The Adelphian Society was a college literary society established in 1840 at the Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution (now Colgate University) in Hamilton, New York.
The Aldelphian Society was organized on October 31, 1840 at the Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution (later called Hamilton College, Madison University, and now Colgate University).
[1] The society was formed by 31 men led by its first president, Orrin Bishop Judd.
[3] The purpose of the Aldelphian Society was to “progress in literary attainments and cultivation among all the members of an undecaying friendship.
[3] This activity resulted in faculty approval as the group "stimulated the development of oral and written expression, which were phases of the curriculum badly in need of expansion.”[3] On December 10, 1880, the Adelphian Society became the Beta Theta chapter of the national Beta Theta Pi fraternity.