Alpha Phi Gamma () was an American honor society for journalism. It was founded in 1919 at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. It merged with Pi Delta Epsilon to form the Society for Collegiate Journalists in 1975.

History Alpha Phi Gamma was originally called Phi Alpha Gamma. Phi Alpha Gamma was founded on December 11, 1919, at Ohio Northern University in lda, Ohio. It was conceived by faculty member H.B. Focht to support the campus newspaper because there was no journalism class at the time. Its founders were Focht, Tom B. Haber, R.S. Lyman, Lloyd W. Reese, and Fred C. Slager. Lyman was its first president.

In 1923, the group held a convention to discuss forming a national organization. Delegates from six other Ohio colleges attended and were granted charters. At this meeting, the group changed its name to Alpha Phi Gamma because there was already a national fraternity called Phi Alpha Gamma. Also at this meeting, the society became coed with the initiation of Mildred Hullinger, its first female member.

Member Edward Steinberg created the ritual and key for Alpha Phi Gamma. Georgia Russell designed the society's certificate.

In early 1929, Alpha Phi Gamma began merger discussions with Omega Xi Alpha, a California journalism honor fraternity. The two officially merged with the opening of the fall 1929 semester. The merger was followed by changes to the Alpha Phi Gamma constitution and rituals. Omega Xi Alpha had seven chapters—six of which joined Alpha Phi Gamma as its western division. The newly formed eastern administrative division consisted of the states east of the Mississippi River. It absorbed Iota Tau, a local honorary at the College of Puget Sound in February 1931.

After the society's activity came to a standstill during World War II, Gil A. Cowan of the Los Angeles Examiner was responsible for its revival and post-war growth. In 1949, Cowan was named president emeritus. In the spring of 1957, Alpha Phi Gamma absorbed Alpha Delta, a journalistic recognition society.

On June 1, 1975, Alpha Phi Gamma merged with Pi Delta Epsilon to form the Society for Collegiate Journalists (SCJ).

Beta Phi Gamma

Beta Phi Gamma was established in December 1, 1933 at an Alpha Phi Gamma national conference in San Bernardino, California. It was created as a national coeducational fraternity and honor society for journalism at two-year colleges and was an affiliate of Alpha Phi Gamma.The Oak (yearbook) . Louisburg College, 1941. p. 31. I

Symbols Alpha Phi Gamma's badge was designed by member Edward Steinberg. It was a rectangular key with the three Greek letters "" diagonally from upper left to lower right, three stars in the upper right, and an inkwell in the lower left. Its coat of arms included three wreaths, quill-surmounted inkwells, and a secretary bird at the crest. The pledge emblem was a white bridge emblem with Alpha Phi Gamma inscribed in black.

The society's colors were black and white. Its flower was the white carnation. Its publication was called Black and White.

Chapters

Officers The presidents of Alpha Phi Gamma were:Past Directors – Society for Collegiate Journalists 1923–1926 – Charles McCorkhill, Ohio Northern University 1926–1927 – George McNamara, Ohio Northern University 1927–1928 – Ralph L. Ropp, Ohio Northern University 1928–1929 – Maxwell P. Boggs, Muskingum University 1929–1930 – Richard P. Overmyer, Ohio Northern University 1930–1933 – Russell H. Fitzgibbon, Hanover College 1933–1936 – John Allan Smith, University of California, Santa Barbara 1937–1939 – Richard P. Overmyer, Ohio Northern University 1940–1942 – Erwin W. Bischoll, San Francisco State University 1942–1943 – Lawrence J. Freeman, Ohio Northern University 1945–1947 – Gil A. Cowan, Southwestern College (Los Angeles) 1948 – Paul S. Conklin, Hanover College 1949 – Gilbert L. Brown, University of Redlands 1950–1951 – J. Paul Boushelle, New Mexico State University 1952 – Ira G. Hawk, Wilmington College (Ohio) 1953–1954 – Paul V. Sheehan, Fresno State University 1954–1955 – Lloyd Ritter, Occidental College 1955–1956 – Clyde Parker, Sacramento State University 1956–1957 – Louis E. Ingelhart, Ball State University 1957–1958 – John H. Duke, Fresno State University 1958–1959 – Frank S. Basker, Hanover College 1959–1960 – Wilfred P. James, California State University at Long Beach 1960–1961 – John A. Boyd, Indiana State University 1961–1962 – Leo V. Young, San Francisco State University 1962–1964 – J. William Click, Central Michigan University 1964–1965 – Erling H. Erlandson, California State University at Northridge 1965–1967 – Arthur H. Margosian, Fresno State University 1967–1969 – Ira L. Baker, High Point College 1969–1971 – Marilyn A. Walker, Taylor University 1971–1975 – Glen A. W. Kleine, Eastern Kentucky University

National conventions Following is a list of the National Conventions for Alpha Phi Gamma. Alpha Phi Gamma stopped having National Conventions after 1954. 1923 – Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio 1924 – University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 1926 – Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio 1927 – Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio 1928 – University of Akron, Ohio, Ohio 1929 – Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana 1930 – Albion College, Albion, Michigan 1933 – University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 1946 – Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana 1948 – University of Redlands, Redlands, California 1949 – Moorhead State University, Moorhead, Minnesota 1954 – Fresno State University, Fresno, California

Notable members Ralph L. Ropp, 11th president of Louisiana Tech University

References