It was founded in 1874 at
Washington & Jefferson College in
Washington, Pennsylvania when a chapter of
Iota Alpha Kappa resolved to continue after Iota Alpha Kappa's dissolution. A total of five chapters were formed, but by 1880, four of the five, except for Washington & Jefferson College had become extinct. That chapter sought to survive by joining another fraternity. In 1881, the Washington & Jefferson College chapter joined
Phi Gamma Delta, taking the designation of
Alpha chapter, a designation that had belonged to the founding chapter of Phi Gamma Delta at Jefferson College. ==Chapters==