21-22
1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s
20-21 | 21-22 | 22-23 | 23-24 | 24-25 | 25-26 | 26-27 | 27-28 | 28-29 | 29-30
Charter Year
1921 - 1922
The Beta Sigma Chapter of
Pi Kappa Alpha
Carnegie Mellon University
4807 Baum Boulevard
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Chapter History Report
Quoted text from the original Record Book dated December 5, 1921.
In the fall of 1920, a group of men from the colleges of Science and Industries met with the avowed purpose of creating a local fraternity to which men from all degree courses should be admitted without discrimination.
Finally a meeting was called, and on Nov. 23, 1920, Zeta Delta was born, having ten charter members. No time was lost in securing a house.
Early in March we were admitted to the General Interfraternity Council, and latter in the same month, we received faculty permission to petition Pi Kappa Alpha.
In the meantime, Bro. McCorkle introduced us to members of Alumnus Kappa-Alpha Chapter of Pittsburgh.
On Feb. 14, we had the honor of an official visit from the Grand Secretary J. Lorton Francis.
On April 22, 1921, we forwarded our petition to Pi Kappa Alpha.
With the opening of the new college year in September, we redoubled our efforts to pledge good men and we were generously rewarded.
We now began to seek a better house and within two months we had found what we wanted. Everything was made ready to move into our new home on Dec. 17, 1921.
In the meantime, on Dec. 12, we received a telegram from Pi Kappa Alpha stating that our petition had been approved.
On Sat. Jan. 21, 1922, we were installed as members of Pi Kappa Alpha and Zeta Delta ceased to exist. Those on the initiating team were J. L. Francis, R. D. Graham, H. J. Riffle of Penn State, G. S. Dunham of Cornell, J. G. Hubbard of Rutgers, B. R. Pinney of U. of P., L. G. Anquin or Syracuse, and E. Weatherdon of N. Y. U.
Immediately after the installation the following Bro. took the oath of office. W. M. Harrison as S. M. C.; J. R. Gilbert as I. M. C.; D. S. Harding as M. S.; B. R. Biever as S. C.; P. J. Moore as T. H. C.; O. R. Treharne as M. C.
That night a banquet was held at the Fort Pitt Hotel. Char Williamson was toastmaster, and the speakers were: Grand Secretary J. Lorton Francis; District Princeps Robert D. Graham; Paul McCorkle, Alpha-Rho; W. C. Klingensmith, Beta-Alpha; M. B. Porch, Omega; E. B. Agee, Alpha; Bro. Herndon, Alpha-Delta; Bro. Chapman, Beta-Theta, and members of the initiating team.
On Feb. 18, 1922, Beta Sigma1 held her first house dance. Several alumni were present.
Formal initiation was held on March 5, 1922, bringing five new brothers into our portals. On the following Saturday night a house dance was held in honor of the new brothers.
On April 27, 1922, beta Sigma entered her speedy pushmobile in the Inter-fraternity Sweepstake Race held during Campus Week. Brothers Brook, Carter, Mills and Pledge Wayne showed their true speed by tying with S.A.E. for first place and the cup2.
Four of our pledges were formally initiated into the brotherhood on April 29, 1922 and a dance was held in their honor on the evening of the same day.
Early Chapter Housing
Upon the formation of Zeta Delta in November of 1920 the records indicate that no time was lost in finding a meeting house. The location of this house is unknown as is any of the details. Was it a house for the sole use of Zeta Delta? Did we rent or own? It would seem likely that the location was somewhat temporary and not entirely conducive for chapter operations. The records go on to note that a "better house" was quickly located in preparation for our chartering into Pi Kappa Alpha. In fact the chapter moved into this new home (pictured here) on December 17, 1921.
City records show the address of Pi Kappa Alpha in 1922 as being at 4807 Baum Boulevard. This house was located a block or two off of the far end of Morewood Avenue. It was a very long walk from campus. The location served as our Chapter House for six years up until 1927. The area is currently highly commercialized. The original building likely no longer exists.
Sweepstakes
PKA Chapter House (c1926)
4807 Baum Blvd
Promptly at 9:30 AM on Friday, May 29, 1922 the pistol cracked and the annual fraternity Pushmobile Race was on. As the mighty chariots roared up to the first turn the Delta Upsilon Grasshopper lost a wing and smashed into the curb. From then on the carnage was frightful and the ambulances had plenty of work. Four minutes and thirty seconds from the start, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon and the Pi Kappa Alpha entries whizzed up to the finish for a tie. The Delta Mu was an easy third. This marking the first Pushmobile competition for our chapter and one ending with a performance perhaps indicative of things to come.
Footnotes
Why "Beta Sigma"? The Greek alphabet contains 24 characters (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta, theta, iota, kappa, lambda, mu, xi, omikron, pi, rho, sigma, tau, upsilon, phi, chi, psi, and omega). Our first chapter was Alpha, the second Beta and so on. After Omega Chapter came Alpha Alpha Chapter. Our chapter which chartered on December 5, 1921 was the 66th and Beta Sigma is the 66th in this sequence. This is the number 66 represented in base 24 using Greek letters. Most national fraternities use this approach and therefore there are a number of Beta Sigma Chapters across the country but there is only one (1) Beta Sigma Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha.
