Theta Alpha Phi is an American honor society for theatre. It was established in 1919 by members of the National Association of Teachers of Speech.[1] It was organized in December 1919 at a National Association of Teachers of Speech meeting in Chicago, Illinois.[1] Its first chapter, Oklahoma Alpha, was chartered on December 22, 1919 at Oklahoma A&M College, now Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma.[2][3]
In the following list, active chapters are noted in bold and inactive chapters and institutions are in italics.[1][2][4][5][6]
Chapter
|
Charter date and range
|
Institution
|
Locations
|
Status
|
Reference
|
Oklahoma Alpha
|
December 22, 1919 – 1934
|
Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College
|
Stillwater, Oklahoma
|
Inactive
|
|
Louisiana Alpha
|
1919
|
Louisiana State University
|
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
|
Inactive
|
|
Ohio Alpha
|
1919
|
Ohio Wesleyan University
|
Delaware, Ohio
|
Active
|
|
Wisconsin Alpha
|
1919–1947
|
Ripon College
|
Ripon, Wisconsin
|
Inactive
|
|
Florida Alpha
|
1919
|
Stetson University
|
DeLand, Florida
|
Active
|
|
Pennsylvania Alpha
|
1919
|
Bucknell University
|
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
|
Inactive
|
|
California Alpha
|
1920
|
University of Redlands
|
Redlands, California
|
Inactive
|
|
Connecticut Alpha
|
1920–1942
|
University of Connecticut
|
Storrs, Connecticut
|
Inactive
|
|
Missouri Alpha
|
1920–1934
|
University of Missouri
|
Columbia, Missouri
|
Inactive
|
|
Arizona Alpha
|
1920–1934
|
University of Arizona
|
Tucson, Arizona
|
Inactive
|
[7]
|
Colorado Alpha
|
1920–1934
|
Colorado College
|
Colorado Springs, Colorado
|
Inactive
|
|
Oklahoma Beta
|
1920
|
University of Tulsa
|
Tulsa, Oklahoma
|
Inactive
|
|
South Dakota Alpha
|
1920–1937
|
Huron University
|
Huron, South Dakota
|
Inactive
|
[8]
|
California Beta
|
1920–1930
|
Occidental College
|
Los Angeles, California
|
Inactive
|
|
Iowa Alpha
|
1920–1954
|
Parsons College
|
Fairfield, Iowa
|
Inactive
|
|
Ohio Beta
|
1920
|
Baldwin–Wallace College
|
Berea, Ohio
|
Inactive
|
|
Oregon Alpha
|
1920
|
Willamette University
|
Salem, Oregon
|
Inactive
|
|
Utah Alpha
|
1920–1954
|
University of Utah
|
Salt Lake City, Utah
|
Inactive
|
|
South Dakota Beta
|
1920
|
Dakota Wesleyan University
|
Mitchell, South Dakota
|
Inactive
|
|
Tennessee Alpha
|
1920–1934
|
University of Tennessee
|
Knoxville, Tennessee
|
Inactive
|
|
Pennsylvania Beta
|
1921–1934
|
University of Pittsburgh
|
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
|
Inactive
|
|
Montana Alpha
|
1921
|
University of Montana
|
Missoula, Montana
|
Inactive
|
[a]
|
Wyoming Alpha
|
1921
|
University of Wyoming
|
Laramie, Wyoming
|
Inactive
|
|
Michigan Zeta
|
1921–1934,
after 1963
|
Adrian College
|
Adrian, Michigan
|
Active
|
[b]
|
Michigan ?
|
1921
|
Kalamazoo College
|
Kalamazoo, Michigan
|
Inactive
|
|
Hawaii Alpha
|
1921–1935
|
University of Hawaiʻi
|
Honolulu, Hawaii
|
Inactive
|
Alabama Alpha
|
1921–1934
|
Alabama Polytechnic Institute
|
Auburn, Alabama
|
Inactive
|
[8]
|
South Dakota Gamma
|
1921–1934
|
University of South Dakota
|
Vermillion, South Dakota
|
Inactive
|
|
Indiana Alpha
|
1922
|
Indiana University Bloomington
|
Bloomington, Indiana
|
Inactive
|
|
Michigan ?
