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The Brotherhood : Philanthropy : National History : Local History

• Before becoming Theta Chi, Omega chapter was a local fraternity called Phi Tau Alpha.
• Omega chapter house was built in 1931.

 

Table of Contents
Chapter I: Story On the Northeast Club
Chapter II: Phi Tau Alpha Era
Chapter III: The Start of Omega Chapter

Chapter I: Story On the Northeast Club
By: Ellwood B. Cassel '19

Until April 6, 1918 the organization, which, within a year, was to be installed as Omega Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity, was known as the Northeast Club of the Pennsylvania State College. Membership in this club was restricted to those students enrolled at Penn State who had attended the Northeast High School in Philadelphia.

The birth of Omega Chapter and of its parent, Phi Tau Alpha, was each attended by appropriate ceremonies and formal announcement. The Northeast Club had more modest beginnings. Although the first minutes are dated May 31, 1915, its origin predates any organized meeting. It was born of an intangible something called “Northern Spirit” – a loyalty to one’s school and a natural brotherhood of an alien group with common home interests. Without doubt, this school spirit was merely the outward manifestation of love and respect for the man how typified the school: Doctor Andrew J. Morrison, principal for many years whose “boys” always sensed his warm personal interest in their welfare. He was one of the old type educators who exerted a powerful influence for good on those who came in contact with him.

It had become a custom for a number of years for graduates of Northeast High School attending Penn State to return during Christmas and Easter holidays for the purpose of visiting Doctor Harrison and others on the faculty and also to interest seniors in the Center County Institution. These pilgrimages, together with occasional informal gatherings on and near campus, such as smokers, cider feeds and annual football contests against a similar group from West Philadelphia High School, resulted in a desire to form a closer tie of fellowship.

It is not possible to give any one-person credit for being the founder of the Northeast Club, for the club was the idea of a group rather than an individual. However, all credit is due these men who composed this group and who included Emil R. Olbrich '15, Carl A. Bartle '16, Norman C. Horner '16, John A. Irwin '16, Albert H. Mainwaring '16, Alfred R. Bechtel '16 and others, for their solid method of organization and their high ideals which made the future secure.

In the spring of 1915 steps were taken to form a coherent organization and to rent a clubhouse. Signatures were obtained in May from thirteen men pledging support for the year 1915-1916. Of this number only five signified intention for taking room and meals at the clubhouse. One pledged to take a room only, two to take meals only and others, merely non-resident membership. In spite of this apparent uncertainty, a three-year’s lease was signed with Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson on May 31, 1915 for a house which would be erected at the northeast corner of Allen Street and Foster Avenue. This building was to be three stories in height with eight bedrooms of variable sizes in the two upper floors. This house remained the home of the Northeast Club, of Phi Tau Alpha and of Omega Chapter of Theta Chi until the close of College in June 1929.

The badge was of distinctive design and very attractive. The N.E. was in red on a black background, the club colors, and the pin was set with twelve half pearls. John A. Irwin '16 and Francis J. Doan '19 designed it.

The coat of arms of the Northeast Club was an adoption of the seal of the Northeast High School. The keystone was black and the N.E. in red. The date, 1914 was used because first step towards organization of the club began in that year.

The pledge pin was red and black.

In the minutes of October 22, 1917 mention was made of a probable desirability of changing the Northeast Club to an unrestricted Greek letter fraternity. A week later a committee consisting of George W. Chapman '20, Francis J. Doan '19 and Roberts P. Stevens '18 was appointed to investigate and report on reasons for changing the Northeast Club to an unrestricted local fraternity. This report, presented to the club at the meeting held on November 5, 1917 was as follows:

This committee finds that it is altogether feasible, and at this time extremely desirable to convert the Northeast Club, from a limited and discriminating preparatory school fraternity, into either a Greek letter non restrictive local or a similar local with a non Greek title.

