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National Organizations
There were several national organizations in the history of Theta Nu Epsilon. Some were large, some small, some were long lasting, others not. Some were actual governing entities, some ‘nationals’ were small regional groups of chapters, and among these regional groups, some acted like nationals, some were only informal understandings. Even the ‘one’ true national was drastically changed three times, including the leadership, the traditions, significant portions of the Constitution, and even the basic nature of the organization. It was changed so drastically that we have come to consider it four distinct entities, each the successor to the previous. These are the United National, and then the Smull, the Madden, and the Powell Nationals. From the United to the Powell, there is hardly one chapter in common to the both, and a good case can be made that they were entirely different societies. For most of Theta Nu Epsilon’s history, there have been a number of contending nationals. Following the line of legitimacy, the Alpha Chapter was the sole governing authority from 1870 to 1907, including a period of ‘joint’ governance from 1885 to 1894 with an annual convention of chapters. This was succeeded by what we now call the United National and the three sequential successors. The last of these failed by 1946. At that time governance reverted to the Alpha Chapter, and later the Alpha Chapter was recognized as such by the last members of the last national. Since the mid-1890’s, there have also been illegitimate nationals. Some were well-intentioned efforts by one or more chapters, some have been contentious and ill-conceived. Of the well-intentioned ones, some of the chapters that went ‘independent’, or who with other chapters formed regional ‘nationals’ were motivated by principles that the Alpha Chapter has always stood for, and wishes today to support. These groups are technically illegitimate in that they were or are seperated from the body of Theta Nu Epsilon, but are groups with which the Alpha Chapter would want not want to impugn. The table below is a quick list with links to short descriptions of each. It is important to note that the names of the nationals used here are new. The new names have been created to be able to better keep track of which “national” was which. For example, the Smull, the Madden, and the Powell Nationals are named now for their respective leadership. Back in their eras, each would have thought it was simply ‘Theta Nu Epsilon’ and perhaps with a slight legal distinction in the formal name. This is too unweildy a way to proceed, and so the new names. This is the best list of nationals we have. We have indications that there were alomst certainly other nationals as well.
Skull & Bones - 1833 to present. This organization was not properly a part of Theta Nu Epsilon or one of our Nationals. Theta Nu Epsilon is NOT Skull & Bones. However, is was the authority which was responsible for our origin, so it is included on this list. For the first two years of the society, the Wesleyan chapter would have been operating under the Skull & Bones constitution.
Alpha Chapter - 1870 to present. The Alpha Chapter was the original chapter of the society, and as such was responsible for all chapters of the society in the early years. Contrary to a statement often repeated by certain authors, government was not ‘extremely loose.’ The Alpha Chapter kept very accurate records of initiations, including tens of thousands of members up to the turn of the last century. From 1885, the Alpha Chapter ‘shared’ governance with a regular convention of chapters in upstate New York. Although the Alpha Chapter retained ultimate authority for the society, it does not appear that the Alpha Chapter ever refused a recommendation suggested by the conventions. After 1894-5, governance reverted to the Alpha Chapter. However, given the great expansion in the intervening decade, and especially given the schisms in Pennsylvania, (described below), the new complexity of affairs necessitated the creation of a separate national organization. In 1907, the Alpha Chapter ceded its charter-granting authority to the United National. However, it maintained an ultimate veto over the actions of the national. In 1946, the last chapter of the last successor national suspended activity, and the authority for the society reverted to the Alpha. This state of affairs was recognized by the last legitimate national President of the ‘Powell’ national. Henry Kelly was the last President of any national with credibility before the public, college authorities, or the N. I. C. He transferred all papers and goods of that last national back to the Alpha Chapter in 1989. At that time, he was named the Honorary National President of the Theta Nu Epsilon Society. Therefore, the Alpha Chapter is the sole entity with a plausible claim to legitimacy as a national authority in Theta Nu Epsilon.
