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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, 4-year schools
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
Nickname"Thetas," "Thetans," "TAPs," or "Taffies."
HeadquartersTheta Alpha Phi National
c/o Kitty Laurich, Sec-Treas
500 E. Beechwold Blvd

Columbus, Ohio 43214
USA
WebsiteOfficial website

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.

The History of Theta Alpha Phi

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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 2-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 and traditions

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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 official colors of Theta Alpha Phi are Purple and White.[2]

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]

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).

Members are referred to as "Thetas," "Thetans," "TAPs," or "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. With articles, pictures and other features relevant to mature college students rather than to younger readers or faculty. The Cue provides a useful and important service not only to members, but to all students of theatre.[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.

State City University Chapter Status Installed Date and Range Reference
Oklahoma Stillwater Oklahoma State University Oklahoma Alpha Inactive December 22, 1919-1934 [3]
Ohio Delaware Ohio Wesleyan University Ohio Alpha Active 1919 [4]
Louisiana Baton Rouge, Louisiana Louisiana State University Louisiana Alpha Active 1919 [4]
Wisconsin Ripon, Wisconsin Ripon College Wisconsin Alpha Inactive 1919
Florida Deland Stetson University Florida Alpha Active 1919
Pennsylvania Lewisburg Bucknell University Pennsylvania Alpha Inactive 1919 [4]
California Redlands University of Redlands California Alpha Active(?) 1920 [4]
Connecticut Storrs University of Connecticut Connecticut ? Active(?) 1920
Missouri Columbia University of Missouri Missouri ? Inactive 1920-1934
Arizona Tucson University of Arizona Arizona Alpha Inactive 1920-1934 [5]
Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado College Colorado ? Active(?) 1920
Oklahoma Tulsa University of Tulsa Oklahoma Beta 1920 [4]
South Dakota Huron Huron College South Dakota Alpha 1920 [6]
California Los Angeles Occidental College California Beta 1920
Iowa Fairfield Parsons College Iowa Alpha 1920
Ohio Berea Baldwin-Wallace University Ohio Beta 1920 [4]
Oregon Salem Willamette University Oregon Alpha 1920 [4]
Utah Salt Lake City University of Utah Utah Alpha 1920 [4]
South Dakota Mitchell, South Dakota Dakota Wesleyan University South Dakota Beta 1920 [4]
Tennessee University of Tennessee Tennessee Alpha 1920
Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Beta 1921
Montana University of Montana Montana Alpha 1921
Wyoming University of Wyoming Wyoming Alpha 1921
Michigan Adrian Adrian College Michigan Zeta Active 1921-1934, >1960
Michigan Kalamazoo Kalamazoo College Michigan ? 1921
Hawaii Manoa University of Hawaii Hawaii Alpha 1921
Alabama Auburn, Alabama Auburn University Alabama Alpha 1921 [6]
South Dakota Vermillion University of South Dakota South Dakota Gamma 1921
Indiana Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington Indiana Alpha 1922 [4]
Michigan Hillsdale Hillsdale College Michigan ? 1922
California Stockton University of the Pacific California Gamma Active 1922 [4]
Oklahoma Shawnee Oklahoma Baptist University Oklahoma Gamma 1922 [4]
Illinois Galesburg Knox College Michigan Alpha 1922
Indiana Franklin Franklin College Indiana Beta Active 1923 [4]
Missouri Canton Culver–Stockton College Missouri Gamma Active 1923-1940, >1960
Ohio Ada Ohio Northern University Ohio Epsilon Active 1924 [4]
Missouri Warrensburg University of Central Missouri Missouri Delta Active 1926 [4]
Michigan Albion Albion College Michigan Epsilon Active 1929 [4]
