Phi Beta Delta (fraternity)

Phi Beta Delta (ΦΒΔ) was a college social fraternity for Jewish students in the United States founded at Columbia University on 1912-04-12. In 1941 the fraternity merged with Pi Lambda Phi.

There were eight founders:

Null would go on to become a NY State Appellate Judge, serving in that role from 1943-'49 The Founders stated, "Its purpose is to inculcate among its membership a fine spirit of loyalty, activity and scholarship toward their Alma Mater, to develop the highest ideals of conduct and to promote a close fraternal bond through means of carefully selected associates."

While entering the ranks of national fraternities somewhat later than its national peers, the organization quickly grew with chapters quickly formed at a number of eastern schools.

In 1934, Phi Beta Delta absorbed the UPenn chapter of Omicron Alpha Tau, a smaller Jewish fraternity that was dispersing that year. This group either merged with the existing Phi Beta Delta chapter on the campus, or re-established it. Four of ΟΑΤ's other chapters went to Tau Delta Phi.

Richard Feynman joined the fraternity in 1935 when at MIT.

Phi Beta Delta effectively merged into Pi Lambda Phi on February 1, 1941. Baird's (19th ed.) notes the merger documents were signed on 1940-10-01. At the time, Pi Lambda Phi had 20 active chapters and Phi Beta Delta had 16. Considering duplications, the combined post-merger fraternity had a net of 33 chapters. All members and alumni of Phi Beta Delta were admitted into Pi Lambda Phi.

Symbols and traditions
The badge was diamond-shaped, and edged with 20 pearls. Across the center it displayed the Greek letters Φ, Β, and Δ in gold on a blue background. Above the letters was a five-pointed star, and below were two crossed keys.

The colors of the Fraternity were blue and gold.

The flower was the Hyacinth.

Chapters
Chapters of Phi Beta Delta included the following, listed in the order of formation. Those noted in bold were active at the time of the merger, those in italics were dormant at the time of the merger: