Phi Delta Gamma (professional) explained

Phi Delta Gamma
Letters:	Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΔΓ
Coat Of Arms:	File:The_pin_of_Phi_Delta_Gamma_(professional).png
Birthplace:	College of William and Mary
Former Affiliation:	PFA
Status:	Merged
Merge Date:	1935
Successor:	Tau Kappa Alpha
Emphasis:	Forensics
Scope:	National (U.S.)
Mottos:	-->
Publication:	The Literary Scroll
Chapters:	13
Nicknames:	-->
Province:	-->
Postal Code:	-->
Country:	United States
Homepage:	-->

Phi Delta Gamma (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΔΓ) was an American professional fraternity in the field of forensics (public speaking).^{[1] [2]} It merged into Tau Kappa Alpha in 1935.

History

Phi Delta Gamma was founded on June 7, 1924, at the College of William & Mary, combining local literary society's from the University of Iowa, Georgetown University School of Law, the University of Minnesota, the University of Illinois, Ohio University, George Washington University, and the University of Southern California. Its founders were members of a committee that was organized after a 1922 meeting held in Urbana, Illinois.^[3]

The founders were:^[4]

• William O. Moore, State University of Iowa
• George O. Hurley, State University of Iowa
• Kenneth E. Oberholtzer, University of Illinois
• Dean William A. Hamilton, College of William and Mary
• Russell D. Tubaugh, Ohio University
• Paul A. Lomax, University of Southern California
• William Waldo Girdner, George Washington University
• Carl E. Anderson, University of Minnesota.

The fraternity's purpose was to "maintain and stimulate a greater interest in the work of literary societies, debate clubs, and dramatic organization in colleges and universities and to foster the upbuilding of literary societies."

Phi Delta Gamma was a founding member of the Professional Interfraternity Conference in 1928.^[5] Phi Delta Gamma merged into Tau Kappa Alpha in 1935.

Symbols

The fraternity's badge was illustrated in Baird's as a diamond shape with an enameled center that featured a scroll with the Greek letters Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΦΔΓ on it in the diagonal, from the left corner of the scroll to the bottom right corner. There was a star above and below the scroll.

Membership

Phi Delta Gamma's members included male undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty.^[6] Membership was through a pledging and initiation process, with new members being elected based on debating experience, qualities of scholarship, and interest in literary events.^{[7] [8] [9]} The fraternity also awarded honorary memberships.

Activities

Phi Delta Gamma pursued intersociety rather than intercollegiate forensics.^[10] Its activities included debates and forensic contests, awarding silver loving cups to members of the winning team.^[11] The DC Alpha chapter awarded a silver loving cup annually to winner of a freshman oratory contest, while he CA Alpha chapter awarded a loving cup annually for the best speech in the state.^{[12] [13] [14]} The VA Alpha chapter purchased three gold medals to be awarded annually for "unusual merit" to a men and women in forensics and either a man or woman for dramatics at the College of William and Mary.^[15] The society's members also organized guest speakers and social events such as an annual banquet.^{[16] [17] [18]}

The fraternity's magazine was The Literary Scroll

Governance

Chapters elected the following officers: president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer; some chapters had a sergeant-at-arms and chaplain.^{[19] [20]}

Chapters

Following is a list of the chapters of Phi Delta Gamma.

Chapter	Charter date and range	Institution	Location	Status	References
IA Alpha	– 1935	Iowa State University	Ames, Iowa	Merged (ΤΚΑ)
OH Alpha	– 1935	Ohio University	Athens, Ohio	Merged (ΤΚΑ)
CA Alpha	– 1935	University of Southern California	Los Angeles, California	Merged (ΤΚΑ)
DC Alpha	– 1935	George Washington University	Washington, D.C.	Merged (ΤΚΑ)
VA Alpha	– 1935	College of William & Mary	Williamsburg, Virginia	Merged (ΤΚΑ	^[21]
MN Alpha	– 1935	University of Minnesota	Minneapolis	Merged (ΤΚΑ)
IL Alpha	– 1935	University of Illinois	Urbana, Illinois	Merged (ΤΚΑ)	^[22] ^[23]
AL Alpha	– 1935	Auburn University	Auburn, Alabama	Merged (ΤΚΑ)	^[24]
TX Alpha	1925–1935	University of Texas	Austin, Texas	Merged (ΤΚΑ)
IL Beta	– 1935	Northwestern University	Evanston, Illinois	Merged (ΤΚΑ)	^[25]
OH Beta	1927–1935	Ohio State University	Columbus, Ohio	Merged (ΤΚΑ)
IN Alpha	– 1935	Indiana University	Bloomington, Indiana	Merged (ΤΚΑ)
IA Beta		University of Iowa	Iowa City, Iowa	Inactive	^[26]

Notable members

• Theodore F, Koop (IA Alpha) – Vice President of CBS. editor for The Associated Press and director of National Geographics news service^{[27] [28]}
• Lee Loevinger (MN Alpha) – jurist, lawyer, and Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission^[29]
• Norman Shumway (MN Alpha) – a pioneer of heart surgery^[30]

