Beta's Founding

At nine o'clock in the evening of the eighth day of the eighth month of the year 1839, eight earnest young men, all students at Miami University, held the first regular meeting of Beta Theta Pi in the Hall of the Union Literary Society, an upper room in the old college building (known as "Old Main.") The eight founders in the order in which their names appear in the minutes were:

John Reily Knox, 1839
Samuel Taylor Marshall, 1840
David Linton, 1839
James George Smith, 1840
Charles Henry Hardin, 1841
John Holt Duncan, 1840
Michael Clarkson Ryan, 1839
Thomas Boston Gordon, 1840

"of ever honored memory."

The first paragraph of this chapter is a very concise summary of the first regular meeting which we call the Founding of Beta Theta Pi. To understand fully the Founding more background is needed.

College life at Miami University in 1839 was very different from today. There were only 135 students and six professors, and there were no coeds. Tuition for 1839 was $24 per year; rooms on campus cost $3 to $5 per year; and boarding was $1.50 to $2 per week. After pre-dawn worship services, students attended lectures and recitations in a classical curriculum which included Latin, Greek, logic, mathematics, political economy, and chemistry. Afternoons were spent chopping wood, wrestling, foot racing, and kicking a hair-stuffed sphere that was called football, followed by study. Many cooked their own meals in their rooms. The college year lasted from early October until early August with breaks for Christmas and Easter. Elliott and Stoddard Halls that served as dormitories and Old Main were the principal buildings on campus.

The most important extracurricular activities were conducted by the Erodelphian and Union Literary Societies. Formed in 1825, by 1839 each had accumulated substantial libraries and collections of geologic artifacts. On Friday afternoon members of each society assembled in the society Halls on the third floor of Old Main where they read, debated, delivered and criticized essays and sermons and developed skills in extemporaneous speaking. These meetings continued well into the night. The societies developed intense rivalry in recruiting and in the conduct of their affairs. While the literary societies supplemented the curriculum, in some respects they acted as quasi-fraternities. Each sought to provide its members mutual improvement, the cultivation of fellowship, and the promotion of standards of conduct. Most students were members of one of these societies. Of our Founders, Knox, Marshall, Smith, and Hardin wore the white rose of Union Lit; while Linton, Duncan, Ryan, and Gordon wore the red rose of the Erodelphians. Several served in important positions; Knox was selected President of Union Lit in June 1839 while Linton served as Treasurer of the Erodelphians for a year.

However, something was missing. These societies did not fulfill all of a student's needs; so in the winter and spring of 1839 our Founders began planning something different. During this period Knox, Marshall, Smith, and Hardin lived in the west wing of Old Main, Marshall and Smith being roommates and Hardin living next door. Alpha Delta Phi, which had existed since 1832, was the only fraternity. It had unsuccessfully offered membership to Marshall, and perhaps others of the Founders, and Duncan's older brother was an Alpha. It wielded substantial influence and was quite controversial in the literary societies.

In an 1842 letter to E. Bruce Stevens, Miami 1843, John Reily Knox told this story of the origin of Beta Theta Pi:

"To begin with the beginning, it was during the winter season, 1838-39, that the idea of forming a secret association first suggested itself to my mind. I saw that there were many advantages in such an association, which could not otherwise be enjoyed. Such combinations of individuals are as old as the wants of man and coeval with the growth of literature. The motto of your own Union Literary Society, 'firmam consensus facit, co-operation makes strength, is but an embodiment of the experience of man in all ages and nations.