|
1922–1934
|
Hillsdale College
|
Hillsdale, Michigan
|
Inactive
|
|
California Gamma
|
1922
|
University of the Pacific
|
Stockton, California
|
Active
|
|
Oklahoma Gamma
|
1922
|
Oklahoma Baptist University
|
Shawnee, Oklahoma
|
Inactive
|
|
Michigan Alpha
|
1922–1934
|
Knox College
|
Galesburg, Illinois
|
Inactive
|
|
Ohio Gamma
|
1922–1934
|
Heidelberg College
|
Tiffin, Ohio
|
Inactive
|
|
Washington Alpha
|
1922–1935
|
College of Puget Sound
|
Tacoma, Washington
|
Inactive
|
|
Ohio Delta
|
1922
|
Wittenberg College
|
Springfield, Ohio
|
Inactive
|
|
Missouri Beta
|
1923
|
Park College
|
Parkville, Missouri
|
Inactive
|
|
Pennsylvania Gamma
|
1923
|
Pennsylvania State University
|
University Park, Pennsylvania
|
Inactive
|
|
Iowa Beta
|
1923
|
State College of Iowa
University of Northern Iowa
|
Cedar Falls, Iowa
|
Inactive
|
[c]
|
Pennsylvania Delta
|
1923
|
University of Pennsylvania
|
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|
Inactive
|
|
Missouri Gamma
|
1923–1940, after 1963
|
Culver–Stockton College
|
Canton, Missouri
|
Active
|
|
Montana Beta
|
1923–1954
|
Carroll College
|
Helena, Montana
|
Inactive
|
[d]
|
Indiana Beta
|
1923
|
Franklin College
|
Franklin, Indiana
|
Active
|
|
South Dakota Delta
|
1923–1934
|
Yankton College
|
Yankton, South Dakota
|
Inactive
|
|
Montana Gamma
|
1923–1934
|
Montana College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts
|
Bozeman, Montana
|
Inactive
|
|
Kansas Alpha
|
1923–1934
|
Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg
|
Pittsburg, Kansas
|
Inactive
|
|
South Dakota Epsilon
|
1923–1939
|
Northern Normal and Industrial School
|
Aberdeen, South Dakota
|
Inactive
|
|
North Dakota Alpha
|
1923–1934
|
Jamestown College
|
Jamestown, North Dakota
|
Inactive
|
|
Nebraska Alpha
|
1923
|
Nebraska Wesleyan University
|
Lincoln, Nebraska
|
Inactive
|
|
Illinois Beta
|
1923
|
Illinois Wesleyan University
|
Bloomington, Illinois
|
Inactive
|
|
South Carolina Alpha
|
1924–1934
|
Presbyterian College
|
Clinton, South Carolina
|
Inactive
|
|
Ohio Epsilon
|
1924
|
Ohio Northern University
|
Ada, Ohio
|
Active
|
|
Michigan Delta
|
1924
|
Michigan State University
|
East Lansing, Michigan
|
Inactive
|
[e]
|
Utah Beta
|
1924
|
Brigham Young University
|
Provo, Utah
|
Inactive
|
[9]
|
Illinois Gamma
|
1924
|
Bradley University
|
Peoria, Illinois
|
Inactive
|
[f]
|
North Carolina Alpha
|
1925–1954
|
Duke University
|
Durham, North Carolina
|
Inactive
|
|
Virginia Alpha
|
1925
|
College of William & Mary
|
Williamsburg, Virginia
|
Inactive
|
|
Louisiana Beta
|
1925–1933
|
Tulane University
|
New Orleans, Louisiana
|
Inactive
|
|
Missouri Delta
|
1925–1934, after 1963
|
University of Central Missouri
|
Warrensburg, Missouri
|
Active
|
[g]
|
Illinois Delta
|
1926
|
Illinois State University
|
Normal, Illinois
|
Inactive
|
|
Kansas Beta
|
1926
|
Emporia State University
|
Emporia, Kansas
|
Inactive
|
[h]
|
Tennessee Delta
|
1927
|
Maryville College
|
Maryville, Tennessee
|
Inactive
|
|
Ohio Zeta
|
May 31, 1927
|
Otterbein College
|
Westerville, Ohio
|
Inactive
|
[10]
|
Utah Gamma
|
1927
|
Utah State University