Original Conventions - 1885 to 1894. The ‘Original Conventions’ is the name we use to distinguish that first series of conventions in upstate New York in the 1880’s and 1890’s. The first Convention was held in Albany, New York, and a leading organizer and recent graduate of Union College, Charles B. Templeton, was elected Chairman. The Conventions met annually in May, and next met in Troy, then Syracuse, and in 1888 in Schnectady. The Original Conventions ceased to meet in 1894, just after the Pi - Omicron National chapters split off and formed their own national. There are not records available to document how this schism ocurred, but the end result was that a group of Pennsylvania chapters began to operate on their own. It seems that they did not feel adequately represented in the conventions dominated by the chapters from large upstate New York universities. The ‘collapse’ of these Conventions at a time when a handful of chapters chose to come into conflict with the rest of the society, put a very complex situation back into the hands of the Alpha. After a few years, it became necessary to create a formal administration to handle these matters.
United National - 1907 to 1912. The United National is our name for the national created as a union of chapters which first met in New York City in 1907, organized by Joseph Hartigan. The United National was legitimate, and included the Alpha Chapter and many other chapters, about 80 altogether, mostly at older colleges. The United National chapters were mostly those founded by the Alpha Chapter, but also illegitimate chapters founded by other groups were admitted without prejudice in reference to questions of legitimacy of origin. The United National was created with the intent of bringing as many chapters together as possible. The United National was headquartered in New York City. Of any nationals, (aside from the Alpha Chapter, which by definition is legitimate), the United National is the most legitimate, and is the starting point for Theta Nu Epsilon history after 1907.
Smull National - 1912 to 1919. The Smull National was a continuation of the United National. However, it was distinct from it in that, after a great deal of dispute, the Smull National was formed as a result of fundamental, constitutional changes to the society. The group of persons that Smull headed insisted on seperating Theta Nu Epsilon from its Sophomore society roots. A new Constitution was drafted, and a third to a half of the chapters were driven from the society. By 1916, there were possibly 25 chapters in this national. The chapters driven out were largely at the older colleges and universities, and were the oldest chapters, (including the Alpha Chapter at Wesleyan). Some of these chapters passed out of existence, but the majority continued to exist as strong independents, often under different names, (many were Skull & ... ). Some of these continue today.
Madden National - 1920 to 1925. The Smull National ceased to exist during WW I. In 1920, Perry O. Powell, an alumnus member from Milwaukee, sought to re-establish a national organization for the society. He and those associated with him also sought to move the center away from New York to somewhere more in the Midwest. They had about about 25 chapters at their start, and three-fourths were older chapters, one fourth new chapters. Throughout, the chapter rolls often include chapters, or exclude others, from year to year. This reorganization also brought forth an entirely new Constitution and a Rite of Initiation. The Constitution created a business-like national office, including an income-paying position for Powell. The Rite of Initiation was largely derived from Freemasonry. Both documents were drafted in anticipation for presentation to the N. I. C. as a full four-year fraternity. The Madden National, then, was a national council headed by Madden, but run by Powell. It was not yet a full four-year fraternity, but operated as a sort of three-year fraternity. In 1923, Powell took steps to again purge the society of chapters in disagreement with national policy and the move to four-year status. Of the possible 25 chapters, 15 were purged.
Powell National - 1925 to 1946. The Powell National refers to that entity created in 1925 when the transition to a full four-year fraternity was achieved. The resulting chapter list looked like it included old chapters, but many of these were only a year or two old, — new four-year chapters created to replace older chapters. Sometimes new chapters would be created at colleges where an older chapter was still in existence. This National was severely affected by the Great Depression. In 1932, Henry Kelly was elected President to restore normalcy and reliability to the National, but by that time it was largely too late. The records of the National could no longer be stored after 1933. A few of these kinds of chapters survived WW II and then suspended activity.
