. Its national community service...
in 1861 at both Jefferson and Washington Colleges, Phi Kappa Sigma
Phi Kappa Sigma
Phi Kappa Sigma is an international all-male college social fraternity. Its members are known as "Phi Kaps", "Skulls" and sometimes "Skullhouse", the latter two because of the skull and crossbones on the Fraternity's badge and coat of arms. Phi Kappa Sigma was founded by Dr. Samuel Brown Wylie...
in 1854, Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
in 1875, and Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega is a secret American leadership and social fraternity.The Fraternity has more than 250 active and inactive chapters, more than 200,000 initiates, and over 7,000 active undergraduate members. The 200,000th member was initiated in early 2009...
in 1882, which had been a chapter of Alpha Gamma
Alpha Gamma
Alpha Gamma was an American collegiate fraternity. It was founded at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee in 1867. About 21 chapters developed, with prominent chapters at Washington & Jefferson College, Trinity University, Mercersburg College, Southwestern Presbyterian University,...
before the national fraternity dissolved the previous year. A number of fraternities from that time period did not survive the union of the two colleges, including Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
, Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon is a fraternity founded at Yale College in 1844 by 15 men of the sophomore class who had not been invited to join the two existing societies...
, and Delta Upsilon
Delta Upsilon
Delta Upsilon is the sixth oldest international, all-male, college Greek-letter organization, and is the oldest non-secret fraternity in North America...
. The chapter of Theta Delta Chi
Theta Delta Chi
Theta Delta Chi is a social fraternity that was founded in 1847 at Union College. While nicknames differ from institution to institution, the most common nicknames for the fraternity are Theta Delt, Thete, TDX, and TDC. Theta Delta Chi brothers refer to their local organization as Charges rather...
was founded in 1858 and was dissolved in 1872. The W&J chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Phi Epsilon , commonly nicknamed SigEp or SPE, is a social college fraternity for male college students in the United States. It was founded on November 1, 1901, at Richmond College , and its national headquarters remains in Richmond, Virginia. It was founded on three principles: Virtue,...
was founded in 1902 and dissolved in 1906. In the early 2000s, two fraternities that were founded in the 19th century, Kappa Sigma
Kappa Sigma
Kappa Sigma , commonly nicknamed Kappa Sig, is an international fraternity with currently 282 active chapters and colonies in North America. Kappa Sigma has initiated more than 240,000 men on college campuses throughout the United States and Canada. Today, the Fraternity has over 175,000 living...
and Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a...
, had their charters revoked by their national organizations after alcohol violations, and a third, Zeta Beta Tau
Zeta Beta Tau
Zeta Beta Tau was founded in 1898 as the nation's first Jewish fraternity, although it is no longer sectarian. Today the merged Zeta Beta Tau Brotherhood is one of the largest, numbering over 140,000 initiated Brothers, and over 90 chapter locations.-Founding:The Zeta Beta Tau fraternity was...
dissolved due to a lack of membership. All four sororities were formed during the 1970s, when women were first admitted to the College.
Phi Gamma Delta
In 1848, Phi Gamma DeltaPhi Gamma Delta
The international fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta is a collegiate social fraternity with 120 chapters and 18 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1848, and its headquarters are located in Lexington, Kentucky, USA...
was formed in the "Fort Armstrong" dormitory at Jefferson College. While the fraternity grew in a southward direction, the Jefferson chapter survived only a short time after unification with the Washington chapter in 1865, dissolving in 1879.
Phi Kappa Psi
In 1852, the Phi Kappa PsiPhi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1852. There are over a hundred chapters and colonies at accredited four year colleges and universities throughout the United States. More than 112,000 men have been...
fraternity was founded at Jefferson College by two students who had formed a bond while treating their classmates during a typhoid outbreak on campus. By 1863, the Jefferson and Washington chapters merged, as most members had enlisted to fight in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Kappa Phi Lambda
In 1862, the Kappa Phi LambdaKappa Phi Lambda (fraternity)
Kappa Phi Lambda was an American collegiate fraternity. It was founded on February 19, 1862 at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania...
fraternity was founded at Jefferson College. It dissolved in 1874. The two surviving fraternities are colloquially referred to as the Jefferson Duo.
