Key Milestones Through the Years
Explore a visual or scrollable timeline that highlights major expansions, reforms, and moments in Lambda Chi Alpha’s history.
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1909
Warren A. Cole (Boston 1912) founded Alpha Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha at Boston University.
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1914
The present Initiation Ritual of Lambda Chi Alpha is adopted by the Third General Assembly in Worcester, MA.
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1927
Lambda Chi Alpha becomes an international fraternity with the installation of Epsilon-Epsilon Zeta at the University of Toronto in Canada.
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1946
The Dr. John E. Mason Memorial Foundation (now Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation, Inc.) is created from his bequest upon his death on May 29th.
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1968
After Duke Flad’s death, George W. Spasyk is named the third chief executive and became the new executive director of Lambda Chi Alpha.
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1972
Lambda Chi Alpha is the first fraternity to abolish pledging to promote an anti-hazing culture in its Chapters.
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1991
Lambda Chi Alpha initiates its 200,000th member, the third fraternity to do so.
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2005
William T. Farkas (Butler 1988) becomes Lambda Chi Alpha’s executive vice president after Tom Helmbock’s retirement. He is the Fraternity’s fifth full-time chief executive.
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2009
Approximately 1,000 brothers and guests attend the International Centennial Celebration held on July 31, 2009, at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in downtown Indianapolis.
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2015
The inaugural High Alpha Summit is held in Washington DC with over 100 attendees present.
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2019
Troy L. Medley becomes the 6th CEO of Lambda Chi Alpha.
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2020
Lambda Chi Alpha reaches 300,000 Members.
Our Founding
There are two versions of the story about the founding of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, but both involve one man who wanted to create a lifetime of true brotherhood– Warren Albert Cole.
The November 2, 1909 Account
According to the first recorded account, Lambda Chi Alpha’s founding began on November 2, 1909, when Warren A. Cole, Percival C. Morse, and Clyde K. Nichols met at 22 Joy Street in Boston. Their purpose was to reorganize the Cosmopolitan Law Club — a student group at Boston University — into a Greek-letter fraternity. All three were former members of Alpha Mu Chi, a preparatory school fraternity, and brought with them a strong sense of brotherhood and tradition.
Warren Cole, deeply influenced by his experiences in other fraternal organizations such as Gamma Eta Gamma and the Patrons of Husbandry, played a key role in shaping Lambda Chi Alpha’s first Initiation Ritual and early laws. While the name “Lambda Chi Alpha” may have been used informally from the start, it wasn’t officially recorded until April 27, 1910 — marking the first written use of the Greek letters.
The November 15, 1911 Account
A second version of our founding, drawn from later interviews and documents, presents a broader evolution of the Fraternity. When Warren Cole entered Boston University in 1909, he and a group of students formed an informal club known as the Tombs or Cosmopolitan Club. Though this group wasn’t directly responsible for founding Lambda Chi Alpha, it laid the groundwork for what was to come.
By 1911, Cole was living at 35 Hancock Street with Ralph S. Miles and Harold W. Bridge. On November 15 of that year, Cole, along with Miles, Bridge, and Morse, signed the constitution of a new fraternity. Each of the four founders purchased a badge and issued a charter for the Alpha Zeta Chapter — backdated to that same day. The Fraternity’s first coat of arms, known as the Gamma Plate, soon followed, and Lambda Chi Alpha was born.
From Founding to National Fraternity
In the months following its formation, Lambda Chi Alpha grew with remarkable speed. The first Initiation Ritual — drafted by Cole — helped establish a strong sense of identity and tradition. By the end of 1912, the Fraternity had expanded to campuses including Massachusetts Agricultural College (now UMass Amherst), the University of Pennsylvania, and Penn State.
Influences from other fraternities and institutions also played a role. Titles like “Supreme Eminent Archon” likely drew from Sigma Alpha Epsilon, while the design of the Fraternity’s first Coat of Arms may have been inspired by the seal of Worcester Academy. These early decisions helped shape Lambda Chi Alpha into a cohesive national organization.
Explore Our Timeline.
View full timelineWhat Our Origins Mean Today
The founding stories — one from a pivotal meeting, the other from gradual evolution — reflect Lambda Chi Alpha’s commitment to brotherhood, leadership, and values. From the earliest Members to thousands of Brothers today, the Fraternity’s mission remains: to inspire loyalty, service, and personal growth.
Our history is more than a series of dates and names — it’s a living legacy that continues to shape who we are and how we lead.
Governance That Grew
With Us
As Lambda Chi Alpha expanded, so did the need for a structured and representative way to make decisions. That’s why the General Assembly — our highest legislative body — became a cornerstone of fraternity leadership.
