Phi Beta Delta (fraternity)

Phi Beta Delta (ΦΒΔ) was a college social fraternity in the United States founded at Columbia University, April 4, 1912. The Founders stated, "Its purpose is to inculcate among its membership a fine spirit of loyalty, activity and scholarship toward their Alma Mater, to develop the highest ideals of conduct and to promote a close fraternal bond through means of carefully selected associates."[1]

This article is about the social fraternity. For the honor society, see Phi Beta Delta (honor society).
Phi Beta Delta
ΦΒΔ
FoundedApril 4, 1912 (1912-04-04)
Columbia University
TypeSocial
AffiliationNIC (former)
ScopeNational
Colors  Blue and   Gold
Symbolstar. crossed keys
FlowerHyacinth
JewelPearl
PublicationThe Phi Beta Delta News Letter
   The Tripod of Phi Beta Delta
Chapters16 at merger
Merged withPi Lambda Phi (1941)
Headquarters36 Mill Plain Rd, Ste 309
Danbury, CT 06811
USA

In 1934, Phi Beta Delta absorbed the UPenn chapter of Omicron Alpha Tau, a smaller Jewish fraternity that was dispersing that year. This group either merged with the existing Phi Beta Delta chapter on the campus, or re-established it. Four of ΟΑΤ's other chapters went to Tau Delta Phi.[2]

Phi Beta Delta merged into Pi Lambda Phi on February 1, 1941. Baird's (19th ed.) notes the merger date as October 1, 1940. At the time, Pi Lambda Phi had 20 active chapters and Phi Beta Delta had 16. Considering duplications, the combined post-merger fraternity had a net of 33 chapters. All members and alumni of Phi Beta Delta were admitted into Pi Lambda Phi.

Symbols and traditions

The badge was diamond-shaped, and edged with 20 pearls. Across the center it displayed the Greek letters Φ, Β, and Δ in gold on a blue background. Above the letters was a five-pointed star, and below were two crossed keys.

The colors of the Fraternity were blue and gold.

The flower was the Hyacinth.[3][2]

Founders
NameOriginal chapterInitiation
year		NotabilityRef(s)
David H. CohenColumbia UniversityFounder Phi Beta Delta[1]
Henry C. FentonColumbia UniversityFounder Phi Beta Delta[1]
William HaasColumbia UniversityFounder Phi Beta Delta[1]
Darcy M. HeinemannColumbia UniversityFounder Phi Beta Delta[1]
Joseph MichtomColumbia UniversityFounder Phi Beta Delta[1]
Samuel NullColumbia UniversityFounder Phi Beta Delta, New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division Judge 1943-49.[1][4]
Julius RuddColumbia UniversityFounder Phi Beta Delta[1]
Bernard ShapiroColumbia UniversityFounder Phi Beta Delta[1]

Chapters

Chapters of Phi Beta Delta:[5][2]

  • 1912. Alpha, Columbia University
  • 1912. Gamma, College of the City of New York
  • 1912. Lambda, New York College of Dentistry
  • 1913. Sigma, Cornell University (1918)
  • 1915. Zeta, New York University
  • 1916. Beta, Fordham University
  • 1918. Nu, Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn
  • 1919. Eta, University of Pennsylvania
  • 1919. Epsilon, University of Chicago
  • 1920. Theta, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • 1920. Mu, University of Cincinnati
  • 1920. Kappa, University of Southern California
  • 1921. Omicron, University of Michigan
  • 1921. Rho, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • 1921. Xi, Tufts College
  • 1921. Pi, Washington University
  • 1922. Tau, University of California
  • 1922. Upsilon, Southern Branch of the University of California
  • 1922. Iota, University of Oklahoma

See also

References
  1. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 14th Edition, 1940.
  2. 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 6 Aug 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  3. 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-13. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  4. "Justices of the Court : Max Bloom". Nycourts.gov. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
  5. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. G. Banta Company. 1923. p. 220.
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