Theta Chi Prepares For Installation This Fall
Nick Obloy | Graphics Team

Theta Chi fraternity was founded on Thursday, April 10, 1856 at 9:00 pm on the campus of Norwich University in Norwich, Vermont by Frederick Norton Freeman and Arthur Chase, assisted by Egbert Phelps. Chase became the first president and Freeman the first secretary. Phelps, who transferred to Union College and joined Chi Psi Fraternity, suggested the name of the organization and designed the first badge of Theta Chi, which is still in use today.

In 1881 the student body of Norwich was reduced to a dozen men, and Theta Chi found itself with one active member. This critical situation was relieved when local alumni worked with the undergraduate member, James M. Holland, '83, in pledging and initiating Phil S. Randall, '86, and Henry B. Hersey, '85, thus preserving the existence of the Fraternity.

Since that time, Theta Chi Fraternity has swelled to more than 150,000 members and several hundred chapters throughout the country. It now consists of 161 active chapters across the United States as well as in Canada and an undergraduate membership of over 6,000.

Since the colonization of Theta Chi at Radford University on March 18, 2000, the men who have pledged an oath to our fraternity here at RU have been working diligently on fulfilling our promise to the international membership of Theta Chi by bringing a strong chapter to Radford’s campus. This November we plan on realizing our dream as our installation date is set for November 16, 2001.