In the fall of 1975, Don Dulchinos ’78 was a first-year student when members of Kappa Alpha Society gathered on campus to celebrate the fraternity’s 150th anniversary.
The following spring, Dulchinos joined the fraternity, whose motto is “No better boys you’ll find than the chosen sons of dear KA.”
In 2000, Dulchinos returned to campus for the group’s 175th anniversary.
The Kappa Alpha Gate at the entrance to Jackson's Garden commemorates the fraternity's 100th anniversary.
On Friday, Sept. 19, the Boulder, Colo. resident will be among nearly 350 people from across the country and Canada expected to celebrate the organization’s bicentennial.
“We hope those in attendance and those present in spirit reaffirm their emotional and financial connection to KA and Union College,” said Dulchinos, “and extend KA’s integral role in the history of Union.”
The oldest continuously active secret Greek letter social fraternity in the U.S., Kappa Alpha was founded as a literary society at Union in November 1825. Among the students who formed the group was Isaac Jackson, Class of 1826, who would go on to cultivate what is now known as Jackson’s Garden.
At its peak, Kappa Alpha boasted 15 chapters, minimizing expansion to preserve inter-chapter connections. Today, that number is six, including Union, the University of Pennsylvania and Hobart College. Three chapters are in Canada: McGill University, University of Toronto and University of Western Ontario.
Chapters range in membership from six to 60. At Union, 14 students belong to Kappa Alpha and reside primarily in Davidson House. There are more than 400 alumni members.
Louis Ruggiero ’26 is the fraternity’s current president.
“I joined KA because of its history as the oldest fraternity in the U.S., and the people I met during my rush experience were some of the most down-to-earth, fun people I have met,” said Ruggiero, a mechanical engineering major from Branchville, N.J. “I am looking forward to meeting people who have the same thing in common with me and hearing about what the society was like decades ago.”
Besides the usual food, music and fireworks befitting a 200th anniversary, the celebration also includes a pop-up exhibit in Schaffer Library featuring historic photos, memorabilia and a Hitchcock-type spindle chair that was used by the society from the mid to late 1800s through the early 1900s.
The celebration also includes a pop-up exhibit in Schaffer Library featuring historic photos, memorabilia and a Hitchcock-type spindle chair that was used by the society from the mid to late 1800s through the early 1900s. Many of the brothers carved their names into the wood. During spring term, students working in the College’s Permanent Collection started a project to catalogue the names found on the chair. (Courtesy of Union College Permanent Collection)
Many of the brothers carved their names into the wood. During spring term, students working in the College’s Permanent Collection started a project to catalogue the names found on the chair. Some of the names transcribed include Peter Seabury Schuyler (Class of 1848). who took part in the Civil War; Charles Edward Pearce (Class of 1863), who served in the Union Army in the Civil War; and Fitz Hugh Ludlow (Class of 1856), an author and traveler best known for his autobiographical work, “The Hasheesh Eater.”
Dulchinos is the author of a biography of Ludlow, and co-editor with Steve Crimi ’80, a member of Kappa Alpha, of “The Collected Works of Fitz Hugh Ludlow,” a seven-volume set.
One of the highlights of the weekend is a presentation of a gift to the College. At the 175th anniversary, the fraternity agreed to refurbish the Kappa Alpha Gate at the main entrance of Jackson’s Garden. For the 200th anniversary, the group pledges to improve the area around the gate, including relocating the cornerstone from the group’s original housing, installing new paving and new benches for seating.
Due to Jackson’s role in founding the fraternity, “we have always had an affinity for the gardens,” said Dulchinos.
Dulchinos is among a number of alumni organizing the event. Others include Peter Raymond '80, a member of the College’s Board of Trustees, whom Dulchinos said was instrumental in planning the celebration.
Dulchinos also singled out the administration and members of Facilities for their partnership and strong support of the bicentennial event and the cornerstone project.
Like many others, Dulchinos is looking forward to coming back to campus to mingle with longtime brothers as well as recent members.
“It’s neat to see how they kept our identity intact,” he said.
He’s also pleased that members are coming from Canada, noting they will be well-represented at the event.
“Frankly, we thought the Canadian chapters would not come, given the politics of our time,” said Dulchinos. “I guess you can transcend the politics sometimes, with help from a fellowship sustained over the past two centuries.”