Theta Kappa Nu (ΘΚΝ) Fraternity was founded on June 9, 1924, at Springfield, MO. Delegates from eleven local fraternities from nine different states united to form the new fraternity. Led by the Four Founders, Theta Kappa Nu became the fastest growing fraternity ever, chartering forty chapters in just over two years.
Most of Theta Kappa Nu’s chapters had been previously established at small, private colleges as local fraternities. The fraternity placed great emphasis on academics, offering graduate scholarships throughout its history, even during dire financial crises.
The Great Depression hit small colleges, and thus Theta Kappa Nu, very hard. Expansion nearly ceased and chapters began closing in the early 1930s. By the end of the decade fraternity leaders realized that a merger with another fraternity was needed to continue.
Throughout its lifetime, leaders of Theta Kappa Nu had established numerous friendships with those of Lambda Chi Alpha, which had preferred chapters at larger institutions. Initial informal talks quickly led to a formal merger committee. In 1939, Lambda Chi Alpha merged with the Theta Kappa Nu Fraternity. The ceremony was held at the Howard College, now Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, chapter of Theta Kappa Nu, where the documents were signed.
The union of Lambda Chi Alpha and Theta Kappa Nu was the largest ever in fraternity history, resulting in 105 active chapters and over 27,000 initiates. Theta Kappa Nu’s heritage entered that of the united fraternity with additions to the coat of arms, the white tudor rose as the fraternity flower, a new pledge pin design, a new pledge ceremony (a condensed version of Theta Kappa Nu’s ritual), and the open motto “Vir Quisque Vir,” or “Every man a man.” It also brought talented leadership to Lambda Chi Alpha that helped steer the united fraternity through the end of the depression and World War II.