Phi Delta Kappa/Phi Gamma Delta
In 1874, a fourth fraternity was founded at W&J, when the national Iota Alpha KappaIota Alpha Kappa
Iota Alpha Kappa was an American collegiate fraternity.-History:It was founded at Union College in 1858. Roughly 20 chapters developed, including at Lafayette College, Washington & Jefferson College, Columbia College and Norwich University. Membership was not restricted to college students...
structure dissolved, allowing the W&J chapter to reconstitute itself as a new fraternity, Phi Delta Kappa
Phi Delta Kappa (fraternity)
Phi Delta Kappa was an American collegiate fraternity.-History:It was founded in 1874 at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania when a chapter of Iota Alpha Kappa resolved to continue after Iota Alpha Kappa's dissolution...
. The new fraternity grew to several chapters before falling apart in 1880. In 1881, the W&J chapter joined Phi Gamma Delta
Phi Gamma Delta
The international fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta is a collegiate social fraternity with 120 chapters and 18 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1848, and its headquarters are located in Lexington, Kentucky, USA...
, reclaiming the "Alpha" designation that had belonged to the founding chapter at Jefferson College.
Beta Theta Pi
Many of the surviving fraternities on campus were founded during the mid to late 19th century, including Beta Theta PiBeta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
at Jefferson College in 1842,
Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau DeltaDelta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta is a U.S.-based international secret letter college fraternity. Delta Tau Delta was founded in 1858 at Bethany College, Bethany, Virginia, . It currently has around 125 student chapters nationwide, as well as more than 25 regional alumni groups. Its national community service...
in 1861 at both Jefferson and Washington Colleges, Phi Kappa Sigma
Phi Kappa Sigma
Phi Kappa Sigma is an international all-male college social fraternity. Its members are known as "Phi Kaps", "Skulls" and sometimes "Skullhouse", the latter two because of the skull and crossbones on the Fraternity's badge and coat of arms. Phi Kappa Sigma was founded by Dr. Samuel Brown Wylie...
in 1854,
Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau OmegaAlpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega is a secret American leadership and social fraternity.The Fraternity has more than 250 active and inactive chapters, more than 200,000 initiates, and over 7,000 active undergraduate members. The 200,000th member was initiated in early 2009...
in 1882, which had been a chapter of Alpha Gamma
Alpha Gamma
Alpha Gamma was an American collegiate fraternity. It was founded at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee in 1867. About 21 chapters developed, with prominent chapters at Washington & Jefferson College, Trinity University, Mercersburg College, Southwestern Presbyterian University,...
before the national fraternity dissolved the previous year.
Other
A number of fraternities from that time period did not survive the union of the two colleges, including Sigma ChiSigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
, Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon is a fraternity founded at Yale College in 1844 by 15 men of the sophomore class who had not been invited to join the two existing societies...
, and Delta Upsilon
Delta Upsilon
Delta Upsilon is the sixth oldest international, all-male, college Greek-letter organization, and is the oldest non-secret fraternity in North America...
. The chapter of Theta Delta Chi
Theta Delta Chi
Theta Delta Chi is a social fraternity that was founded in 1847 at Union College. While nicknames differ from institution to institution, the most common nicknames for the fraternity are Theta Delt, Thete, TDX, and TDC. Theta Delta Chi brothers refer to their local organization as Charges rather...
was founded in 1858 and was dissolved in 1872. The W&J chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Phi Epsilon , commonly nicknamed SigEp or SPE, is a social college fraternity for male college students in the United States. It was founded on November 1, 1901, at Richmond College , and its national headquarters remains in Richmond, Virginia. It was founded on three principles: Virtue,...
was founded in 1902 and dissolved in 1906.
Kappa Sigma/Lambda Chi Alpha/Zeta Beta Tau
In the early 2000s, two fraternities that were founded in the 19th century, Kappa SigmaKappa Sigma
Kappa Sigma , commonly nicknamed Kappa Sig, is an international fraternity with currently 282 active chapters and colonies in North America. Kappa Sigma has initiated more than 240,000 men on college campuses throughout the United States and Canada. Today, the Fraternity has over 175,000 living...
and Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a...
, had their charters revoked by their national organizations after alcohol violations, and a third, Zeta Beta Tau
Zeta Beta Tau
Zeta Beta Tau was founded in 1898 as the nation's first Jewish fraternity, although it is no longer sectarian. Today the merged Zeta Beta Tau Brotherhood is one of the largest, numbering over 140,000 initiated Brothers, and over 90 chapter locations.-Founding:The Zeta Beta Tau fraternity was...
dissolved due to a lack of membership.
Barron Patterson McCune
Barron Patterson McCune
Barron Patterson McCune was a United States federal judge.He was born in West Newton, Pennsylvania in 1915 and attended Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania. As a student, he submitted jokes told by history professor Dr. Alfred Sweet to Judge magazine, splitting the $2...
was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a...
.