The facts from which this conclusion is drawn can be stated as follows:
1. Because of the location of the Northeast High School there must come a time when the number and quality of the graduates of said school who make Penn State their Alma Mater will become such that the club can not exist as a fraternity with a clubhouse.
2. Because of the limited number of Northeast men coming to Penn State practically all must be admitted into the brotherhood regardless of their ability to be congenial, morally, mentally or socially with other members.
3. Rather than wait until necessity compels us to make this change, perhaps under adverse conditions, it seems more logical is every way to accomplish it now, when haste and confusion may be avoided and the changes stand some chance of becoming permanent.
4. Besides these considerations there might be mentioned the broader aspect of a fraternity containing men from more than one restricted district, the fact that if we expect to grow and ever get into larger and more satisfactory clubhouse we must take this step and that present war conditions threaten to lower our membership to a great degree.

To take the step suggested the following things must be considered and changed or regulated.
1. Name of fraternity
2. Constitution and By Laws
3. Ritual
4. Insignia
5. Charter

The report was accepted as read and a motion made and passed to make preparations for changing the Northeast Club to an unrestricted local Greek letter fraternity.

The actual vote on changing the Northeast Club was taken at the meeting held on March 19, 1917 and showed eighteen members in favor of the change, two opposed and two declining to vote. The motion was passed.

Succeeding meetings were devoted largely to business pertaining to preparation for the installation of Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity, the name chosen from four submitted by the Investigation Committee. A Constitutional Committee consisting of George W. Chapman '20, Raymond B. Poeppel '20, Milton J. Gemberling and Clifford E. Beaven '21 wrote the new Constitution and By-Laws and a Ritual Committee consisting of Poeppel, Cassel and Segl wrote and prepared the Ritual. The so-called Investigation Committee of George W. Chapman '20, Francis J. Doan '19 and Robert P. Stevens '18 assisted these two committees. The Design for the Phi Tau Alpha pin was chosen, as was the design for the Coat of Arms.

Early in the spring of 1918 the Northeast Club submitted the following petition to the College Authorities.

We, the members of the Northeast Club, do herby petition the college authorities for recognition as the Phi Tau Alpha fraternity in the form of a charter, believing that in this manner the most amicable and beneficial relations can be sustained between the college and ourselves.

In support of our plea, we might mention that the organization was established as the Northeast Club fraternity in 1914 by Emil R. J. Olbrich '15, Carl A, Bartle '16, Alfred R. Bechtel '16, Norman C. Horner '16 and John A. Irwin '16, and has existed to date as mentioned. No charter has been applied for previously, as the members had in view the change that now desire to make. Thus we are not forming an altogether new organization, but simply petition for a charter for a non-restrictive Greek letter fraternity whose prospective members are the members of the present Northeast Club.

By the President,
Winfield F. Smith '20

The College Authorities favorably acted upon this petition, and while there is no record of a charter ever having been issued, the Northeast Club was given official permission to change to the Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity.

The last official meeting of the Northeast Club was held on March 18, 1915 and on March 22, 1918 with formal initiation of the chapter members of Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity the Northeast Club ceased to exist, except in the memory of those to whom it had meant so much.

Chapter II: Phi Tau Alpha Era
By Ellwood B. Cassel '19

During the early part of the school semester of 1917 and 1918, there were many heated, high-pitched and fiery meetings of the Northeast Club concerning the question as to weather that club, then a restricted local fraternity, should continue in that capacity or throw off its restrictions and become a local non-restrictive fraternity. The members for and against the change put every ounce of energy into swinging the decision to their respective opinions. After weeks of debate, which threatened the very existence of the war depleted membership, the vote was finally taken and the result was the establishment of the Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity. This was not accomplished without the loss of one or two members of the old Northeast Club who could not be convinced that making the change was the only logical course to pursue.

Events since that time have proved that the committee, which drew up the reasons for making the change, were farsighted and their conclusions entirely correct. The report of this committee is quoted in “The Story of the Northeast Club.”

After finally making the decision to become a local non-restrictive fraternity, which many members believed would be the most difficult thing to legislate through the firm-minded membership, it was found that the work had just begun and it was all uphill going.

The president, Winfield F. Smith '20, appointed committee to get facts and date and work up their recommendations on name, constitution, ritual, insignia, etc. It was the work of the members of these various committees that actually created the local fraternity of Phi Tau Alpha. Their work interwove and there were many joint meetings of the committees to create a name, constitution, ritual and insignia, which would dovetail into a workable organization. This task of revision and creation by the committees was difficult enough to attain in the committee membership, but to get their work successfully through the general meeting was another long discussion of opinions – opinions that were unbendingly obstinate on many points.