"The history of many of these secret associations had always possessed a charm for me. There was an interest about the actions of men who bound themselves together by vows which were never broken, and who pursued the great objects of their association with an energy that never tired, with a zeal which knew not self, and with a devotedness that never counted gold. Men have been found among them who labored from morn to night, from youth to hoary age, in one cause and for one object. Revolutions have been accomplished and despots dethroned by the united action of small but daring associations. The great secret of their success consisted not in numbers but in union; not in great strength, but in well-directed and simultaneous exertions. What a few men united in object and effort will to do can be done; and more than that, such associations teach us in their records how far human friendships can carry us from the shrine of idol self. . . . In some of these societies, however, were to be found many objectionable features that rendered them liable to be used as engines of evil as well as instruments of good. Some of these were to be found in the Alpha Delta Phi Society, as it was organized at Miami University, and I imagined that an association might be formed which would embrace the good without the ingredient of evil. My attention was drawn more forcibly to this by the dissension then existing in the Union Literary Society. In some of our conversations on the subject, Taylor Marshall suggested the idea of building up a Society that might unite the benefits without the disadvantages of the Alphas. I told him I had thought of it, but was afraid that we could not succeed. But if you know Marshall, I need not tell you that he is one of the most sanguine men in existence. The idea once started, he would not give it up until I set to work.

"In the first place I got the Greek Lexicon and turned it over several times in search of a name. The present one was finally selected. Then came the badge. This was more difficult than the other. You have seen the first pins that were struck. In place of the crescent we first agreed on clasped hands - but that Taylor had altered when he went to the city to procure the pins. We then went to work on the Constitution. You have seen the draught as it was originally presented. On that I spent my leisure time for a week or more, and many were the long consultations that Taylor and I had over that. Night after night up in "the old wing" we revised and re-revised until we got it to our satisfaction, though necessarily imperfect; for it was altogether an experiment with me, as I had nothing to go by but imagination, and I believe Taylor was equally inexperienced. The next question was, Whom shall we connect with us in this matter? Charles Hardin roomed next door to Marshall so we called him in, and I initiated him and Taylor Marshall."

Thus, Knox and Marshall jointly conceived and worked together to create Beta Theta Pi during the winter and spring of 1839. On June 7, 1839, Knox was inaugurated as the President of the Union Literary Society. The ending of his inauguration speech gave hints of his Beta activities when he urged that each Society member should "in his intercourse with other members of the Society, be urbane in his manners, and mild in his expressions, and steadfast in his friendship." These were the same aspirations that Knox held for members of Beta Theta Pi; he wanted Betas to be polite, courteous, and friendly.

Probably about the same time Marshall took nine $10 gold pieces to Cincinnati where the a jeweler named Samuel S. Carley fashioned them into the first badges. Once Linton, Duncan, Ryan, and Gordon had been added, other organizational meetings were held. We think that some of these were held in an abandoned building, known locally as Cathcart's haunted house, about a mile north of town. Marshall recalled that once the original Constitution had been completed he patriotically dated it July 4, 1839. Perhaps the final plans for the formal founding were made then since July 4 was one of the few school holidays.

According to the minutes of the Founding, the eight Founders at these preliminary meetings associated themselves and subscribed to the Constitution. This Constitution contained our objects and principles - concepts that have never changed and are as fresh today as they were then. Yet five of the young men who conceived these concepts were only 19, and four of them barely so. As Knox, Linton, and Ryan were about to graduate, Duncan was selected to serve as the first president and Smith to be secretary.

And so the stage was set for the first regular meeting - the official Founding of Beta Theta Pi. The 1838-1839 academic year closed with graduation on August 8, and on that evening these eight young men slipped secretly up the steps of Old Main and entered the Hall of the Union Literary Society at the southeast corner of the third floor with keys that Knox possessed because he had been president of that society.

Smith recorded the events of the evening: John H. Duncan, having been previously elected as first president of this association, delivered his inaugural address as required, and entered upon the discharge of his duties. David Linton, who had been previously appointed to prepare a suitable address for the occasion, discharged the duty devolving upon him in an essay upon the first, and an ex tempore address upon the last, words of the motto. J. R. Knox was then elected to address the society upon the first anniversary of its foundation. Thomas B. Gordon was appointed to prepare the essay for the next meeting. Mr. Ryan proposed that it should be the duty of the secretary to inform by letter all absent members of the election of any new member, which proposition was agreed to. As a portion of the members would be absent during the approaching recess of the university, it was deemed advisable to adjourn to meet on the second Thursday of October, and the society adjourned accordingly.


