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Theta Chi Delta

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Theta Chi Delta
ΘΧΔ
FoundedOctober 1920; 105 years ago (October 1920)
Carroll College
TypeHonor
AffiliationIndpendent
StatusDefunct
EmphasisChemistry
ScopeNational
Colors  Gold,   Purple, and   Black
PublicationThe Crucible
Chapters14
Headquarters
United States

Theta Chi Delta (ΘΧΔ) was an American honor fraternity in the field of chemistry. It was established in 1920 at Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin. It ceased operations as a national organization in 1954, with some chapters continuing as a local honor society. The former chapter at Carthage College remains active.

History

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Theta Chi Delta chemistry honor fraternity was founded at Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin in October 1920 from the college's chemistry club.[1][2] Its founders were A. F. Gillman Jr. and Percy M. Paddock.[3][4] Its purpose was to encourage scholarship in chemistry and to promote continued study in the field.[5] Clyde Hertz was Theta Chi Delta's first president.[4]

Carroll College became the Alpha chapter of an national honor fraternity and was authorized to established other chapters in the United States.[1] Geauque was elected the first national president.[6] A second chapter was formed on February 2, 1921 at Lombard College in Galesburg, Illinois.[7][8] It was founded by three professions and twelve students under the leadership of Harry A. Geauque, head of Lombard's chemistry department.[7][6] Geauque designed the fraternity's emblem and helped create its constitution and ritual.[6] As a result, the fraternity considered Geauque to be its main founder.[6]

Additional chapters were established at the College of Wooster and the University of Louisville in 1924. A chapter was established at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas on January 12, 1925.[5] The fraternity was governed by a grand council or Master Alchemists, which met at biennial national conventions.[7][1] Its grand officers included the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and historian.[9] By April 1925, the Carroll College chapter was inactive, leaving Lombard as the fraternity's oldest chapter.[10]

The first national convention was held in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 3 and 4, 1925, with representatives from six chapters attending.[7][11] The 1926 convention was held at the campus of the University of Louisville on April 2 and 3.[12] At that meeting, the fraternity installed a chapter at the College of William & Mary.[13] The 1928 convention was held at Wittenburg College on April 6 and 7, and was attended by representatives of eleven chapters.[14][15][9][16]

Theta Chi Delta had initiated 507 members and chartered twelve chapters by 1930, with eleven chapters being active.[7] Chapter meetings were educational.[7][17] Chapters were expected to show an active interest in the work in their campus's chemistry department.[7] Chapter activities included hosting exhibitions and essay contests, awarding prizes, and publishing professional papers.[18][19][20][21][9] In April 1932, the fraternity had 771 active and alumni members in thirteen chapters.[22]

Over time, membership in the fraternity declined due to competition from organizations such as the American Chemical Society.[5] Theta Chi Delta held a meeting at Wittenberg College on May 1, 1953, where it was decided to dissolve the fraternity in one year as a national organization, unless the situation could be reversed.[5] After Theta Chi Delta ceased as a national organization in 1954, some chapters withdrew and continued as local organizations.[5] The chapter at Bethany College operated as a local honorary society for several years.[5] The former chapter at Carthage College was still active in 2026 as the Theta Chi Delta/Chemistry Club.[23]

Symbols

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Theta Chi Delta's badge was a hexagonal-shaped gold key, bearing the Greek letters "ΘΧΔ" over crossed retorts on the front and balances, the member's name, and chapter on the reverse.[7] The society's colors were gold, purple, and black.[7][8] Its publication was The Crucible, first published in February 1921 by the Alpha chapter.[7][3]

Membership

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Membership in Theta Chi Delta was a reward for high scholarship and attainment in chemistry.[7] The fraternity admitted members who were "pursuing credible work in advanced chemistry".[5] Students were required to be chemistry majors with at least a 3.0 GPA.[24][25] Alumni and faculty who worked in the field of chemistry were also eligible for membership.[5] The fraternity was coeducational.[26][27]

Chapters

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Following are the chapters of Theta Chi Delta, with inactive chapters and institutions indicated in italics.[7][22]