This work of creating a new organization vastly different from the Northeast Club was carried on in the mid-winter of 1917-1918. While it was being accomplished operations were continued under the laws of the existing club, gradually changing in the form of meetings and getting ready to operate smoothly under a new name, constitution and ritual. When the Fraternity Committee of the General Faculty of the College granted permission to make the change on February 23, 1915, the new organization was practically ready to function, but it was not until April 6, 1918 that the formal change was announced to the college and other fraternities by a smoker and reception.

Actual initiation of charter members of Phi Tau Alpha took place on March 22, 1918. On April 15, 1918 we were admitted to the Intramural Council, an organization of the local Greek Letter fraternities. This marked the final step in the official establishment of the Phi Tau Alpha fraternity and placed un on an equal basis with the contemporary local Greek Fraternities then at the college.

The name Phi Tau Alpha was selected with much care and deliberation, a committee had presented three to the general meeting. What the three letters stood for seems to fit best to what it was desired to create. They worked into ritual exceedingly well and if the local fraternity had existed many years they would have worn good it is certain.

When the new constitution was presented for approval it was acted upon in parts and each discussed and deliberated on. It apparently was a workable set of laws for it held during the most difficult of times without any record in the minutes of its being amended. However, during the war regime in the fall of 1918 it could not be followed in every respect.

The ritual was something that was absolutely new to be created without anything to use as a guide. It was a rather intricate proceeding. To be carried out it required a full week and when the candidates for membership had completed it, they surely must have decided they were joining a worthwhile fraternity. There follows a meager description of the fraternity coat of arms and insignia, which were part of and incorporated in the ritual;

The Coat of Arms was designed in the shape of a plain shield measuring about four and one-fourth inches in width and about seven inches in height. The body of it was divided into three segments. In the upper left portion was a lamp of knowledge in white on a red background and in the upper right section a skull and cross-bones in white on a background of black. In the lower part of the shield was a white candlestick having seven lighted candles. This was on a background of gold. Separating the two upper divisions from the lower was a white band in which there were seven gold stars equally spaced. Crowning the top was a rope in natural colors containing seven segments with an opal above it, reflecting the white light rays into an arch of a rainbow, which was in natural colors. Around the lower edge and along the sides of the seal itself, was a scrolled ribbon in gold containing the black lettering.

The coat of Arms and the elements of it; even the coloring making up the various parts was conceived with one thought in mind. This was the bringing to the mind of the brothers parts of the ritual and the ideals for which Phi Tau Alpha stood.

Raymond B. Poeppel '20 designed the coat of arms.

The insignia or badge of Phi Tau Alpha was very distinctive in form and design. It had eight converse sides. In the center there was a white sorrel with upturned curls on which the Greek letters ØTA were inscribed in gold. The background of the pin was black enamel. Above the scroll were seven gold stars and below it there was a dagger, and a key crossed and entwined with a rope, all in gold. The badge was set or surrounded with sixteen jewels, four opals and twelve pearls. The opals were set at the four quarters of the badge and the pearls equally spaced between them.

The elements on the badge were symbolic of portions of the ritual and were placed thereon to be a constant reminder to the brother wearing it what his fraternity represented. To design a fraternity badge which is disincentive and easily recognizable, containing insights represented of the fraternity and yet keep a high degree of aesthetic proportion and appearance was a difficult task. George W. Chapman '20 designed the badge with the aid of suggestions from the committee.

The newly created fraternity had quite a definite aim, which was for each brother to strive to attain perseverance in every undertaking, ambition for everything that is noble, worthy and good, toleration toward others’ views and thought for his brothers, learning if the highest degree in his field, perfection in manhood and honesty in his dealings with his fellow-man.

In general way the ideal of Phi Tau Alpha was a fraternity in which all the brothers should practice kindness and toleration towards one another and should attain as nearly as possible that brotherly feeling that exists between brothers of the same percentage. In doing this each should ever aspire to be considerate of the rights and opinions of others and never let any act go undone which would bring happiness and joy to another.

