Theta Kappa Nu (ΘΚΝ) fraternity was an American national collegiate fraternity founded in 1924 by delegates from eleven local fraternities.[1][2] It merged with Lambda Chi Alpha in 1939.[2]
History
Winslow S. Anderson, a faculty member of Rollins College and founder of Tau Lambda local fraternity, had an idea for a new national fraternity to expand to large universities and small colleges in 1921.[1][3]
In 1924, he found three like-minded men, Otho Robert McAtee of Springfield, Missouri, Jerry Homer Krenmyre, vice president of Iowa Wesleyan College, and Donald Fisher Lybarger, an attorney and founder of Phi Sigma.[1][3] These men were members of three different local fraternities.[1]
Theta Kappa Nu fraternity was founded when delegates from eleven local fraternities from nine different states united to form the new fraternity.[1] The organizing meeting took place in Springfield, Missouri on June 9, 1924.[1] The organizations included:[1]
The representatives from the various organizations became the charter members of Theta Kappa Nu.[1] The charter members were:[1]
Winslow S. Anderson, Tau Lambda
Earl N. Arbaugh, Phi Alpha Sigma
Paul Barnett, Phi Kappa Nu
Paul R. Dick, Phi Beta Omega
Raymond E. Doyle, Phi Sigma
G. Lemuel Fenn, Kappa Phi
William W. Frye, Kappa Delta Psi
Leroy B. Hurd, Kappa Phi
Charles A. Karnak, Phi Sigma
J. H. Krenmyre, Kappa Delta Psi
W. Harry Lennard, Phi Beta Omega
Donald F. Lybarger, Phi Sigma
Otho R. McAttee, Phi Alpha Sigma
George Neely, Phi Kappa Nu
W. H. Rockey, Sigma Delta Chi
Henry Seaman, Tau Lambda
Aaron F. Shreve, Tau Lambda
J. Raymond Smith, Sigma Delta Chi
Arthur A. Whitlatch, Tri Kappa
Arthur H. Wilson, Tri Kappa
Anderson was selected as the fraternity's Grand Archon (chairman), McAttee was the Grand Scribe (secretary), Lybarder was the Grand Treasurer, and Krenmyre was the Grand Oracle.[4][5] Anderson, Krenmyre, Lybarger, and McAtee drafted its constitution, ritual, and business system.[1] On October 11, 1924, where the local chapters officially changed their names with an installation ceremony, along with a "badging out ceremony" held where members received their Theta Kappa Nu badge.[6] In the meantime, the first charter was granted to Missouri Beta at Westminster College on October 6, 1924.[6]
Theta Kappa Nu had, over its first decade, become the fastest-growing fraternity until that time, chartering forty chapters with almost 2,500 initiates by the close of 1926.[2][7] Most of Theta Kappa Nu's chapters were established at small, private colleges as local fraternities.[2]
The fraternity placed great emphasis on academics, offering graduate scholarships throughout its history, even during dire financial crises.[8] Its quarterly magazine was The Theta News.[8][4] Its headquarters were in Cleveland, Ohio.[8]
The Great Depression significantly impacted the small colleges where most Theta Kappa Nu chapters were located.[9] Expansion nearly ceased and chapters began closing in the early 1930s.[9] The Grand Council reduced membership fees in 1933 and 1935 with hopes of maintaining its membership, covering the reduction in income from its "permanent fund".[9] Over seven years, the fraternity's permanent fund was reduced from $28,500 to $12,200.[9] By the end of the decade, fraternity leaders realized that a merger with another fraternity was necessary to continue solvency.
Throughout its lifetime, leaders of Theta Kappa Nu had established numerous friendships with peers within Lambda Chi Alpha, whose expansion program had preferred chapters at larger institutions. Initial informal talks quickly led to a formal merger committee. In 1939, Lambda Chi Alpha merged with the Theta Kappa Nu in what was regarded as the largest fraternity merger to date. The ceremony was held in Birmingham, Alabama, at Howard College (now Samford) at the home of the oldest chapter among the original founding chapters of Theta Kappa Nu, Alabama Alpha chapter, where the documents were signed.
The union of Lambda Chi Alpha and Theta Kappa Nu resulted in 105 active chapters for the combined fraternity and over 27,000 initiates. Theta Kappa Nu's heritage entered that of the united fraternity with additions to the coat of arms, the white tudor rose, a new pledge pin (now the associate member pin) design, a new pledge ceremony (Now the associate member) which is a condensed version of Theta Kappa Nu's ritual, and the Latin open motto Vir Quisque Vir, or "Every man a man". It also brought an infusion of leadership to Lambda Chi Alpha that helped steer the united fraternity through the end of the Depression Era and World War II.
Symbols
Theta Kappa Nu Pledge Pin
The fraternity's colors were argent, sable, and crimson.[10] Its flower was the white Tudor rose.[10] Its motto was Vir Quisque Vir Est or "Every man is a man".[8][4] Its flag featured three horizontal stripes–white on top, crimson in the center, and black on the bottom–with gold letters ΘΚΝ on top, diagonally from upper left to bottom right.[10]
The Theta Kappa Nu badge consisted of three equilateral triangles that were joined at their top, underneath a fourth triangle.[10] The triangles are filled with black enamel and have one of the Greek letters Θ, Κ, or Ν in gold on the outer triangles.[10] The inner triangle features a Tudor rose and a mystical symbol.[10] The badge can be jeweled with pearls and diamonds.[10] The fraternity's pledge pin was a silver circle with four raised black enameled triangles, separated by crossed silver bars.[10] The fraternity also had a recognition pin for alumni and active members; it was a small coat of arms in either silver or gold.[11]
The coat of arms featured a shield with eleven chevrons in argent and sable, with a red inescutcheon in the center.[12] Above, is a red lion rampant holding a white rose. Benneath the shield, is a scroll with the motto Vir Quisque Vir Est.[12] It was designed by Emily Helen Butterfield.[13]
Theta Kappa Nu had alumni clubs in Birmingham, Alabama; Chicago, Illinois; Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; DeMoines, Iowa; Indianapolis, Indiana; Kansas City, Missouri; Los Angeles, California; New York City, New York; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Portland, Oregon; Richmond, Virginia; St. Louis, Missouri; Shreveport, Louisiana; Springfield, Missouri; and, Washington, D.C.[14]