Pi - Omicron National - 1893 to 1907? The Pi-Omicron National was largely the result of a schism between the New York and Pennsylvania chapters in the 1890’s. The Original Conventions were meeting annually in upstate New York and shared authority with the Alpha Chapter. This convention was dominated by a handful of chapters from large upstate New York universities, and appears to have shortchanged chapters from elsewhere. The Pennsylvania ones broke off from these conventions and began to issue charters, frequently to colleges in the South. What we here call the Pi-Omicron National does appear to have actually acted as a national, but probably was led from Dickinson or Lehigh College chapters, and did not have seperate officers. This entity was not legitimate and may have had 30 to 40 chapters. Some chapters created at and after 1893 became the progenitors of the Pi-Omicron National, while other chapters created in 1893 became the forerunners of the Alpha-Beta National, (described next). The phenomenal growth of Theta Nu Epsilon in the 1890’s is in part attributable to the fact that there were three branches, the legitimate society under the Alpha, this illegitimate Pi-Omicron National, and the illegitimate Alpha-Beta National, all growing and issuing charters. Around 180 chapters all together had been created by the first years of the twentieth century.
Alpha-Beta National - 1893 to 1920? The Alpha-Beta National seems to have been a real national, and may even had conventions. This national operated almost exclusively in the South, and was a very stable organization for many years. Both the Pi-Omicron and the Alpha-Beta Nationals are traceable to chapters founded in 1893, and the Alpha-Beta may have had 40 of its own chapters. As the illegitimate split from an illegitimate organization, it was not legitimate either. However, Pi-Omicron chapters and Alpha-Beta chapters were later welcomed into the United National if they chose to become legitimate, and join the rest of the society. The Alpha Beta national is the likeliest source of most of the rest of the illegitimate nationals listed below, especially the Milgram National and the Society of 1870.
Midwest National - 1893 to 1913? The Midwest National was just a small regional group of chapters. It is not certain if they saw themselves as some independent ‘soveriegnity’ or as a subset of some other illegitimate national. It had perhaps five chapters.
Central National - 1902 to 1912? What we call the Central National was also in all liklihood, not a real national, but a regional collection of chapters independent of all other sources. These chapters were all similar in that they were at medical schools in the general Tennessee and Kentucky area. They numbered four to six chapters. Whether this was a product of the efforts of Benjamin H. Frayser, or even a product of his efforts with another medical society called Kappa Phi, is currently unestablished.
Milgram National - 1900 to 1930? A man named Milgram operated a national, it is said, from a hotel room in Wichita sometime in the 1920’s. Starting even before WWI, in the Western states were a number of chapters that, at least by the 1920’s, were operating with an organization of their own. It is not known if Milgram was the progenitor of this brood. They were illegitimate, and possibly criminal. Many of the most controversial acts linked to the Society are associated with this sort of activity in the West.
N. P. of T. N. E. - 1923 to 1947? The N. P. of T. N. E. was formed from chapters excluded in 1923 by Perry O. Powell when he took the Madden National into full four-year fraternity status. These chapters held their own conventions and set up a proper national organization. There may have been from twelve to fifteen chapters in this entity. They ought to be considered legitimate, and yet can not currently be so considered. These chapters were very enthusiastic, animated by the very poor treatment they received from the Madden National.
M. O. N. P. of T. N. E. - 1930 to 1947? The N. P. of T. N. E. also had its troubles, and there were suggestions of misappropirated funds. In 1930 a seperate group was created, the Member’s Order of N. P. of T. N. E. This group was laudable in its ambition, but probably did not last through the first years of the Great Depression.
The Society of 1870 - 1923? to 1947? In addition to the Milgram National, the Society of 1870 existed in the Western states; — in fact, Milgram and the Society of 1870 may be the same entity. The Society of 1870 consisted of from twelve to thirty chapters, all illegitimate three or four times over. Again, these chapters were wholly unrestrained, and may have even engaged in illegal activities. There was a definitely an organization to this national. (It preferred to number its chapters.) It continued after WW II, and perhaps up to the 1950’s. There are some independent locals today that seem to trace their origins to this group.
