History

The National History of Tau Kappa Epsilon

Our Beginning, Growth, and Development

On the cold night of January 10, 1899, students of Illinois Wesleyan University, in the small Midwestern town of Bloomington, had just returned from the Christmas holidays when Joseph L. Settles went to the room occupied by James C. McNutt and Clarence A. Mayer at 504 East Locust Street to discuss the organization of a new society on campus. Joined immediately by Owen I. Truitt and C. Roy Atkinson, these five students created the first set of regulations for the Knights of Classic Lore, a society whose avowed purpose was “to aid college men in mental, moral, and social development.”
 
Because of his late arrival for this meeting, James J. Love was made the first new member. Love, along with Edwin A. Palmer and George H. Thorpe became the first initiates of this new organization. Although Settles was the leader in organizing the society, Atkinson was elected President and McNutt was chosen as Secretary.
 
There were two fraternities already in existence at Illinois Wesleyan in 1899, both with more than 50 chapters nationally. Phi Gamma Delta had been established in 1866, while Sigma Chi had begun there in 1883. In addition, two other national fraternities, Phi Delta Theta and Delta Tau Delta, had inactive chapters at Illinois Wesleyan. The Phi Delts existed from 1878-1897 and the Delts from 1877-1880.
 

A Different Organization

The Founders of the Knights of Classic Lore desired an organization different from those represented by the existing fraternities. Their desire was to establish a fraternity in which the primary requisites for membership would be the personal worth and character of the individual rather than the wealth he possessed, the honors or titles he could display, or the rank he maintained on the social ladder. The Founders of the KCL had little regard for many of the common characteristics of fraternities at that time, including their usual snobbery and disdain for persons outside of a fraternity.
 
It was not long after their recognition on campus that the Knights of Classic Lore were approached by some alumni of the Illinois Epsilon chapter of Phi Delta Theta, whose charter had been surrendered in 1897. The Phi Delt alumni saw in this new group an opportunity for the restoration of its charter, and interested themselves in converting it into a strong local fraternity. Through the persuasion and effort of Richard Henry Little, for columnist on the Chicago Tribune and one of the most prominent Phi Delt alumni, the Knights presented a petition to the Phi Delta Theta national organization at its convention in New York in 1902. The petition was rejected.
 
In hopes that their organization might be more attractive to Phi Delta Theta, it was decided that a Greek-letter name should be adopted. The name “Knights of Classic Lore” was therefore abandoned and the Greek letters Tau Kappa Epsilon selected. As a further step, a fraternity house was rented. This was the first fraternity house at Illinois Wesleyan, although Phi Gamma Delta and Sigma Chi had both been in existence on campus for many years. The Wilder Mansion, former home of President Wilder of the University, became the first TKE house.
 

To learn more about Tau Kappa Epsilon’s national history, visit www.TKE.org!

The History of Xi-Iota Chapter

 
Almost 40 years ago, the Xi-Iota Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon was established at the Florida Technological University, or present day, University of Central Florida. The day was December 4th, a Saturday, back in 1971 where Fredrick Luther Carter (ΞI 1) and his fellow chapter founders were issued with the charter that stated Xi-Iota is now an official chapter. That makes this chapter one of the oldest fraternities on the UCF campus. Over the years, the Xi-Iota chapter is also one of the only fraternities who has never had its charter pulled since its installment back in 1971. This shows true to the fact that the brothers of TKE live the ideals that Tau Kappa Epsilon represents and always promotes on a daily basis.

The TKE Xi-Iota chapter can be found at their house in Campus Crossing at 2912 Blue Whistler Lane. (Seen above)

 

Some TKE Accomplishments from 2009 to present include:

  • Top TKE Chapter-2011
  • 1st Place Skit for Greek Week ’09
  • 1st Place Song for Greek Week ’09
  • 1st Place Overall for Greek Week ’09
  • 1st Place for most cans turned in (823lbs)for Homecoming ’09
  • 1st Place in Relay for life by raising $1900 in 18 hours
  • Best Chapter Advisor Award
  • Best leading male in KKΓ-TKE-ΣΝ HC Skit ’09
  • Most attendance for Homecoming’s Philanthropy Event with KKΓ-TKE-ΣΝ
  • 1st Place Knight Thon with Chi Omega raising $1800
  • 2nd Place for Alpha Epsilon Phi’s Bowlanthropy
  • 2nd Place in Cheer for Chi Omega’s Yards for Youth
  • 3rd Place Overall for Homecoming ’09 with KKΓ-TKE-ΣΝ
  • 3nd Place in Delta Delta Delta’s Spaghetti Eating Contest
  • Chi Omega’s Omega Man 2009 (Anthony Battaglia)
  • 1st Place overall for Greek Week ’10
  • 1st Place SUV in Kappa’s Cars Keys and Fleur de Lis
  • 1st Place European Imports in Kappa’s Cars Keys and Fleur de Lis
  • 1st Place Asian Import in Kappa’s Cars Keys and Fleur de Lis
  • 1st Place in overall points for fraternities in Alpha Xi Delta’s Dodgebrawl
  • 1st Place in Delta Delta Delta’s Spaghetti Eating Contest
  • 3rd Place Overall for Trick or Treat on Greek Street with the lovely ladies of Alpha Xi Delta
  • 3rd Place Overall (1st for Greeks) in Kappa’s Cars Keys and Fleur de Lis.
  • 1st Annual Trick or Teke Halloween Party at the house where all proceeds go directly towards St. Jude’s Childrens Research Hospital.
  • 1st Place in Most Improved for IFC GPA
  • 3rd Place in Chi Omega’s Race Love Wish
  • 3rd Place overall in Greek Week ’11