The charter members of Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity follow:

Clifford Beaven '21	Ellwood Cassel '19	George Chapman '20
Francis J. Doan '19	Charles Frederickson Jr. '20	Frederick J. Fuchs
Sidney Morgan '21	Emil J. Olbrich '15	Emil A. Petzold '24
Anthony Pickard '21	Raymond B. Poeppel '20	Ellwood Rittenhouse '19
Arthur Rosenberger	William O. Schell	Walter E. Segl '21
William Shaw Jr. '21	John R. Skeen '21	Winfield F. Smith '20
Robert Stevens '18	William Thompson '19	Frederick T. Vansant '20

It was the consensus of opinion of the founders of Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity that the organization was a fraternal composition of high idealism, which have endured a long time had it not been quickly absorbed by a national organization. The national fieldmen representing these national organizations, who investigated thoroughly every phase of Phi Tau Alpha were not singing in their praise for the constitution-by-laws and ritual. Their criticisms where directed at out financial system.

One of the great welding forces in the background all through the strife of changing the form of the organization was the thought and hope that ultimately it would become a part of a worthwhile national fraternity. This is evidenced by the fact that considerably in advance of the completion of the Phi Tau Alpha organization, even before the Charter from the college faculty was granted, there was a special committee consisting of Raymond Poeppel '20, George W. Chapman '20 and Clifford Beaven '21 appointed to investigate ways and means of becoming a Chapter of a national fraternity and select if possible one which could be petitioned. This was on February 25, 1918 and taken from the minutes of the old Northeast Club.

This committee did not accomplish much in the way of doing anything definite during the remainder of that semester, 1917-1918. It had one meeting during the summer 1918 and the list of available fraternities was narrowed down to one, Theta Chi. The intimate acquaintance of Raymond Poeppel '20 and William Thompson '19 with a number of Theta Chi at the University of the Pennsylvania had a great deal to do with this decision, but the character and standing of Theta Chi as compared to other national fraternities was carefully considered.

Negotiations with Theta Chi were started promptly and in the fall of 1918 when the members returned to the fraternity house, which had been taken over by the government as an army barracks, these communications were continued and addressed to the National Secretary of Theta Chi, who then was Frederick Ladue. There is a minute of the meeting, November 17, 1918, which mentions a communication from Frederick Ladue, as having been received. It probably was encouraging for there is another minute of the meeting saying the First Pledges to a new chapter House Fund were made. The securing of a better Chapter House was ever in the minds of the brothers as something to look forward to.

Very definite steps were now taken towards the establishment of a Chapter of Theta Chi. Investigating committee from the Grand Chapter were received and printed petition was published, and distributed over the country, to various existing Chapters of Theta Chi. After these had gone out, more representatives of Theta Chi visited the fraternity, some announced and some unannounced. They were from the Grand Chapter and from nearby Chapters, such as Dickinson's Pi chapter, Cornell's Lambda chapter and the University of Pennsylvania's Kappa chapter..

On February 25, 1919 there was received a communication from Mr. Frederick Ladue, National Secretary of Theta Chi, stating that the petition of the Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity had been officially accepted by the Theta Chi Fraternity and that Phi Tau Alpha would be established as Omega Chapter in that organization.

The last meeting of the Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity was held on March 10, 1919 and on March 14, 1919 Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity became Omega Chapter of Theta Chi.

Chapter III: Start of Omega Chapter
By George W. Chapman '20

The Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity was just a means to and end but it served that end well. Form the start, the chief reason for the establishment of Phi Tau Alpha was so that the fraternity could be in a position to petition for membership in a national fraternity. As the Northeast Club this could not be done, for the Northeast Club was restricted to graduates of the Northeast High School.

With the establishment of Phi Tau Alpha immediate steps towards affiliation with a national organization were taken. In fact these steps started one month before the start of Phi Tau Alpha, with the appointment of a Special Committee on February 25, 1918 consisting of Raymond Poepple, George W.Chapman '20 and Clifford E. Beaven '21. This committee was instructed to investigate national fraternities and to consider ways and means of petitioning.