Chapter Original chapter name Charter date and range Institution Location Status Ref.
Alpha October 1920 – before April 1925 Carroll College Waukesha, Wisconsin Inactive [1][2][a]
Alpha Alpha Beta (First) February 2, 1921 – c. 1930 Lombard College Galesburg, Illinois Inactive [8][b][c]
Alpha Beta Gamma December 1924 College of Wooster Wooster, Ohio Inactive [28][29][17]
Alpha Gamma Delta January 1925 University of Louisville Louisville, Kentucky Inactive [8][30]
Alpha Delta Beta (Second) January 12, 1925 Bethany College Lindsborg, Kansas Withdrew (local) [5][d]
Alpha Epsilon Epsilon March 26, 1925 Birmingham–Southern College Birmingham, Alabama Inactive [31][32][13]
Alpha Zeta 192x ?–1929 Missouri Wesleyan College Cameron, Missouri Inactive [16]
Alpha Eta March 1926 Carthage College Kenosha, Wisconsin Withdrew (local) [23][e]
Alpha Theta April 3, 1926 – 1943 College of William & Mary Williamsburg, Virginia Inactive [33][34][f]
Alpha Iota April 9, 1927 Wittenberg College Springfield, Ohio Inactive [9][35][15]
Alpha Kappa before June 1927 Ohio University Athens, Ohio Inactive [36][37]
Alpha Lambda 192x ? Converse College Spartanburg, South Carolina Inactive
Alpha Mu May 31, 1929 Central College Fayette, Missouri Inactive [38][39][g]
Alpha Nu May 2, 1931 William Jewell College Liberty, Missouri Inactive [40][h]
  1. ^ Chapter formed from the Carroll College Chemistry Club.
  2. ^ Presumably, the chapter was renamed after the original Alpha chapter went inactive. This appears to have been before January 1925, when the Beta name was reassigned to the newly formed Bethany College chapters.
  3. ^ Chapter went inactive when the college closed in 1930.
  4. ^ At the time of national dissolution, this chapter withdrew and became a local organization that operated for several years.
  5. ^ At the time of national dissolution, this chapter withdrew and became the Theta Chi Delta/Chemistry Club (local).
  6. ^ Chapter formed from Delta Pi Sigma, a local honorary chemistry fraternity.
  7. ^ Chapter formed from the T. Berry Smith Chemistry Club, a local group established in 1927.
  8. ^ Chapter formed from the Khem Club, a local organization established in 1916.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "New Fraternity is Formed at Carroll". The Waukesha County Freeman. 1921-01-31. p. 3. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b Wittenberger (yearbook) Springfield, Ohio: Wittenberg University, 1935. p. 100. via e-Yearbooks. Accessed January 19, 2026.
  3. ^ a b "Week of Prayer at Carroll Next Week". The Waukesha County Freeman. 1921-02-02. p. 3. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b "Carroll Notes". The Waukesha County Freeman. 1921-02-07. p. 3. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lungstrom, Leon G. ""Societies on the College Campus Associated with Mathematics and Natural Sciences"". SWEDES: TheWayTheyWere. pp. 39–46. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
  6. ^ a b c d "Founder". The Crucible: 10–11. April 1932. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Shepardson, Francis Wayland, ed. (1930). "Title Page". Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (12th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/George Banta Publishing Company. p. 427 – via HathiTrust.
  8. ^ a b c d Thoroughbred (yearbook) Lousiville: University of Louisville, 1928. p. 151. via e-Yearbook. Accessed January 19, 2026.
  9. ^ a b c d "New Chemical Fraternity at Wittenberg to Be Host to National Convention". Springfield News-Sun. 1928-01-20. p. 12. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Chemical". The Banta' Greek Exchange. 13 (2): 232. April 1925 – via Hathi Trust.
  11. ^ "Theta Chi Delta Convention". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 1925-03-31. p. 18. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Frat Meets on Campus of U. of L." The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. 1926-04-11. p. 48. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b "Attends Convention". The Cameron Citizen Observer. 1926-04-15. p. 9. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Society". Springfield News-Sun. 1928-01-13. p. 18. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b "Local Chapter of Chemical Fraternity to be Host at National Conclave of Organization". Springfield News-Sun. 1928-01-19. p. 11. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b "Fraternity Holds Meeting in City". Springfield News-Sun. 1928-04-06. p. 29. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b The 1927 Index (yearbook) Wooster: College of Wooster, 1926. p. 164.
  18. ^ "Chemical Review Presented Here by College Chemists". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. 1927-04-06. p. 9. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Swann to Give Essay Prizes". The Birmingham Post. 1928-02-28. p. 15. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Other Awards". The Birmingham News. 1927-05-31. p. 2. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Hilltop College Will Give Exhibit". The Birmingham News. 1927-03-18. p. 36. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ a b Draving, Howard (April 1932). "The Directory of Theta Chi Delta". The Crucible: 65.
  23. ^ a b "Chemistry Student Organizations". Carthage College. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
  24. ^ "Wittenberg New Notes". Springfield News-Sun. 1927-05-15. p. 16. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Local Happenings". Albany Ledger. 1931-03-19. p. 2. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Miss Mildred Beck". The Lanark Gazette. 1928-04-04. p. 8. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "To Be Initiated". The Urbana Daily Citizen. 1929-03-28. p. 8. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "In New Fraternity". The Union County Journal. Marysville, Ohio. 1924-12-19. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ The 1933 Index (yearbook) Wooster: College of Wooster, 1932. p. 125.
  30. ^ "U. of L. Notes". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. 1925-01-11. p. 39. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "New Fraternity Planned: Birmingham-Southern to Organize Chemical Honor Society". Birmingham Post-Herald. 1925-03-01. p. 25. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Gets New Chapter: Theta Chi Delta to be Introduced at Birmingham-Southern College". The Birmingham News. 1925-03-02. p. 5. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Newport News Boys Win Cognizance In Chemistry". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. 1928-01-24. p. 9. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ "Collection: Theta Chi Delta Records | Special Collections Research Center". College of William & Mary Libraries. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
  35. ^ "New Fraternity is Instituted". Springfield News-Sun. 1927-04-10. p. 28. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Harold Wiegand Chosen to Honorary Fraternity". News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. 1927-06-01. p. 12. Retrieved 2026-01-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ "Mr. C. Raymond Cooper". Morgan County Democrat. McConnelsville, Ohio. 1927-06-16. p. 8. Retrieved 2026-01-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ "Form a Central Chapter of National Chemical Fraternity". The Democrat-Leader. Fayette, Missouri. 1929-05-17. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ "Install Honorary Fraternity Friday". The Fayette Advertiser. 1929-06-04. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ "Albany Students in New Chapter of Fraternity". Albany Ledger. 1931-04-23. p. 2. Retrieved 2026-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
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