Phi Alpha Gamma

Phi Alpha Gamma (ΦΑΓ) was a professional fraternity for homeopathic medicine founded at the New York Homeopathic Medical College in 1894.[1][2] Once the largest medical fraternity in the United States, It merged with Phi Chi in 1948.[3][4][5]

Phi Alpha Gamma
ΦΑΓ
FoundedMarch 25, 1894 (March 25, 1894)
New York Homeopathic Medical College
TypeProfessional fraternity
EmphasisHomeopathic Medicine
ScopeNational
 United States
Colors  Violet
FlowerViolet
PublicationThe Phi Alpha Gamma Quarterly
Chapters13 (inactive)
MergerPhi Chi, February 21, 1948

History

Phi Alpha Gamma was established by seven students at the New York Homeopathic Medical College on March 25, 1894.[6][7] Its founders were:[8][1]

  • Thomas Drysdale Buchanan
  • Thomas Franklin Davies
  • Edmund M. De Vol
  • Robert Mortimer Jones
  • Brooks De Forest Norwood
  • Arthur Barr Smith
  • Harry Sterns Willard

The fraternity held its first annual convention at Boston University on November 26, 1896.[6] During the convention, it became a national fraternity by chartering Beta chapter at the Boston University School of Medicine.[9][10] In January 1897, delegates from the Alpha and Beta chapters met delegates from a similar society called Kappa Delta Upsilon, which had been established the month before at the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia and was considering merging with Phi Alpha Gamma.[7]

Phi Alpha Gamma held a Constitutional Convention at the Knickerbocker Athletic Club in New York City on January 26 and 27, 1897 where it adopted a national constitution and chartered Kappa Delta Upsilon as the Gamma chapter.[6][9][7] At the convention, the fraternity also adopted the Kappa Delta Upsilon ritual as its own.[7][10]

In 1897, the Delta and Epsilon chapters were formed by absorbing the two chapters of the local fraternity Pi Kappa Tau, established for students of homeopathic medicine.[1][11] Eight additional chapters were chartered as various medical schools through 1906, for a total of thirteen chapters.[1] By 1901, it was the largest medical fraternity in the United States.[3][4] In October 1902, the Beta chapter opened its chapter house at 18 Worcester Square.[12]

The Phi Alpha Gamma Quarterly publication was authorized at the fifth annual convention in 1900, with the first issue arriving in 1902[1][10] The fraternity published a directory in 1905 and 1920. It also published a history in 1912.[13]

Merger with Phi Chi

In 1947, Phi Alpha Gamma was reduced to two active chapters: New York Medical College (Alpha) and Hahnemann Medical College (Gamma). Dr. Albert Saunders of Phi Chi Medical Fraternity worked on the preliminary details of an amalgamation between Phi Alpha Gamma and Phi Chi. At the Phi Chi National Convention of 1947, Saunders's proposal was approved with instructions to the Executive Trustees to complete the merger.[5]

The merger of Phi Alpha Gamma with Phi Chi was completed on February 21, 1948. Phi Chi installed the New York Medical College chapter as Phi Alpha chapter and the Hahnemann Medical College chapter as Phi Alpha Gamma chapter.

Members of the Alpha Mu, Rho Delta, and Upsilon Sigma chapters of the Phi Chi Alumni Association met in New York City for its annual Founders' Day Banquet. During the banquet, Dr. Jacob E. Reisch initiated the 48 charter members of Phi Alpha and the seven charters members of the then-existing Gamma chapter, ceremonially completing the merger of Phi Alpha Gamma into Phi Chi.[5]

Phi Alpha Gamma badge

Symbols

The Phi Alpha Gamma badge was a middle phalanx from the little finger of a human hand, mounted in gold, with the letters ΦΑΓ in gold upon a field of black enamel.[1] An amended pledge pin and badge were adopted at the seventeenth annual convention.[10]

The fraternity's color was violet, and its flower was the violet.[1]

Members and governance

By 1914, the Phi Alpha Gamma had nearly 3,500 members.[14] The fraternity had four classes of members: undergraduates, alumni, graduates, and honorary.[10] It was overseen by a Grand Chapter that met each year at the fraternity's annual convention.[15][2][16][3][17]

Chapters

Collegiate chapters

Phi Alpha Gamma consisted of the following collegiate chapters.[1][7][9][18][10] Inactive chapters and institutions are indicated in italics.