There was much discussion during the early meeting of Phi Tau Alpha on the national fraternity question and the fraternity seemed to be about evenly divided on the subject, and many of the Alumni showed little or no interest. As no progress was being made it fell on the shoulders of a small group led by the Special Committee to individually sell the national fraternity idea to a sufficient number of the members so that when the question was voted on it would be passed. This was finally accomplished after a great deal of work on the part of a few, a favorable vote was taken and the Special Committee instructed to proceed with plans for selecting a National Fraternity and working up a petition.

After much reading of Beard’s Manual, the names of some ten or twelve national fraternities were selected as possibilities. For various reasons this list was narrowed to four or five which it was believed would be interested in installing a chapter at the Pennsylvania State College. Among them was Theta Chi.

Raymond B. Poeppel '20 and William C. Thompson '19 should get credit for the final selection of Theta Chi as the fraternity to be petitioned. Of the fraternities remaining on the list Theta Chi was the oldest, had the best record, was of high repute and seemed to be the best choice. Much of the information on Theta Chi was secured through a friend of Raymond B. Poeppel '20 and William C. Thompson '19 who was a member of Theta Chi at the University of Pennsylvania and it was through the information secured by and on the recommendation of these two men that Phi Tau Alpha voted to petition Theta Chi Fraternity for a chapter at the Pennsylvania State College.

The Grand Chapter of Theta Chi was communicated with and it was found that they would be interested in having a chapter at Pennsylvania State College, Phi Tau Alpha was visited by Frederick Ladue, National Secretary of Theta Chi and by representatives of University of Dickinson's Pi chapter, University of Pennsylvania's Kappa Chapter and Cornell's Lambda chapter. Reports turned into the Grand chapter by these visitors must have been favorable for in November 1918 Phi Tau Alpha was advised by Theta Chi to prepare a petition and submit it in printed form to Theta Chi Fraternity in sufficient quantity to be distributed to the various chapters for voting on.

The special committee quickly worked up the petition, had it printed and sent to the Grand Chapter of Theta Chi under date of December 2, 1918.

The petition itself was worded as follows:

Delivering that Affiliation with a well established and well reputed National Fraternity would be most desirous and believing The Theta Chi Fraternity to possess the qualities, we, the members of the Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity of the Pennsylvania State College, do hereby respectfully petition for consideration as a Chapter of the Theta Chi Fraternity.
For the Fraternity

Anthony V. Pickard
Secretary

George W. F. Chapman
President

The petition booklet included a short history of the Northeast Club and the Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity, letters of recommendation from Edwin E. Sparks, President of the College, R. L. Sackett, Dean of the School of Engineering and R. L. Watts, Dean of the School of Agriculture, lists of selective and alumni members with college activities, a brief history of the Pennsylvania State College, a list of fraternities at Penn State and pictures of the petitioning group, the House and the College.

The letters of recommendation are interesting historical records and are herewith reproduced.

The organization of students of the Pennsylvania State College known as the Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity is worthy of recognition. Their members have furnished a considerable portion of officers in the United States Army. Their academic standing I believe to be above average of the college. Their house so far as I can learn has been conducted in an orderly manner. I recommend them for membership in the Theta Chi National Fraternity.

Edwin E. Sparks

Dean's Office
Secretary, Theta Chi Fraternity
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir;

Mr. Ellwood B. Cassel advises me that a Club, formerly known as the Northeast Club and later as the Phi Tau Alpha, is applying for a charter as a chapter of the Theta Chi Fraternity.

I know Mr. Cassel personally and can assure you of his high character and exceptional standing as a student.

Two of the juniors, named George W. Chapman and Frederickson, are in the Department of Civil Engineering and have made satisfactory records. So far as these students are concerned, I can vouch for their quality.

I believe that in general the fraternity has a good reputation for scholarship and character.

Yours Truly,
R. L. Sackett
Dean
School of Engineering

THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE COLLEGE
School of Agriculture and Experiment Station
State College, PA.

My Dear Sir:

I have been advised that the Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity of the Pennsylvania State College, which is a local Chapter, has applied for admission to the Theta Chi Fraternity, of which I understand you are Secretary.

