Triad (American fraternities) facts for kids

Fraternities and sororities are like social clubs for students at colleges and universities. They often have special traditions and symbols, including Greek letters in their names. A "Triad" in this world means a group of three very important fraternities or sororities that were founded close to each other in time or place.

The Union Triad

The Union Triad is a special group of the three oldest social fraternities in North America. They all started at Union College in Schenectady, New York. These fraternities are the Kappa Alpha Society, founded in 1825, the Sigma Phi Society, founded in 1827, and Delta Phi, also founded in 1827. These three groups don't have a main organization that controls them all.

Other fraternities also began at Union College, like Psi Upsilon (1833), Chi Psi (1841), and Theta Delta Chi (1847). Because so many fraternities started there, Union College is sometimes called the "Mother of Fraternities".

The Miami Triad

The Miami Triad refers to three important fraternities that were founded at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. They started in the 1800s. These groups are Beta Theta Pi (1839), Phi Delta Theta (1848), and Sigma Chi (1855). Many people who study the history of fraternities think the Miami Triad is just as important as the earlier Union Triad.

Other Greek organizations also started at Miami University. The Delta Zeta sorority began there in 1902, and the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity in 1906. Because many Greek groups started at this school, some people also call it the Mother of Fraternities.

For a long time, some colleges with chapters of all three Miami Triad fraternities would hold a yearly party or event. This event was often called "Miami Triad" to remember their connection and their place in history. This tradition has changed a bit recently. Some schools, like the University of Kansas, now have different events, such as a "Miami Triad Concert."

The Lexington Triad

The Lexington Triad is a group of three fraternities. They were founded by students from colleges in Lexington, Virginia, right after the American Civil War. This time was known as Reconstruction.

The fraternities in this triad are Alpha Tau Omega, Kappa Alpha Order, and Sigma Nu. Alpha Tau Omega was founded in Richmond, Virginia, in 1865 by students from Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington. Kappa Alpha Order started in 1865 at Washington and Lee University (make sure not to confuse it with the Kappa Alpha Society!). Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 at VMI. The main offices for both the Kappa Alpha Order and Sigma Nu are in Lexington.

Sometimes, the members of the Lexington Triad are also considered part of the Virginia Circle. This larger group includes other fraternities founded in Virginia around the same time. These include Kappa Sigma and Pi Kappa Alpha at the University of Virginia, and sometimes Sigma Phi Epsilon at Richmond College.

The Jefferson Duo and Pennsylvania Triad

The Jefferson Duo includes two fraternities: Phi Gamma Delta and Phi Kappa Psi. They were founded in 1848 and 1852, respectively, at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. In 1865, Jefferson College joined with Washington College to form Washington & Jefferson College.

A third fraternity, Phi Kappa Sigma, was founded at the University of Pennsylvania in 1850. When Phi Kappa Sigma is grouped with Phi Gamma Delta and Phi Kappa Psi, they form the Pennsylvania Triad.

The Farmville Four

Four sororities, which are like social clubs for girls, were started at Longwood University. They are known as the Farmville Four. These include Kappa Delta (1897), Sigma Sigma Sigma (1898), Zeta Tau Alpha (1898), and Alpha Sigma Alpha (1901). The school's bell tower even has four sides to remember these important groups.

Images for kids

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  A monument in Lexington honors the members of its Triad