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A Message from the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life
Greetings,
Welcome to our digital archive dedicated to the history and legacy of Greek-letter organizations. As you explore this timeline, you are witnessing nearly 250 years of tradition, leadership, and a steadfast commitment to excellence.Our community is built on a "goodly heritage" of scholarship and service. From the earliest literary societies to the pioneering cultural organizations of today, Greek life has provided a vital space for students to find their voice and forge lifelong bonds. We invite you to learn about the values—the mottos, the missions, and the milestones—that continue to shape the leaders of tomorrow.
Miami University +2 In Fellowship,
The Leadership Team
Legacy Profiles
Three Iconic Pillars
1. Phi Beta Kappa (Founded 1776)
- The Catalyst: Known as America's most prestigious academic honor society, it was the first to adopt a Greek-letter name and established the model for modern fraternities, including secrets, badges, and mottos.
- Legacy of Leadership: Membership is an exclusive invitation based on superior academic achievement. Its alumni include 17 U.S. Presidents, 41 Supreme Court Justices, and over 140 Nobel Laureates.
- Core Impact: For over two centuries, it has championed the liberal arts and "freedom of inquiry" as the grounding force for a free nation.
The University of Maine +4
2. Alpha Phi Alpha (Founded 1906)
- The "First of Firsts": Established at Cornell University, it is the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity for African American men.
- Civil Rights Vanguard: The fraternity was born as a response to racial exclusion and isolation. Its members, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Thurgood Marshall, were central to the Civil Rights Movement and the founding of the NAACP.
- Core Impact: Through initiatives like the "Go-to-High-School, Go-to-College" campaign, the fraternity has prioritized educational attainment and community uplift for over a century.
Williams-Franklin Foundation +3
3. Chi Omega (Founded 1895)
- Global Sisterhood: Founded at the University of Arkansas, it has grown to become the largest women's fraternal organization in the world, with over 427,000 initiates.
- Professional Pioneers: In 1916, Chi Omega became the first women's fraternity to move into a professional office building, signaling a new era of professionalism for women in the workplace.
- Core Impact: The organization focuses on six core purposes: friendship, high standards, scholarship, campus involvement, service, and career development.
Chi Omega +4
The Leaders Gallery
Greek Life’s Impact on History
⚖️ Public Service & Law
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Alpha Phi Alpha): A champion of civil rights who embodied his fraternity’s motto, "First of All, Servants of All."
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Alpha Epsilon Phi): The "Notorious RBG" served as a Supreme Court Justice and a pioneer for gender equality.
- Condoleezza Rice (Alpha Chi Omega): The first female African American Secretary of State and a distinguished political scientist.
- Thurgood Marshall (Alpha Phi Alpha): The first African American Supreme Court Justice and a key figure in the legal fight for desegregation.
- John F. Kennedy (Phi Kappa Theta): The 35th President of the United States, representing a long lineage of Greek-letter leaders in the White House.
🚀 Science, Tech & Exploration
- Neil Armstrong (Phi Delta Theta): The first human to walk on the moon, carrying the values of scholarship and discovery into the cosmos.
- Katherine Johnson (Alpha Kappa Alpha): The NASA mathematician whose calculations were critical to the success of first and subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights.
- Bill Gates (Leadership Honorary - Omicron Delta Kappa): Though he left Harvard early, his recognition in leadership honoraries highlights the Greek commitment to excellence.
🎭 Arts, Media & Literature
- Toni Morrison (Alpha Kappa Alpha): The Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist who gave a voice to the Black experience.
- Maya Angelou (Honorary, Alpha Kappa Alpha): A poet and activist whose work remains a cornerstone of American literature.
- Brad Pitt (Sigma Chi): A world-renowned actor and philanthropist, illustrating the social and professional networks built in collegiate life.
- Michael Jordan (Omega Psi Phi): Widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time, embodying the value of "Perseverance."
💼 Business & Innovation
- Warren Buffett (Alpha Sigma Phi): One of the world’s most successful investors, demonstrating the fraternity value of intellectual growth.
- Sara Blakely (Delta Delta Delta): The founder of Spanx and one of the youngest self-made female billionaires.
- Bob Iger (Delta Kappa Epsilon): The former CEO of Disney, credited with transforming the global entertainment landscape.
The Legacy of Greek Life : A TIMELINE OF VALUES
The Foundation (1776 – 1833)
- 1776, Dec 5 | Phi Beta Kappa (The Precursor)
- Motto: "Philosophy is the guide of life."
- Values: Intellectual integrity, academic fellowship, and freedom of inquiry.
- 1824, Dec 24 | Chi Phi
- Values: Truth, Honor, and Personal Integrity. Founded as a means to foster lifelong bonds and character.
- 1832, Oct 29 | Alpha Delta Phi
- Motto: "The whole man."
- Values: Cultivating the intellectual, moral, and social facets of its members.
- 1833, Nov 24 | Psi Upsilon
- Motto: "Unto us has befallen a goodly heritage."
- Values: Excellence in scholarship, moral rectitude, and social fellowship.
The Expansion of Social Fellowship (1834 – 1844)
- 1834, Nov 4 | Delta Upsilon
- Motto: "Justice, Our Foundation."
- Values: The first non-secret fraternity; emphasizes the promotion of friendship, development of character, and advancement of justice.
- 1839, Aug 8 | Beta Theta Pi
- Values: Mutual assistance, intellectual growth, trust, responsible conduct, and integrity.
- 1844, Jun 22 | Delta Kappa Epsilon
- Motto: "Friends from the heart, forever."
- Values: The cultivation of general literature and social culture; seeking "the gentleman, the scholar, and the jolly good fellow."
The Rise of Women’s Societies (1851 – 1852)
- 1851, May 15 | Alpha Delta Pi
- Motto: "We live for each other."
- Values: Sincerity, loyalty, and the pursuit of knowledge. Originally the Adelphean Society, it prioritized womanhood and sisterhood.
- 1852, Mar 4 | Phi Mu
- Motto: "Les Soeurs Fideles" (The Faithful Sisters).
- Values: Love, Honor, and Truth. Focuses on personal development and philanthropic service.
Professional & Academic Excellence (1879 – 1903)
- 1879, May 30 | Kappa Psi (Pharmacy)
- Motto: "One for all and all for one."
- Values: High standards in pharmacy, industry, sobriety, and fellowship.
- 1902, Nov 8 | Phi Alpha Delta (Law)
- Motto: "Service to the Student, the School, the Profession, and the Community."
- Values: Professionalism, integrity, and social justice within the legal field.
- 1903, Jun 12 | Sigma Alpha Iota (Music)
- Values: The highest standards of musicianship and the furtherance of music in America and throughout the world.
The Divine Nine: A Legacy of Service (1906 – 1963)
- 1906, Dec 4 | Alpha Phi Alpha
- Motto: "First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All."
- Values: Manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind.
- 1908, Jan 15 | Alpha Kappa Alpha
- Motto: "By Merit and by Culture."
- Values: Service to all mankind; focus on the high-achieving Black woman.
- 1911, Jan 5 | Kappa Alpha Psi
- Motto: "Achievement in Every Field of Human Endeavor."
- Values: Honorable achievement, community service, and brotherhood.
- 1911, Nov 17 | Omega Psi Phi
- Motto: "Friendship is Essential to the Soul."
- Values: Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift.
- 1913, Jan 13 | Delta Sigma Theta
- Motto: "Intelligence is the Torch of Wisdom."
- Values: Scholarship, public service, and sisterhood (The Five-Point Programmatic Thrust).
- 1914, Jan 9 | Phi Beta Sigma
- Motto: "Culture for Service and Service for Humanity."
- Values: Brotherhood, Scholarship, and Service.
- 1920, Jan 16 | Zeta Phi Beta
- Values: Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood.
- 1922, Nov 12 | Sigma Gamma Rho
- Motto: "Greater Service, Greater Progress."
- Values: Education, community service, and the empowerment of women.
- 1963, Sep 19 | Iota Phi Theta
- Motto: "It Takes a Man."
- Values: Scholarship, Leadership, Citizenship, Fidelity, and Brotherhood.
Cultural & Inclusive Advocacy (1929 – 1998)
- 1929, Feb 1 | Pi Alpha Phi (Asian Cultural)
- Values: Academic Excellence, Asian Awareness, Brotherhood, Philanthropy, and Leadership.
- 1931, Dec 26 | Phi Iota Alpha (Latino Cultural)
- Motto: "Semper Parati, Semper Juncti" (Always Ready, Always Joined).
- Values: Pan-Americanism and the promotion of Latin American culture.
- 1975, Dec 1 | Lambda Theta Alpha (Latina Cultural)
- Motto: "Latin Ladies United."
- Values: Unity, Love, and Respect. Established to provide a space for marginalized women in higher education.
- 1981, Feb 25 | Lambda Phi Epsilon (Asian-Interest)
- Motto: "To be Leaders Among Men."
- Values: Academic achievement, philanthropic service, and Asian American awareness.
- 1998, Oct 1 | Delta Epsilon Psi (South Asian Cultural)
- Values: Service, Brotherhood, and Pride. Dedicated to the South Asian community through philanthropy and social bonding.
Greek Etiquette by Lineup Greek!
The Etiquette of Respect: "Wearing the Letters"
- Earned, Not Bought: In most Greek-letter organizations, the right to wear the letters is a privilege granted only after an official initiation process. Wearing letters of an organization you do not belong to is generally seen as a sign of disrespect toward their history and rituals.
- The "Vessel" of the Letters: Members are taught that when they wear their letters, they are a walking representation of their entire national organization. Their conduct reflects on thousands of alumni and current members.
- Respecting the Crest: While the Greek letters (e.g.,
or ) are public, the Organizational Crest or Shield often contains secret symbols. These are treated with the highest level of reverence. - Disposal with Dignity: If a member’s "lettered" clothing is old or worn out, it is often tradition to never simply throw it in the trash. It should be "retired" respectfully (often by removing the letters first) to ensure the symbols aren't found in a disrespectful state.
The Impact: Legacy by the Numbers
- Leadership at the Top: Since 1825, over 75% of all U.S. Presidents have been members of Greek-letter organizations.
- Executive Excellence: Historically, nearly 85% of Fortune 500 executives belong to a fraternity or sorority.
- The Firsts: Many "firsts" in history were Greek, including the first female physician in the U.S. and the first African American Supreme Court Justice.
- Philanthropic Power: Collectively, Greek-letter organizations raise over $20 million annually for charities and contribute millions of community service hours.