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. In addition, the Mystic Seven Society had been organized in 1837 at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., and Delta Upsilon had been founded at Williams College, Williamstown, Mass., 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 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.


Beta Firsts

  • First college fraternity founded west of the Allegheny Mountains (August 8, 1839)
  • First and oldest continuously published college fraternity magazine (1872)
  • First college fraternity to publish an open constitution for public distribution (1879)
  • First fraternity in 13 states — more than any other frater nity.
  • First fraternity established on more than 35 campuses — more than any other fraternity
  • First fraternity to establish a chapter west of the Mississippi River (1866)
  • First fraternity to adopt an expansion view
  • First to break into districts for administrative purposes (1873)
  • First fraternity to have general officers (1872)
  • First fraternity to create alumni chapters (1867)
  • First fraternity to have a General Convention and one of few to have annual Conventions
  • First to host an interfraternity event and meeting
  • First to require chapters to keep informed about each other
  • First fraternity to adopt a 2.5 minimum GPA for a chapter (1984)
  • First fraternity to adopt a 2.5 minimum GPA for each member (1997)
Other Facts
  • A leader among college fraternities with members listed in Who’s Who in America and Canadian Who’s Who — more than any other fraternity
  • There was a Beta on the Supreme Court from 1877 to 1975, including the late Justice William O. Douglas, Whitman ’20. In 1911 ther e wer e four members who were Betas. Between 1881-1889 three members of the court were Betas.
  • More than 80 Rhodes Scholars — more than any other fraternity
  • More than 197 have been members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives - more than any other fraternity
  • Twenty-three states have had a Betas Governor
  • Six Betas have won the Medal of Honor
  • Nearly 165,000 initiated members; almost 114,000 living members; approximately 6,200 undergraduate members on 141 campuses in the United States and Canada
  • 100 alumni associations in cities throughout the United States and Canada
  • Beta Theta Pi Leadership-Scholarship Awards total more than $90,000 annually for under-graduates and graduate members