A Brief History of Alpha Kappa Delta

Building an International Society

From its earliest years, AKD’s vision extended beyond the United States. Around 1930, Yenching University in Beijing, China, became the Society’s first foreign affiliate. Several faculty members at Yenching had connections to American universities, and some were former students of Bogardus. Bogardus personally visited the university in 1937 and remained interested in the development of its chapter.

International growth would continue over the decades, eventually extending AKD’s presence to countries including Canada, China, Finland, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Singapore. This international development reflected the Society’s belief that the study of society transcends national boundaries and that sociological scholarship benefits from the exchange of ideas across institutions and cultures.

The Early Years

During the 1930s and 1940s, as sociology programs expanded, AKD leaders worked to establish new chapters and strengthen the Society’s scholarly community. Among those who played important leadership roles during this period were Kimball Young, Reed Bain, and L. L. Bernard.

The Society’s history also reflects the broader social and institutional challenges of the period. In 1938, Fisk University, a historically Black university in Tennessee, requested an AKD charter. Although Fisk met the Society’s established requirements, the Executive Committee debated the potential response from universities in the South at a time when racial segregation and discrimination profoundly affected American higher education. After considerable discussion, AKD ultimately granted Fisk University its charter in 1945, making it the Alpha chapter for Tennessee.

World War II presented another significant challenge. Like many academic organizations, AKD experienced declining membership and reduced participation during the war. Meetings became difficult to conduct, and the Society did not hold its annual meeting in 1942. No officers were elected during this period, and AKD entered a period of limited activity.

L. L. Bernard, who had served as president since 1936, helped guide the Society through these difficult years. Bogardus returned to the presidency in 1946, helping restore continuity and momentum. By 1948, when A. B. Hollingshead of Yale University became president, AKD had regained much of its earlier activity.

Bogardus remained an important figure in the Society throughout his life. He served as president three times, including consecutive terms from 1924–1926 and 1926–1928 and another term from 1946–1948. In 1928, he founded The Quarterly, AKD’s newsletter, serving as its editor through 1932. At the Society’s 25th anniversary in 1949, AKD had grown to 43 chapters.

In 1960, during AKD’s 40th anniversary, Bogardus was honored with a plaque recognizing his service as the Society’s founder and first president. He died in 1973 after a distinguished academic career. He is particularly well known for developing the Bogardus Social Distance Scale and authored hundreds of articles and more than 24 books.

A Tradition of Promoting Scholarship

From its beginning, publication has been an important part of AKD’s mission to stimulate scholarship in sociology. The Quarterly, established by Bogardus in 1928, served both as a source of information about the Society and as a forum for scholarly exchange. The publication briefly became the Newsletter before returning to the name The Quarterly in 1936.

In 1955, after 24 volumes, The Quarterly became The Alpha Kappa Deltan: A Sociological Journal. Published twice a year, the publication had grown considerably from its original four-page format. A separate AKD newsletter, established in 1954, provided information about chapters and Society activities.

In 1960, The Alpha Kappa Deltan became Sociological Inquiry: The Quarterly Journal of the International Sociology Honor Society. The journal continued AKD’s longstanding commitment to scholarly publication and became an important venue for sociological research. Over the years, many prominent sociologists have contributed to its pages.

Today, Sociological Inquiry continues this tradition as AKD’s peer-reviewed quarterly journal, providing a forum for sociological scholarship and contributing to the broader dissemination of research in the discipline.

Recognizing Excellence in Sociology

Academic recognition has always been central to AKD’s identity as an honor society. From the earliest years, membership requirements reflected a commitment to academic achievement in sociology.

In the 1930s, undergraduate students were required to maintain approximately a B+ average in at least 12 hours of sociology coursework and a B average overall. As sociology programs and higher education have evolved, AKD’s eligibility standards have evolved as well while maintaining an emphasis on academic excellence and engagement with the discipline.

The Society recognizes undergraduate and graduate students who meet its standards for achievement in sociology. Membership provides students with more than recognition of their academic accomplishments; it connects them with a larger community of sociologists and creates opportunities for continued engagement with the discipline.

Supporting Students and Chapters

Throughout its history, AKD has sought to turn recognition into meaningful opportunities for scholarly engagement. The Society supports students who present their research at regional sociology meetings, provides research and travel support, sponsors student paper competitions and awards, and provides funding for chapter programs and guest speakers.

Chapters have also remained an essential part of AKD’s identity. A chapter represents a connection between the Society and a college or university’s sociology program, providing students and faculty with opportunities to develop scholarly and professional relationships within their local academic community.

Through chapter activities, students may participate in research presentations, guest lectures, service activities, professional development, and other programs that extend their sociological education beyond the classroom.

AKD and the Sociology Profession

As sociology expanded throughout the second half of the twentieth century, so did the breadth of AKD’s community. The discipline developed new areas of research, methodologies, theoretical perspectives, and applications, and AKD’s chapters and programs evolved alongside it.

In 1967, AKD became affiliated with the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS), strengthening its identity as an academic honor society and connecting it with other organizations committed to academic excellence and sound organizational standards. AKD is also affiliated with the American Sociological Association (ASA), further connecting the Society to the broader sociological community.

These affiliations complement AKD’s longstanding role as an organization focused specifically on recognizing and supporting excellence in sociology.

More Than a Century of Growth

Over the course of more than a century, Alpha Kappa Delta has grown from a small group of 14 faculty members and graduate students at the University of Southern California into an international community of students, faculty, and scholars.

The Society has chartered hundreds of chapters and inducted more than 160,000 lifetime members. Thousands of students continue to join AKD each year, extending a tradition of scholarly recognition that began with Bogardus in 1920.

While the size and scope of the Society have changed dramatically, the fundamental purpose of AKD has remained remarkably consistent. The organization continues to recognize academic excellence, encourage scholarship and research, support chapters and students, and provide opportunities for members to engage with sociology and one another.

AKD Today

Today, Alpha Kappa Delta remains committed to the principles established by its founder more than 100 years ago. As the International Sociology Honor Society, AKD recognizes excellence in the study of sociology while creating opportunities for members to conduct research, share knowledge, develop professionally, support their chapters, and contribute to their communities.

The Society’s programs have expanded considerably since its founding. Student research and travel support, awards and grants, chapter programming, educational opportunities, and Sociological Inquiry all contribute to AKD’s continuing mission. As a lifetime honor society, AKD also provides members with an enduring connection to the sociological community beyond their undergraduate or graduate education.

The questions sociology asks have changed and expanded over the past century, just as society itself has changed. Yet the fundamental value of understanding people, communities, institutions, and social relationships remains as important as ever.

From the 14 scholars who gathered with Emory S. Bogardus in 1920 to the thousands of students and scholars who participate in AKD today, the Society continues to build a community around scholarship, research, and service.

More than 100 years later, Alpha Kappa Delta remains dedicated to the principle expressed in its Greek motto:

Anthropon Katamanthanein Diakonesein — “to investigate humanity for the purpose of service.”