Collection inventory

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Tau Kappa Epsilon (Syracuse University Chapter) Collection

An inventory of its collection at the Syracuse University Archives

Finding aid created by: Anna Smallwood
Date: 2016

Revision history:

Historical Note

Tau Kappa Epsilon resulted from two predecessor fraternities: Theta Alpha and Pi Alpha Chi. In 1909, a group of junior and sophomore students saw the need for a new social fraternity at Syracuse University, and they created the Alpha Chapter of Theta Alpha. Through the 1910s and 1920s, the local chapter branched out to other schools and created another three chapters nationally, but by the 1933, the Alpha Chapter at Syracuse University was the only one left. In the late 1930s the makeup of fraternity membership changed, leading to problems and eventually the removal of Theta Alpha's charter in 1939.

In 1936, a new fraternity, Pi Alpha Chi, was created. It was founded to provide an alternative to the expensive nationally affiliated fraternities already on campus. It was officially added to the Campus Inter-Fraternity Council in 1939 with special stipulations. The fraternity, to keep costs low, would not be required to pay council dues, but had to conduct their rushing after all other council members had conducted theirs. During World War II, as with most fraternities, Pi Alpha Chi suffered from a short period of inactivity. After coming back in 1946, the Pi Alpha Chi considered merging with another fraternity to gain more permanent housing and more stability. Theta Alpha alumni, eager to bring their own chapter back, wanted a local chapter to assume the brotherhood. Having a house at 111 College Place, Theta Alpha provided what Pi Alpha Chi was looking for. In 1947, the two groups merged, calling themselves Pi Alpha Chi of Theta Alpha.

In 1962, Pi Alpha Chi of Theta Alpha felt they could no longer provide members with the same opportunities that other nationally fraternities did at Syracuse University and after considering multiple national fraternities, they petitioned to become affiliated with Tau Kappa Epsilon. After becoming affiliated, pledges had to wear both Pi Alpha Chi of Theta Alpha and Tau Kappa Epsilon pins. In February of 1963, after a one-year probation period, they received their full charter becoming the Iota Zeta Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon. Past alumni of the local chapters were also eligible for Tau Kappa Epsilon membership.

Scope and Content Note

The Tau Kappa Epsilon (Syracuse University Chapter) Collection contains materials related to Theta Alpha, Pi Alpha Chi of Theta Alpha and Tau Kappa Epsilon that span from 1909 to 2009. The collection is divided into three series: Pi Alpha Chi of Theta Alpha, Tau Kappa Epsilon, and Theta Alpha.

The Pi Alpha Chi of Theta Alpha series contains publications, meeting minutes and other records related to its members and activities at Syracuse University. Included is information relating to their transition to Tau Kappa Epsilon.

The Tau Kappa Epsilon series consists of correspondence and publications related its activities as a national fraternity at Syracuse University.

The Theta Alpha series contains dance cards and materials related to the union of Theta Alpha and Pi Alpha Chi. Also in the collection are correspondence and other materials related to the Theta Alpha Fraternity Endowed Scholarship Fund, which began in 1973 with a $66,000 donation by Theta Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

The Archives holds additional materials relating to Theta Alpha, Tau Kappa Epsilon and their houses in the Clippings File and Photograph Collection.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Pi Alpha Chi.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.
Tau Kappa Epsilon.
Theta Alpha.

Subjects

Fraternities.
Greek letter societies.
Higher education.

Types of Material

Dance cards.
Photographs.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Tau Kappa Epsilon (Syracuse University Chapter) Collection,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Laurel Chapman donated collection materials to the Archives in 2000. Additionally, Ellen Lamb donated her father's Theta Alpha materials to the Archives in 2009.

Processing Information

Materials were placed in archival folders. Photographs were removed from photograph albums for preservation.

Arrangement

Materials are arranged in alphabetical order.

Table of Contents

Pi Alpha Chi of Theta Alpha

Tau Kappa Epsilon

Theta Alpha

Inventory