Local Florida State ATO History

Soon after becoming Florida State University, eleven national fraternities approached the University administration about the possibility of establishing local chapters at FSU.  According to Dean of Student Welfare J. Broward Culpepper, "[I]t is the desire of the administration in bringing fraternities to the campus that the whole matter be studied carefully, and that every step be taken only after it has been determined that such action is for the best interest of the students, the institution, and the fraternities concerned."  As a result President Doak S. Campbell appointed a committee of Dean Culpepper and four other faculty members to make recommendations to the University Executive Council.  The Executive Council agreed to allow eleven fraternities to establish local chapters.  They asked ATO and the other fraternities to verify their interest.

 Stewart D. Daniels, of the National Fraternity, received Dean Culpepper's letter with enthusiasm.  At a meeting of national and district officers and members of the High Council at Dearborn, Michigan, the group of officials embraced the idea of expansion.  Daniels explained, "In view of the fact that Alpha Tau Omega was the first fraternity to establish a chapter on the Florida campus and has such a backlog of alumni interest throughout the State, we are very anxious to establish a chapter on your campus just the moment you give us your permission."

 A Faculty Fraternity Committee developed guidelines and procedures for local colonies to follow before "going national." An Interfraternity Council was organized. Local groups were required to have at least 20 members but not more than 40. All were required to have a faculty advisor. They were prohibited from purchasing fraternity houses or renting homes without the approval of the Faculty Fraternity Committee.

             With the help of ATOs initiated at other Universities, a core group of colony members were recruited.  Formal pledging into the ATO colony took place on December 5, 1947.  By February 1948, the ATO Alpha Theta Phi Colony was fully established and operational.  In a letter to Stewart Daniels, Peyton Elliott Richter, Corresponding Secretary, reported how FSU had set aside special barracks in Dale Mabry Field on West Campus to be used as temporary fraternity houses.  The "house" provided sleeping accommodations for about fifteen men but contained no kitchen or dining facilities.  The colony members remodeled two rooms in the front of the building to serve as a chapter room.

During the first year of operation year, ATO placed first in fraternity scholastics and second in intramurals.  The first initiation into Alpha Theta Phi took place in March 1948.

Province Chief Henry G. Palmer paid the colony a visit on November 6-7, 1948.  In a letter to Worthy Grand Chief John M. MacGregor, Palmer reported that Florida State "authorities are very sympathetic toward the installation of fraternities."  Describing the colony, Palmer explained:

 "Alpha Theta Phi is a colony founded for the express purpose of petitioning Alpha Tau Omega for a chapter, and I have high praise for it and its efforts since it was formed.  Its nucleus was made up of Alpha Tau Omega brothers who had transferred to this University and they have built the group into its present size with the same high standards for membership which a chartered chapter would have used.  The group spirit and morale is outstanding.  It is my firm belief that they would add honor to our Fraternity if they become a part of it."

 One day later, the other ATO chapters in the Province also voiced their support.  Georgia Tech, Emory, Georgia, Mercer, and even Florida offered their support to the colony.  University of Florida Worthy Master Robert McDougal remarked that the Alpha Omega chapter believed "that Alpha Theta Phi has an outstanding group of men."

 On January 19, 1949, Worthy Grand Chief John M. MacGregor formally authorized Brothers Palmer and Vann the authority to establish and organize the Epsilon Sigma chapter at Florida State University.

 On February 15, 1949, Dean Culpepper informed ATO National Executive Secretary Stewart D. Daniels that the Alpha Theta Phi colony had complied with all of the requirements of the University.  Since there were now more than four fraternities ready to "go national," Florida State set a date of March 5, 1949, for issuing charters.

Plans were set to charter Florida State University's first fraternities. On Friday, March 4, 1949, Dean Culpepper held a meeting of all of the executive secretaries. All eight official fraternities, Alpha Tau Omega, Delta Tau Delta, Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Kappa Tau, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Theta Chi, joined together Saturday evening for the Interfraternity Banquet at the Dining Hall followed by the Interfraternity Dance at the Student Union on West Campus. At 7:00 p.m. they ate at an informal banquet dinner at the Talquin Inn.  

            The following morning – March 5, 1949, ATO had breakfast at the Dining Hall at 9:00 a.m., followed by a Smoker at the House at 10:30 a.m. and a Luncheon at 12:00 noon.  Although newspapers reported that ATO's initiation would occur at 1:30 p.m., it actually took place at 10:00 a.m. at the Baptist Church, against the wishes of FSU officials.  Initiating teams from the University of Florida, Emory, Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia, and Mercer initiated the colony members.

 The eight new and now official fraternities, Alpha Tau Omega, Delta Tau Delta, Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Kappa Tau, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Theta Chi, joined together Saturday evening for the Interfraternity Banquet at the Dining Hall followed by the Interfraternity Dance at the Student Union on West Campus. On Sunday, ATO held religious ceremonies at 11:00 a.m. in the Conradi Little Theatre followed by an Installation Banquet at the Cherokee Hotel.  ATO brothers enjoyed tea at various sorority houses that afternoon.

 The first formal meeting of the Epsilon Sigma chapter took place on March 29, 1949, at the chapter house on West Campus, and so the legend was born…