{"id":861,"date":"2017-07-12T18:51:30","date_gmt":"2017-07-12T18:51:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aig.alumni.virginia.edu\/thetachi\/?page_id=861"},"modified":"2026-04-27T13:19:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T17:19:33","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aig.uvaalumni.org\/thetachi\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"

Theta Chi | Xi Chapter History<\/h2>\n

Xi Chapter of Theta Chi was founded at the University of Virginia on January 26, 1914.
\nIn 1913, a local fraternity named Eta Pi Rho was established at the University. Shortly thereafter, Eta Pi Rho\u2019s seven members (William A. Adams, L. L. Miller, G. E. Gwinn, T. E. Didlake, L. G. Burton, R. Guy Leebrick, and S. M. Jett Jr.) petitioned the Grand Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity for a local chapter charter. The petition was granted, and the installation of Xi Chapter was held January 26, 1914. The installation committee was composed of National President Dr. Robert L. Irish, National Vice President Edwin D. Huntley, and National Secretary E. Wesson Clark.<\/p>\n

Founding<\/h3>\n

\"ThetaPlace: Norwich University at Norwich, Vermont<\/p>\n

Date: Nine o\u2019clock on Thursday evening, April 10, 1856<\/p>\n

Founders: Frederick Norton Freeman \u201957 and Arthur Chase \u201956<\/p>\n

Motto<\/h3>\n

\u0398\u03b7\u03c1\u00f3\u03c0\u03bf\u03c3\u03b1 \u03a7\u03b5\u00ed\u03c1 \u2013 translated as \u201cAn assisting hand\u201d<\/p>\n

Colors<\/h3>\n

Military Red and White<\/p>\n

Symbol<\/h3>\n

Rattlesnake<\/p>\n

Maxim<\/h3>\n

\u201cAlma Mater First and Theta Chi for Alma Mater\u201d<\/p>\n

Flower<\/h2>\n

Red Carnation<\/p>\n

Publication<\/h3>\n

The Rattle<\/p>\n

\"Old
Old South Barracks – Norwich, Vermont<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1819<\/strong> \u2013 Norwich University was founded in Norwich, Vermont. It was founded as a military academy and originally named the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is still in operation today.<\/p>\n

\"The
The three Founders of Theta Chi Society: Arthur Chase, Frederick Norton Freeman, Edward Bancroft Williston.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thursday, April 10, 1856, 9 p.m.<\/strong> \u2013 Theta Chi Society was founded in Old South Barracks at Norwich University, Norwich, Vermont. Arthur Chase \u201956 was elected the first president and Frederick Norton Freeman \u201957 was elected the first secretary. The following evening, two more cadets were initiated: Edward Bancroft Williston and Lorenzo Potter. The Alpha Chapter remained on campus until 1960 when the university disbanded its fraternities.<\/p>\n

\"Charles
Charles Dole<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1873<\/strong> \u2013 Charles Dole \u201969, a member of Theta Chi, was serving as a professor at Norwich University. However, the finances of the school were in dire straits. This situation arose following a great fire at the university in 1866 that forced the school to relocate to Northfield, Vermont and depressed attendance in wake of the Civil War. Using his own wealth, Dole kept the university in operation at great personal loss, thus preserving Theta Chi and Norwich University.<\/p>\n

\"James
James Michael Holland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1881<\/strong> \u2013 Norwich University was reduced to 15 undergraduate cadets and Theta Chi was reduced to one active member, James Michael Holland \u201983. Holland was not actively recruiting new members, however Phil S. Randall \u201986 and Henry B. Hersey \u201985 individually sought out Holland and convinced to allow them membership. With the help of Professor Charles Dole, Holland was able to initiate the two new members, thus preserving Theta Chi. Theta Chi has since remained a strong fraternity.<\/p>\n

\"Park
Park Valentine Perkins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

December 13, 1902<\/strong> \u2013 Beta Chapter was installed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts. Multiple charter requests were denied before this due to the conservative nature of the brotherhood. It was the third such petition by the M.I.T. group, led by Brother Park Valentine Perkins who had transferred from Norwich University. This marks the beginning of Theta Chi as a national fraternity.<\/p>\n

February 22, 1908<\/strong> \u2013 The Grand Chapter of Theta Chi was organized at Boston, Massachusetts. J. Albert Holmes was elected the first national president.<\/p>\n

1913<\/strong> \u2013 Eta Pi Rho Fraternity was established at the University of Virginia. W.P. Hazlegrove, a transfer from Hampden-Sydney College was instrumental in its establishment.<\/p>\n

April 7, 1913<\/strong> \u2013 A petition by Eta Pi Rho signed by William A. Adams, L.L. Miller, G.E. Gwinn, T.E. Didlake, L.G. Burton, R. Guy Leebrick, S.M. Jett Jr., was presented to the Grand Chapter of Theta Chi for a charter.<\/p>\n

January 26, 1914<\/strong> \u2013 The Xi Chapter of Theta Chi was founded at the University of Virginia. The installation occured the day prior; the installation committee was composed of: Dr. Robert L. Irish, Edwin D. Huntley and E. Wesson Clark. This directly followed the installation of the Nu Chapter at Hampden-Sidney College.<\/p>\n

September 14, 1929<\/strong> \u2013 Wirt Peebles Marks, Jr., Xi Chapter, was elected National President.<\/p>\n

Fall 1968<\/strong> \u2013 Xi Chapter relocated from its house on Carr\u2019s Hill Road to its current residence at 600 Preston Place. The 600 Preston Place property was initially a private home since its construction in 1925 in the Georgian Revival architectural style. In 1957 it was sold to a local church for the minister\u2019s family and in July 1968 it was sold to the Theta Chi Alumni Corporation. The Alumni Board members, including Hovey Dabney, a brother and University Rector, negotiated the purchase with funds from the sale of the house on Carr\u2019s Hill Road to the University.<\/p>\n

Links for information:<\/h2>\n