See also

• College literary societies
• Debate
• Professional fraternities and sororities

Notes and References

1. Robson, John, ed. (1963). Baird's Manuel of American College Fraternities (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. p. 751.
2. 1925 . The Year in Forensics . The Gopher: Annual Publication of the Student Body of the University of Minnesota . 39 . 238 . Google Books.
3. Book: William Raimond Baird . Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities . G. Banta Company . 1977 . 820–821.
4. Book: Banta's Greek Exchange: Published in the Interest of the College Fraternity World . George Banta Company, Incorporated . 1928 . 16 . 274 . 3.
5. July 31, 1928 . Ely Represents Alpha Rho Chi at Conferences in Steps Taken for Proposed Professional Interfraternity . dead . The ARCHI of Alpha Rho Chi . IX . 1 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170510142143/https://alpharhochi.org/archi-files/backissues/1928-Jul31-Archi/1928-Jul31-Archi-opt.pdf . May 10, 2017 . August 1, 2023 . 7.
6. Book: Rahe, Herbert Edgar . The History of Speech Education in Indiana Colleges 1820-1938 . 1939 . University of Wisconsin--Madison . 2 . 253 . en . Google Books.
7. News: 1925-10-28 . Phi Delta Gamma . 2 . The Daily Illini . Urbana, Illinois . 2023-08-01 . Newspapers.com.
8. News: 1926-03-09 . Student Debaters Awarded Honors . 10 . Austin American-Statesman . Austin, Texas . 2023-08-01 . Newspapers.com.
9. News: 1926-05-26 . Six Men Are Initiated by Forensic Honorary . 1 . The Daily Illini . Urbana, Illinois . 2023-08-01 . Newspapers.com.
10. News: 1926-01-16 . Inter-College Debates Plan to be Pushed . 1 . The Daily Illini . Urbana, Illinois . 2023-08-01 . Newspapers.com.
11. May 1925 . AG Debaters Reach Final Contest . The Illini Aggravator . 4 . 8 . 1 . Google Books.
12. News: 1929-12-11 . Student Wins Cup . 8 . Los Angeles Evening Express . 2023-08-01 . Newspapers.com.
13. News: 1929-02-17 . Douglas Bement Speaks . 10 . Evening Star . Washington, D.C. . 2023-08-01 . Newspapers.com.
14. News: 1929-03-15 . Freshmen to Orate . 27 . Evening Star . Washington, District of Columbia . 2023-08-01 . Newspapers.com.
15. News: 1925-05-17 . Purchased Medals for the Students; Will Be Awarded Men and Women Prominent in Debate. . 23 . Daily Press . Newport News, Virginia . 2023-08-01 . Newspapers.com.
16. News: 1926-06-09 . Phi Delta Gamma . 10 . Daily Press . Newport News, Virginia . 2023-08-01 . Newspapers.com.
17. News: 1935-04-02 . Forensic Group Sponsors W. & M. Address . 7 . The Richmond News Leader . Virginia . 2023-08-01 . Newspapers.com.
18. News: 1935-06-02 . McNutt is Chief Speaker at Annual Dinner Honoring Leading Students . 30 . The Indianapolis Star . Indiana . 2023-08-01 . Newspapers.com.
19. News: 1926-01-24 . Phi Delta Gamma Picks Pruden '27 as President . 1 . The Daily Illini . Urbana, Illinois . 2023-08-01 . Newspapers.com.
20. News: 1928-05-16 . New I.U. Fraternity: Phi Delta Gamma Organized . 3 . The Indianapolis Times . Indiana . 2023-08-01 . Newspapers.com.
21. News: 1924-06-10 . Frat Installed Here by Phi Delta Gamma . 9 . Daily Press . Newport News, Virginia . 2023-08-01 . Newspapers.com.
22. News: 1926-01-16 . Inter-Coolege Debates Plan to be Pushed . 1 . The Daily Illini . Urbana, Illinois . 2023-08-01 . Newspapers.com.
23. News: 1925-03-04 . New Groups Win Okeh of Council . 2 . The Daily Illini . Urbana, Illinois . 2023-08-01 . Newspapers.com.
24. News: 1925-03-23 . Fraternity Gets Charter . 13 . The Birmingham News . Alabama . 2023-08-01 . Newspapers.com.
25. News: 1927-04-10 . Weller to Assist in Installation at N.U. . 1 . The Daily Illini . Urbana, Illinois . 2023-08-01 . Newspapers.com.
26. Book: Gerber, John C. . A Pictorial History of the University of Iowa . 2010-09-13 . University of Iowa Press . 978-1-60938-023-6 . 120 . en . Google Books.
27. News: 1927-05-13 . Monticello Boy to Edit Daily Iowan . 11 . The Gazette . Cedar Rapids, Iowa . 2023-08-01 . Newspapers.com.
28. News: Ap . 1988-07-09 . Theodore F. Koop, 81, Former CBS Executive . en-US . 33, Section 1 . The New York Times . 2023-08-01 . 0362-4331.
29. Book: Lovienger Nomination, Hearing Before the Committee on Commerce United States Senate . June 4, 1963 . U.S. Government Printing Office . 2 . en . Google Books.
30. Baumgarter . William A. . Reitz . Bruce A. . Gott . Vincent L. . Shumway . Sara J. . February 2009 . Norman E. Shumway, MD, Ph.D.: Visionary, innovator, humorist . JTCVS: Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery . 137 . 2 . 269–277. 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2008.11.008 . 19185135 . free .