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Theta Alpha Phi

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Theta Alpha Phi
ΘΑΦ
FoundedDecember 22, 1919; 104 years ago (1919-12-22)
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater
TypeHonor
AffiliationIndependent
StatusActive
EmphasisTheatre
ScopeNational
Motto"The purpose of playing is...to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to nature"
Colors  Purple and   White
SymbolComedy and Tragedy masks
JewelRuby
PublicationThe Cue
Chapters30
Members22,800+ lifetime
NicknameThetas, Thetans, TAPs, and Taffies
Headquarters500 E. Beechwold Blvd
Columbus, Ohio 43214
United States
Websitewww.thetaalphaphi.org

Theta Alpha Phi National Theatre Honors Fraternity (ΘΑΦ) is an American honor society that accepts members who achieve excellence in the art of theatre. Membership is available to undergraduates and graduate students at member institutions.

History

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The first chapter, referred to as Oklahoma Alpha, was formed on December 22, 1919 at Oklahoma A&M College, now Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Since the dissolution of the National Collegiate Players/Pi Epsilon Delta (ΠΕΔ) National Theatre Honor Society, Theta Alpha Phi is the oldest honor society for theatre in the United States. Other theater honor societies include Alpha Psi Omega (ΑΨΩ) and Delta Psi Omega (ΔΨΩ), the latter designated for two-year schools.[1][2]

Theta Alpha Phi National Theatre Honors Fraternity is an honors society rather than a recognition association or activity club. It confers nationally recognized honors on graduate and undergraduate students who earn a specified high level of quality in theatre study and production at over 30 selected, accredited colleges and universities.

Theta Alpha Phi is restricted to four-year or graduate colleges and universities on a highly selective basis. It has no junior college branches or subsidiaries, and admits to membership only students of sophomore standing or above. Students become eligible after having successfully met a prescribed minimum of experience in directing, writing, acting in, or managing plays.[1]

Theta Alpha Phi is the only independent theatre honors organization with standards and functions established solely by its own constitution without regard to requirements of other organizations. It is not a member of any association whose member societies are concerned with areas other than theatre, but which nevertheless control the standards and hence the functions of members.

Theta Alpha Phi is the only national organization which honors graduate and undergraduate students for quality as well as quantity of work and study in theatre arts alone. Unlike some organizations which demand that students achieve a certain level in all studies, most of which are unrelated to theatre, Theta Alpha Phi demands excellence only in theatre. Hence, Theta Alpha Phi believes a student can be outstanding in theatre and deserving of honor in theatre without comparable achievement in all areas of study.[2]

Theta Alpha Phi is democratic in organization. There is no secrecy, no "blackball," and no chapter or member discrimination on the basis of race, color or creed. The constitution, initiation ceremony, financial statements, and other records are available for inspection to any responsible person or organization. Throughout its history, Theta Alpha Phi has retained a consistent and dynamic "fraternalist" policy of mutual aid among members and member schools.[2]

Symbols

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The fraternity explains that pronunciation of its name can be either "Thay-ta Al-fa Fye" or "Thay-ta Al-fa Fee". The latter is closer to the original Greek pronunciation.[2] The motto of Theta Alpha Phi is "The purpose of playing is [...] to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to nature" (a reference to the "advice to the players" speech in Hamlet).

The gold badge of the fraternity displays prominently a form of the comedy and tragedy masks, long associated with the theatrical arts. It is crowned with four rubies and bears the black enameled letters Θ, Α and Φ on the left eye, nose and right eye, respectively.[1]

Its colors are purple and white.[2] Its members are referred to as Thetas, Thetans, TAPs, and Taffies.[2]

Theta Alpha Phi presents a national award called the Medallion of Honor, which it purports is the highest national tribute made in educational theatre. Theta Alpha Phi's magazine, The Cue, was established in 1922 and is oriented distinctly and solely to students of theatre in higher education.[1]

Chapters

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Chapter information from the national website, Baird's Manual (20th, reprinted from the 19th ed.) or the Theta Alpha Phi magazine, the Cue. Active chapters noted in bold, inactive chapters noted in italics.[1][2]

Approximately 50 dormant chapters are not listed, which may be re-activated with faculty sponsorship.

