Theta Chi

Theta Chi (ΘΧ) is an international college fraternity for men. It was founded on April 10, 1856 as the Theta Chi Society, at Norwich University, Norwich, Vermont, US, and was the first Greek Letter society to make its appearance at the university.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Founding and early years at Norwich

Theta Chi Fraternity was founded on Thursday, April 10, 1856 at 9:00 pm in the Old South Barracks on the campus of Norwich University in Norwich, Vermont, by two military cadets, Frederick Norton Freeman and Arthur Chase. A third man, Egbert Phelps, is considered to be the "assistant founder" for lending his help and advice to Freeman and Chase although he was never an undergraduate member himself. The first pledges were Edward Bancroft Williston, Lorenzo Potter and Frederick Howard Farrar. The early history of Theta Chi Fraternity is closely connected with the history of Norwich University. In 1866 a massive fire devastated the university, completely destroying the Old South Barracks. Many of the fraternity's early records and relics were lost at this time. This disaster also prompted the university to move from Norwich, Vermont to its present location in Northfield, Vermont. During fall quarter in 1881, Norwich University was reduced to only 15 students and Theta Chi membership was reduced to one undergraduate member, James M. Holland. In November of that year, two more cadets were initiated, thus saving the fraternity from extinction.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Merger and expansion

The fraternity was incorporated in Vermont in 1888, and acquired its first chapter house two years later. However, it remained a single entity for forty-six years until the Beta Chapter was installed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1902. A Grand Chapter was organized in 1908 to direct the fraternity and promote its growth. In 1942, Beta Kappa Fraternity joined Theta Chi Fraternity, bringing 16 undergraduate chapters and approximately 6,000 undergraduate and alumnus members into the ranks. The Foundation Chapter was established in 1953 as a charity to provide educational scholarships and assistance. In 1965, the Zeta Gamma Chapter was installed at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, making Theta Chi an International Fraternity.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

College fraternity: REDIRECT Fraternity...

1856: 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar)....

Norwich, Vermont: Norwich is located in the state of Vermont, United States of America, along the Connecticut River opposite Hanover, New Hampshire. The town is located in Windsor County, Vermont. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 3,544....

Theta Chi related Images and Photos (experimental)

Chi Va Pian	Li Chi Wa I	Yin Chi Yang Chats	Tai Chi Kihei Hawaii USA
Delta Sigma Theta Always a Lady	Lovers at Chi Tou	Togainu no Chi Akira Statue	Togainu no Chi Shiki Statue
Togainu no Chi Akira Damaged Version Statue	Weeds Andy's Chi Achiever T-Shirt	Togainu No Chi Lamento One Coin Mini-Figure Display Box	Togainu No Chi Lamento One Coin Mini-Figure Display Box