If you have questions about this guide, please email the University Archives at archives@drexel.edu and an archivist will be in touch. We look forward to helping you with your research.
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This guide was created by Sophia Stutte, Archival Assistant and co-op student at Drexel University Archives.
These featured photos all come from PC.00.012. Left to right: members of Alpha Sigma Alpha sitting by the piano, 1979; man riding a tricycle, wearing Phi Kappa Sigma sweatshirt, 1991; man wearing a helmet and playing guitar, 1979.
Greek Life can be described as a brother/sisterhood, organization, or society in which members associate for social, professional, or educational principles. Members of fraternities and sororities bond over similar social or academic interests and often hold on-campus events.
The first known fraternity at Drexel University was Lambda Upsilon Delta, founded in 1900 and last mentioned in 1908. From then on, fraternal organizations held a presence on campus. The Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) was created in 1924, serving as a place of communication between fraternities and school administration. Drexel's fraternal organizations had no association with national organizations until 1933.
Some fraternal organizations base their membership on ethnic identification. As of 2002, these fraternities and sororities fall under the Intercultural Greek Council, which serves as "a coordinating agent for all culturally based Greek letter organizations recognized at Drexel University."
Examples of fraternities and sororities that highlight ethnic minority voices and that are documentred at Drexel University Archives include Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Epsilon Pi, and Chi Upsilon Sigma.
Alpha Phi Alpha - The first intercollegiate Greek Letter fraternity established for men of African descent. Founded in 1920, this fraternity is mentioned in collections such as Yearbooks (UR 12 008). Alpha Phi Alpha is still active at Drexel.
Some related subjects include: African American students -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Alumni and alumnae -- Black, Drexel University -- students, Fraternal organizations, Student life and customs, and Students.
Alpha Epsilon Pi - Founded in 1995, Alpha Epsilon Pi is known as "the Only All Jewish Fraternity." This fraternity collaborates with the Jewish Student Association often and is mentioned in collections such as Yearbooks (UR 12 008). Alpha Epsilon Pi is still active at Drexel.
Some related subjects include: Alumnae and alumni, Drexel University -- students, Fraternal organizations, Student life and customs, Students.
Chi Upsilon Sigma - Founded in 1997, this sorority is the Omicron Chapter of Corazones Unidos Siempre/Chi Upsilon Sigma Latin Sorority. The 2002 Lexerd describes Chi Upsilon Sigma to be the "only sorority present on campus [whose] members represent many ethnicities." This sorority also falls under the name Corazones Unidos Siempre, and is still active at Drexel. Collections in which Chi Upsilon Sigma is mentioned include Yearbooks (UR 12 008).