Iota Alpha Pi

Iota Alpha Pi (ΙΑΠ) was an international collegiate sorority operating in the United States and Canada from March 3, 1903 to July 1971, when it ceased operations.^[4] It was then restarted when Alpha chapter was rechartered at Hunter College in October 2023.^[5][6] As of November 2024, the Alpha chapter has been suspended by Hunter College.^[7]

Iota Alpha Pi
ΙΑΠ
Founded	March 3, 1903; 121 years ago (1903-03-03) Hunter College
Type	Social
Former Affiliation	NPC
Status	Inactive
Emphasis	Jewish
Scope	Local (formerly National)
Member badge
Colors	Red and   Black[1]
Symbol	skull and crossbones
Flower	red Rose
Publication	J.A.P. Journal/Bi-Annual[2] then The Heights
Philanthropy	Muscular Dystrophy
Chapters	28 inactive
Headquarters	New York, New York United States
[3]

History

Iota Alpha Pi was the first national sorority for Jewish women. On March 3, 1903, on the campus of New York City, Normal College (now Hunter College), seven young women created a new sorority which they called the J.A.P. club,^[8] or "Jay-ay-peez",^{[9]: 80–82} focused on religious education and settlement house work.^[10]

The founders were:

Hannah (Finkelstein) Swick Olga (Edelstein) Ecker Sadie (April) Glotzer Rose (Posner) Bernstein

Rose (Delson) Hirschman May (Finkelstein) Spielgel Frances (Zellermayer) Delson[9]: 309 [11]

Frances Zellermayer was a sister to Zeta Beta Tau founder Maurice Zellermayer and later married the brother of her fellow founder Rose Delson.

In 1913, with the new name Iota Alpha Pi, the members began the traditional sorority expansion process. The original organizers grouped themselves as Alpha chapter and the succeeding group became Beta chapter. Early expansion was at other schools in the New York Area, Gamma at the Brooklyn Law School, Delta at NYU Washington Square and Epsilon at the New Jersey Law School The Sorority became international in 1929 with the founding of Kappa chapter at University of Toronto, University of Manitoba had a particularly prosperous chapter.^[11]

In 1924, a Rotation Scholarship Fund was created, allowing money to be loaned to worthy students by the sorority on the expectation of it being repaid. In 1925 the sorority began creating its own semi-annual bulletin.^[11]

Iota joined the National Panhellenic Conference as an associate member in November 1953^[12] and became a full member on November 4, 1957.^[13] Although many chapters were planned, Iota Alpha Pi could not keep up with its rapidly growing competitors.

Historian Marianne Sanua recounts the life of Iota Alpha Pi in her book, Going Greek: Jewish College Fraternities in the United States, 1895-1945. The sorority was "not for the especially popular, affluent, or snobbish, but just a group of good friends" (p. 81) The American Jewish Yearbook 5692 describes the sorority as Jewish in a positive way".^[11] This accolade probably stems from Iota's studies on women in the Bible.^{[9][relevant?]}

By 1966, Iota Alpha Pi had granted a total 23 charters. A report by Wilson Heller indicates that the sorority was strong until 1968. Its national philanthropy wasNational Philanthropy: Muscular Dystrophy^[14] Heller posits that the sorority saw dramatic declines in membership, particularly with the cessation of the "Christians only" clause in non-Jewish organizations. As of June 1, 1967 an NPC report indicated that Iota Alpha Pi had eleven chapters, eight alumnae groups and 5,802 sisters and thirteen chapters, eght alumnae groups, and 6,204 members as of June 1, 1969.^[15]

In 1969, Iota Alpha Pi established new chapters at the University of Maryland College Park and Hunter College Park Avenue. In July 1971, the international headquarters voted to disband Iota Alpha Pi (Heller). Two chapters went on to affiliate into other national sororities. The Beta Alpha chapter at Penn State joined Alpha Epsilon Phi, while the Upsilon chapter at Rider University eventually affiliated with Delta Phi Epsilon.^[16]As of 2008, some alumni continue to hold reunions and other events. However, no formal organization exists to coordinate these gatherings.

In October 2023, Barbara Cardarelli and Cheyanne Weiner restarted Iota Alpha Pi's Alpha chapter at Hunter with the support of Alumni from multiple chapters.^[5][6]

Symbols

The original name of the sorority was J.A.P. Their publication was The J.A.P. Bulletin. With the name change to Iota Alpha Pi, the magazine was also renamed The Heights.^[9]

The first official badge was a scarlet horizontal diamond surrounded by seed pearls, with the Greek letters Ι, Α, and Π in gold. Above the Α, in gold, was a skull and crossbones. Later versions of the badge included two full blown roses at the points of the diamond.

