Delta Alpha Pi (social)

Delta Alpha Pi
Delta Alpha Pi
ΔΑΠ
Founded	November 22, 1919; 105 years ago; Ohio Wesleyan University
Type	Social
Former affiliation	NIC
Status	Merged
Merge date	October 1935
Successor	Phi Mu Delta
Scope	National (US)
Member badge
Colors	Red and White
Symbol	Cross
Flower	Ophelia Rose
Publication	The Cross and Shield
Chapters	6
Headquarters	; United States

Delta Alpha Pi (ΔΑΠ) was a social fraternity was founded in 1919 at Ohio Wesleyan University. Most chapters and alumni merged with Phi Mu Delta in 1935.

History

Delta Alpha Pi was founded on November 22, 1919, at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. Its original name was Kappa Sigma Pi, but with an agreement with the local that would become the Beta chapter at Ohio State University, by 1921 the new organization settled on Delta Alpha Pi.^[1]

Its founders were:

John H. Alspach
Howard C. Cameron
Carl L. Clugston
Charles Melvin Coulter
Barton R. Deming

E. Frank Francis
Douglas M. Gaither
Robert B. Hartley
Charles M. Hemstead
Frank B. Jemison
John A. King

Stanley Mullen
Donald H. Price
Allen E. Rupp
Vernie Seibert
Donald Wogaman

The founders wanted to form a fraternity that would develop of Christian Character. In 1927 Delta Alpha Pi became a junior member of the NIC.

As of October 1929, Alpha, Beta and Gamma chapters had houses, but Delta at NYU did not.^[2]

In the early years of the Great Depression, the chapters at Ohio Wesleyan University, University of Illinois and Butler University went inactive. In 1935, the decision was made to merge with Phi Mu Delta. However the chapter at Purdue University withdrew, eventually affiliating with Alpha Chi Rho. The remaining chapters and alumni merged into Phi Mu Delta in October 1935.^[3]

Symbols

The Delta Alpha Pi coat of arms always featured Roman helmet in profile above a shield with a wavy silver border.^[4] At the top, was a passant lion holding an eight-pointed star.^[4] Below the shield was a banner with the fraternity's name.^[4]

The badge of Delta Alpha Pi was a shield mounted on a cross of which only the ends were visible. Upon the black background were two crossed swords, above which were the Greek letters ΔΑΠ.^[3] The colors were Red and White.^[5] The flower was an Ophelia rose.^[5]

The fraternity's semi-annual magazine was the Cross and Shield.

Chapters

These were the chapters of Delta Alpha Pi and their status at the time of dissolution.^[3]^[1]

Name	Charter date and range	Institution	Location	Status	References
Alpha	November 22, 1919–1933	Ohio Wesleyan University	Delaware, Ohio	Inactive	^[a]
Beta	October 20, 1921–1934	Ohio State University	Columbus, Ohio	Merged (ΦΜΔ)	^[5]^[b]
Gamma	1924–1936	Purdue University	West Lafayette, Indiana	Withdrew (ΑΧΡ)	^[c]
Delta	1925–1934	New York University	New York, New York	Merged (ΦΜΔ)	^[d]
Epsilon	1927–1932	Butler University	Indianapolis, Indiana	Inactive	^[e]
Zeta	1927–1933	University of Illinois	Champaign, Illinois	Inactive	^[f]

^ Chapter formed as Kappa Sigma Pi, but within two years the name was changed to Delta Alpha Pi with the merger of the Beta chapter at OSU into the new fraternity.
^ Merged with the Mu Gamma chapter of Phi Mu Delta at the time of the national merger.
^ The chapter formed from the Pirathon Club (local), established in 1920. The chapter withdrew at the time of the national merger. It later became the Alpha Phi chapter of Alpha Chi Rho.
^ This chapter originated from Alpha Phi fraternity (local). It became the Nu Kappa chapter of Phi Mu Delta at the time of the national merger.
^ This chapter formed fro the Butler Association, a local club established in 1919.
^ This chapter formed from Alpha Sigma Tau, a local fraternity established in 1923.

References

^ ^a ^b 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 12 December 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
^ October 1929 Banta's Greek Exchange
^ ^a ^b ^c Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991). Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VIII-6. ISBN 978-0963715906.
^ ^a ^b ^c Butterfield, E. Helen (1931). "College fraternity heraldry". Menasha, Wisconsin: George Banta Pub. Co. p. 57. Retrieved 2024-11-28 – via Hathi Trust.
^ ^a ^b ^c Makio 1926 p 311