Sigma Delta Kappa (ΣΔΚ) was an American professional fraternity in the field of law. It was founded in 1914 at the University of Michigan Law School.

Sigma Delta Kappa
ΣΔΚ
FoundedAugust 14, 1914; 110 years ago (1914-08-14)
University of Michigan
TypeProfessional
Former Affiliation
StatusDefunct
Defunct DateAfter 2009
EmphasisLaw
ScopeNational
Colors  Red and   Black
FlowerRed rose
PublicationSi-De-Ka
Chapters49+
Members18,350 (1977) lifetime
HeadquartersArlington, Virginia 22201
United States

History

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Sigma Delta Kappa was founded as a men's professional fraternity for law at the University of Michigan on August 14, 1914.[1][2][3] It purpose was bring together members of the legal profession, to create a network of students of various law schools, friendship, and to provide professional and social aid to its members.[2] Membership was open to men only.[4]

Its founders were:

  • Francis S. Rosenthal
  • James T. Sloan
  • John G. Gutekunst
  • Walter E. Morris
  • Russell D. Calkins
  • Arthur A. Morrow

It was admitted to the Conference of Law Fraternities in 1925.[5] The fraternity joined the Professional Interfraternity Conference in 1933.[6][2] In 1950, it had sixteen active college chapters, ten alumni chapters, and 14,500 members.[2] It was a charter member of the Professional Fraternity Association in 1978.[7][8]

The fraternity had initiated 18,350 members and had 18 active chapters in 1977, with 31 inactive chapters.[1] Its headquarters was located in Arlington, Virginia.[1][4] At least one chapter was still active in 2009, but later went inactive along with the fraternity.[9]

Symbols

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The Sigma Delta Kappa badge was a shield, shaped like a coffin, with the Greek letters ΣΔΚ in gold on a black background.[10] Its coat of arms included a checkered shield with six stars arranged diagonally. Over the shield was an owl holding balance scales in its beak, surrounded by a folded weath.[10]

The colors of Sigma Delta Kappa were red and black.[1][10] Its flower was the red rose.[1][10] The fraternity's publications included the quarterly Si-De-Ka, established in 1918, and a Newsletter.[4][10]

Chapters

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The chapters of Sigma Delta Kappa as of 1977.[1][10] Inactive chapters and institutions are in italics.

