Schenectady in Schenectady County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Mother Of Fraternities
Union College
Photographed By Steve Stoessel, June 7, 2019
1. Mother Of Fraternities Marker
Old Blue Gate reconstructed in 1947 by the fraternities founded here.
Kappa Alpha 1825
Sigma Phi 1827
Delta Phi 1827
Psi Upsilon 1833
Chi Upsilon 1841
Theta Delta Chi 1847
Iron gate donated by Class of 1910
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Fraternal or Sororal Organizations.
Location. 42° 48.912′ N, 73° 55.969′ W. Marker is in Schenectady, New York, in Schenectady County. Marker is at the intersection of Union Street and Nott Terrace, on the right when traveling west on Union Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Schenectady NY 12308, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Union College (here, next to this marker); John Howard Payne (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Nott Terrace High School (about 400 feet away); Walnut Grove (about 400 feet away); Revolutionary Hospital & Continental Barracks (approx. 0.2 miles away); The RS-3 Diesel-Electric Locomotive (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Nott Terrace High School (approx. ¼ mile away); Nott Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Schenectady.
Regarding Mother Of Fraternities. Early Union College president
this page online
Also see . . . Oldest Fraternities. The modern fraternity system at American colleges and universities is generally determined as beginning with the founding at Union College of Kappa Alpha (1825), Sigma Phi (1827), and Delta Phi (1827). Three other surviving national fraternities – Psi Upsilon (1833), Chi Psi (1841), and Theta Delta Chi (1847) – were founded at Union in the next two decades; on account of this fecundity, Union would in the twentieth century call itself the 'Mother of Fraternities'. As with most historical generalizations, this one requires qualification. What does seem true is that Union's claim to priority is that the oldest secret Greek letter social fraternity with a continuing record was founded at the College. None of the early societies at Union or elsewhere can precisely challenge the claim of Union's Sigma Phi, which became the first national fraternity with the founding of a second chapter at Hamilton College in 1831, but the founders of the first fraternities at Union were obviously imitating or improving upon existing models. Miami University also refers to itself this way. (Submitted on June 7, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.)
Photographed By Steve Stoessel, June 7, 2019
2. Mother Of Fraternities Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 11, 2019. It was originally submitted on June 7, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 228 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 7, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