|
Logan, Utah
|
Inactive
|
[i]
|
New Mexico Alpha
|
1928–1945
|
University of New Mexico
|
Albuquerque, New Mexico
|
Inactive
|
|
Kansas Gamma
|
1928–1934
|
College of Emporia
|
Emporia, Kansas
|
Inactive
|
|
Indiana Gamma
|
1929
|
Purdue University
|
West Lafayette, Indiana
|
Inactive
|
|
Iowa Gamma
|
1929
|
Drake University
|
Des Moines, Iowa
|
Inactive
|
|
Michigan Epsilon
|
1929
|
Albion College
|
Albion, Michigan
|
Active
|
|
Ohio Eta
|
1930
|
Hiram College
|
Hiram, Ohio
|
Inactive
|
|
Pennsylvania Epsilon
|
1931
|
Grove City College
|
Grove City, Pennsylvania
|
Inactive
|
|
New York Alpha
|
1933–1954
|
Alfred University
|
Alfred, New York
|
Inactive
|
|
Pennsylvania Zeta
|
1933
|
Temple University
|
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|
Inactive
|
|
New York Beta
|
1934
|
Ithaca College
|
Ithaca, New York
|
Inactive
|
|
Florida Beta
|
1936–1954
|
University of Miami
|
Coral Gables, Florida
|
Inactive
|
|
Indiana Delta
|
1936
|
Indiana State University
|
Terre Haute, Indiana
|
Active
|
|
Florida Gamma
|
1938
|
Rollins College
|
Winter Park, Florida
|
Active
|
|
Illinois Epsilon
|
1938
|
Eastern Illinois University
|
Charleston, Illinois
|
Inactive
|
[j]
|
California Delta
|
1940
|
University of California, Santa Barbara
|
Santa Barbara, California
|
Inactive
|
[k]
|
Ohio Theta
|
1941
|
University of Cincinnati
|
Cincinnati, Ohio
|
Inactive
|
|
Ohio Iota
|
1945
|
Bowling Green State University
|
Bowling Green, Ohio
|
Active
|
|
Tennessee Epsilon
|
1950
|
Tennessee State University
|
Nashville, Tennessee
|
Inactive
|
[l]
|
Indiana Epsilon
|
1950
|
Hanover College
|
Hanover, Indiana
|
Inactive
|
|
Arkansas Alpha
|
1952
|
Henderson State University
|
Arkadelphia, Arkansas
|
Inactive
|
[11][m]
|
Wisconsin Delta
|
1953
|
University of Wisconsin–Whitewater
|
Whitewater, Wisconsin
|
Active
|
|
Illinois Zeta
|
1953
|
Wilbur Wright College
|
Chicago, Illinois
|
Inactive
|
|
Alabama Beta
|
1954
|
Samford University
|
Birmingham, Alabama
|
Inactive
|
[11][n]
|
Washington Gamma
|
March 1957
|
Western Washington University
|
Bellingham, Washington
|
Inactive
|
[12]
|
New Jersey Alpha
|
1960
|
Stevens Institute of Technology
|
Hoboken, New Jersey
|
Active
|
|
Texas Alpha
|
1960
|
Howard Payne University
|
Brownwood, Texas
|
Inacitve
|
|
Louisiana Gamma
|
March 1965
|
Grambling State University
|
Grambling, Louisiana
|
Active
|
[13]
|
Louisiana Delta
|
May 1966
|
Southern University
|
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
|
Inactive
|
[14]
|
Kentucky Alpha
|
November 19, 1968
|
Morehead State University
|
Morehead, Kentucky
|
Active
|
[15]
|
New Jersey Gamma
|
1978
|
Montclair State University
|
Montclair, New Jersey
|
Active
|
[16]
|
Arkansas Beta
|
|
Ouachita Baptist University
|
Arkadelphia, Arkansas
|
Active
|
|
Illinois Iota
|
May 28, 1968
|
Elmhurst University
|
Elmhurst, Illinois
|
Active
|
|
Ohio Eta
|
|
Ohio State University at Mansfield
|
Mansfield, Ohio
|
Active
|
|
Ohio Kappa
|
|
Denison University
|
Granville, Ohio
|
Active
|
|
Nebraska Beta
|
|
Hastings College
|
Hastings, Nebraska
|
Inactive
|
[8]
|
Wyoming Alpha
|
|
