From Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities 15th Edition (1949) page 315

Phi Iota Alpha, A fraternity for Latin-American students traces its origins back to 1898 when there appeared on a number of campuses groups of Latin-American students which were organized for social and cultural activities. The various local clubs merged into a national organization under the name of Union Hispano-Americana. In 1904 it became known as Sociedad Hispano- Americana.

The movement to form the first Latin-American fraternity originated in the southern states in 1912 under the name of Sigma Iota. In the North the first move was made by a group of students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, when in 1919 the local Phi Lambda Alpha was founded. In 1921 this fraternity became international with chapters in several Latin-American countries.

Phi Lambda Alpha and Sigma Iota decided to unite in forming one fraternity since their ideals were the same. To this end they held a convention in 1931 and formed a new fraternity Phi Iota Alpha. Its principal object is to work diligently to obtain as asoon as possible a federal union of the twenty-one Latin American countries

At present there are six active chapters--Alpha, Louisiana State University; Beta, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Eta, Loyola (New Orleans); Delta, Tulane University; Iota, Tri-State University, and Pi, University of Michigan. In addition there are two zones, one named Phi Sigma Alpha at Santurce, Puesrto Rico, and the other Phi Kappa Alpha at Havana. Its total membership is over 800.