Beta Kappa

Beta Kappa (ΒΚ) was a Social Fraternity founded at Hamline University in 1901 and which merged with Theta Chi in 1942.

Development

Beta Kappa was formed at Hamline University on October 15, 1901 where it continued as a local fraternity for twenty-one years. In 1922, Beta chapter at the University of Washington was formed, and in quick succession it established over 40 chapters with a total membership of over 5,000.[1][2]

Founders honored by the fraternity are

Traditions and Heritage

The fraternity magazine was The Journal of Beta Kappa [4]

The Fraternity's colors were Purple and Gold. Its flower was the Red Templar Rose. The badge was in the shape of a diamond in black enamel, longer from top to bottom, with 24 pearls on its perimeter. It held a small, white circular disk in the center, on this a coiled serpent above a lamp and below were two crossed swords. On the sides of the disk were the Greek letters Β and Κ. The fraternity had been a member of the NIC.

Merger

During the height of WWII the fraternity merged with Theta Chi, with the exception of its Georgia Tech chapter, which became the Beta Kappa chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha that same year. The mother chapter at Hamline University was granted the chapter name, Beta Kappa chapter to honor its rank as a former Alpha chapter.

Chapter List

The chapters of Beta Kappa were:[5]

(with date of chartering, designation, school name, date of inactivity, in parentheses if known, and number of brothers)
  • 1901. Alpha, Hamline University 374
  • 1922. Beta, University of Washington (1936) 143
  • 1923. Gamma, Nebraska Wesleyan University (1933) 122
  • 1924. Delta, University of California (1932) 1ll
  • 1925. Epsilon, Middlebury College 183 [6]
  • 1925. Zeta, University of Cincinnati 243
  • 1925. Eta, Bucknell University (1934) 120
  • 1925. Theta, Tufts University (1934) 123
  • 1925. Iota, University of Nevada 175
  • 1925. Kappa, University of Illinois 244
  • 1926. Lambda, Oregon State College 160
  • 1926. Mu, University of Wisconsin (1931) 55
  • 1926. Nu, Miami University (1934) 100
  • 1926. Xi, Allegheny College 148
  • 1926. Omicron, University of Maine (1935) 91
  • 1926. Pi, Monmouth College 246
  • 1926. Rho, Illinois Wesleyan University 245
  • 1927. Sigma, Alabama Polytechnic Institute 133
  • 1927. Tau, Penn State College 137
  • 1927. Upsilon, Denver University (1937) 80
  • 1927. Phi, Boston University (1934) 96
  • 1927. Chi, University of Virginia (1933) 58
  • 1927. Psi, Birmingham-Southern College 109
  • 1928. Omega, University of Pennsylvania (1935) 101
  • 1928. Alpha Alpha, Ohio State University (1935) 76
  • 1928. Alpha Beta, Wabash College (1933) 58
  • 1929. Alpha Gamma, Georgia School of Technology 143 [7]
  • 1929. Alpha Delta, Mississippi State College 144
  • 1929. Alpha Epsilon, University of Arizona (1937) 92
  • 1929. Alpha Zeta, University of Chattanooga 95
  • 1930. Alpha Eta, Presbyterian College 55 [8]
  • 1930. Alpha Theta, University of Southern California 98
  • 1930. Alpha Iota, Denison University 93
  • 1930. Alpha Kappa. Utah State College 125
  • 1930. Alpha Lambda, University of Florida (1935) 71
  • 1931. Alpha Mu. Furman University 78
  • 1931. Alpha Nu, Case School of Applied Science 117
  • 1932. Alpha Xi, University of Utah (1932) 6
  • 1933. Alpha Omicron, Hamilton College (1936) 40
  • 1934. Alpha Pi, Cornell University (1936) 56 [6]
  • 1934. Alpha Rho, Western State College 68
  • 1934. Alpha Sigma, Lehigh University 70
  • 1935. Alpha Tau, University of Akron 141
  • 1935. Alpha Upsilon, Fresno State College 63
  • 1936. Alpha Phi, Michigan State College 94
  • 1938. Alpha Chi, Kansas State College 43
  • 1938. Alpha Psi, Susquehanna University 36

References
  1. Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VIII–4–5. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  2. "The Rattle of Theta Chi". Vol. 30 no. 5. Theta Chi Fraternity Inc. April–May 1942. pp. 42–. UOM:39015006968690. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  3. Billy Graham Center -Ephemera of Daniel Paul Rader - Collection 38
  4. Beta Kappa chapter of Theta Chi
  5. William Raimond Baird (1957). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. G. Banta Company. p. 84.
  6. A group of brothers from the Cornell chapter of Beta Psi fraternity joined Beta Kappa upon dissolution of their former national in 1934. Similarly, at least one member of Middlebury's chapter of Beta Psi joined Beta Kappa on their campus that same year.
  7. Became the Beta Kappa Zeta chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity in 1942, per Baird's 20th ed.
  8. Formerly the Epsilon chapter of Chi Tau fraternity, dating to 1924.
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