The History of Theta Tau and Pi Chapter
THETA TAU
Theta Tau Fraternity was originally founded as the Society of Hammer and Tongs on the 15th of October 1904 by Erich J. Schrader, Elwin L. Vinal, William M. Lewis, and Isaac B. Hanks at the University of Minnesota. The four of them were mining engineering students and agreed that the society and its members would be primarily based on the character of its members. Soon after, chapters began being installed at universities all around the United States, creating the National Fraternity. It wasn't until the first national convention, held in 1911, that the name of the fraternity was changed officially to Theta Tau and the present membership badge adopted.
For a full and complete history of the National Chapter, please visits the National Chapter's site:
Pi Chapter
Pi Chapter was originally founded as the Epsilon Society in September of 1920 by a group of 4th year students who felt the need for a social and fraternal organization to unite its students within the the Department of of Engineering (today the School of Engineering and Applied Science). The society was well received by the faculty and staff of the Department of Engineering. Prominent alumni include William M. Thornton, who was initiated as an honorary member for his contributions to the University. To be a member, a man had to be of high character, leadership and personality and be an engineering student, all qualities of which lined up with those of Theta Tau.
With the support of then President of the University, E. A. Alderman; the Secretary of the Engineering Faculty, W. S. Rodman; and Professor of Civil Engineering (later also the 2nd President of the University) W. L. Newcomb, the Epsilon Society at the University of Virginia petitioned the National Chapter for a charter within the National Fraternity of Theta Tau. After 9 months of petition status and inspections by Grand Inner Guard Robert J. Anderson and Capt. George Geib, U.S. Army Corp. of Engr. (Alpha '16), the Epsilon Society was granted full chapter status within Theta Tau. It was on the 26th of May 1923, that Pi Chapter was officially chartered and founded at the University of Virginia, making Pi Chapter the 16th oldest chapter in Theta Tau. It founding members were the then members of the Epsilon Society. Grand Inner Guard Robert J. Anderson presided over the chartering ceremony, held at the University Chapel. Our founding Brothers were (pictured above):
The Epsilon Society c. 1920
Theodore Robert Bunting, Edgar Wilson Dare, Leroy Craun Harman, Tyler Bainbridge Kiener, Elmer Morton Knight. William Winston Parkinson, Beaufort Selden Ragland, Edmund Addison Smith, William Thomas Straley, Thomas Austin Sydnor, Francis William Taylor, Earl Hampton Via, Kenneth Sewell Wingfield
And founding pledges:
T. H. Henderson T. S. Martin M. B. McDavitt T. H. Murphy N. J. Painter R. R. Rawls H. L. White M. A. Wilson
After this, our chapter history is mostly lost throughout history, with not many records surviving through 1976. In the spring of 1976, Pi Chapter turned in its charter to the National Chapter as a result of loss of recognition on Grounds because Theta Tau did not yet allow women members.
In the fall of 1986, the Epsilon Society was again established, headed by Zell Murphy, with the sole purpose of re-establishing Theta Tau at the University of Virginia. The founding members of the second iteration of the Epsilon Society were:
John Callahan Jennifer Clasby Sean Hunt Mary Anne Kerr Geoff Monge Zell Murphy Louis Park Ron Sigworth Matt Witsil Lori Zack
The Epsilon Society's colony petition was accepted in April of 1987 and the colony certified on the 25 of September 1987. The colony was rechartered as Pi Chapter the 1st of October 1988.
As of Spring 2020, Pi has initiated over 1150 brothers into Theta Tau. Pi has also been the recipient of the Schrader Award, given in recognition of the top chapter across the US in 1939.