association first must exclude that jealousy and angry competition and secondly must be built on a more comprehensive scale providing for every variety of taste and talent, and thirdly it must be national and universal in its adaptations so as not merely to cultivate a taste for literature or furnish the mind with knowledge; but with a true philosophical spirit looking to the entire man so as to develop his whole being,—moral, social and intellectual."
The attempt to establish a chapter of ΚΑ at Hamilton in 1830 and the establishment of a chapter of ΣΦ there in 1831 probably suggested to Mr. Eells some of the details in the development of his plan.
The fraternity was rapidly extended, the first chapters being established either by the founders of the parent chapter, or those closely associated with them. It was the pioneer fraternity in eleven colleges and the second or third in eight others. As it sought students of decided literary tastes, it soon acquired a distinctive literary character, which it has in a great measure retained.
The chapter roll is as follows, the chapters usually being named after the college in which they are located:
| 1832. Hamilton, Hamilton College | 540 | |
| 1833. Miami, Miami University (1873) | 201 | |
| 1835. [1]Urban, University of the City of N.Y. (1839) | 25 | |
| 1836. Columbia, Columbia University | 337 | |
| 1836. Yale, Yale University | 1713 | |
| 1836. Amherst, Amherst College | 828 | |
| 1836. Brunonian, Brown University | 526 | |
- ↑ This institution is now called New York University
