centre college
digital archives
Alpha Kappa Phi Records
The Alpha Kappa Phi fraternity was established at Centre College in 1858, and lasted until the late 1870's. The exact date of its death is vague, for the records do not mention any last meeting of the society. More likely, it quietly faded as fewer and fewer members joined, and those students who were members increasingly failed to attend meetings. Although AKP called itself a fraternity, there is little record of the kind of social activities one normally associates with fraternities. Meetings commonly included speeches and debates on selected topics. The documents also show a high level of sentimentality, as members speak of "Love, Purity, Fidelity", and describe speeches as "breathing purity of principle and containing the spirit of eloquence." These notions, as well as the fraternity's strong stance against its members being intoxicated, probably stood in contrast to the more social aspects of other fraternities on campus, and undoubtedly played a role in AKP's demise.
- Act of Incorporation (February 11, 1860)
- Text of the Kentucky General Assembly act incorporating Alpha Kappa Phi.
- Constitution
- Constitution of the fraternity, with clauses on officials, election of new members, establishing new chapters, fines and fees, the fraternity's "grip" and "device", expulsion of members, "habits of intoxication", etc.
- Object of the Order
- "We enter here a Temple of Beauty consecrated to 'Love, Purity, and Fidelity', and with devoted hearts kneel at the mysterious shrine of Love."
- Minutes
- Minutes of the fraternity from 1858 until 1870. There are gaps, and occassionally the minutes are out of order, but they provide a glimpse of the activities of AKP throughout most of its life.
- Oath of Secrecy
- List of members who signed the oath of secrecy.
- Letter from University of Mississippi (undated)
- Undated letter recommending a convention of all AKP chapters.
- Letter from University of Louisville (March 13, 1861)
- Letter from the University of Louisville discussing the failure to establish a chapter.
- Letter from University of Mississippi (October 28, 1867)
- Letter mentioning the growth of the chapter, and inquiring about chapters in Lexington (Ky.) and Virginia.
- Letter from University of Mississippi (March 20, 1869)
- Letter providing an update on the chapter.
- Letter from Georgetown College (June 5, 1869)
- Letter from the Georgetown College (Ky.) chapter discussing efforts to establish a chapter at that school.
- Letter from University of Mississippi (January 7, 1870)
- Letter announcing the death of one of its members.
- Letter from Princeton University (October 20, 1870)
- Letter describing the prospects of the Princeton chapter.
- Letter from University of Mississippi (October 16, 1871)
- Letter updating the condition of the chapter.
- Letter from University of Mississippi (October 28, 1871)
- Letter providing the names of members of the chapter and its prospects.
- Letter from Georgetown College (April 30, 1872)
- Letter describing the reduced condition of the chapter.
- Letter from Centre College (January 19, 1873)
- Letter from T.K. Boner to Henry B. Allen at an unidentified chapter discussing ordering badges and ribbons and the disinterest of Centre's members.
- Letter from Georgetown College (November 5, 1871)
- Letter asking a question about the constitution.
- Letter from University of Mississippi (April 6, 1872)
- Letter giving an update on the chapter.
- Letter from Georgetown College (November 14, 1873)
- Letter announcing the members had voted to disband the chapter.
- Letter from Centre College (November 15, 1874)
- Letter from Archie A. Gordon, Jr., resigning his membership in Centre's chapter.