{{Short description|American honorary forensic fraternity}} {{Infobox fraternity | letters = {{lang|grc|ΑΦΕ}} | crest = Alpha_Phi_Epsilon_key.png | image_size = 180 | birthplace = Birmingham, Alabama | type = Honor society | affiliation = Independent | emphasis = Literary | scope = National | colors = Garnet and Green | flower = Red rose | publication = ''The Garnet and Green'' | city = Mobile | state = Alabama | country = United States | status = Merged | successor = Tau Kappa Alpha | merge_date = 1935 }}
Alpha Phi Epsilon ('''{{Lang|grc|ΑΦΕ}}''') was an American intercollegiate honorary literary and forensic fraternity. It was founded in Birmingham, Alabama in 1918 by representatives of literary societies from thirteen Southern universities and colleges. It merged into Tau Kappa Alpha in 1935.
== History == In 1919, the Philomathic Literary Society at the University of Mississippi came up with the idea of creating a national organization for literary societies; member Roy L. Smart invited similar organizations to an organizational meeting.<ref name=":9">{{Cite news |date=1919-04-21 |title=Mississippi Boy Chosen Chief of Literary Society |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-mississippi-boy-c/188791307/ |access-date=2026-01-12 |work=Birmingham Post-Herald |pages=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=Bairds15>{{Bairds15}}</ref>{{rp|pages=844–845}} Between April 29 and May 2, 1918, representatives of literary societies from nine Southern colleges and universities met at the Civic Association's headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama to discuss the formation of form an honorary literary and forensic fraternity.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1918-04-30 |title=Southern Colleges Organize Literary Society Yesterday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-southern-colleges/188777633/ |access-date=2026-01-12 |work=Birmingham Post-Herald |pages=5 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=1923-11-25 |title=Alpha Phi Epsilon Meets at Auburn |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-alpha-phi-epsi/188776969/ |access-date=2026-01-12 |work=The Montgomery Advertiser |pages=36 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=1918-04-30 |title=Roy L. Smart Made Organization Head |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-roy-l-smart-made-or/188778909/ |access-date=2026-01-12 |work=The Birmingham News |pages=9 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite news |date=1918-05-19 |title=College Fraternities Form Association |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-college-fraterni/188782709/ |access-date=2026-01-12 |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |pages=36 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The result was '''Alpha Phi Epsilon National Literary Society''', created to advance the work of literary societies and make this work more effective.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=1929-10-01 |title=Fraternity Honors Pflaum. Alpha Phi Epsilon Fraternity Elects Pflaum to Membership |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bulletin-fraternity-honors-pflaum-a/188775983/ |access-date=2026-01-12 |work=The Bulletin |location=Emporia, Kansas |pages=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite news |date=1918-05-30 |title=Charter Member Alpha Phi Epsilon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-centre-college-cento-charter-member/188785044/ |access-date=2026-01-12 |work=The Centre College Cento |location=Danville, Kentucky |pages=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=Bairds12>{{Bairds12|pages=376-377}}</ref> Its purpose was "to promote the work of literary societies in general and to honor those men who have attained distinction in society work".<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=1923-09-21 |title=Alpha Phi Epsilon is New Fraternity |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-davidsonian-alpha-phi-epsilon-is-new/188775254/ |access-date=2026-01-12 |work=The Davidsonian |location=Davidson, North Carolina |pages=5 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
The founding instituitions were Auburn University, Emory University, Howard College, John B. Stetson University, Richmond College, Southwestern Presbyterian University, the University of Alabama, the University of Mississippi, the University of Tennessee.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=1918-05-01 |title=Alpha Phi Epsilon Literary Society |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-alpha-phi-epsilon/188779256/ |access-date=2026-01-12 |work=Birmingham Post-Herald |pages=7 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Centre College, Maryville College, Millsaps College, and the University of Kentucky participated in the founding meeting by letter and also became charter members.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":8" /> Clemson University, the University of Georgia, the University of Texas, and the University of Virginia also were founders of the fraternity.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |date=1918-05-02 |title=Birmingham Chapter of A.P.E. Established |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-birmingham-chapter-o/188780790/ |access-date=2026-01-12 |work=The Atlanta Journal |pages=22 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":7" />
