Our History

Lambda Chi Alpha is a social fraternity that was founded in 1909 at Boston University. On October 10, 1920, North Carolina State College students C. E.  Bailes, O. L. Bradshaw, J. B. Conwell, H. B. Curtis, J. O. Holt, H. E. Rea, and T. W. Alexander met in T. W. Alexander's room to discuss the organization of a local fraternity. The purpose of this organization was to unite in a body and promote a fraternal spirit among the members of the organization." The following officers were elected: O. L. Bradshaw, President; T. W. Alexander, Vice-President; J. B. Conwell, Secretary, and H. B. Curtis, Treasurer. Two weeks later, on October 24, 1920, the organization chose its name, Pi Alpha Fraternity. 

On January 9, 1921, the first bids were extended to new members and Pi Alpha's first initiation was held on February 6, 1921 for W. M. Corkill and G. C. (Red) Lassiter. On October 23,1921, the Brothers of Pi Alpha decided to seek affiliation with a national fraternity and on January 28, 1922, decided to investigate association with Phi Kappa Sigma National Fraternity. However, at that time, Phi Kappa Sigma was against expansion. In March, 1922, Pi Alpha corresponded with Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. Investigation revealed that Lambda Chi Alpha was a strong national fraternity, and it was agreed "that it would be no mistake to apply for a charter." 

A Lambda Chi Alpha charter was granted, and on March 3, 1924  at the Sir Walter Raleigh Hotel on Fayetteville Street in Raleigh, N.C., a double installation was conducted by a ritual team from Gamma Phi Zeta of Washington and Lee University for Beta Pi Local at Trinity College (Duke) and Pi Alpha Local (N.C. State College). These became Gamma Theta Zeta and Gamma Upsilon Zeta, respectively, and were the 64th and 65th chapters of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. Head Ritualist at the installation was Bruce H. McIntosh, and the charter was signed by Ernest J. C. Fisher, Grand High Alpha, and Roy T. Kelsey, Grand High Beta. Lambda Chi Alpha was the tenth national fraternity chartered at N.C. State College. 

On June 9, 1924, Tau Lambda Delta local fraternity was chartered Theta Kappa Nu National Fraternity and in 1939, Theta Kappa Nu merged with Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. This was the largest merger of National Fraternities in Fraternity History. In September, 1928, Lambda Chi Alpha moved into a new Chapter House at 2407 Clark Avenue. 

After nearly 20 years there, the chapter moved to a house on Vanderbilt Avenue, and a scant five years later, in 1952, moved to its third house, at 222 Hillcrest Road. This two story house contained three bedrooms which provided residence for twelve brothers. The dining room was so small that the brothers had to eat in shifts. There was a basement party room, reportedly dug by "generations of pledges," from an initial coal bin! On May 2, 1959, a ritual team from Gamma Upsilon had the privilege of installing Gamma Iota Zeta at East Carolina University. 

The 1955 Agromeck highlighted the Lambda Chi Alpha achievements as being the  sponsor of the Annual Fraternity Bridge Tournament and an Easter Egg Hunt for underprivileged children. 

In 1964, our chapter moved to its fourth and present house at 108 South Fraternity Court. This two-story house has residence capacity for 36 brothers in 16 rooms, a far cry from our previous house on Hillcrest Road. The new house was formally dedicated on November 1 , 1964. Grand High Pi Carroll B. Quaintance was the keynote speaker at the ceremony. 

Prior to the move to the new house on Fraternity Court, as one of the twelve national fraternities selected by the University on the basis of chartering data and financial soundness, Mrs. Ruth Jones was selected  as the first Housemother for Lambda Chi Alpha. The House Corporation Executive Committee advised the chapter officers in planning the new house and arranged to furnish the new house with proceeds from the sale of the house on Hillcrest Road. 

A fifty year celebration was held on March 23, 1974 at the Holiday Inn in Raleigh where Grand High Kappa Duane Doty and High Pi John T. Kanipe, Jr. were key speakers.  This was a high point for a bleak period for the Greek system. Fraternities had fallen from popularity during the 1970's and were even excluded from the Agromeck throughout the decade until 1980.  

Lambda Chi Alpha rebounded quickly and were back on top as one of the strongest fraternities at NC State. On March 26, 1983 at the annual Founders Day Banquet and White Rose Ball the Brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha's Gamma Upsilon Zeta chapter honored Mrs. Ruth Dorval Jones with a gift vacation to Europe as an expression of love and appreciation for her 18 years of dignified service to the chapter and Brothers. 

Mrs. Jones was also honored in August, 1983 at the 39th General Assembly in Nashville, Tennessee as Lambda Chi Alpha's International House Mother of the Year. John T. Kanipe, Jr. was elected to the Grand High Zeta as Grand High Epsilon and Gamma Upsilon received three national awards including recognition for the Most Outstanding Alumni program of the 220 Chapters in the U.S. and Canada
                                                                                   
In 1984 Gamma Upsilon Zeta  celebrated its 60th anniversary and Lambda Chi Alpha International celebrated its 75th anniversary with the 40th General Assembly in August in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mrs. Jones retired in 1985 and began working on her Lambda Chi Alpha memoirs. Entitled  "How Did Catsup Get on the Ceiling ?" Mrs. Jones' popular book, chronicled her many years as the Housemother for Gamma Upsilon.

Gamma Upsilon was one of the first N C State fraternities to step up and invest in the new Greek Village. The capital campaign saw alumni brothers across 6 decades help provide the funds for the new Lambda Chi House which officially opened for occupancy in the Fall of 2019. The end of an older era occurred in the summer of 2021 with the demolition of the previous house  at 108 S. Fraternity Court.