Iota Alpha Kappa

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Iota Alpha Kappa
ΙΑΚ
Founded1858; 166 years ago (1858)
Union College
TypeSocial
Chapters20 ?
Dissolved1874[1]

Iota Alpha Kappa (ΙΑΚ) was an American collegiate fraternity.

History[edit]

Iota Alpha Kappa was founded at Union College in 1858.[1] Roughly 20 chapters were developed, including at Lafayette College, Washington & Jefferson College, Columbia College and Norwich University.[1] Membership was not restricted to college students.[1] In 1874, the fraternity was dissolved at a convention held in Easton, Pennsylvania.[1]

Following dissolution, the Washington & Jefferson College chapter founded the Phi Delta Kappa fraternity and became its first chapter.[2] Following the collapse of Phi Delta Kappa, that chapter joined Phi Gamma Delta, restoring that fraternity's Alpha chapter.[2][3]

Chapters[edit]

Known chapters include the following. Those active at the time of national dissolution noted in bold, chapters that were inactive at the time of national dissolution are noted in italics.

Chapter Charter date and range Institution City or county State or province Status References
Name ? 1858–18xx ? Union College Schenectady New York Inactive [3]
Name ? 18631874 Lafayette College Easton Pennsylvania Withdrew (ΧΦ) [3][a]
Name ? 18721873 Lehigh University Bethlehem Pennsylvania Dormant (some to ΧΦ) [3][b]
Name ? 18731874 Washington & Jefferson College Washington Pennsylvania Withdrew (ΦΔΚ) [3][c]
Name ? 18731874 Columbia University New York City New York Dormant [3][d]
Name ? 187x ?–187x ? Norwich University Northfield Vermont Dormant [3][e]
  1. ^ Withdrew at national dissolution to become Chi Phi's Rho chapter.
  2. ^ With national dissolution looming, several members of this new chapter withdrew to join the existing Psi chapter of Chi Phi, which had also formed in 1872, at Lehigh.
  3. ^ Withdrew at national dissolution to form its own national, eventually creating five chapters. When these failed, it was affiliated to restore Phi Gamma Delta's Alpha chapter in 1881.
  4. ^ The Columbia chapter appears to have dissipated with no successor.
  5. ^ The Norwich chapter appears to have dissipated with no successor. All remaining fraternities ceased operation at Norwich in 1959.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Baird, William Raimond (1905). "Iota Alpha Kappa". Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (6th ed.). The Alcolm Company. p. 433.
  2. ^ a b William Raimond Baird (1898). "Phi Delta Kappa". Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (5th ed.). G. Banta Co. pp. 344–345.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g 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 October 2023. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.