The photo of the speedy pushmobile shown here (click on it for an enlarged view) has barely survived the years. For some time it was stored with ritual materials indicating that was of some importance. Most later brothers assumed it was an early Buggy photo but did know the circumstances. The photo was taken on Joncaire Street which in 1922 ran down through campus. The College of Fine Arts building appears in the background. Presumably the Fence ran alongside this street and would be behind the photographer. This picture, although greatly reduced, appears in the 1923 Thistle yearbook. The original photo was torn or perhaps folded and cracked as it may have been in a 10" x 14" format. The original has not been located. A copy is framed at the chapter house and clearly displays the tear. In the photo shown here the tear has been digitally edited out. The four brothers in this photo are those listed but at this point we cannot put the names to the faces. The tape on the inside of the front left wheel bears the designation "3.14".
Charter Members & Initiates
Charter Member Mr. Herbert Morris White
Charter Member of Zeta Delta.
Not initiated into the Chapter but listed on our Charter.
Thistle Board - Organizations
Roll No. 1 - Charter Member Mr. Harry Love McKee
Initiated: January 21, 1922 (at the age of 36)
Faculty Member. Assistant Professor of Mechanical Drawing, Descriptive Geometry. Received Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1917.
Roll No. 2 - Charter Member Mr. Charles Oliver Williamson (Char)
Initiated: January 21, 1922 (at the age of 31)
Faculty Member. Teaching Physics. Served in World War I in U.S. Army June 20,1917 through November 3, 1920. Commissioned 2nd Lt. August 25, 1918. Came to Carnegie Tech. November 10, 1920.
Roll No. 3 - Charter Member Mr. William Thomas Mantell
Initiated: January 21, 1922
Alumnus of Zeta Delta graduated June 5, 1921.
Honoraries: Alpha Tau Honorary Fraternity
Secretary of Class ('21); Tech Mechanics Club; Buckeye Club; Skaduta Club; Chairman Clubroom Committee; Swimming Team
Bachelor of Science in Machine Production
>News c1927: B.S. '21, Power Sales Engineer, Duquesne Light Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Roll No. 4 - Charter Member Mr. John Edward Chick (Chick)
Initiated: January 21, 1922
Honoraries: Alpha Tau Honorary Fraternity, Sophomore Scholarship, Third Honors at Graduation.
Class Vice-President; Tech Mechanics President; Tech Mechanics Club; Dorm B. B.; Tartan
Bachelor of Science in Machine Production.
>News c1927: B.S. '22, Sales Mgr. Westinghouse Electric & manufacturing Co., Johnstown, Pa.
Roll No. 5 - Charter Member Mr. Donald Saunders Harding (Fat Man)
Initiated: January 21, 1922
Positions/Offices: MS
Honoraries: Alpha Tau Honorary Fraternity
Tartan; News Editor; Tech mechanics Club; Thistle Board - Activities; Junior Prom Committee
Bachelor of Science in Machine Production.
Roll No. 6 - Charter Member Mr. Paul Jones Moore (P.J.)
Initiated: January 21, 1922
Positions/Offices: ThC
Honoraries: Alpha Tau Honorary Fraternity, YMCA Scholarship ('19), Founders Scholarship ('20, '21)
A. V. O. Club, American Institute of Electrical Engineers, Class Treasurer, Executive Council
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Equipment.
>News c1927: B.S. '22, Instructor in Vocational Education, Monessen, Pa.
Roll No. 7 - Charter Member Mr. Owen Richard Treharne
Initiated: January 21, 1922
Positions/Offices: MC
Building Construction Club; Rifle Club
Bachelor of Science in Building Construction.
Legacy (Brother): John Treharne
>News c1927: B.S. '22, Superintendent of Construction, Wimer Construction Co., Butler, Pa.
Roll No. 8 - Charter Member Mr. Barton Rank Biever (Hyp)
Initiated: January 21, 1922
Positions/Offices: SC
Honoraries: Alpha Tau Honorary Fraternity
Tartan; Rifle Club; S.I.E.
Bachelor of Science in Machine Production.
>News c1927: B.S. '23, Phillips Jones Corp., Pottsville Pa.
Roll No. 9 - Charter Member Mr. William Walter Eastman (Willie)
Initiated: January 21, 1922
Rifle Club; S.I.E.; Citmas Club
Bachelor of Science in Machine Production.
>News c1927: B.S. '23, Salesman, Senaca Falls, N.Y.
Roll No. 10 - Charter Member Mr. Leigh Jack McLain
Initiated: January 21, 1922
Left Carnegie Tech. at end of Sophomore year.
>News c1927: ex-'23, Secretary-Treasurer, Ideal Dairy Co., Kalamazoo, Mich.
