Alpha Delta Alpha


Alpha Delta Alpha was an American fraternity that was established in 1920 at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It expanded to eight chapters in Iowa and Indiana before ceasing operation as a national organization in. Six chapters continued as local organizations, with at least three of these eventually merging into other various national fraternities.

History

Alpha Delta Alpha was founded at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in. Its founders were George A. Hunt, Harold R. Johnson, Carleton B. Sutliff, and Paul A. Young. The fraternity was established as a local scientific and radio society, emerging out of the Radio Club that was formed in 1910. Shortly thereafter, it became a national fraternity when it merged with a similar society at the University of Iowa in 1920.
By it had shifted focus to become a general social fraternity. It added six additional chapters at institutions in Iowa and Indiana. The fraternity was governed by its protus boule, elected at national meetings held semiannually. It was headquartered in Cedar Rapids.
A merger was discussed with Beta Phi Theta in the early 's but was not consummated.' The fraternity was dissolved in, at a national meeting held in Cedar Falls, Iowa.' However, several chapters continued as locals, sooner or later joining other national fraternities. The Eta chapter joined Alpha Kappa Pi, a national organization that later merged into Alpha Sigma Phi.
Gamma chapter at the University of Northern Iowa operated as a local fraternity according to campus yearbooks. Due to World War II enlistment, by all fraternity activity on the campus appears to have ceased; no fraternities are shown in the 1944 yearbook, while the sororities at Northern Iowa continued in operation. On that campus, other fraternities resumed in 1946, but these did not include Alpha Delta Alpha.

Symbols

Alpha Delta Alpha's badge was a gold equilateral triangle, with one point down and a border of 21 pearls. Inside the triangle was a black enamel triangle with a single pearl, a radio antenna, and the Greek letters ΑΔΑ. Its pledge pin was a black triangle with a radio antenna and a white border.
The fraternity's colors were red, white, and purple. Its quarterly publication was The Cresset, first published in 1928''.''

Chapters

Although Alpha Delta Alpha fraternity ceased operations in December 1934, many of its chapters opted to withdraw and continue as local fraternities. The following list of Alpha Delta Alpha chapters reflects local closure dates, rather than the ending of the national fraternity.
ChapterCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatus
Alpha1920–1946Coe CollegeCedar Rapids, IowaWithdrew
Beta1921–1924University of IowaIowa City, IowaInactive
Gamma1923–1943Iowa State Teachers CollegeCedar Falls, IowaWithdrew
Delta1926–1936Buena Vista UniversityStorm Lake, IowaWithdrew
Epsilon1927–1934Simpson CollegeIndianola, IowaInactive
Zeta1928–1936Hanover CollegeHanover, IndianaWithdrew
Eta1930–1935Tri-State CollegeAngola, IndianaWithdrew
Theta1932–1947Upper Iowa UniversityFayette, IowaWithdrew