The First Non-Sectarian Fraternity
The history of Pi Lambda Phi can be divided into two periods. The first period, which we shall designate The Founders' Period, begins with the inception of the fraternity at Yale in 1895, flourishing in opinions within a few short years to a position of enviable promise and achievement only to totter and collapse with equal suddenness. The second or Revitalization Period, dates from 1908, when the Alpha chapter was established at Columbia University. It is from this chapter that the present Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity has developed, young, vibrant and energetic, and destined in due time to be named among the great collegiate fraternities.
The Founders' Period
The early period of Pi Lambda Phi is wrapped in a veil of mystery and has, thus far, defied all efforts to penetrate it adequately. Most of the early archives have either been lost or destroyed. The responsibility for this condition can be easily attributed to the spasmodic character of the fraternity's early career. Chapters sprang up over-night and disappeared with equal celerity, leaving scant records of their short-lived careers. Not even membership rolls have been found.
Very little is known of the Delta chapter, which existed between 1895 and 1900 at the University of Pennsylvania, of Epsilon Chapter at Harvard, Lambda at Cornell or Nu at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "The Microcosm", a yearbook published by the College of the City of New York, class of 1899, has a page devoted to Pi Lambda Phi, whereon are listed the chapters as named above.
We acquired a letter dated October 3,1896, to Myer Solis-Cohen, then a student at the University of Pennsylvania, from the Grand Master of Pi Lambda Phi, Louis S. Levy, and Frederick M. Werner, Secretary Grand Council. Both of these men and Henry Mark Fisher were the three men who founded the Alpha chapter at Yale and are, therefore, regarded as the Founders of Pi Lambda Phi.
The purpose of the letter was to re-assure Brother Solis-Cohen that the existing chapters were non-sectarian, in reply to a suggestion that it would be a good idea to have twice as many Gentiles as Jews in chapters. The Founders went on to advise Brother Solis-Cohen as follows:
"Your argument (for rushing) should consist of your principles, your cause and your aim. To back this up we will send you the record of our successes at other places. But set to work, get your men immediately, determine your own course of action and constitute yourselves a living active branch of Pi Lambda Phi." In writing of the 1897 convention in New York, the Founders continued, "If your delegation goes to New York in a body, our representatives will be on hand to receive you. This will be our first chance to establish that brotherly feeling, which we mean to exist between every individual member of Pi Lambda Phi."
It is interesting to note that the same ideas expressed to chapters during the late 19th Century, areidentical with those found today in Pi Lambda Phi's Rushing Manual and convention material.
During the Founders' Period of most fraternities, the guidance and advice on a National scale came from the "Father" or "Parent" chapter and gradually, as the fraternity grew in size and responsibility, the desire for continuity caused the establishment of a National Office and governing body.
It is also apparent that Pi Lambda Phi was established as a protest and living example against the tendency of fraternities to discriminate against students for religious and racial reasons. Discrimination had been growing in colleges and the result was the formation of sectarian fraternities by members of the minority groups who were being discriminated against. This action was frowned upon by many who saw in it the widening of the social breach between students.
 The "general" chapter at Yale was known as Alpha; Columbia (1896) was designated Beta; the CCNY (1896) chapter was lettered Gamma. According to the C.C.N.Y. "Microcosm", Lambda Chapter at Cornell and Nu at M.I.T. were the next two chapters and no further information of the early University of Chicago or Union College chapters can be found.
It appears that internal difficulties presented themselves to the chapters at the very beginning, for we found in correspondence between Founder Werner and Rex Max Lowenthal or Beta (Columbia), that Beta's charter was revoked and the chapter disbanded in order that two "undesirables" might be gotten rid of. The chapter was immediately reorganized as Beta Deuteron (Second), minus these two "undesirables".
According to a minute book of the collegiate year 1896-97, we have found reference to a chapter at the University of Pennsylvania with mention as members of Brothers Myer Solis-Cohen (1897), Walter Felisher (1898), Lowenstein (1897), Harry E. Cohen and Keim.
On October 17, 1897, according to the minute book, a meeting was held in rooms which had been rented at No. 3 East 42nd Street, and "after the meeting eighteen gentlemen went to the Marlborough Hotel and enjoyed a meal. Toasts were responded to and a very enjoyable evening was spent." The original lease for these meeting rooms is on file in the archives.
It was from meager sources as these that we must glean our information about the Founders' Period. Exactly when each of the several chapters was established, who presided at the installation, when and why each chapter disbanded - these are questions which remain unanswered.
We do know that Yale and CCNY chapters ceased to exist after 1898, Columbia and N.Y.U. presumably struggled along until 1901. Pi Lam was dormant until 1906 when an attempt was made to revive the Columbia chapter. Though it failed, it paved the way for the more successful attempt of 1908, with which the Revitalization Period begins.
The Revitalization Period
In 1908 the Columbia Chapter was revived by Walter Weil, Paul Charles Werner, George Rosenthal, and Aaron Galewski, with the help of H. Arthur Diamant. They wanted to establish a non-sectarian fraternity, and they obtained permission from Brothers Demand and Arthur Shore to use the name of Pi Lambda Phi. Shortly thereafter in 1910 a local fraternity known as Sigma Iota became the Gamma Chapter at N.Y.C., and in 1911 Cornell was installed as Delta Chapter, and from there Zeta at Pennsylvania, Epsilon at Michigan, and Gamma Sigma at Pittsburgh, along with Lambda at Lehigh were chartered.
During the fall of 1916 a group of alumni organized a convention to discuss centralization of authority, administration, and general national policy. The result was a new national constitution, which provided for government of the Fraternity by a National Council much the way we operate today.
For even more in-depth history, go to our national website.
Who are Pi Lambda Phi Brothers?
Many men have built the foundation of their success from their experience in Pi Lam. One of our brothers, Fredric G. Levin, is an attorney for Florida who fought against the tabacco companies during the late 90's trials. After the trial, Levin gave the University of Florida law school the largest cash donation ever given to a public law school. In 1999, the law school name was officially changed to the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law.
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Pi Lams are Statesmen, such as U.S. Senators Herbert Kohl and Arlen Specter, Congressmen Sidney Yates (retired), Benjamin Cardin, and Eliot Engel, Ed Rendell, Governor of Pennsylvania, and The Honorable David Croll and Peter Bercovitch, Members of Canadian Parliament. |
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Pi Lams are Successful Businessmen, such as Sports Agent Leigh Steinberg, Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, Bud Selig, Commissioner, Major League Baseball, Eric Brewer, founder of Inktomi, and Arthur M. Loew, former President of Loew's International Corporation. |
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Pi Lams are Scientists, such as Richard P. Feynman, Quantum Physicist and Nobel Prize Winner. |
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Pi Lams are Athletes, such as Sandy Koufax, Hall of Fame Baseball Player, Rafer Johnson, Olympic Decathlon Champion, and Rudy LaRusso, Basketball star. |
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Pi Lams are Artists, such as Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, theatrical producers and musical composers, Abbey Mann, Oscar-winning playwright, and Enoch Light, conductor and composer. |
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Pi Lams are Entertainers, such as Howard Cosell, sportscaster, and Tony Martin, radio, TV and motion picture star. |
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Pi Lams are Outstanding Public Servants, such as Mortimer Caplin, Past Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, and Justice Nathan Jacobs of the New Jersey State Supreme Court. |
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