I have known several members of this Fraternity since its organization at State College and it is a pleasure to say that we hold the members, as well as the organization, which they represent, in high esteem and recommend the Chapter for admission to your National Fraternity. The men have high standing in the institution and we believe they will be a credit to your fraternity.

Yours Very Truly,
H. L. Watts
Dean and Director

With the petition in the hands of Theta Chi there ensued a wait that seemed much longer than it actually was.

On February 25, 1919 information was received from Fred LaDue, National Secretary of Theta Chi, to the effect that our petition was favorably voted on the various Chapters of Theta Chi and favorably seted upon by the Grand Chapter of the Fraternity and that we would shortly receive official notice to this effect. Official notice was later received that a Charter had granted a Chapter to Phi Tau Alpha on February 19, 1919 by the Grand Chapter of Theta Chi and that formal installation would take place on March 14 and 15, 1919. It is interesting to note that another local fraternity at Penn State was petitioning Theta Chi at the same time, as was Phi Tau Alpha.

The installation of Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity as Omega Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity began at 7:25 on the evening of March 14, 1919. The Installation Committee was composed of Fred W. LaDue, Iota, ’12, Chairman Herbert D. Leary, Gamma, ’10, Barie R. Bernfford, Delta, ’09, W. Howard Gottlieb, Kappa, ’19, Clarence R. Anderson, Pi, ’08, and J. Henry Beasley, Kappa, ’15. The installation, a very impressive ceremony, preceded smoothly and as its conclusion the Charter was presented to the Chapter. The Charter Members of Omega Chapter were as follows:

Fred. F. Bastian '22	Ellwood. J. Rittenhouse '19
Clifford E. Beaven '21	Joseph E. Rowe '10
Ellwood B. Cassel '19	Albert F. Schoeppe '18
George W. Chapman '20	Walter E. Segl '21
Charles Frederickson Jr. '20	William W. Seltzer '21
Fred J. Fuchs	Walter B. Shaw '21
Maurice E. Kressley '15	William J. Shaw Jr. '21
Donald E. Magill '22	John R. Skeen '21
Murrell D. McKinstry '20	Winfield F. Smith '20
Russell B. Nesbitt '14	William L. Sowden Jr. '22
Robert E. Ockford '22	Ralph D. Stauffer '21
Walter B. Petzold '18	William C. Thompson '19
Anthony V. Pickard '21	Frederick T. Vansant '20
Raymond B. Poeppel '20	Hugo E. Zetterlof '22

All the Chapter Members listed above and in additional Theodore G. Smith '21 were initiated onto Theta Chi Fraternity at this time.

With the installation ceremony completed, election of officers was held and Winfield F. Smith '20 was elected the first president of Omega Chapter. The meeting adjourned at midnight to be continued the next day.

Saturday afternoon, March 15, was spent in the exemplification of degree work Hugo E. Zetterlof '22 being the candidate.

The installation banquet was held in the Chapter House on the evening of March 15 and was characterized by the following menu; Penn State Cocktail, Center County Consommé, Baked Shingletown Trout, Roast Chicken, S.A.T.C. Potatoes, Nittany Valley Filling, Green Navy Peas, Co-ed Sauce, Old Main Salad, Ice Cream a la Phi Tau Alpha, Lemont Bite, Bonbons au Gorge, Danville Nuts, State College Demitasse and Bellefonte Central Smokes. Such a menu had never been seen before or since but was evidently greatly enjoyed by these present. The postprandial exercise were handled by Albert P. Schoeppe '18 who acted as Toastmaster in his inimitable way. Short talks were given by members of the Installation Committee and by members if the Active Chapter. The Banquet concluded with the singing of the Chapter Song, “Come Omega” and “It is to Thee Dear Old Theta Chi.”

Following the banquet a smoker and reception was held in the Chapter House, which was attended by representatives from the various fraternities and members of the faculty.

The next day marked the departure of the Installation Committee and Omega Chapter settled down to more normal existence and to enjoy the new sensation of being the “Baby Chapter” of Theta Chi.

Source: Theta Chi, Omega Chapter Alumni Website's "History" Pages