Beta Kappa
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| Beta Kappa | |
|---|---|
| ΒΚ | |
 | |
| Founded | October 15, 1901 Hamline University |
| Type | Social |
| Former affiliation | NIC |
| Status | Merged |
| Merge date | April 14, 1942 |
| Successor | Theta Chi (Mostly) |
| Scope | National |
| Member badge |  |
| Colors | Purple and Gold |
| Symbol | Coiled serpent, Lamp, Crossed swords |
| Flower | Yellow rose |
| Publication | Beta Kappa Journal |
| Chapters | 47 |
| Members | 6,000+ lifetime |
| Headquarters | Saint Paul, Minnesota United States |
Beta Kappa (ΒΚ) was an American college fraternity that was founded in 1901 at Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It established 47 chapters in the United States before merging with Theta Chi in 1942.
Beta Kappa was formed at Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota on October 15, 1901, with the name The Knights of Beta Omicron Sigma Kappa.[1][2] Eventually, this somewhat unwieldy name was colloquially shortened to Beta Kappa, maturing into a local fraternity that continued for twenty-one years before beginning a period of rapid expansion.[1] Its founders were Edward T. Marlatte, Daniel Paul Rader, Albert T. Spencer, and Charles H. Wallace.[1][2] Beta Kappa was incorporated in 1912.[3]
In 1922, the Beta chapter was established at the University of Washington.[1][4] The fraternity's grand convention held its first meeting in 1923 in Saint Pail.[3] The Gamma chapter was established at the Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1924.[1][4]
The fraternity established a committee on expansion in 1925.[3] In quick succession, Beta Kappa established 47 chapters with a total membership of over 5,000.[4][1][5] An award cup was presented annually for the best chapter scholarship and national relations.[3]
Beta Kappa became a junior member of the National Interfraternity Conference in 1926, and a full member in 1928. In 1929, it had initiated 2,173 members.[3] Membership dropped during the Great Depression; by 1940, only 25 of its 47 chapters were still active.[2][4] The start of World War II further weakened the fraternity with a reduction in membership.[2] In 1942, it had 22 chapters.[4] Beta Kappa's leadership decided to seek a merger with another national fraternity.[2]
Beta Kappa merged with Theta Chi on April 14, 1942, with three exceptions released to join other national groups.[1][4] The mother chapter at Hamline University was granted the chapter name, Beta Kappa chapter, to honor its rank as a former Alpha chapter.[2] The merger added 6,000 members and seventeen new chapters to Theta Chi; two Beta Kappa chapters were merged into existing chapters.[2][4]
Symbols
Beta Kappa's badge was shaped like a diamond in black enamel, longer from top to bottom, with 24 pearls on its perimeter. It held a small, white circular disk in the center with a coiled serpent; above was a lamp, and below were two crossed swords. On the sides of the disk were the Greek letters "Β" and "Κ".[1][3]
The fraternity's colors were purple and gold.[1] Its flower was a yellow (golden) rose.[3] It magazine was The Journal of Beta Kappa, established in 1924.[4][3]
Governance
Beta Kappa was governed by a grand convention that met biennially.[3] At these annual meetings, the fraternity elected its grand executive council, consisting of seven members.[3] The grand executive council oversaw operations between grand conventions.[3] The first grand convention was held in 1923 in Saint Paul, followed by a meeting in 1925 in Saint Paul; a 1927 meeting in Cleveland, Ohio; and a 1929 meeting in Jamestown, New York.[3]
In 1925, the fraternity established a national office in Oakland, California. It moved to Tuscon, Arizona in 1927 and to Oxford, Ohio in 1929.[3]