The first women's National Collegiate Social Greek Letter Society in North Carolina was chartered at Elizabeth City Normal and Industrial School (later Elizabeth City State University) in 1902. Approximately ten chapters spanning four states were chartered before dissension led to the demise of this national fraternity in 1929. In 1923 Chi Tau National Men's Fraternity was formed from the union of Chi Tau local fraternity at Trinity College (present-day Duke University) and Lambda Sigma Delta local fraternity of North Carolina State College ( North Carolina State University). Fraternities were viewed by some as aloof, "destructive of college spirit," and "hurtful to athletics." Despite these charges, student interest continued, so that by the outbreak of World War I, a diverse fraternity system flourished in North Carolina. Despite this recognition, there was still animosity toward the fraternities from some students and faculty members. Founded at UNC in 1858, this fraternity expanded chapters to a number of southern states and even formed a chapter in Europe.īy 1885 fraternities and secret societies were so prevalent that the UNC trustees reluctantly granted conditional recognition to the groups, which included the stipulation that the groups had to provide the faculty with membership lists and agree not to have socials with alcohol in Chapel Hill. Chi Phi was one of the few fraternities in North Carolina that did not disband. Like most other fraternities, it disbanded briefly during the Civil War. Delta Kappa Epsilon, the oldest existing fraternity in North Carolina, was chartered at UNC in 1850. While some organizations ceased operation because of this edict, others went underground, perhaps becoming even more attractive to rebellious students of the time.Īlthough the suppression of secret societies worked for a while, by the early 1850s these clubs and fraternities were again operating above ground. Students were made to take a pledge against joining these societies and were not admitted to the university unless they did so. In North Carolina during this time period, the trustees of the University of North Carolina passed a resolution banning exclusive and secret societies on the grounds that these groups were detrimental to good morals and sound learning. This movement gained mass support and even resulted in the formation of a political party. Chi Psi, Delta Kappa Epsilon, and Kappa Sigma fraternities absorbed most of the Kappa Alpha chapters after the mother chapter of Kappa Alpha disbanded.ĭuring the 1840s, there was a national backlash against secret societies in general and fraternities specifically. Chapters also existed in county seats and consisted of the "professional and gentry classes," who met for "social and literary purposes." Before its final demise in 1866, Kappa Alpha enlisted many prominent men, including President James K. Kappa Alpha, or Kuklos Adelphon as it was also known, grew popular and spread to more than 21 other college campuses throughout the South. This is the first documentation of the founding of a Greek letter social fraternity in the United States. Four undergraduate students claiming membership in Phi Beta Kappa used a constitution, a ritual, a badge, and secrets nearly identical to those of Phi Beta Kappa to create Kappa Alpha. Drawing heavily upon Masonic and Phi Beta Kappa Literary Society influences, Kappa Alpha (a different group from the current-day Kappa Alpha Order or Kappa Alpha Society) was founded at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill in 1812. Greek letter societies incorporate both fraternities and sororities (sororities were originally called "women's fraternities"). By Brian Bullard and Martha Belle Caldwell, 2006įraternities and Sororities, officially called National Collegiate Social Greek Letter Societies, have been present in North Carolina since at least 1812 and form a significant presence on the campuses of the state's modern colleges and universities.
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