“Beta Theta Pi’s history is the story of a magnificent movement which, originating in the West, invaded the South, captured the East and in 1879, grasped undisputed leadership of the Greek fraternities.”

At nine o’clock on the evening of the eighth day of the eighth month of the year 1839, eight earnest young men, all students at Miami University, held the first meeting of Beta Theta Pi in the Hall of the Union Literary Society, an upper room in the old college building known as “Old Main”. The eight founders in the order in which their names appear in the minutes were:
John Reily Knox, 1839
Samuel Taylor Marshall, 1840
David Linton, 1839
James George Smith, 1840
Charles Henry Hardin, 1841
John Holt Duncan, 1840
Michael Clarkson Ryan, 1839
Thomas Boston Gordon, 1840
“of ever honored memory”

In 1839, when Beta Theta Pi was founded at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, the college fraternity world consisted of only 19 chapters of five secret Greek-letter fraternities, located on 10 college campuses in five states. The Mystic Seven Society had been organized in 1837 at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut and Delta Upsilon had been founded at Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts as a protest against secret societies.

Alpha Delta Phi on the Miami campus was the only fraternity represented in “the west” (of the 1830s), thus Beta Theta Pi became the sixth fraternity in order of founding and the first to originate west of the Allegheny Mountains. There is more significance to this fact than may appear. Beta Theta Pi, originating on the frontier, was in every sense a pioneer fraternity, with the enthusiasm, courage, hope, foresight and determination so characteristic of this untouched region. As the history of the Greek movement developed, Beta Theta Pi was the first fraternity to adopt a truly national point of view with a determination to be adequately represented in all sections of the U.S. and ultimately, now, throughout Canada as well.

This pioneer spirit has been one of Beta Theta Pi’s greatest sources of strength. From the outset, the founders thought in terms of a national fraternities. Article 8 of the original Constitution provided that “other branches of this association may be established at such places as may be thought suitable and prudent,” and one of the stated purposes of the organization was to promote friendly relations among members in different institutions. As a pioneer, too, Beta Theta Pi was the first to recognize the strength to come from chapters at state-supported institutions as compared with denominational and/or privately owned ones. The Beta chapters at Miami, Ohio and Indiana Universities and the University of Michigan were the first fraternities on the campuses of state institutions. The first chapter of the earlier fraternities to appear at a state university was Sigma Phi at University of Vermont in 1845.

In 34 instances, Beta Theta Pi has entered an institution as the first chapter of any fraternity. While Beta Theta Pi currently has some-140 chapters and colonies, it is projected that the number will increase to 175 by 2010.

Gamma Eta History

On November 2, 1912, Thomas Burke Floyd, Jr., 5 on the Gamma Eta Rolls, founded the colony of Alpha Pi Alpha. We were the tenth chapter on Georgia Tech’s campus. The first President of the new colony was Curtis Rand, and the first Vice President was Jamison C. Jones. Our chapter was granted its charter on September 6, 1916, by the 77th General Convention at the United States Hotel in Saratoga, New York. The chapter then became active on January 16, 1917, when thirty men were initiated. General Secretary, Francis W. Shepardson, presided over the ceremony. He was assisted by Vice President William L. Graves and District Chief Herbert A James. Alumni from Davidson, North Carolina, and Vanderbilt were in attendance.

The ceremony was held at the Ansley Hotel, which has since closed. The toastmaster of the ceremony was Dr. Dunbar a. Roy. Since its founding at Georgia Tech in 1917, our chapter has initiated over 1,700 men of all backgrounds, talents, and accomplishments. Many of our members serve as campus leaders, community volunteers, varsity athletes, and scholars from all fields of study. However, it is our common aim and strong friendships that have helped us to become the best chapter at Georgia Tech. In 34 instances, Beta Theta Pi has entered an institution with the first chapter of any fraternity. While Beta Theta Pi currently has some 140 chapters and colonies, it is projected that the number will increase to 175 by 2010.