Ten female students at Transylvania College in Lexington, Kentucky formed Alpha Theta, a local sorority.

[3] Despite these gains, Alpha Delta Theta had come into its flowering somewhat late when compared to the other established chapters on its campuses and thus faced several difficulties.

There was a massive wave of building projects sweeping through those same venerable campuses where Alpha Delta Theta was placing its chapters.

National officers and chapter alumnae were faced with the potential of complete loss, a prospect that had been unthinkable just five years prior.

"With some larger chapter houses that were unable to cope with the post-depression years and with the extensive campus building programs necessary to be competitive, its Grand Council decided to take an unprecedented step".

[5] In the summer of 1938, Alpha Delta Theta officers sought out a national organization with history, values, and ideals similar to their own: Phi Mu was ultimately chosen.

[6] After the 26th session of the National Panhellenic Conference in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, on November 4, 1939, ADT's NPC delegate Violet Young Gentry announced her organization's affiliation with Phi Mu fraternity.

[2][1][6] The local, Alpha Theta, used "Esse Non Videri" for the motto; the sweet pea for the flower; silver and turquoise blue for the colors.

[8] The pledge pin was "a vertical bar of silver, bearing the raised letters, Alpha Delta Theta, one above the other".

[7] College Fraternity Heraldry described the coat-of-arms as "argent; on a chief gules three keys of the first per fess, in base two palm branches saltirewise vert.

[2][1][10] To live each day as if it were the last: To lift each moment to its clearest height; To profit from the pages of the past That I may judge between the wrong and right; To hold my friends above my own desire, And take the heavy end of friendship's load, Yet blame them not if they perchance should tire, And choose a gentler path, a smoother road; To serve humanity as though 'twere God, And see the human in His face divine; To answer Truth's command and Beauty's nod, And make their splendid consummations mine; To dare to follow where I cannot lead- This is my Alpha Delta Theta creed!