Alpha Delta Alpha

Alpha Delta Alpha (ΑΔΑ) was an American fraternity that was established in 1920. It ceased operation as a national in 1934-12 with six chapters continuing as local organizations, and of these, at least three eventually merged into another national fraternity.

History
Alpha Delta Alpha was founded at Coe College in 1920 as a local scientific and radio society, emerging out of a radio club that had existed for the previous decade. Shortly thereafter, it became a national fraternity when it merged with a similar society at the University of Iowa.

By 1923 it had shifted focus to become a general social fraternity, adding chapters at six additional regional institutions in Iowa and Indiana. A merger was discussed with Beta Phi Theta in the early 1930's but was not consummated.

The organization was dissolved in 1934-12, at a national meeting held in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Baird's notes no single national successor group, However, several chapters continued as locals, sooner or later joining other national fraternities.

The Gamma chapter at the University of Northern Iowa was present for nine years after the national was disbanded, operating as a local fraternity according to that institution's yearbooks. Due to World War II enlistment, by 1944 all fraternity activity on the campus appears to have ceased; no fraternities are shown in the 1944 yearbook; the sororities at Northern Iowa continued in operation. On that campus, other fraternities resumed in 1946 but these did not include Alpha Delta Alpha.

The Beta chapter appears to have withdrawn from ΑΔΑ by 1924, forming (or reforming) as a local for three years. Some of its members went on to join a new chapter of Theta Tau on that campus.

In 1935, the Eta chapter joined Alpha Kappa Pi, a national organization that later merged into Alpha Sigma Phi.

Symbols
The badge of Alpha Delta Alpha was an equilateral triangle, one point down, having a border of 21 pearls. The inner triangle was formed of black enamel with a single pearl, a radio antenna, and the letters Α, Δ and Α.

The fraternity's colors were red, white, and purple.

Chapters
The Baird's Manual Archive notes the formation of eight chapters by 1932. Active chapters at the time of dissolution in 1934-12 listed in bold, inactive chapters listed in italics.