Chapter Chartered/Range Institution Location Status References
AlphaMarch 25, 1894 – February 21, 1948New York Homeopathic Medical College New York City, New York Merged [5][lower-alpha 1]
BetaNovember 26, 1896 – 1921Boston University, School of Medicine Boston, Massachusetts Inactive [5][10][lower-alpha 2]
GammaJanuary 26, 1897 – February 21, 1948Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Merged [5][10][lower-alpha 3]
DeltaMay 24, 1897 – 1909College of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery, University of Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota Inactive [11][lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5]
EpsilonNovember 13, 1897–1900; January 25, 1906–1919Homeopathic Medical College, Iowa State University Iowa City, Iowa Inactive [11][10][19][20][lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 6]
ZetaNovember 19, 1897 – 1900Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College Cleveland, Ohio Consolidated [21][lower-alpha 7]
EtaNovember 19, 1897 – January 3, 1909Chicago Homeopathic Medical College Chicago, Illinois Consolidated [22][lower-alpha 8]
ThetaMarch 24, 1899 – 1900Pulte Medical College Cincinnati, Ohio Consolidated [lower-alpha 7]
IotaMarch 19, 1899 – 1909Homeopathic Medical College of Missouri St. Louis, Missouri Consolidated [23][lower-alpha 9]
Kappa1900–1922Homeopathic Medical College, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Inactive [lower-alpha 10]
Lambda 1900 – January 3, 1909 Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago Chicago, Illinois Consolidated [22][lower-alpha 11]
Zeta Theta 1901–1922 Cleveland-Pulte Medical College Cleveland, Ohio Inactive [lower-alpha 12][lower-alpha 5]
Eta LambdaJanuary 3, 1909 – 1918Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago Chicago, Illinois Inactive [22][lower-alpha 13][lower-alpha 5]
Mu1906–1915Hahnemann Medical College of the Pacific San Francisco, California Inactive [lower-alpha 14]
Nu1906–1909Kansas City Hahnemann Medical College Kansas City, Missouri Consolidated [24][lower-alpha 9]
Iota Nu 1906–1916 Southwest School of Medicine and Hospital Kansas City, Missouri Inactive [lower-alpha 9][lower-alpha 5]
  1. Became Phi Alpha chapter of Phi Chi as part of a national merger of the two fraternities.
  2. The chapter's charter was withdrawn by the fraternity. It was reestablished as the Beta Upsilon chapter of Phi Chi after the national merger of the two fraternities.
  3. Chapter was formed by absorbing Delta Kappa Upsilon (local), established in 1895. It became the Phi Alpha Gamma chapter of Phi Chi after the national merger of the two fraternities.
  4. Chapter formed by absorbing Phi Kappa Tau (local), established in 1896.
  5. Chapter went inactive when its school closed.
  6. Chapter's charter was withdrawn by the national fraternity but it was reinstated in 1906. However, the chapter went inactive again when Iowa closed its Homeopathy Medical College by forcing its merger with the university's medical school.
  7. "Zeta chapter and Theta chapter merged to form Zeta Theta chapter when Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College merged Pulte Medical College to form the Cleveland-Pulte Medical College.
  8. Eta chapter merged with Lambda chapter as Eta Lambda chapter with the amalgamation of Chicago Homeopathic Medical College and Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago.
  9. Iota chapter consolidated with Nu chapter as Iota Nu chapter after the merger of Homeopathic Medical College of Missouri with Kansas City Hahnemann Medical College.
  10. Chapter closed when the Homeopathic College merged with the University of Michigan Medical School.
  11. Lambda chapter merged with Eta chapter as Eta Lambda chapter with the amalgamation of Chicago Homeopathic Medical College and Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago.
  12. Zeta Theta
  13. Chapter formed as a merger of Eta chapter and Lambda chapter with the amalgamation of Chicago Homeopathic Medical College and Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago.
  14. Chapter went inactive when the school merged with the University of California.

Alumni and graduate chapters
Chapter Chartered/Range Location Status References
Boston Alumni Chapter 1909–191x  ? Boston, Massachusetts Inactive [18]
Buffalo Alumni Chapter 1909–19xx ? Buffalo, New York Inactive [18][24]
Chicago Alumni Chapter 1909–19xx ? Chicago, Illinois Inactive [18][24]
New York Alumni Chapter 1909–19xx ? New York City, New York Inactive [18][24]
Philadelphia Alumni Chapter 1910–19xx ? Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Inactive [18]
Rochester Alumni Chapter 1910–19xx ? Rochester, New York Inactive [18]
Cleveland Alumni Chapter 1911–19xx ? Cleveland, Ohio Inactive [18]
Pittsburgh Alumni Chapter 1912–19xx ? Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Inactive [18][24]
Kansas City Alumni Chapter 1912–19xx ? Kansas City, Missouri Inactive [18]
Syracuse Alumni Chapter 1913–19xx ? Syracuse, New York Inactive [25]
Metropolitan Base Hospital No. 48 Alumni Chapter c. 1917 – c. 1920 Mars-Sur-Allier, Nievre, France Inactive [7][10][lower-alpha 1]
Providence Alumni Chapter 191x ? –19xx ? Providence, Rhode Island Inactive [7][10]
Central Iowa Alumni Chapter 191x ? –19xx ? Iowa City, Iowa Inactive [7][10][26]
Central Ohio Alumni Chapter 191x ? –19xx ? Cincinnati, Ohio Inactive [7][10][26]
Northern Ohio Alumni Chapter 191x ? –19xx ? Cleveland, Ohio Inactive [7][10][26]
Michigan Alumni Chapter 191x ? –19xx ? Michigan Inactive [7][10]
Wisconsin Alumni Chapter 191x ? –192x ? Wisconsin Inactive [10]
Los Angeles Alumni Chapter 192x ? –19xx ? Los Angeles, California Inactive [7]
  1. Members of the New York Alumni chapter formed this chapter in France during World War I.