Other Nationals - 1910? to present. There are numerous references to individuals who were “National Presidents” of Theta Nu Epsilon through the middle decades of the century. Some are known by name and where they functioned. In other cases, groups and clusters of chapters seemed to act in a coördinated manner. One cluster seems to have existed in the Teens and Twenties on the Pacific coast, another in Texas and the central states in the Twenties and Thirties, a third existed in Colorado. A significant fourth group existed in New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Southern California in the Forties. It is impossible to say which “president” was associated with which cluster, which group of chapters were associated, what names they operated under, and whether or not they were a part of, (or schismatic from), one of the above irregular nationals. They are categorized as ‘Society of 1870-type’ chapters, because they all seem to have similar functions and activities. Like the Society of 1870 chapters, these were the most notorious groups. They had no real ties to the original society at all, although they still used the name ‘Theta Nu Epsilon’. The initiation ceremony was different, (and strongly suspect in its character). The traditions were entirely different, and the propensity for unsavory behavior was marked. It may be possible to trace more accurately the history of these groups, but the prospects for success have not been encouraging, and no real point has been found for undertaking the project. These chapters also operated an allied sorority called Rho Delta. There's no reason to believe the character of the women greatly exceeded that of the men. It is important here to note that in the Western states in the four decades after 1910, the history is only hypothetical at best.
Independents - 1893 to present. The independent chapters were not a national at all, just a random scattering of independent chapters. It is important to remember that since the third decade of the society, there were probably from a quarter to a half of all chapters which had severed all connection to any nationals. Some of them have had long and distinguished careers, altrhough many of them did not last long. A handful continue today.
Louderback National - 1987 to 2003. This recent entity was headquartered in suburban Los Angeles, California. In 1997, it listed eight chapters, including the Alpha, the Alpha Rho, and the Zeta, by which they meant Wesleyan, Alabama, and Berkeley. None of these three chapters were ever connected to Louderback. The list of eight also included a Pi Phi, (Virginia), based on ‘an undergraduate interest,’ which seems, at best, ephemeral. Also listed was an Alpha Lambda chapter, (Nebraska), based on an airplane banner flyover at the annual football game. We suspect Louderback himself arranged for this, hoping to create the appearance of a Nebraska chapter. Among the eight is also another chapter, Zeta Sigma, without members. The list also included a Beta Sigma and Delta Sigma chapter, at Kansas State and Kansas. Beta Sigma must actually have been defunct because Louderback’s list notes that there were no undergraduates, and that his national would be contacting alumni from 1936 to 1979;—but why stop the alumni list in 1979 unless the chapter stopped in 1977? Of the eight chapters the Louderback entity listed in 1997, only one had undergraduate members, the Delta Sigma at Kansas. The National Organization of the Alpha Chapter also has every reason to believe that this chapter is a relatively recent affair, and very unlikely to predate the 1930’s, if half that long. Between 1997 and 2002, this Louderback entity may have created two chapters, neither of which appear to have survived. This entity maintained a website that made many impossible claims, including, among other things, the participation of the Alpha Chapter in their organization. We will not comment on the nature of this organization, but anyone interested is invited to do a websearch using their leader’s name with terms such as ‘fraud,’ ‘federal tax court,’ and ‘scholarship scams.’ We assume that they were descended somehow from the rogue Society of 1870-type chapters found in the West from the 1920’s to 40’s. These people did not possess the ‘signs of recognition’ of members, and seem to have replaced the esoteric matter of Theta Nu Epsilon with very strange stories, exhorbitant claims, and a concern-provoking initiation. They had interesting views on Area 51, the Talmud, Skull & Bones, and Theta Nu Epsilon. We have no idea who these people were, disavow any relationship with them, and deny any responsibility for their actions. The organization did not, it seems, survive the passing of Mr. Louderback in 2003.
The National Organization of the Alpha Chapter of Theta Nu Epsilon 1999 - 2009 © All rights reserved.
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