Cross & Crescent

As in other fraternities, most chapters of Lambda Chi Alpha had their beginnings in a local organization, an interest group, or a “picked delegation.” The chapter at Harvard University, however, is unique in that it was started by a group of Lambda Chi alumni from other schools at a time when the Fraternity was still in its infancy.

Harvard is the oldest college in the United States. The Massachusetts Bay Colony authorized the Schoole at Newtowne in 1636. It opened its doors as Harvard in 1638, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just across the Charles River from the future birthplace of Lambda Chi Alpha.

On May 11, 1916, a charter was issued to the “Alumni of Lambda Chi Alpha,” and the Harvard chapter was installed. It operated with only alumni for more than three years, and throughout World War I. It wasn’t until December 16, 1919, that the first four undergraduates were initiated. Since the founders were already members, one of the undergraduates — George Bason Morgan (Harvard 1920) — was entered in the rolls as Alpha-Epsilon 1, hence, a founder in a different sense of the word.

Thirteen more undergraduates were taken in the following May, and the chapter began to operate in a more traditional manner, but as the chapter roll topped 70 initiates, trouble loomed on the horizon.

Headquarters Ultimatum

An account written by Roland H. Sharp (Harvard 1930), printed in the 1909-29 history of Lambda Chi Alpha, explains, “there was a decline in interest among some of the members, owing to discouragement over the fraternity situation at Harvard. On February 12, 1924, at midnight, the chapter was declared dissolved by the resignation of practically all undergraduate members.”

In a letter to Headquarters, they cited, “the disfavor in which the fraternity ideal was held in general at Harvard,” and the growing difficulty in recruiting new members.

Administrative Secretary Bruce McIntosh (DePauw 1916) met with the members and issued an ultimatum: either remain loyal to Lambda Chi Alpha, or resign from the Fraternity and sever all relations. More than 20 members resigned, and surrendered the charter and rituals.

At once, McIntosh called a meeting. “While Boston, Massachusetts Tech, and loyal Harvard transfer brothers met, the disloyal members, after opposing the other meeting, met across the hall as the Falcon Club, their new organization.

“In an effort to keep the chapter alive, loyal graduate students were given the charter of Alpha-Epsilon, and officers were elected.”

Operations, therefore, took on strange characteristics, falling somewhere between undergraduate and alumni. In a further odd twist, “Secretary McIntosh reached an agreement with the resigned members. They were to turn in their badges for credit at two-thirds of their market value on the debt to the national Fraternity, repay this debt at $75 a month, maintain the lease on the chapter house at 42 Quincy Street, and assume all local debts of Alpha-Epsilon in the name of the Falcon Club.”

Brother Sharp’s story continues, as conditions deteriorated further:

“The Grand High Zeta, on Grand High Pi Lloyd D. Claycomb’s suggestion, adopted an edict on February 22, 1924, expelling all academic members and suspending the charter of Alpha-Epsilon.” The 1930 directory indicates that 25 members were indeed expelled.

Meanwhile, the loyal graduate students — who supposedly had the charter –- tried the next summer to revive the chapter. Led by a Boston alumnus, four brothers rented an apartment and furnished it with $250 borrowed from the national Fraternity. But, according to Sharp, “no undergraduates were pledged, and the graduate chapter dwindled out.”

Building Momentum

With undying spirit, efforts nevertheless continued a year later, again led by transfer students.

At the Grand High Zeta meeting in November 1925, it was agreed that finances would permit the awarding of two, $250 scholarships without disturbing the principal of the $500 offered by an anonymous donor for that purpose.

“In the fall of 1925, Donald S. Lowe, an initiate of Theta at Dartmouth (1928), who was entering Harvard as a junior, and Edward T. Miller, Jr., an initiate of Kappa (1927) at Knox, who had been at Harvard during the past year, were awarded the service scholarships for the year and requested to act as an executive committee in a last effort to revive an undergraduate chapter at Harvard.”

Six undergraduates were initiated in 1926, and by the end of the school year in the spring of 1927, the chapter boasted 18 active members. A large house, capable of sleeping 12 men was rented at 8 Irving Terrace.

The chapter helped create the first Harvard interfraternity council, and excelled at sports, social events, and debates. Things were finally looking up, and plans to buy the house were under consideration.

Brother Sharp’s brief history concluded optimistically. “The year 1928-29 set a high mark of twenty-five undergraduate members. The debt contracted in 1924 for the purchase of furniture was settled. A house fund was started through the gift of $25 from Dick Dunham. A new house at 53 Trowbridge Street was leased for 1929-30, and is proving a substantial improvement.”

Unfortunate Negative Influences

This enthusiasm, however, was short-lived due to the onset of the Great Depression and — perhaps more importantly — a new policy adopted by the Harvard administration.

In 1929, no fewer than 14 national fraternities were active on campus, “all of which were closed down in the 1930s when the University began to require that student groups be autonomous,” the Harvard Crimson related in the March 16, 1992 issue. “Since the University insists that student groups make all policy decisions without direction from any parent organization, the fraternities are forced underground.”

Baird’s Manual lists only two fraternities at Harvard by 1940, presumably ones which had reverted to local status, and by 1950, just one.

The Harvard chapter became inactive April 27, 1932, and its charter was officially revoked one last time on August 18, 1933, at the Chicago General Assembly. In 16 years, the chapter initiated approximately 130 members — 25 of whom were expelled and who relinquished their badges.

Apparently, according to the Harvard University Gazette, the Falcon Club coexisted with the chapter, or perhaps was part of it, and also became inactive in 1932.

Uncertain Future

In 1985, fraternities at Harvard began a resurgence that continues today, even with the administration’s reluctance to officially recognize them in something of a “don’t ask, don’t tell” atmosphere.

Whether or not they will flourish and ultimately succeed remains to be seen.