Fraternities and sororities date back to the American colonial era. During that time, colleges focused on teaching the classics, Greek and Latin literature, rather than liberal arts such as science and history. As a result, students created these clubs to debate the intellectual and political ideas of their time. The first general fraternity, known as the "Flat Hat Club" was established in 1750 at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd President of the United States was a member of this club. Later in 1776 Phi Beta Kappa became the first society to identify itself with Greek letters. It was started when a student was refused membership to an organization known as PDA, a literary society that had long lost its purpose. Phi Beta Kappa displayed many of the characteristics associated with today's Greek-letter fraternities: the mystery of secrecy, rituals, oaths of loyalty, secret handshakes, a motto, a badge, and most importantly a strong bond of friendship. More chapters were founded and as time went on, Phi Beta Kappa became purely intellectual and less social in it's purpose. Today, on over 184 college campuses Phi Beta Kappa has become a scholastic honorary society that recognizes students who show superior achievement in academics.
             At Union College the decline of a military marching club left students of the school feeling like they needed something else to occupy their time. In November of 1825 a group of students, including some members of Phi Beta Kappa, organized and founded Kappa Alpha Society. Many students and faculty were opposed to Kappa Alpha due to its secrecy. Other groups, however, admired it and formed Sigma Phi and Delta Phi in 1827. These 3 fraternities make up what is today known as the Union Triad.
             1839 brought the founding of another fraternity by John Reilly Knox, a prominent member of a literary society at Miami University. He...