The History of Alpha Kappa Lambda at Penn State

In 1919 the Friend's Union Hostile was formed by three World War I veterans from the Philadelphia area. The club was founded on high ideals of Scholarship and Morality. The three men convinced three Philadelphia businessmen to purchase a house and rent it to them. They then invited several of their friends to move into the house with them.

In the next few years Friends Union became structured much like a fraternity with the house having officers, alumni and participating in intramural sports. In 1930 the Friends Union became Sigma Phi Alpha; however, the three men who owned the house did not like the idea of a Greek organization, so the members were forced to quickly find a new house to rent. A temporary house was found on the corner of Beaver Avenue and Pugh Street.

At this time the house was considered a soccer house since most of the brothers were on the Penn State soccer team. Its first honorary member was William Jeffries, coach of the soccer team.

World War II had a dramatic effect on Sigma Phi Alpha, with the draft claiming many of the then only twenty-three member house. The house was getting old and in need of repairs, but due to the financial situation nothing could be done. I

n 1945, house membership was again up to twenty and a new house was bought at 304 South Pugh Street. Many war veterans returned in 1946 which began to change the character of the brotherhood over the next few years.

In 1947 enrollment greatly increased and the fraternity was again financially sound.

In 1957, Sigma Phi Alpha became part of a national fraternity, Alpha Kappa Lambda. It was thought that a national fraternity would have some advantages over that of a local one - such as being more inviting to rushees.

In 1963, the old cabin at Wipples Dam State Park was torn down and a new one called Tau Timbers was built.

Hazing was done away with and a more mature pledging program was established in 1964.

In 1964, the old house on South Pugh Street was sold and construction began on the current house. The first occupants of 339 Fraternity Row moved in on November 7th, 1967. The chapter house was originally called "the Barn."

On December 14th, 1968, the house went wet.

In 1970 Gustave Winkler became the seventh honorary member to be initiated. He was a foreign exchange student from Austria who gave us the lithograph of Augsburg.

In 1995, the chapter house underwent major renovations and Tau Timbers was sold.

In 1999, former Alpha Kappa Lambda National President William Portner became the ninth honorary member.

During the Summer of 2007 the house underwent major renovations under the supervision of Michael Bloom, William Rickus, Matt Elensky, Woody, and Bill Hogg.  These renovations included overhaul of the website, waste removal and reclamation system, room aesthetics, and basic infrastructure alterations.  

For more history on the Alpha Kappa Lambda Fraternity, please visit our National Website.