Chapter Charter date

and range

Institution Location Status References
Alpha August 14, 1914 University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Inactive
Beta 1914–1922 Chicago Law School Chicago, Illinois Inactive [a]
Gamma 1915–c. 1936 Benjamin Harrison Law School Indianapolis, Indiana Inactive [b]
Delta 1915–1922 Hamilton College of Law Chicago, Illinois Inactive
Epsilon 1915–1922 Benton College of Law St. Louis, Missouri Inactive
Zeta 1916 Valparaiso University Valparaiso, Indiana Inactive
Eta 1917 University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana Inactive
Theta 1917–c. 1942 Chattanooga College of Law Chattanooga, Tennessee Inactive [c]
Iota 1920–1926 Washington and Lee University Lexington, Virginia Inactive
Kappa 1921–c. 1994 Atlanta Law School Atlanta, Georgia Inactive [d]
Lambda 1921 Detroit College of Law Detroit, Michigan Inactive [e]
Mu 1921–c. 1954 National University School of Law Washington, D.C. Inactive [f]
Nu 1921 Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois Inactive
Xi 1922 University of Georgia Athens, Georgia Inactive
Omicron 1922 Ohio Northern University Ada, Ohio Inactive
Pi (First) 1922–1962 Cumberland University Lebanon, Tennessee Moved [g]
Rho 1925 San Francisco Law School San Francisco, California Inactive
Sigma 1925 University of Southern California Los Angeles, California Inactive
Tau 1926 DePaul University Chicago, Illinois Inactive
Upsilon 1926 University of Minnesota Law School Minneapolis, Minnesota Inactive
Phi 1926 University of California, Hastings College of the Law San Francisco, California Inactive
Chi 1926 University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama Inactive
Psi 1927 St. Joseph Law Missouri Inactive
Omega 1927 Chicago-Kent College of Law Chicago, Illinois Inactive
Alpha Alpha 1927 University of Illinois College of Law Champaign, Illinois Inactive
Alpha Beta 1927 Westminster College of Law Denver, Colorado Inactive [h]
Alpha Gamma 1927 University of Mississippi School of Law Oxford, Mississippi Inactive
Alpha Delta 1928 St. John's University School of Law Jamaica, Queens, New York Inactive
Alpha Epsilon 1928 University of Louisville School of Law Louisville, Kentucky Inactive
Alpha Zeta 1928–c. 1943 John Randolph Neal School of Law Knoxville, Tennessee Inactive [i]
Alpha Eta 1928 Knoxville Law Knoxville, Tennessee Inactive
Alpha Theta 1928 University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Inactive
Alpha Iota 1929 University of Baltimore School of Law Baltimore, Maryland Inactive
Alpha Kappa 1929–c. 1933 Lake Erie Law School Cleveland, Ohio Inactive [j]
Alpha Lambda 1929 Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, North Carolina Inactive
Alpha Mu 1929 Columbus School of Law Washington, D.C. Inactive
Alpha Nu 1929 Des Moines Inactive
Alpha Xi (First) 1930 Los Angeles Law School Los Angeles, California Inactive, Reassigned [9]
Alpha Omicron 1931 Jefferson Law School Dallas, Texas Inactive [k]
Alpha Pi 1932 Indiana University Maurer School of Law Bloomington, Indiana Inactive
Alpha Rho 1933 Washington College of Law Washington, D.C. Inactive
Alpha Sigma 1933 Thomas Goode Jones School of Law Montgomery, Alabama Inactive
Alpha Tau 1933 Woodrow Wilson College of Law Atlanta, Georgia Inactive [11]
Alpha Phi 1936 Birmingham School of Law Birmingham, Alabama Inactive
Alpha Chi 1938 Atlanta's John Marshall Law School Atlanta, Georgia Inactive
Alpha Psi 1937 Philadelphia Inactive
Alpha Omega 1951 Mississippi College School of Law Jackson, Mississippi Inactive [l]
Beta Alpha 1953 Augusta Law School Augusta, Georgia Inactive
Beta Beta 1960 University of Baltimore School of Law Baltimore, Maryland Inactive
Pi (Second) 1963 Cumberland School of Law Homewood, Alabama Inactive [g]
1966 Massey Law School Atlanta, Georgia Inactive
Beta Chi University of Memphis Memphis, Tennessee Inactive
Alpha Xi (Second) Pacific Coast University School of Law Long Beach, California Inactive [9]
  1. ^ Chicago Law School closed around 1922.
  2. ^ In 1936, the Benjamin Harrison Law School and the Indiana Law School merged, taking the latter's name.
  3. ^ Chattanooga College of Law closed in 1942.
  4. ^ Atlanta Law School closed in 1994.
  5. ^ Detroit College of Law affiliated with Michigan State University in 1995.
  6. ^ National University School of Law merged with George Washington University Law School in 1954.
  7. ^ a b In 1962, the assets of the Cumberland University School of Law were transferred to Howard College, now known as Samford University, in Birmingham, Alabama. The law school is now known as the Cumberland School of Law.
  8. ^ Westminster College of Law merged with the University of Denver College of Law in 1957.
  9. ^ The John Randolph Neal School of Law closed in 1943.
  10. ^ Lake Erie School of Law closed in 1933.
  11. ^ The school closed in 1938.
  12. ^ The chapter was chartered at the Jackson School of Law, which was acquired by Mississippi College in 1975.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VI-95. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  2. ^ a b c d Wright, H. G. and Rogers, M. C. Rogers and Sparks, J. D.Professional Fraternities. (Second edition). United States: Professional Interfraternity Conference, 1950. p. 23 and 32.
  3. ^ Leland's Annual: The Fraternity-sorority Directory. Leland Publications. 1967. p. 40.
  4. ^ a b c Education Directory: Education Associations 1971-1972 p49 U.S. Department of Education.
  5. ^ Shepard, Francis W., ed. (1927). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (11th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: George Banta Publishing Company. p. 601. – via Google Books.
  6. ^ Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. Menasha, WI; George Banta Company, Incorporated. 1957.
  7. ^ York, Kenneth H. (1952). "Legal Fraternities" (PDF). Michigan Law Review. 50 (7). The Michigan Law Review Association: 1047–56. doi:10.2307/1284939. JSTOR 1284939. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  8. ^ "History". Professional Fraternity Association. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  9. ^ a b c "Sigma Delta Kappa - Alpha Xi Chapter". PCU Student Bar Association. April 11, 2009. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Shepard, Francis W., ed. (1927). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (11th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: George Banta Publishing Company. p. 402–403. – via Google Books.
  11. ^ "Woodrow Wilson College of Law". Enrollment Services | Oglethorpe University. Retrieved 2024-07-04.