The April 29 meeting included creating the constitution and establishimg membership requirements for Alpha Phi Epsilon.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=1918-05-10 |title=New U.T. Fraternity |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/knoxville-sentinel-new-ut-fraternity/188781931/ |access-date=2026-01-12 |work=Knoxville Sentinel |pages=15 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":7" /> The fraternity was governed operated by an executive council that was elected at biennial annual meetings.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=Bairds15/>{{rp|page=845}} The executive council consisted of a grand president, vice-president, secretary-treasurer, and two councilors.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> Roy L. Smart was its first grand president.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />
Alpha Phi Epsilon chapters were originally formed from one literary or debating society from each charter institution.<ref name="Bairds12" /> However, male student members were admitted from all literary societies at institutions with a chapter.<ref name=":6" /> The fraternity expanded to other colleges and universities, mostly located in the Southern and Western United States.<ref name=":0" /> Only class "A" colleges and universities were allowed to have chapters.<ref name=":8" />
By April 1919, Alpha Phi Epsilon had grown to thirteen chapters.<ref name=":9" /> It had also received a letter of endorsement from former United States President William Howard Taft.<ref name=":9" /> The fraternity held an annual meeting on April 19, 1919 in Auburn, Alabama.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1919-04-13 |title='Ole Miss' Represented |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/jackson-daily-news-ole-miss-represente/188791091/ |access-date=2026-01-12 |work=Jackson Daily News |pages=18 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":9" /> Dr. R. Johnson of the University of Mississippi was elected president.<ref name=":9" />
After World War I, it was determined that this structure would not be able to flourish. On April 23 and 24, 1920, Alpha Phi Epsilon's national convention held at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1920-04-21 |title=Ole Miss Mans Calls Literary Club Meet |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/jackson-daily-news-ole-miss-mans-calls-l/188792240/ |access-date=2026-01-12 |work=Jackson Daily News |pages=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> This meeting transformed the nature of the society, expanding membership to include those from all recognized literary societies and women.<ref name="Bairds12" /> By the 1921 annual meeting, at the University of Mississippi on May 8 and 9, the fraternity had chartered thirty chapters.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1921-05-05 |title=Alpha Phi Epsilon Meets at Ole Miss |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/jackson-daily-news-alpha-phi-epsilon-mee/188793715/ |access-date=2026-01-13 |work=Jackson Daily News |pages=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
The fraternity's national headquarters were in Mobile, Alabama.<ref name=":1" /> In the spring of 1935, Alpha Phi Epsilon merged into Tau Kappa Alpha.<ref name=Bairds15/>{{rp|pages=722, 845}}
==Symbols== The badge of Alpha Phi Epsilon was gold and displayed the fraternity's symbols.<ref name="Bairds12" /> Its colors are garnet and green.<ref name="Bairds12" /> Its flower was the red rose. The fraternity's quarterly publication was ''The Garnet and Green''.<ref name=Bairds12/><ref name=Bairds15/>{{rp|pages=844–845}}
Alpha Phi Epsilon presented a service award that was the fraternity's badge, mounted on a rayed background.<ref name=Bairds15/>{{rp|page=845}}
==Membership== At the 1920 annual meeting, standards for membership in Alpha Phi Epsilon were set to require 1.5 years of membership and attendance in a literary society, participation in at least five debates, presentation of at least two original orations, and a written parliamentary law exam (requiring an 85 percent grade).<ref name="Bairds12" /> Individual chapters could add additional requirements.<ref name="Bairds12" /> There were three classes of members: active, alumni, and honorary.<ref name=Bairds15/>{{rp|page=844–845}}
==Chapters== Alpha Phi Epsilon chapters through 1930 were as follows, with inactive chapters and institutions indicated in ''italics''.<ref name="Bairds12" /> {{sticky-header}} {| class="wikitable sticky-header sortable" !Chapter !Charter date and range !Institution !Location !Status !{{Refh}} |- |''Alpha'' |{{dts|April 29, 1918}} |University of Alabama |Tuscaloosa, Alabama | |<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5" />{{Efn|Chapter formed by the Philomathic literary society.}} |- |''Beta'' |{{dts|April 29, 1918}} |Auburn University |Auburn, Alabama | |<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" />{{Efn|Formed by the Wirt Literary Society.}} |- |''Gamma'' |{{dts|April 29, 1918}} |Emory University |Atlanta, Georgia | |<ref name=":5" />{{Efn|Chapter formed by Phi Gamma, a local literary society.}} |- |''Delta'' |{{dts|April 29, 1918}} |Howard College |Birmingham, Alabama | |<ref name=":5" />{{Efn|Chapter formed by the Franklin Literary Society.}}{{Efn|The chapter's charter was withdrawn when the campus's literary societies went defunct.|name=Charter Withdrawn}} |- |''Epsilon'' |{{dts|April 29, 1918}} |University of Mississippi |Oxford, Mississippi | |<ref name=":5" />{{Efn|Chapter formed by the Hermaean literary society.