Unlike most fraternities, however, Lambda Chi Alpha began as a dream of one man, Warren Alber Cole. He was born in Swansea, Massachusetts, and attended high school at Taunton and Fall River. While in high school, he was involved with a preparatory fraternity. He entered Brown University for a few weeks, but eventually matriculated to Boston University's Law School in the fall of 1909.

One of his earliest ventures of starting a fraternity took place at a meeting of his first cousin and a more distant relative on November 2, 1909. The date was later selected as the first formal step in Lambda Chi Alpha, but in later years, Cole said that the date had little significance.

He was a young man of pleasing personality, ordinary means, limited experience, and no unusual talents except a dogged determination to found an international college fraternity. It is hard to believe that all alone he deliberately set out to challenge the prestigious fraternity world which already boasted 46 strong, well-established organizations. His unquestioning faith in himself and unwavering belief in his mission are the only explanations for his remarkable achievement.

Cole first made some unsuccessful attempts at starting a fraternity, about which we know little more than names: "The Lodge," "Tombs," "Lambda Pi," then it was Lambda Chi Alpha- "Loyal Collegiate Associates," until a new meaning was adopted in 1913.

Cole boldly approached many local groups at colleges and universities throughout the Northeast in hopes of finding others willing to join his new fraternity. Before the acquisition of Lambda Chi Alpha's first functioning chapter, Cole had corresponded with or visited 117 institutions.

Early in 1912, Warren Cole, as was his custom in attempting to establish a chapter at a school, wrote to a student at Massachusetts Agricultural College (MAC) in Amherst (now the University of Massachusetts) asking the names of the Greek-letter fraternities on campus and the names of at least two "good, non-fraternity men." Herbert E. Cole responded with the names of six Greek-letter groups and two names, including that of Lewis Drury. Warren Cole wrote to Drury asking if he was interested in forming a Greek-letter society. Apparently Drury was quite interested, as he had his agronomy professor write a letter of recommendation to Warren Cole.

The MAC petition was duly submitted and quickly approved-after all, it was Cole's first success in attracting a group after more than one-hundred futile efforts. Lambda Chi Alpha's first established chapter, Gamma Zeta, was born.

1909 - Warren A. Cole and two other law students found Alpha Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha at Boston University.

1910 - First Ritualistic initiation is conducted.

1912 - Lambda Chi Alpha becomes a national fraternity.

1913 (March 22) - The Second General Assembly proclaimed the ideals of Lambda Chi Alpha by adopting the Fraternities secret mottos and approving revisions to the Initiation Ritual, coat of arms and badge.

1924 - Delegates from 11 local societies convened at Springfield, Missouri, and formed Theta Kappa Nu. Lambda Chi Alpha becomes incorporated.

1927 - Lambda Chi Alpha becomes an international fraternity with the installation of Epsilon-Epsilon at the University of Toronto.

1928 - The practice of hazing is roundly condemned by Lambda Chi Alpha at an NIC meeting.

1939 -The union of Theta Kappa Nu and Lambda Chi Alpha increases the chapter roll from 77 to 105 and the membership from 20,000 to 27,000; becoming the largest merger in fraternity history.

1957 - Founding Father, Warren A. Cole is reinstated as a member in good standing.

1967 - Lambda Chi Alpha initiates its 100,000th member, the fifth fraternity to do so.

1972 - The term "associate member" replaces the term "pledge" in Lambda Chi Alpha.

1991 - Lambda Chi Alpha initiates its 200,000th member, the third fraternity to do so.