| Tau Kappa Alpha | |
|---|---|
| ΤΚΑ | |
| Founded | May 13, 1908; 116 years ago (1908-05-13) Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Type | Honor Society |
| Affiliation | ACHS |
| Status | Merged |
| Merge Date | August 18, 1963 |
| Successor | Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha |
| Emphasis | Forensics |
| Scope | National |
| Motto | "Intelligent, Responsible, and Free Speech in a Free Society" |
| Colors | Light Purple and Dark Purple |
| Publication | The Speaker |
| Chapters | 148 |
| Members | 22,500 lifetime |
| Headquarters | University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan United States |
| [1][2] | |
Tau Kappa Alpha (ΤΚΑ) was a collegiate honor society devoted to the promotion of public speaking (forensics). Established in 1908, it merged with Delta Sigma Rho, a similar society, to form Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha in 1963
Tau Kappa Alpha was organized on May 13, 1908, at Indianapolis, Indiana, primarily through the efforts of Oswald Ryan, a student at Butler University[1] and Hugh Thomas Miller who was the Lieutenant Governor of Indiana.[3] They were assisted by James J. Boyle, G. Claris Adams, Herbert R. Hyman, William Heilman, and Roger W. Wallace.
The organization of the group was unusual. Charters were not granted to institutions but to eligible persons in each state upon the petition of students from a representative institution or institutions in such state. Expansion within that state was entrusted to the charter members of the state chapter. This plan aimed to enable the election of desirable men from colleges not large enough or perhaps not strong enough to warrant the installation of or to maintain a separate chapter. The structure was found to be impracticable. In a 1914 convention, the society was reorganized and chapters were given an independent existence in the usual way.[4]
Women were admitted into Tau Kappa Alpha in 1916.[3] The professional fraternity, Phi Delta Gamma merged into Tau Kappa Alpha in 1935. The society became a member of the Association of College Honor Societies in 1955.[5] In 1963, it had 101 active chapters, 47 inactive chapters, and 22,500 initiates.[3] Its headquarters were located at the University of MichiganinAnn Arbor, Michigan.[3]
Tau Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Rho merged to form Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha on August 18, 1963.[1]
The Greek letters ΤΚΑ stood form "Honor for Merit".[3] Its motto was "Intelligent, Responsible, and Free Speech in a Free Society".[3] The society's emblem was key in the shape of a scroll, featuring the Greek number of for the year of establishment and the Greek letters ΤΚΑ, surrounded by eleven stars representing the eleven founders and a laurel wreath of reward.[3] Its colors were light and dark purple.[6][3] Its quarterly publication was The Speaker, first published in 1914.[3]
The principal qualification for membership was participation in an intercollegiate oratorical or debating contest. Members were elected by the several state councils in their respective states. Alumni of accredited institutions could also be elected.
Tau Kappa Alpha chartered 148 chapters.[3]
