Beta Pi Theta

American honor society for French From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Beta Pi Theta (ΒΠΘ) was an American college honor society for French. It was established in 1924 in Birmingham, Alabama and expanded to various college campuses. It established 35 chapters before going defunct in 1948. Some of its chapters continued as independent, local societies and eventually joined Pi Delta Phi in 1960.

Founded1924; 102 years ago (1924)
Birmingham, Alabama, US
TypeHonor
AffiliationIndependent
StatusDefunct
Quick facts Founded, Type ...
Beta Pi Theta
ΒΠΘ
Founded1924; 102 years ago (1924)
Birmingham, Alabama, US
TypeHonor
AffiliationIndependent
StatusDefunct
Defunct date1948
EmphasisFrench
ScopeNational
Member badge
ColorsRoyal Purple, Gold, and White
FlowerLily
PublicationWhat's Doing in Beta Pi Theta
Chapters43
Headquarters
United States
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History

Beta Pi Theta was a French honorary society that was established by Elizabeth "Bessie" Louise Standifer in 1924.[1][2][3] It was established "for organizing representative men and women in universities and colleges who by travel, study, conversation, interest, influence and ability will advance the progress of literary French and things cultural in America; who will maintain the highest scholarship and literary standards; who will encourage consecration to social service and the highest ideals of a liberal education, and who will recognize and award merit in productive French literature."[1]

Its first chapter was formed in April 20, 1926 in Birmingham, Alabama.[1][4][5] This expanded to include chapters at Adrian College, Iowa Wesleyan College, Eureka College, Baker University, Coker College, and Park College in 1926.[6] Standifer was the society's executive secretary from 1927 to 1928.[2]

By 1930, Beta Pi Theta had 21 chapters.[1] Five years later, it had established 35 chapters, mainly in Southern and Eastern U.S. universities and colleges.[2][5] However, Beta Phi Theta was mostly inactive during World War II.[2][7]

Although it attempted to reform after the war, Beta Pi Theta was defunct nationally by 1948.[2][7][8] Several chapters continued to operate as local organizations until they were invited to join Pi Delta Phi,[2] including Pi Gamma at Miami University in 1949,[7] Theta Omega at Wintrop College in 1950,[9] Theta Beta at Adrian College in 1950,[7] Theta Nu at Howard College in 1953.[10]

Symbols

Beta Pi Theta's badge was a hexagon with concave sides bearing the Greek letters "ΒΠΘ", with a Greek lamp above the letters and a scroll beneath the letters. Its key was rectangular, with its coat-of-arms on the obverse side, and the Greek letters "ΒΠΘ" are on the reverse side.[1] Its pledge button was an unmounted version of the society's coat-of-arms.

Beta Pi Theta's colors were royal purple, gold, and white.[1][11] Its flower was is the lily.[1] Its publication was What's Doing in Beta Pi Theta.[1]

Activities

Beta Phi Theta's meetings were conducted entirely in French.[5] Chapters also sponsored cultural events such as presenting a play performed in French.[12]

Beta Phi Theta national sponsored three annual contests.[13] It sponsored a national essay contest, with a prize of a Beta Phi Theta ring and a scholarship for Middlebury College's summer French language school.[2][13] It sponsored a poetry contest, with a prize of a scholarship to the summer session of McGill University's French School.[13] The society also sponsored a scholarship contest, which awards a Beta Phi Theta Ring and a trip to study abroad.[13]

The national society also awarded its Beta Pi Theta Cup annually to the chapter that demonstrated the greatest efficiency.[14][15]

Membership

Membership in Beta Pi Theta was open to male and female graduate and undergraduate students from the departments of French who have a full sophomore rating, with general scholarship of a grade above the average for their particular college, and who have indicated that there will be continued interest in creative French literature, drama, art, music, conversation, travel, and study.[1] The required grade average in French was a 90.[13][3]

Membership was also open to French faculty in colleges and universities having chapters and to other people who have rendered distinguished French services of interest to the fraternity.[1]

Governance

The officers of chapters included president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, local editor, corresponding secretary, publication manager, student critic, parliamentarian, and sentinel.[13] Chapters also had a faculty advisor.[13]

Chapters

Except for its first chapter, which was called "Alpha", Beta Phi Chi gave its chapters names consisting of two Greek letters, starting with "Theta".[2] Following are the chapters of Beta Phi Theta.[1][2][6]