Chapter Charter date and range Institution City State Status Reference
Oklahoma Alpha December 22, 1919 – 1934 Oklahoma State University Stillwater Oklahoma Inactive [a]
Ohio Alpha 1919 Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware Ohio Active [3]
Louisiana Alpha 1919 Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, Louisiana Louisiana Active [3]
Wisconsin Alpha 1919 Ripon College Ripon, Wisconsin Wisconsin Inactive
Florida Alpha 1919 Stetson University Deland Florida Active
Pennsylvania Alpha 1919 Bucknell University Lewisburg Pennsylvania Inactive [3]
California Alpha 1920 University of Redlands Redlands California Active(?) [3]
Connecticut ? 1920 University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut Active(?)
Missouri ? 1920–1934 University of Missouri Columbia Missouri Inactive
Arizona Alpha 1920–1934 University of Arizona Tucson Arizona Inactive [4]
Colorado ? 1920 Colorado College Colorado Springs Colorado Active
Oklahoma Beta 1920 University of Tulsa Tulsa Oklahoma [3]
South Dakota Alpha 1920 Huron College Huron South Dakota [5]
California Beta 1920 Occidental College Los Angeles California
Iowa Alpha 1920 Parsons College Fairfield Iowa
Ohio Beta 1920 Baldwin-Wallace University Berea Ohio [3]
Oregon Alpha 1920 Willamette University Salem Oregon [3]
Utah Alpha 1920 University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah [3]
South Dakota Beta 1920 Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell, South Dakota South Dakota [3]
Tennessee Alpha 1920 University of Tennessee Tennessee
Pennsylvania Beta
Montana Alpha 1921 University of Montana Montana
Wyoming Alpha 1921 University of Wyoming Wyoming
Michigan Zeta 1921–1934,

After 1960

Adrian College Adrian Michigan Active
Michigan ? 1921 Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo Michigan
Hawaii Alpha 1921 University of Hawaii Manoa Hawaii
Alabama Alpha 1921 Auburn University Auburn, Alabama Alabama [5]
South Dakota Gamma 1921 University of South Dakota Vermillion South Dakota
Indiana Alpha 1922 Bloomington Indiana
Michigan ? 1922 Hillsdale College Hillsdale Michigan
California Gamma 1922 University of the Pacific Stockton California Active [3]
Oklahoma Gamma 1922 Oklahoma Baptist University Shawnee Oklahoma [3]
Michigan Alpha 1922 Knox College Galesburg Illinois
Indiana Beta 1923 Franklin College Franklin Indiana Active [3]
Missouri Gamma 1923–1940,