Linton's address at the Founding was noteworthy. He closed with the following challenge for all those who in the future would wear our badge and bear our name: Therefore, let me exhort you to cultivate friendship for its own sake, for it has an intrinsic value uncomputed, incomputable. . .Let us ask ourselves those questions of wisdom and honor: What shall I do to render myself worthy of a brother's esteem? How shall I promote his interests or win his confidence? And what exertions shall I make to prove to all that I am not a mere cipher in the association to which I belong? Let each one of us ask ourselves these questions and answer them by our actions.

The Founders also expressed their aspirations for Beta Theta Pi in these ways: The beauty, elegance and permanency of all civil society depend wholly upon the integrity of its social union and mental cultivation. Here then we assume for the basis of our own secret Association the vital principle upon which hangs the progress and intellectual greatness of the human race; the mutual fidelity of hearts, the mutual assistance of mind. - Charles Henry Hardin, President's Initiation Speech, January 31, 1841 at age 20

"Remember 'tis virtue and wisdom that give vitality to friendship, and that without them there can be no lasting bond of union. Then study that you may be wise and cherish every virtue of the soul that you may be worthy of a brother's confidence. - David Linton, Founding Speech, August 8, 1839 at age 24

The cultivation of friendship is one of the first Christian duties and is a most important object in the organization of this association. We may indeed meet the other ends, which our motto contemplates, but that friendship may become as common among us as it is rare among other men, we should be careful whom we call brother and whom we elect to the friendship of the Beta Theta Pi. . . . Friendship and fidelity cannot be cultivated like the barren field by toil and labor; nor like the other qualities of the mind with severe and unwearied application but by a ready and willing commingling of hearts with hearts -- of feelings with feelings . . . such is friendship in its purity -- constant as time in prosperity and unchangeable as the decrees of fate in adversity. - Charles Henry Hardin, Essay, November 14, 1839 at age 19

Just who were these eight young men who charted the course of our fraternity in 1839 and what were they like? Years later Founder Marshall described them this way:

Knox - "Studious, notably modest, manly, and a splendid character in every way. He did not take to athletics, not being a rugged boy, and seldom played football. His college life was a dead level on a high plane and he always stood high with the faculty."

Marshall - "I was really an athlete and could beat anybody playing football. I did many tricks in which I was generally discovered. I was always doing something a little out of the ordinary. I never denied to the professors what I did."

Linton - "Broad shouldered and chunky, raised on a farm. He was a little older than any in our class save one. He was a good debater, a thinking man, and was very methodical."

Smith - "He was a pale, studious, quiet fellow in delicate health. I never saw such an eater in my life, and he never took physical exercise. Whatever lesson he prepared he understood, and could parse to the last single letter and word. He never forgot to be a gentleman, but took no pride in dress, though well off financially."

Hardin - "A bright student, and it didn't take him half the time to get his lessons that it did the others. A cheerful, pleasant, agreeable companion. He could read the New Testament in Greek like English but knew not a word of Latin. They asked me to help him, and in ninety days he was above mediocrity in that language."

Duncan - "John Holt was a Southerner; the best dressed boy in the class, and the best appearing young gentleman in the whole college. But he couldn't study mathematics. In the other departments he stood well."

Ryan - "Mike was a splendid fellow, whole-souled and all heart; had more heart than half a dozen boys ought to have. He had fits and starts of study and was a kind of an athlete, too."

Gordon - "As studious a boy as could be found. A vigorous debater and hard worker. He was a critical scholar and loved literature. He came from a wealthy family, but wore as poor clothes as he could pick up. I don't believe I ever say him with a necktie on. He played football with the rest of us and was full of energy."

When the five remaining Founders returned to Miami in October they began to recruit new brothers. At their first meeting they elected Smith's cousin, Henry Hunter Johnson, and in February added John Whitney, Alexander Paddack, and A. W. Hamilton, two of whom would soon play important roles in founding the Cincinnati Chapter. And so the Founding of Beta Theta Pi was complete.