Lambda Phi Delta


Lambda Phi Delta was an American professional fine arts sorority. It was established at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois in 1917. It established six chapters before merging with Phi Mu Gamma professional sorority in 1930.

History

Lambda Phi Delta formed as the Senior Club at the Cumnock School of Oratory at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois in the spring of 1917. It became Lambda Phi Delta, a professional sorority for the fine arts, in the fall of 1917. The fine arts included music, expression, and dancing. Membership in the fraternity was open to women studying art, music, physical education or speech.
Lambda Phi Delta became a national sorority with created of a second chapter of the Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg in 1920. This was followed by chapters at the Horner Institute of Fine Arts and Kansas State Teachers' College in May 1921. Eventually, the sorority expanded to six chapters, all located in the Midwestern United States.
Lambda Phi Delta was governed by a grand council that was elected at biennial national conclaves. In January 1924 and 1925, its conclaves were held in Decatur, Illinois. Annually, its members celebrated Founders' Day on March 1. The sorority's philanthropic activities included sponsoring two scholarships: one in music and another in expression and dance. Members held concerts to fund the scholarships.
In June 1930, representatives of Lambda Phi Delta met with Phi Mu Gamma, a national oratory and drama sorority, to discuss a merger. Lambda Phi Delta's did not duplicate any of Phi Mu Gamma's chapters. The merger was approved at the fraternity's national conclave on September 16, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska and became official on October 10, 1930. Because Phi Mu Gamma was the older of the two organizations, it was decided to use its name after the merger. All of Lambda Phi Delta's members and alumnae became members of Phi Mu Gamma.

Symbols

Lambda Phi Delta badge was a gold triangle with beveled edges, topped by a black enamel Δ; inside the Δ was the Greek letter Λ made of pearls, and between the arms of the Λ was a raised letter Φ. It also had a recognition pin that was a small gold sword.
Its colors were blue, gold, and bronze. Its flowers were the sweetheart rose and the forget-me-not. Its jewel was the sapphire. The fraternity's publication was The Triangle.

Chapters

Following are the chapters of Lambda Phi Delta, with inactive chapters and institutions in italics.
ChaptersCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatus
Alpha – October 10, 1930Northwestern University School of SpeechEvanston, IllinoisMerged
Beta – October 10, 1930Kansas State Teachers College of PittsburgPittsburg, KansasMerged
Gamma – October 10, 1930Kansas City–Horner Conservatory of MusicKansas City, KansasMerged
Delta – October 10, 1930Kansas State Teachers' CollegeEmporia, KansasMerged
Epsilon192x ? – May 1930Lombard CollegeGalesburg, IllinoisInactive
Zeta – October 10, 1930James Millikin UniversityDecatur, IllinoisMerged
Eta – October 10, 1930Chicago Musical CollegeChicago, IllinoisMerged
Theta192x ? – October 10, 1930Kansas City–Horner Conservatory of MusicKansas City, MissouriMerged

Notable members

Following are some of the notable members and honorary members of Lambda Phi Delta.