After 1960

Culver–Stockton College Canton Missouri Active
Ohio Epsilon 1924 Ohio Northern University Ada Ohio Active [3]
Utah Beta Summer 1924 Brigham Young University Provo, Utah Utah Inactive [3][6]
Missouri Delta 1926 University of Central Missouri Warrensburg Missouri Active [3]
Ohio Zeta May 31, 1927 Otterbein College Westerville Ohio [3][7]
Michigan Epsilon 1929 Albion College Albion Michigan Active [3]
Indiana Delta 1936 Indiana State University Terre Haute Indiana Active [3]
Florida Gamma 1938 Rollins College Winter Park Florida Active
Ohio Iota 1945 Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Ohio Active [3]
New Jersey Alpha 1960 Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken New Jersey Active
Arkansas Beta Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia Arkansas Active
Illinois Iota Elmhurst University Elmhurst Illinois Active
Kentucky Alpha Morehead State University Morehead Kentucky Active
Louisiana Gamma Grambling State University Grambling Louisiana Active
New Jersey Gamma Montclair State University Montclair New Jersey Active
New York Beta Ithaca College Ithaca New York Inactive [3]
Ohio Eta Ohio State University at Mansfield Mansfield Ohio Active
Ohio Kappa Denison University Granville Ohio Active
Wisconsin Delta University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Whitewater Wisconsin Active
Alabama Beta Howard College Birmingham Alabama [8][3]
Arkansas Alpha Henderson State University Arkadelphia Arkansas [8]
California Delta University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California [3]
Illinois Beta Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington Illinois [3]
Illinois Gamma Bradley University Peoria Illinois [3]
Illinois Delta Illinois State University Normal Illinois [3]
Illinois Epsilon Eastern Illinois University Charleston Illinois [3]
Illinois Zeta Chicago City College Chicago Illinois [3]
Indiana Gamma Purdue University West Lafayette Indiana [3]
Indiana Epsilon Hanover College Hanover Indiana [3]
Iowa Beta University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, Iowa Iowa [3]
Iowa Gamma Drake University Des Moines Iowa [3]
Kansas Alpha Pittsburg State University Pittsburg Kansas [3]
Michigan Delta Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan [3]
Missouri Beta Park College Parkville Missouri [3]
Missouri Gamma Culver–Stockton College Canton Missouri [3]
Nebraska Alpha Nebraska Wesleyan University Lincoln, Nebraska Nebraska [3]
Nebraska Beta Hastings College Hastings, Nebraska Nebraska [5]
Ohio Beta Baldwin-Wallace University Berea Ohio [3]
Ohio Delta Wittenberg College Springfield Ohio [3]
Ohio Epsilon Ohio Northern University Ada Ohio [3]
Ohio Eta Hiram College Hiram Ohio [3]
Pennsylvania Gamma Pennsylvania State University University Park, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania [3]
Pennsylvania Epsilon Grove City College Grove City, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania [3]
Tennessee Delta Maryville College Maryville Tennessee [3]
Tennessee Epsilon Tennessee State University Nashville Tennessee [3]
Utah Gamma Utah State University Logan Utah [3]
Virginia Alpha College of William and Mary Williamsburg Virginia [3]
Washington Gamma Western Washington University Bellingham Washington [3]
Wisconsin Delta University of Wisconsin, Whitewater Whitewater Wisconsin [3]
Wyoming Alpha University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming [3]
  1. ^ This was the first chapter of Theta Alpha Phi.

Notable members

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VII-57. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Home". Theta Alpha Phi. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw The Cue Volume 33
  4. ^ University of Arizona - Desert Yearbook (Tucson, AZ) - Class of 1985
  5. ^ a b c Masters, Robert W. (1933). The Cue He Knew – via Google Books.
  6. ^ "Theta Alpha Phi begins activities". The Y News. 1924-10-01. p. 3.
  7. ^ History of Speech and Theatre at Otterbein College - 1847-1950 Charles Ward Dodrill
  8. ^ a b Larabee, Lottie B. (1963). A Parent's Guide to Colleges & Universities. Education Press – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Maud May Babcock, President of the National Communication Association, 1932
  10. ^ Binheim, Max; Elvin, Charles A (1928). Women of the West; a series of biographical sketches of living eminent women in the eleven western states of the United States of America. pp. 171–172. Retrieved 8 August 2017.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  11. ^ "'U' Dramatists Wait Honors". The Salt Lake Telegram. June 3, 1943. p. 15. Retrieved August 21, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Chekhov Stage Group Holds Utah Actress". Utah, Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake Tribune. August 11, 1940. p. 59. Retrieved April 23, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  13. ^ The Eleusis of Chi Omega. Vol. 47. 1945. p. 108.
  14. ^ "Bee Gee News May 30, 1945". BG News (Student Newspaper). 30 May 1945. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
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