December, 1936
THE
SPHINX
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A HISTORY OF ALPHA DELTA CHAPTER OF LOS ANGELES The first half of this history was accurately compiled by our dear brother who is now a member of Omega, James W. McGregor. Much credit can be given to him for his splendid work in this Chapter. RUFUS S. NORMAN. The history of Alpha Delta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity dates back as far as November 1920, when a University Students' Club conceived by Malcolm H. Patton and Bert McDonald, and eventually organized at the home of Dr. John Somerville with a membership embracing fifteen male students then enrolled in the University of Southern California received its birth. Following this organization, the Club functioned as a temporary social gathering, satisfying its appetite on sumptous refreshments to which it treated by one and another of its generous members who sought the honor of its presence in their homes. Bert McDonald, its president and Thomas A. Green, Jr., its secretary, were the only known officers existing at the will of the members. Laws were out of touch with the spirit of practical humor which pervaded the atmosphere of its proceedings. Conspicuous among its affairs was the Christmas party which was given at the home of Howard Allen, 3451 McKinley Avenue, on Thursday the 30th of December, 1920. Amid all its fun and frolic, however, the aspiration towards fraternity life was the dominant note and fight to secure affiliation with a national fraternity was successfully consumated when, on Wednesday evening the 11th of May, 1921, the club of fifteen members was installed as Alpha Delta Chapter, in accordance with instructions given to, and authority vested in him by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity by Attorney Clarence A. Jones at the home of Howard Allen. The new chapter now set itself to earnest work. Its Constitutional Committee on which such men as Wm. Pillow and Samuel Danley worked, prepared and presented a local Constitution which was adopted at a meeting hold at the home of John Rout, 1538 Paloma Ave., on Saturday the 4th of June, 1921. On the following Friday evening, June, 10, at a meeting held at the home of James McGregor, 1753 W. 35th Street the By-Laws were adopted and the first corps of officers were elected as follows: Bert McDonald President William Pillow Vice President Thomas A. Greene, Secretary Samuel B. Danley Ass't. Secretary Howard Allen Treasurer James McGregor Critic Historian This election also returned Malcolm Patton as Chairman of the Membership Committee (as the Rushing Committee was then known), and Hay ward Thompson as Chairman of the Activities Committee. Faculty recognition of the Chapter was disclosed by Bert McDonald in a letter from Professor Harold Stonier, then Chairman of the Committee in charge of Fraternities at the University of California. In reporting the fact McDonald jubilantly emphasized to the membership his influence with certain members of the faculty committee which enabled him to dexterously manipulate the machinery for the speedy recognition which the Chapter had gained. Unfortunately, however, the summer vacation overtook us before it was understood that permission to function as an organized unit of the student body of the
University of Southern California must first be obtained from the Executive Committee of the Associated Student Body, and it was not until December 13th, during the ensuing semester, that this permission was secured. Alpha Delta then became a real college fraternity, while still ift the making, however, we had one graduate in the person of Thomas A. Greene, Jr., who was awarded the degree of D. D. S. after a successful course in dentistry. The members showed their appreciation of Greene's success by presenting him with a belt, finished with an initialed buckle of gilt, (Bro. Greene is still wearing this belt and buckle). Charter members of the Chapter included Malcolm J. H. PaPtton, Jr., Bert McDonald, Thomas A. Greene, Jr., Arthur E. Prince, Hayward Thompson, Samuel B. Danley, Jr., Hugh Bell John Rout, John Riddle, Bernard Herndon, Simon Draper, William Pillow, Howard Allen, Clifford Gordon and James McGregor. At a "Smoker" held at the home of Howard Allen on the evening of Friday, November 18, 1921 all the new male students of the university were entertained by the chapter. Speeches were delivered by the guests, who stirred by the enthusiasm, and at times the mirth of the gathering as they outlined their ideas of frat life as contrasted with club life. One very doubtful looking aspirant indicated his desire to join then and there "if the fees were not too high". The fees have, however, never been suggested to him, high or low, since the necessity for so doing remained entirely at zero among fraternal members! In some cases the fees have proved "too high" for others who have been relegated to the limb of the Spectators Club and other organizations. In other cases the votes proved one too low, and the would-be members died as easily as the wind which blew their names before the Chapter. Survivors have, however, been rescued from the list, proving in all instar.cea a most gratifying contemplation. On Friday evening December 23, 1921, the Chapter. entertained its members with a Christmas Party at the home of Malcolm Patton, 1106 East Pico Street, following that given by the University Students' Club the previous year. Ivan J. Johnson, the only newfy pledge member officiated here as waiter and washer. To him the entire affair was a new discovery. As the youthful life of the Chapter prevented the lavish growth of funds it was impossible, in the first year of its existence, to send representatives to the National Convention which took place at Baltimore, Md., during the last week in December, but words of greeting were telegraphed through the President and were duly reciprocated in a letter from the General Secretary, Norman L. McGehee. Changes in the Constitution of the Chapter effected on Febuary 7, 1922, were necessitated by an order of the General Organization, making it obligatory for all Chapters to elect their officers at their next regular meeting immediately following the Annual Convention. Under these changes the following officers were elected March 3rd-, and retained their respective offices until January 1923. Bert McDonald Malcolm H. Patton Arthur E. Prince Howard Allen Samuel B. Danley, Jr.
President . .1st Vice President 2nd Vice President Treasurer Secretary