Its colors are red and black.^[1] As of 1931, the sorority used in " a diamond of scarlet surrounded by jewels" where a crest would otherwise be used.^[17] The flower was a red rose, each new member is given a rose at the end of the installation ceremony.^[18]

Chapters

Chapters of Iota Alpha Pi include the following.^[1][16] Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are in italics.

Name	Chartered	Institution	Location	Status	Notes	Reference
Alpha	March 3, 1903–1913	Normal College of the City of New York	New York, NY	Consolidated	[a]	[b][16][11]
Beta	1913–1965; October 2023	Hunter College	New York, NY	Active	[c]	[16][11]
Gamma	1913–1941 ?	Brooklyn Law School	New York, NY	Inactive	[d]	[16]
Delta	1922–1971	NYU Washington Square	New York, NY	Inactive		[16]
Epsilon	1922–1942, 1946–1947	New Jersey Law School (Rutgers)	Newark, NJ	Withdrew	[e]	[16]
Zeta	February 27, 1926–1971	Adelphi University	Garden City, Long Island, NY	Inactive		[19]
Eta	April 17, 1927–1942	University of Denver	Denver, CO	Inactive		[19][16]
Kappa	1929–1956	University of Toronto	Toronto, Ontario, Canada	Inactive		[16]
Iota	1930–1970	Long Island University (Brooklyn)	Brooklyn, NY	Inactive		[16]
Lambda	1931–1971	Brooklyn College (CCNY)	Brooklyn, NY	Inactive		[16]
Mu	March 27, 1932–1965	University of Manitoba	Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada	Inactive	[f]	[16][19][20]
Nu	October 12, 1935–1971	Wayne State University	Detroit, MI	Inactive		[16][21]
Omicron	1938–1971	Queens College (CCNY)	Queens, NY	Inactive		[16]
Pi	December 13, 1942–1971	Syracuse University	Syracuse, NY	Inactive	[g]	[16][19]
Rho	1946–1956	Miami University	Oxford, OH	Inactive		[16]
Sigma	February 1946–1971	Temple University	Philadelphia, PA	Inactive	[h]	[16][22]
Upsilon	1947–1955	Rider University	Lawrence Township, NJ	Withdrew	[i]	[16]
Phi	October 17, 1954–1971	University of Illinois	Champaign, IL	Inactive		[16][19]
Psi	June 1961–1965	NYU University Heights	New York, NY	Inactive		[16][19][23]
Omega				Unassigned		[16]
Beta Alpha	May 5, 1962–1971	Pennsylvania State University	University Park, PA	Withdrew	[j]	[16][19]
Beta Beta	1965–1971	City College of New York	New York, NY	Inactive		[16]
Beta Gamma				Unassigned		[16]
Beta Delta	May 21, 1966–1971	Cornell University	Ithaca, NY	Inactive		[24]
Beta Epsilon	1966–1970	C.W. Post College (LIU Post)	Brookville, NY	Inactive		[16]
Beta Eta	1969–19xx?	University of Maryland	College Park, MD	Inactive		[16][25]

The Archive notes a 1969 colony as a separate chapter from Alpha and Beta at Hunter College, Park Avenue, but this group did not charter. This appears to be an error and should be clarified as simply an attempt to reestablish itself on the sorority's first campus.

1. Combined with Beta chapter in 1913.
2. Today's Hunter College is a product of several mergers. The Normal College and Hunter College, for a time, appear to have operated units under the same administration. When these merged, the chapters merged.
3. Absorbed Alpha chapter in 1913.
4. By 1969 Brooklyn Law School no longer had a chapter although the date of disbanding is uncertain.
5. Absorbed local sorority ΓΓΓ in 1938. Withdrew to become local ΗΝΤ in 1947.
6. Originated as Theta Gamma Phi (local).
7. Originated as Pi Kappa Epsilon (local) in 1941.
8. Originated as Rho Lambda Phi (local) in 1931.
9. This chapter originated as Pi Eta Sigma (local) in 1925. Withdrew to reform as a local, and in 1962 became the Delta Sigma chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon.
10. Merged into the existing Alpha Zeta chapter of Alpha Epsilon Phi.

