Local History
A Tradition of Excellence
This page is supplemented by The History of Theta Chi: 1856-1927, edited by Robert H. Hoge (ρ '24).
For more of Phi Chapter's history, as written and supplemented by Floyd Borderud, see the History of Phi Chapter at North Dakota State University.
Resolute Men at North Dakota State University
Phi (Φ) Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity can trace its roots back to January 10, 1904. This is the date of the chartering of Alpha Mu, a local fraternity at NDSU. The Chartering members of Alpha Mu are Bert Corbett, Roger Brown, Fred Birch, Ross Fowler, Rufus Lee and Harry Porter. The purpose of this fraternity was to do all within its power to extend and upbuild the influence of the Institution of learning, among whose students these men were proud to be numbered, and to unite the members of the fraternity in a brotherhood so strong and lasting that its influence would become a determining factor in the life of every member, not only while at college but in after years as well.
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With this high ideal in their minds, the founders chose the name of Alpha Mu because the Greek letters are the initials of Greek words—meaning good fellowship. The emblem of the fraternity was the flint arrow-head of the type formerly used by the Dacotah Indians. Attached to one face of the arrow-head by gold bands encircling it, was a gold triangle on which was inscribed the initial letters of the fraternity, together with the small Greek letter “Alpha.”
"A Man Who Knows All About You and is Still Your Friend"
The symbolic significance of this emblem was as follows: a Dacotah Indian arrow-head is made use of as a token of the respect and admiration they had for their state and college. The arrow-head implied that the course of the fraternity and its members must at all times be straightforward and honest, but swift and undeviating as the flight of the arrow, in avenging an insult to itself or members. The equilateral triangle signified equality of members, integrity of purpose, and that the fraternal spirit of the organization should be as enduring and unchangeable as are the pyramids, in imitation of which the triangular design was adopted.
The motto of the fraternity was—“An Alpha Mu is a man who knows all about you and is still your friend.” This motto was adopted because it was believed that there could be no genuine Brotherhood without mutual regard, good opinion and esteem, mutual charity, and mutual allowance for faults and failings. It is those only, who learn habitually to think better of each other, to look for the good in each other and expect, allow for, and overlook the evil, who can be brothers one to the other, in the true sense of the word.
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In college activities the Alpha Mu’s were always in the lead. They had members in every branch of activity and during the thirteen years of their existence, they had nine football, eight basketball and nine baseball captains elected from their number. The weekly Spectrum, the college publication, was usually edited by Alpha Mu’s as was the Agassiz, the college annual. The members were the controlling factors in the student commission, in whose hands lie the school government. In the military department they were always well represented, as well as in the band and orchestra.
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Alpha Mu always made every legitimate effort to be a factor in the student life and organization of the college and was rewarded by more than a generous share of the honors to be won. Scholastic standing had particular attention and the chapter maintained, as well, a high moral level.
In 1913, a group of men left Alpha Mu to form the Epsilon chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho, a chapter that is still in existence today. Their chapter house is fittingly located just next door to Theta Chi. Four years later in 1917 the men of Alpha Mu, with the help of former North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Judge B.F. Spalding ( ΘΧ Alpha Chapter Alumnus), petitioned Theta Chi Fraternity for a charter. The “local” Alpha Mu Fraternity was granted a charter by the Theta Chi Fraternity at the latter’s Sixty-First Annual Convention, held in Worcester, Massachusetts, on April 7, 1917. The charter was awarded on May 12th, 1917. This is the founding date of Phi Chapter.
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The charter members of Phi Chapter were: Walter Bender, Mortimer Keeley, Harold Kelly, Robert Lewis, Carl Loiland, Melvin McGuigan, Floyd Slingsby, Adrian Foley, Paul Peterson, Walter Elliot, Frank Henning and Harold Jacobson.
Becoming Theta Chi
"A Glorious past is ever telling of friendship that will never die; Within us peace and union dwelling while honor crowns the Theta Chi"
Howard R. Alter Jr., Ω '41
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