Chi Epsilon's History

In the spring of 1922 two groups of civil engineering students at the University of Illinois, one calling itself Chi Epsilon, and the other calling itself Chi Delta Chi, independently of each other, took steps to petition the faculty for permission to establish an honorary civil engineering fraternity. As soon as the existence of the two groups became known to each other, plans were immediately propagated to merge the two groups. Dean M. S. Ketchum, Professor Ira O. Baker, and Professor C. C. Williams, later all chapter honor members, gave moral support to the idea of a departmental honorary fraternity and on May 20, 1922, the Council of the University granted permission to the petitioning group of 25 charter members to found the CHI EPSILON FRATERNITY. Upon the shoulders of the charter officers R. A. Black, president, Wm. A. Gurtler, vice president, and H.T. Larsen, secretary-treasurer, rested the burden and trials during the organization period, and it was due to the care and foresight used by these voices in the formulation of the early plans for initial organization and expansion that Chi Epsilon has been able to progress steadily.

As soon as the plans for the local organization had been perfected, steps were taken to expand into a national fraternity by banding together with groups at various other universities. For the furtherance of these plans a committee composed of Wm. A. Gurtler, chairman, M. W. Burns, and H. T. Larsen was appointed. An active expansion policy was decided upon and letter were written to the presidents of all the large engineering schools inviting petitions to Chi Epsilon. Meanwhile, the petition to the State of Illinois to incorporate as a national honorary civil engineering fraternity was granted and the certificate of incorporation issued on February 13, 1923. Many encouraging replies were received from various universities. but it was not until March 29, 1923, upon the installation of the Armour Chapter at the Armour Institute of Technology, that Chi Epsilon became truly a national fraternity. April 28, 1923, saw the national organization increase to three chapters upon the installation of the Minnesota Chapter at the University of Minnesota. The work of the Committee on Expansion became very complex and required the assumption of authority for the fulfillment of its plans. With the assumption of authority the committee finally became the Temporary Supreme Council of the National Fraternity and in order that it be a representative body P. L. Bergquist of the Minnesota Chapter, and H. W. Munday, of the Armour Chapter were elected to it. As a result of the active expansion campaign, petitions were received from the Universities of Southern California and Cornell, and the chapters installed on January 5, 1924, and January 10, 1925, respectively.

The First Conclave was held at the Armour Chapter in Chicago July 4, 1924, at which twelve members representing four chapters were present. Drastic changes were made in the constitution and general government, most noteworthy being the establishment of an endowment fund for conclave expenses. Members of the First Supreme Council were elected by the conclave expenses. Members of the First Supreme Council were elected by the conclave, who in turn elected the following officers: Wm. A. Gurtler, Grand President; P. L. Bergquest, Grand Vice President; C. W. Carlson, Grand Secretary-Treasurer; H. W. Munday, Editor of the Transit; F. M. Hines, member; and M. G. Burkey, member.

Due to the temporary slowing up of the work on the national expansion, a special meeting of the Supreme Council was called in Chicago in February, 1924. Present at this meeting were brother Gurtler, Carlson, Munday, and Burkey. An extensive campaign was planned with hopes that the number of chapters might be increased within the year, after which time a more conservative policy was to be enacted.

The membership had grown to 190 by February, 1925. The petition of the University of Wisconsin group resulted in the installation of the sixth chapter on February 14, 1925, at Madison, Wisconsin. The seventh chapter was installed shortly thereafter at the University of California on May 10, 1925.

The Second Conclave of the Chi Epsilon Fraternity was held at the University of Illinois at Champaign, Illinois, October 30, 1926. Present were three members of the Supreme Council, seven delegates, and several members of the Illinois Chapter. Since the time of the first conclave 205 members had been initiated, 21 of whom were members of a faculty and four were prominent engineers. Election of the Second Supreme Council resulted in the following officers: Wm. A. Gurtler, Grand President; F. M. Hines, Grand Vice President; H. T. Larsen, Grand Secretary-Treasurer; P. L. Bergquist, member and H.W. Munday, member. Professor C. C. Williams' recommended revision of the ritual, which tended to dignify it further, was the outstanding contribution of Second Conclave.

The only petition passed in 1927 was that of the group at the State College of Pennsylvania, which resulted in the installation of the Penn State Chapter on May 19, 1927. In less than five years, the membership of the fraternity had increased to a total of 535, of which 347 were active, 117 charter, 56 honorary, and 15 alumni members.

(The above in condensed from a short history of Chi Epsilon be W.A. Gurtler.)

The 22nd National Conclave was held at the University of Illinois, April 6-8, 1972. It was very appropriate for Chi Epsilon to return to the Illinois campus to observe the fiftieth anniversary of its founding. Fifty-eight of the then 78 active chapters had one or more delegates in attendance at this notable conclave. The membership of Chi Epsilon had grown to 28,500 by April, 1972.

The 25th National Conclave voted to change the name of our organization from Chi Epsilon Fraternity to Chi Epsilon. A total of 40,000 members had been initiated since the founding.