Indiana Terre Haute Indiana State University Indiana Delta Active 1936 [4]
Florida Winter Park Rollins College Florida Gamma Active 1938
Ohio Bowling Green Bowling Green State University Ohio Iota Active 1945 [4]
New Jersey Hoboken Stevens Institute of Technology New Jersey Alpha Active 1960
Arkansas Arkadelphia Ouachita Baptist University Arkansas Beta Active
Illinois Elmhurst Elmhurst University Illinois Iota Active
Kentucky Morehead Morehead State University Kentucky Alpha Active
Louisiana Grambling Grambling State University Louisiana Gamma Active
New Jersey Montclair Montclair State University New Jersey Gamma Active
New York Ithaca Ithaca College New York Beta Inactive [4]
Ohio Mansfield Ohio State University at Mansfield Ohio Eta Active
Ohio Granville Denison University Ohio Kappa Active
Wisconsin Whitewater University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Wisconsin Delta Active
Alabama Birmingham Howard College Alabama Beta [7][4]
Arkansas Arkadelphia Henderson State University Arkansas Alpha [7]
California Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Barbara California Delta [4]
Illinois Bloomington Illinois Wesleyan University Illinois Beta [4]
Illinois Peoria Bradley University Illinois Gamma [4]
Illinois Normal Illinois State University Illinois Delta [4]
Illinois Charleston Eastern Illinois University Illinois Epsilon [4]
Illinois Chicago Chicago City College Illinois Zeta [4]
Indiana West Lafayette Purdue University Indiana Gamma [4]
Indiana Hanover Hanover College Indiana Epsilon [4]
Iowa Cedar Falls, Iowa University of Northern Iowa Iowa Beta [4]
Iowa Des Moines Drake University Iowa Gamma [4]
Kansas Pittsburg Pittsburg State University Kansas Alpha [4]
Michigan East Lansing Michigan State University Michigan Delta [4]
Missouri Parkville Park College Missouri Beta [4]
Missouri Canton Culver–Stockton College Missouri Gamma [4]
Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska Nebraska Wesleyan University Nebraska Alpha [4]
Nebraska Hastings, Nebraska Hastings College Nebraska Beta [6]
Ohio Berea Baldwin-Wallace University Ohio Beta [4]
Ohio Springfield Wittenberg College Ohio Delta [4]
Ohio Ada Ohio Northern University Ohio Epsilon [4]
Ohio Westerville Otterbein College Ohio Zeta May 31, 1927 [4][8]
Ohio Hiram Hiram College Ohio Eta [4]
Pennsylvania University Park, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania State University Pennsylvania Gamma [4]
Pennsylvania Grove City, Pennsylvania Grove City College Pennsylvania Epsilon [4]
Tennessee Maryville Maryville College Tennessee Delta [4]
Tennessee Nashville Tennessee State University Tennessee Epsilon [4]
Utah Provo, Utah Brigham Young University Utah Beta [4]
Utah Logan Utah State University Utah Gamma [4]
Virginia Williamsburg College of William and Mary Virginia Alpha [4]
Washington Bellingham Western Washington University Washington Gamma [4]
Wisconsin Whitewater University of Wisconsin, Whitewater Wisconsin Delta [4]
Wyoming Laramie University of Wyoming Wyoming Alpha [4]

National Officers

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National President - Kathleen DeVault (Ohio Northern University) 2017-Current[2]

Historical

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Maud Babcock - National President (1920-1922)[9]

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 h From the National website, accessed 8 Aug 2021.
  3. ^ This was the first chapter of Theta Alpha Phi.
  4. ^ 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 ax The Cue Volume 33
  5. ^ University of Arizona - Desert Yearbook (Tucson, AZ) - Class of 1985
  6. ^ a b c The Cue He Knew - Robert W. Masters
  7. ^ a b A Parent's Guide to Colleges & Universities By Lottie B. Larabee · 1963 p238
  8. ^ HISTORY OF SPEECH AND THEATRE AT OTTERBEIN COLLEGE - 1847-1950 Charles Ward Dodrill
  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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