Conventions

Conventions include:

December 22–27, 1925, New York City[26] December 20–25, 1926, New York City[27] December 20–25, 1927, New York City[28] December 20–25, 1929, New York City[29] December 20–25, 1930, New York City[30] December 20–25, 1931, New York City[31]

December 20–25, 1933, New York City[32] December 22–24, 1934, New York City[33] 33rd Annual Convention, December 21–24, 1935, New York City[34] 34th Annual Convention, December 1936, New York City[35] 35th Annual Convention, December 25–26, 1937, New York City.[36] 36th Annual Convention, December 24–26, 1938, New York City.[2]

37th Annual Convention, December 23–25, 1939, New York City[37] 38th Annual Convention, December 21–24, 1940, New York City[38] 44th Annual Convention, December 22–24, 1947 Waldorf Astoria, New York City.[39] 1948 Syracuse, New York[40] August 1954, Roney Plaza Hotel, Miami Beach[4][41] June 22, 1968, Washington D.C.[42]

Notable members

• Jill Wine-Banks - (Phi) one of the prosecutors during the Watergate scandal. She was the first woman to serve as US General Counsel of the Army (1977–80)^[43]
• Jerry Lewis - (Nu Honorary Pledge) comedian, actor, National Chairman Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)^[44]

See also

• List of social sororities and women's fraternities

• List of Jewish fraternities and sororities

References

1. William Raimond Baird (1991). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. Baird's Manual Foundation, Incorporated.
2. JEWISH NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES 1939-1940
3. Shield & Diamond of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity - September 1966
4. Jewish Floridian March 12, 1954, page B4
5. "Hunter College - Chartering Tracking Fall/Spring 2023-2024". Archived from the original on 2023-10-22.
6. "Facebook - Iota Alpha Pi Sorority]".
7. https://hunter.cuny.edu/students/campus-life/student-clubs/
8. The name appears to have no relation to "Jewish American Princess", a term that did not come into use until after World War II
9. Sanua, Marianne Rachel (2003). Going Greek: Jewish College Fraternities in the US, 1895- 1945. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8143-2857-6. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
10. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. G. Banta Company. 1977. pp. 806–807.
11. Kohut, Rebekah (1931–1932). "Jewish Women's Organization in the United States" (PDF). The American Jewish Year Book. 33: 197–198. JSTOR 23601441.
12. The Crescent of Gamma Phi beta, December 1953. p 20
13. The Crescent of Gamma Phi Beta, March 1958. p.4
14. Templar (Temple University Yearbook) 1961, page 131
15. Sigma Kappa Triangle Summer 1970, p 23
16. William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), section showing Iota Alpha Pi chapters". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 16 November 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
17. Emily Helen Butterfield (1931). College Fraternity Heraldry. George Banta Publishing Company. p. 46.
18. The rose : an encyclopedia of North American roses, rosarians, and rose lore by McCann, Sean p 152
19. Excerpted from Iota Alpha Pi's 60th anniversary commemorative history. Accessed 6 May 2022.
20. Noted in the Winnipeg Free Press March 30, 1932, p.8, accessed 6 May 2022.
21. October 18, 1935 The Detroit Jewish Chronicle and the Legal Chronicle
22. Noted in the Templar (Temple University Yearbook) of 1946, p.168
23. The heights of Iota Alpha Pi - Winter 1962
24. Photo of Cornell "It's all Greek to Me 1967" about Iota Alpha Pi
25. Noted in the 1970 Terrapin Yearbook, p.330
26. JEWISH NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES 1926-1927
27. JEWISH NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES 1927-1928
28. JEWISH NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES 1928-1929
29. JEWISH NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES 1929-1930
30. JEWISH NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES 1931-1932
31. JEWISH NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES 1932-1933
32. JEWISH NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED-STATES 1934-1935
33. JEWISH NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED-STATES 1935-1936
34. JEWISH NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES 1936-1937
35. JEWISH NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES 1937-1938
36. JEWISH NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES 1938-1939
37. JEWISH NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED-STATES 1940-1941
38. JEWISH NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED-STATES 1941-1942
39. Philadelphia Jewish Exponent January 3, 1947, p 11
40. Winnipeg Free Press, August 24, 1948, p 10
41. The Miami News Miami, Florida 20 Aug 1954, Page 21
42. HON. MARTHA W. GRIFFlTHS Extension of Remarks
43. Wine-Banks, Jill (2020). The Watergate Girl: My Fight for Truth and Justice Against a Criminal President. New York: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 9781250244321. OCLC 1113434676.
44. The Detroit Jewish News Page 18