University of Wyoming
|
Laramie, Wyoming
|
Inactive
|
|
Notes
- ^ Chapter formed at Montana State University, now University of Montana.
- ^ This first chapter in Michigan was named Zeta for unknown reasons.
- ^ Chapter formed at the State College of Iowa, now the University of Northern Iowa.
- ^ Chapter formed at Mount St. Charles College, now called Carroll College.
- ^ Chapter formed at Michigan Agricultural College, now Michigan State University.
- ^ Chapter formed at Bradley Polytechnic Institute, now Bradley University.
- ^ Chapter formed at Central Missouri State Teachers, now the University of Central Missouri.
- ^ Chapter formed at Kansas State Teachers College, now Emporia State University.
- ^ Chapter formed at the Utah State Agricultural College, now Utah State University.
- ^ Chapter formed at Eastern Illinois State Teachers College, now Eastern Illinois University.
- ^ Chapter formed at Santa Barbara State College, now the University of California, Santa Barbara.
- ^ Chapter formed at the Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College, now Tennessee State University.
- ^ Chapter formed at Henderson State Teachers College, now Henderson State University.
- ^ Chapter formed at Howard College, now called Samford University.
References
- ^ a b c Shepardson, Francis Wayland, ed. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 12th edition. Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/George Banta Publishing Company, 1930. pp. 578-579. via Hathi Trust.
- ^ a b Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VII-57. ISBN 978-0963715906.
- ^ "About Us". Theta Alpha Phi. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
- ^ "Chapters". Theta Alpha Phi. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
- ^ Robson, John, ed. (1963). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. pp. 702.
- ^ The Cue vol. 33, no.1-3 (1957/1958). via Google Books.
- ^ University of Arizona - Desert Yearbook (Tucson, AZ) - Class of 1985
- ^ a b c Masters, Robert W. (1933). The Cue He Knew – via Google Books.
- ^ "Theta Alpha Phi begins activities". The Y News. October 1, 1924. p. 3.
- ^ History of Speech and Theatre at Otterbein College - 1847-1950 Charles Ward Dodrill
- ^ a b Larabee, Lottie B. (1963). A Parent's Guide to Colleges & Universities. Education Press – via Google Books.
- ^ "Drama Honorary". The Bellingham Herald. March 27, 1957. p. 2. Retrieved February 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Honorary Group Installs 13 at Area College". Morning World. Monroe, Louisiana. March 30, 1965. p. 2. Retrieved February 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.
- ^ "Initiated into Theta Alpha Phi". Alexandria News Leader. May 29, 1966. p. 2. Retrieved February 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Theta Alpha Phi to Initiate MSU Chapter". Lexington Herald-Leader. November 22, 1968. p. 7. Retrieved February 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Drama Society Approved". The Montclair Times. September 21, 1978. p. 34. Retrieved February 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.