See also
  • Professional fraternities and sororities

References
  1. Baird, William, ed. (1915). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (8 ed.). New York: The College Fraternity Publishing Co.
  2. "Convention of Phi Alpha Gamma". The New York Times. November 14, 1926. p. 27. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  3. "Phi Alpha Gamma Election". The Buffalo Commercial. Buffalo, New York. 1901-11-26. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-06-05 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Medicos Convene in Chicago". Times Union. Brooklyn, New York. 1901-11-26. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-06-05 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Cannon, Daniel H. (1989). The History of Phi Chi Medical Fraternity Inc. Centennial Edition 1889-1989. Phi Chi Quarterly Office.
  6. Dearborn, Frederick Myers, ed. (1899). First Catalogue & Directory of Phi Alpha Gamma Fraternity of Homoeopathic Medical Students. New York City: Phi Alpha Gamma. p. 14 – via Google Books.
  7. McLaren, Harold Johnson; Dearborn, Frederick M.; Street, Richard H.; McGarvey, David F., eds. (1925). "The History of Phi Alpha Gamma Fraterninty".The Fourth Directory of Phi Alpha Gamma Fraternity. New Brighton, Pennsylvania: Phi Alpha Gamma. p. 10-14 – via Google Books.
  8. McLaren, Harold Johnson; Dearborn, Frederick M.; Street, Richard H.; McGarvey, David F., eds. (1925). The Fourth Directory of Phi Alpha Gamma Fraternity. New Brighton, Pennsylvania: Phi Alpha Gamma. p. 9 – via Google Books.
  9. Dearborn, Frederick Myers, ed. (1899). First Catalogue & Directory of Phi Alpha Gamma Fraternity of Homoeopathic Medical Students. New York City: Phi Alpha Gamma. p. 11 – via Google Books.
  10. "History of Phi Alpha Gamma". Phi Alpha Gamma Quarterly. 20 (1): 29–30. May 1921 – via Google Books.
  11. "Big Times at the 'U'". The Minneapolis Journal. Minneapolis, Minnesota. 1897-05-15. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-06-05 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "New House Opened by Phi Alpha Gamma Fraternity of B.U. Medical School". The Boston Globe. 1902-10-11. p. 14. Retrieved 2023-06-05 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. Brown, James T., ed. (1923). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities: A Descriptive Analysis of the Fraternity System in the Colleges of the United States, with a Detailed Account of Each Fraternity (10th ed.). James T. Brown, editor and publisher. pp. 531–532 – via Google Books.
  14. "Physicians, Assembles for Professional Discussion". Evening Public Ledger. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1914-11-12. p. 13. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  15. "Phi Alpha Gamma Men Meet". Chicago Tribune. 1898-11-29. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-06-05 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Phi Alpha Gamma Convention". Boston Evening Transcript. 1900-11-27. p. 9. Retrieved 2023-06-05 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Phi-Alpha-Gamma to be Invited". Virginian-Pilot. Norfolk, Virginia. 1906-09-22. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-06-05 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "Chapters of Phi Alpha Gamma". Phi Alpha Gamma Quarterly: 55, April 1913 – via Google Books.
  19. Persons, Stow. "The Decline of Homeopathy—The University of Iowa, 1876–1919." Bulletin of the History of Medicine 65, no. 1 (1991): 86. via JSTOR, accessed June 4, 2023,
  20. "It Is Christened Phi Alpha Gamma: Epsilon Chapter Takes It Proud Name". Iowa City Press-Citizen. 1906-01-26. p. 33. Retrieved 2023-06-05 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. Newland, Frank H. (March 1900). "Grand Chapter Meeting, Phi Alpha Gamma". The Cleveland Homeopathic Reporter. 1 (2): 39 – via Google Books.
  22. "Eta-Lambda Roster". Phi Alpha Gamma Quarterly: 45. April 1913 – via Google Books.
  23. "Iota Chapter Anniversary". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. 1906-12-17. p. 9. Retrieved 2023-06-05 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. "Chapters Letters". Phi Alpha Gamma Quarterly: 17–22. April 1913 – via Google Books.
  25. "Chapter Letters". Phi Alpha Gamma Quarterly. 12 (4): 220. December 1913 – via Google Books.
  26. "Alumni Chapters". Phi Alpha Gamma Quarterly. 20 (1): 62-63. May 1921 – via Google Books.
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