   the kappa alpha society (ÎÎ), founded in 1825, was the progenitor of the modern fraternity system in north america. it was the first of the fraternities which would eventually become known as the union triad. in addition, baird's manual states that ÎÎ, unlike other fraternities with claims to the contrary, has maintained a continuous existence since its foundation, making it the oldest undergraduate fraternity that exists today. as of 2012, there are nine active chapters in the united states and canada. ==history== according to baird's manual, nine undergraduates at union college in schenectady, new yorkâjohn hart hunter, john mcgeoch, isaac w. jackson, thomas hun, orlando meads, james proudfit, and joseph anthony constant of the class of 1826, and arthur burtis and joseph law of the class of 1827âestablished the society on november 26, 1825 from an informal group calling itself the philosophers, which was established by hunter, jackson, and hun in 1823. the organization represents the middle link between secret societies, literary societies, and greek-letter organizations like phi beta kappa. in the words of founding member arthur burtis: {{cquote|after we were domiciled in our upper chamber, in the fourth story of the south section---south college---northeast corner... we now and then beguiled the long winter evenings and entertained our friends with a few baked potatoes and salt and comforted them with apples. jackson, hun, meads, constant, and mcgeoch were often the genial sharers of our simple meal, which was enlivened with mirth and wit and merry song.... it was determined to raise hunter to an elevated seat on the woodpile, which stood in the corner of the room. when he was exalted to his high eminence, with his pipe in his mouth, he became the leader of this little band. whereupon i suggested it would be right for us to get our light from this central luminary and that i would carry it to
Fraternities_and_sororities International_student_societies North-American_Interfraternity_Conference Organizations_established_in_1825 Student_societies_in_the_United_States Union_College_(New_York)