Iota Alpha Kappa
Iota Alpha Kappa (ΙΑΚ) was an American collegiate fraternity. It was established at Union College in 1858 and was dissolved in 1874.
| Iota Alpha Kappa | |
|---|---|
| ΙΑΚ | |
| Founded | 1858 Union College |
| Type | Social |
| Status | Defunct |
| Scope | National |
| Chapters | 20 ? |
| Dissolved | 1874[1] |
| Headquarters | United States |
History
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
Known chapters include the following.
| Charter date and range | Institution | City | State | Status | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1858–18xx ? | Union College | Schenectady | New York | Inactive | [3] |
| 1863–1874 | Lafayette College | Easton | Pennsylvania | Withdrew (ΧΦ) | [3][lower-alpha 1] |
| 1872–1873 | Lehigh University | Bethlehem | Pennsylvania | Inactive (some to ΧΦ) | [3][lower-alpha 2] |
| 1873–1874 | Washington & Jefferson College | Washington | Pennsylvania | Withdrew (ΦΔΚ) | [3][lower-alpha 3] |
| 1873–1874 | Columbia University | New York City | New York | Inactive | [3][lower-alpha 4] |
| 187x ?–187x ? | Norwich University | Northfield | Vermont | Inactive | [3][lower-alpha 5] |
- Withdrew at national dissolution to become Chi Phi's Rho chapter.
- 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.
- 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.
- The Columbia chapter appears to have dissipated with no successor.
- The Norwich chapter appears to have dissipated with no successor. All remaining fraternities ceased operation at Norwich in 1959.
References
- Baird, William Raimond (1905). "Iota Alpha Kappa". Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (6th ed.). The Alcolm Company. p. 433.
- William Raimond Baird (1898). "Phi Delta Kappa". Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (5th ed.). G. Banta Co. pp. 344–345.
- 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.