}} |- |''Zeta'' |{{dts|April 29, 1918}} |Richmond College |Richmond, Virginia | |<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":5" />{{Efn|Chapter formed by Mu Sigma Rho, a local literary society.}} |- |''Eta'' |{{dts|April 29, 1918}} |Southwestern Presbyterian University |Memphis, Tennessee | |<ref name=":5" />{{Efn|Chapter formed by the Stewart Literary Society.}} |- |''Theta'' |{{dts|April 29, 1918}} |National headquarters |Mobile, Alabama | |<ref name=":1" /> |- |''Iota'' |{{dts|April 29, 1918}} |John B. Stetson University |DeLand, Florida | |<ref>{{Cite news |date=1918-05-15 |title=Stetson University |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-florida-times-union-stetson-universi/188782425/ |access-date=2026-01-12 |work=The Florida Times-Union |location=Jacksonville, Florida |pages=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":5" />{{Efn|Chapter formed by the Varsity Club.}} |- |''Kappa'' |{{dts|April 29, 1918}} |University of Tennessee |Knoxville, Tennessee | |<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":5" />{{Efn|Chapter formed by Chi Delta, a local literary society.}} |- |''Lambda'' |{{dts|1918|12|31|format=hide}}1918<!--force after charterers--> |Centre College |Danville, Kentucky | |<ref name=":8" /> |- |''Mu'' |{{dts|1918|12|31|format=hide}}1918<!--force after charterers--> |Maryville College |Maryville, Tennessee | |<ref name=":8" /> |- |''Nu'' |{{dts|March 1920}} |Millsaps College |Jackson, Mississippi | |<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=1920-03-07 |title=Galloways Go National |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/jackson-daily-news-galloways-go-national/188794583/ |access-date=2026-01-13 |work=Jackson Daily News |pages=11 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>{{Efn|Chapter formed by Galloway Literary Society.}} |- |''XI'' |{{dts|January 22, 1920}} – 1923 |University of Arkansas |Fayetteville, Arkansas |Inactive |<ref>{{Cite news |date=1921-01-24 |title=Honorary Literary Frat Established |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-record-honorary-literary-frat-esta/188792793/ |access-date=2026-01-12 |work=Times Record |location=Fort Smith, Arkansas |pages=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>{{Efn|name=Charter Withdrawn}} |- |''Omicron'' |{{dts|1921}} |University of Florida |Gainesville, Florida | | |- |''Pi'' |{{dts|March 1921}} |University of Texas |Austin, Texas | |<ref>{{Cite news |date=1921-03-30 |title=Campus Gossip |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-campus-gossip/188793491/ |access-date=2026-01-13 |work=Austin American-Statesman |pages=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1928-05-12 |title=Menard Student Member of Honor Literary Society |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-angelo-morning-times-menard-student/188794496/ |access-date=2026-01-13 |work=San Angelo Morning Times |pages=8 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |- |''Rho'' |{{dts|1921}} |Bethany College |Bethany, West Virginia | | |- |''Sigma'' |{{dts|1921}} |University of Southern California |Los Angeles, California | | |- |''Tau'' |{{dts|March 19, 1921}} |Rollins College |Winter Park, Florida | |<ref>{{Cite news |date=1921-03-14 |title=Rollins College Has Been Given Charter of Alpha Phi Epsilon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-rollins-college-has-be/188793366/ |access-date=2026-01-13 |work=The Tampa Tribune |pages=10 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1921-03-14 |title=Alpha Phi Epsilon Charter Granted Rollins College by Executive Council |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-florida-times-union-alpha-phi-epsilo/188793121/ |access-date=2026-01-12 |work=The Florida Times-Union |location=Jacksonville, Florida |pages=5 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>{{Efn|The chapter was established by the Delphic Literary Society.}} |- |''Upsilon'' |{{dts|1923}}–1928 |Colorado Agricultural College |Fort Collins, Colorado |Inactive |<ref>{{Cite news |date=1923-04-23 |title=Nine Pledged to Alpha Phi Epsilon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-collins-coloradoan-nine-pledged-to/188794860/ |access-date=2026-01-13 |work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |pages=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>{{Efn|Chapter formed by the Philo Literary Club.}}{{Efn|name=Charter Withdrawn}} |- |''Phi'' |{{dts|1923}} |Davidson College |Davidson, North Carolina | |<ref name=":0" />{{Efn|Chapter formed by Gavel and Forum, a local honorary literary society.}} |- |''Chi'' |{{dts|1924}} |University of California |Berkeley, California | | |- |''Psi'' |{{dts|1925}} |Vanderbilt University |Nashville, Tennessee | | |- |''Omega'' |{{dts|1926}} |Southern College |Lakeland, Florida | | |- |''Alpha Alpha'' |{{dts|1926}} |Sewanee: The University of the South |Sewanee, Tennessee | | |- |''Alpha Beta'' |{{dts|1926}} |Union University |Jackson, Tennessee | | |- |''Alpha Gamma'' |{{dts|1927}} |Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College |Starkville, Mississippi | | |- |''Alpha Delta'' |{{dts|1927}} |University of Illinois | | | |} {{notelist}}
== See also ==
* Honor society * Professional fraternities and sororities
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Honor societies Category:1918 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Defunct fraternities and sororities Category:Student organizations established in 1918