More information Chapter, Charter date and range ...
Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status Ref.
Alpha April 20, 1926 Birmingham citywide Birmingham, Alabama Inactive [4][5]
Theta Beta 1926–1948 Adrian College Adrian, Michigan Withdrew (local) [7][9][a]
Theta Gamma 1926 Iowa Wesleyan College Mount Pleasant, Iowa Inactive
Theta Delta 1926 Eureka College Eureka, Illinois Inactive [3]
Theta Epsilon May 1926 Baker University Baldwin City, Kansas Inactive [16]
Theta Zeta April 1926 Coker College Hartsville, South Carolina Inactive [17][b]
Theta Eta 1926 Park College Parkville, Missouri Inactive
Theta Theta May 13, 1926 Shorter College Rome, Georgia Inactive [18][19][c]
Theta Iota 1928 St. Lawrence University Canton, New York Inactive
Theta Kappa 1926 Florida State College for Women Tallahassee, Florida Inactive
Theta Lambda 192x ? Gordon State College Barnesville, Georgia Inactive
Theta Mu 1926 Queen's College (later Queen's–Chicora College) Charlotte, North Carolina Inactive [4]
Theta Nu May 1926 – 1948 Howard College Birmingham, Alabama Withdrew (local) [15][10][d][e]
Theta Xi April 1927 Lindenwood College St. Charles, Missouri Inactive [20][21]
Theta Omicron 1927 Mt. Union College Alliance, Ohio Inactive
Theta Pi March 12, 1927 Nebraska Wesleyan University Lincoln, Nebraska Inactive [22][23][f]
Theta Rho March 28, 1927 – 1941 Wofford College Spartanburg, South Carolina Withdrew (local) [24][25][g]
Theta Sigma 1930 University of Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tennessee Inactive
Theta Tau 1928 University of Maine Orono, Maine Inactive
Theta Upsilon 1927 West Virginia University Morgantown, West Virginia Inactive
Theta Phi 1927–1941 Southern Methodist University Dallas, Texas Inactive
Theta Chi 1927 Baylor University Waco, Texas Inactive
Theta Psi Inactive
Theta Omega 1929 –1948 Winthrop College Rock Hill, South Carolina Withdrew (local) [26][27][12][9][h]
Pi Alpha Inactive
Pi Beta 1929 University of Maryland, College Park College Park, Maryland Inactive
Pi Gamma 1929–1948 Miami University Oxford, Ohio Withdrew (local) [2][7][i]
Pi Delta 19xx ? Knox College Galesburg, Illinois Inactive
Pi Epsilon 1930 Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell, South Dakota Inactive
Pi Zeta 1930 Longwood College Farmville, Virginia Inactive
Pi Eta 1931 Baylor College for Women Belton, Texas Inactive
Pi Theta Inactive
Pi Iota November 3, 1931 Kearney State Teachers' College Kearney, Nebraska Inactive [28][29][13]
Pi Kappa Inactive
Pi Lambda April 26, 1932 Limestone College Gaffney, South Carolina Inactive [11][j]
Pi Mu March 9, 1932 Rutgers University–New Brunswick New Brunswick, New Jersey Inactive [30][31][k]
Pi Nu 193x ? University of South Carolina Columbia, South Carolina Inactive [32][l]
Pi Xi February 1936 Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, Ohio Inactive [33][5][m]
Pi Omicron May 8, 1937 Louisiana College Pineville, Louisiana Inactive [34][35][n]
Pi Pi Inactive
Pi Rho May 1937 Murray State University Murray, Kentucky Inactive [36]
Pi Sigma May 20, 1937 McKendree University Lebanon, Illinois Inactive [37]
Pi Tau November 1937 – January 1, 1940 Baldwin Wallace College Berea, Ohio Withdrew (local) [38][39][40][41][o]
Butler University Indianapolis, Indiana Inactive
Mississippi State College Starkville, Mississippi Inactive
University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama Inactive
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  1. [a]
    Chapter withdrew and continued as a local group when Beta Pi Theta ceased operations at the national level. It became the Alpha Nu chapter of Pi Delta Phi on May 22, 1950.
  2. [b]
    Chapter formed from the French Club of Coker College.
  3. [c]
    Chapter formed from Le Cercle Francais (local).
  4. [d]
    Chapter formed from La Cercle Francois, a local French sorority that was established in 1925.
  5. [e]
    Chapter withdrew and continued as a local continued as a local group when Beta Pi Theta ceased operations at the national level. It became the Beta Zeta chapter of Pi Delta Phi on April 28, 1953.
  6. [f]
    Chapter formed from the Fleur de Lis, a local French club.
  7. [g]
    The chapter withdrew in 1941, when Beta Phi Theta national went inactive due to World War II, and became a local French fraternity called Les Copains Francais.
  8. [h]
    Chapter withdrew and continued as a local continued as a local group when Beta Pi Theta ceased operations at the national level. It became the Alpha Mu chapter of Pi Delta Phi on May 16, 1950.
  9. [i]
    Chapter withdrew and continued as a local continued as a local group when Beta Pi Theta ceased operations at the national level. It became the Alpha Eta chapter of Pi Delta Phi in 1949.
  10. [j]
    Chapter formed from the French Club.
  11. [k]
    Chapter formed from the Alliance Francaise de New Brunswick.
  12. [l]
    Charter formed from Le Cercle Francais, established in January 1932 to join Beta Pi Theta.
  13. [m]
    Chapter formed from Cercle Francais (local), established in May 1934.
  14. [n]
    Chapter formed from the Louisiana College French Club.
  15. [o]
    Chapter formed from the Baldwin-Wallace College French Club. On January 1, 1940, it withdrew and formed the local honor society, Sigma Lambda Alpha, according to the 1940 yearbook.

See also

References

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