Roll No. 11 - Charter Member Mr. William Miller Harrison (Bill)
Initiated: January 21, 1922
Positions/Offices: SMC
Southern Club; American Association of Engineering; Chemist Club; Wrestling Squad; Circus
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
Roll No. 12 - Charter Member
Mr. John Russell Gilbert (Jack)
Initiated: January 21, 1922
Positions/Offices: IMC, SC
A.V.O.; Wrestling
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Equipment.
>News c1927: B.S. '24, West Penn Power Co., Freeport, Pa.
Roll No. 13 - Charter Member Mr. Anthony Thormin (Terry)
Name changed, Appears on Charter as: Anthony Taormina
Initiated: January 21, 1922
Honoraries: Tau Sigma Delta, Scarab
Banquet Committee
Bachelor of Arts in Architecture.
>News c1927: B.S. '24, Graduate Student M. I. T., Roxbury, Mass.
Roll No. 14 - Charter Member Mr. John Millin Treharne
Initiated: January 21, 1922
Left Carnegie Tech. at end of Freshman year.
Legacy (Brother): Owen Treharne
>News c1927: ex-'24, Construction Inspector, Union Railroad, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Roll No. 15 - Charter Member Mr. Albert Matson Belden
Initiated: January 21, 1922
Relocated to Alpha Chapter (University of Virginia), 1922
Joined Chapter Eternal: July 15, 1972
Roll No. 16 Mr. Joseph Henry Delo (Joe)
Initiated: January 21, 1922
Honoraries: Tau Sigma Delta
Decoration Committee for Design Ball; Glee Club
Bachelor of Arts in Achitecture.
>News c1927: A.B. '24, Architect, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Roll No. 17
Mr. Cornelius Francis Driscoll
Initiated: January 21, 1922
Left Carnegie Tech. February 1, 1922.
>News c1927: ex-'24, Complaint Correspondent, Yale Towne Mfg. Co., South Norwalk, Conn.
Roll No. 18 Dr. David Scroggs McKinney (Scroggs)
Initiated: January 21, 1922
Secretary Chemical Club; Technical Journal
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering.
Roll No. 19 Mr. Nelson Martin Allen (Nelse/Duke/Al)
Initiated: January 21, 1922
Bachelor of Science in Printing.
Graphica; Reserve Baseball Squad; Intramural Basketball
>News c1927 - B.S. '23; Superintendent, Norton Printing Company, Ithaca N.Y.
Roll No. 20 Mr. Edward Bourke Davidson
Initiated: January 21, 1922
Left Carnegie Tech. June 1922
>News c1927: ex-'23, Fruit Business, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Roll No. 21 Mr. Ray Edward Glover (Banker)
Initiated: January 21, 1922
Positions/Offices: SMC
Honoraries: Alpha Tau
S.I.E.
Bachelor of Science in Machinery Production
>News c1927: B.S. '24, Fruit Grower, Clyde, N.Y.
Roll No. 22 Mr. Warren Perry Thayer (Pooch)
Initiated: January 21, 1922
Positions/Offices: SC
A.V.O. Treasurer; Assistant Cheer Leader
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Construction.
>News c1927: B.S. '24, Salesman, General Electric Co., Indianapolis, Ind.
Roll No. 23 Mr. Kenneth William Finlay (Ken)
Initiated: March 5, 1922
Honoraries: Alpha Tau, 1923
Thistle Board Vice President, President, Treasurer; Graphica
Bachelor of Science in Printing.
>News c1927: B.S. '23, Printer, Finlay Brothers, Hartford, Conn.
Roll No. 24 Mr. Frank Defrane Brook
Initiated: March 5, 1922
Honoraries: Druid Honorary Fraternity, October 18, 1922, Sine Nomine Scholarship, September 19, 1922
Freshman Basketball, Freshman Banquet Committee, Junior Prom Committee, Puppet, Gambol Guilds Committee '23-'24
Left Carnegie Tech. June 1924
Roll No. 25 Mr. Howard Ashmore Bullard
Initiated: March 5, 1922
Left Carnegie Tech. June 1923
>News c1927: ex-'25, Printer, Hackensack, N. J.
Roll No. 26 Mr. Charles William Fire
Initiated: March 5, 1922
Positions/Offices: IMC
Left Carnegie Tech. June 1923
>News c1927: ex-'25, Reporter, Pittsburgh Chronicle-Telegraph, Ingomar, Pa.
Roll No. 27 Mr. Harry Farnsworth Hayden
Initiated: March 5, 1922
Roll No. 28
Mr. Payson Dennis Carter
Initiated: April 29, 1922
Transferred to University of North Carolina June 1922.
>News c1927: Transferred to Tau, Chapel Hill, N.J.
Roll No. 29
Mr. Harold Vibert Gedney
Initiated: April 29, 1922
Left Carnegie Tech. at end of Freshman year.
>News c1927: ex-'25, Accountant, Heinz Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Roll No. 30 Mr. John Albert Mills
Initiated: April 29, 1922
Left Carnegie Tech. June 1922
>News c1927: ex-'25, Architect, Shreveport, La.
Roll No. 31 Mr. Walstein Dering Smith
Initiated: April 29, 1922
Positions/Offices: ThC
Left Carnegie Tech. March 1924.