Beta Phi Theta

Beta Phi Delta was a three-state regional American fraternity, established in 1917. It ceased operations in with four remaining chapters. Of these, three merged into other national fraternities.

History

Beta Phi Delta was founded at Milwaukee State Normal School in. It was an outgrowth of friendships that were developed among students in the Student Army Training Corps at the normal school during World War I. Its founders were William Armstrong, Roderick Bott, Sidney Foster, Harold Morgan, Milton Murray, and Winston Reineking.
By 1930, it had expanded to three chapters and around 200 members. The fraternity eventually chartered seven chapters, all in the Midwest states of Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois. It was governed by an national executive board that was based in Milwaukee. It also had a supreme high council that meet during the fraternity's annual convention.
A merger with similarly sized Alpha Delta Alpha was discussed in the 1930s, but was not consummated. Beta Phi Theta national was dissolved in, with four chapters remaining active at as local fraternities. The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee chapter operated as a local fraternity for a decade, before becoming a chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon in 1958. Within a year of dissolution of Beta Phi Theta, its Bradley University chapter became a chapter of Theta Xi. The Tri-State chapter held on until 1969 as Beta Phi Theta, when it became a chapter of Delta Chi.

Symbols

The badge of Beta Phi Theta was an eight-sided shield, the major sides of which curved inward. On a field of black enamel were displayed the Greek letters ΒΦΘ, ordered vertically, in gold. This field was surrounded by pearls.
The fraternity also had a pledge pin that was green oval with a gold bar, crossed at an angle. Its colors were green and white. Its flower was the daisy. Its publication was The Helmet.

Chapters

Following are the chapters of Beta Phi Theta, with inactive chapters listed in italics.

Chapter	Charter date and range	Institution	Location	Status
Alpha	– 1958	University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	Withdrew
Beta	1925–1931	Marquette University	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	Inactive
Gamma	1925–1930	University of Wisconsin–Madison	Madison, Wisconsin	Inactive
Delta	1926–1948	Bradley University	Peoria, Illinois	Withdrew
Epsilon	1929–1969	Trine University	Angola, Indiana	Withdrew,
Zeta	1930–1932	University of Illinois	Champaign and Urbana, Illinois	Inactive
Theta	1948–1948	University of Wisconsin-Racine	Somers, Wisconsin	Inactive