Lambda Chi Alpha was founded at Boston University on November 2, 1909 by Warren Albert Cole. Most Greek-letter organizations celebrate Founders Day on the date of the founding. Lambda Chi’s official Founders Day is March 22, according to the Fraternity’s website, “but celebrations typically occur at any time during the spring semester.”
Lambda Chi’s Historian Mike Raymond wrote a terrific article in the March 2011 Cross & Crescent. It is entitled “Why We Have Two Founders Days.” The second date, March 22, was originally called “Lambda Chi Alpha Day.” March 22, 1913 was the date of “the first assembly with representatives from more than one chapter, it was also the place where sweeping changes were made in the fundamental nature of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.”
The October 11, 1939, acquisition of the 24 chapters of Theta Kappa Nu made it the largest fraternity merger that time. Theta Kappa Nu had itself been created when 11 established local fraternities joined together on June 9, 1924. Theta Kappa Nu’s expansion was quick and the pattern of acquiring established locals continued; by the time of the merger, more than 50 Theta Kappa Nu chapters had been established and the fraternity had almost 6,000 members. The Great Depression caused collegiate membership to decline in both organizations (as well as in most fraternities and sororities). The merger documents were signed at Howard College (now Samford University) in Birmingham, Alabama.
