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OSU Greek History

The Greek Community at Ohio State is virtually as old as the institution itself. Phi Gamma Delta and Phi Kappa Psi were making strong efforts to establish chapters before the original senior class graduated in 1874. The early history of Greek Life on this campus is colored with unique stories and proud traditions...
  • Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) was the first chapter to be charted at OSU in 1878. They were soon followed by Phi Kappa Psi (ΦΚΨ) in 1880, Sigma Chi (ΣΧ) in 1882, Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ) in 1883, Chi Phi (ΧΦ) in 1883, and Beta Theta Pi (ΒΘΠ) in 1885.
  • Kappa Kappa Gamma (ΚΚΓ) was the first sorority to be installed on campus when they were charted in 1888. They were followed by Kappa Alpha Theta (ΚΑΘ) in 1892, Pi Beta Phi (ΠΒΦ) in 1894, and Delta Delta Delta (ΔΔΔ) in 1896.
  • The first predominantly African-American fraternity founded on campus was Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority Incorporated was the first African-American sorority.
  • The OSU yearbook, the Makio was originally produced in 1880 by Phi Kappa Psi (ΦΚΨ) and Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI).
  • Beta Theta Pi (ΒΘΠ) was the first organization given permission to rent a facility. In 1890 they occupied the house of a former university professor, 202 West Eighth Avenue, for $475 a year.
  • In 1907, Beta Theta Pi (ΒΘΠ) was the first fraternity to build a new house at Ohio State. They constructed a house on the corner of 15th Avenue and Indianola Avenue, which began the tradition of "fraternity row."
  • In 1913, the Columbus City Panhellenic established a scholarship trophy to encourage scholarship and academic competition between sororities. Delta Delta Delta (ΔΔΔ) was awarded the trophy for the highest GPA the first two years and followed by Pi Beta Phi (ΠΒΦ) the following year.
  • During World War I, 136 Ohio State men lost their lives in battle, 65 fraternity members.
  • In 1919, the Intramural Association organized a mass spring athletic meet. Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ) won the first fraternity cup.

Famous OSU Greeks

  • Newton D. Baker
    U.S. Secretary of War
    Phi Gamma Delta
  • William M. Batten '32
    Pres. J.C. Penney; Chmn NYSE
    Phi Kappa Psi
  • George W. Bellows '05
    Artist
    Beta Theta Pi
  • Robert H. Bremner '39
    Specialist, American history
    Tau Kappa Epsilon
  • John W. Bricker '16
    U.S. Senator, governor of Ohio
    Delta Chi
  • Ned C. Brooks '24
    NBC News, “Meet the Press”
    Phi Kappa Tau
  • Earl D. Bruce '53
    Ohio State football coach
    Chi Phi
  • Paul H. Buck '21
    Pulitzer Prize winner
    Kappa Sigma
  • James A. Campbell '49
    Pres., Detroit Tigers
    Delta Upsilon
  • Milton A. Caniff '30
    Cartoonist
    Sigma Chi
  • Howard A. Cassidy '57
    Football, Heisman Trophy
    Sigma Chi
  • W.E. Chope
    Pres Industrial Nucleonics Corp
    Pi Kappa Alpha
  • Dorothy Kramer Clafin
    Portrait artist
    Delta Delta Delta
  • Fred A. Cornell '06
    Composer of “Carmen Ohio”
    Beta Theta Pi
  • Felix R. Cortes '47
    Diplomat, U.S. Consul
    Phi Kappa Sigma
  • Ernest Coulter 1893
    Founder Big Brothers of America
    Beta Theta
  • Samuel L. Devine '37
    U.S. Congress
    Sigma Nu
  • Carl G. Doney 1891
    Pres., Williamette University
    Beta Theta Pi
  • John H. Dun
    Editor, Toledo Times
    Phi Kappa Psi
  • Hazel B. Durnell '15
    Author
    Delta Gamma
  • Harold L. Enarson
    Pres., The Ohio State University
    Alpha Tau Omega
  • Sherwood L. Fawcett '41
    Pres., Battelle Memorial Institute
    Delta Chi
  • Wesley E. Fesler
    Ohio State Football Coach
    Pi Kappa Alpha
  • Dorothy Canfield Fisher 1898
    Author
    Kappa Kappa Gamma
  • William A. Fowler '33
    Physicist, Nobel Prize Winner
    Tau Kappa Epsilon
  • John W. Galbreath '20
    Owner, Pittsburgh Pirates
    Delta Tau Delta
  • Robert M. Ganger '25
    Pres., P. Lorillard Co.
    Phi Delta Theta
  • E. Gordon Gee
    Pres., The Ohio State University
    Pi Kappa Alpha
  • Sidney Gillman
    NFL Hall of Fame coach
    Zeta Beta Tau
  • Tom Carper '68
    Senator (Delaware) - 2001 - Present
    Governor of Delaware - 1993 - 2001
    Delta Tau Delta
  • Louis R. Groza '49
    NFL Hall of Fame
    Alpha Tau Omega
  • Richard J. Haayden '48
    Pres., All-Star Insurance Co.
    Phi Delta Theta
  • Tony Hall '64
    U.S. Congress
    Sigma Chi
  • Alberta P. Hannum '27
    Author
    Delta Gamma
  • Chick Harley
    College Football Hall of Fame
    Phi Gamma Delta
  • Eileen Heckart '42
    Actress, Oscar Winner
    Pi Beta Phi
  • Embury Hitchcock
    Dean, College of Engineering
    Triangle
  • Stuart Holcomb '32
    College Football Coach
    Phi Delta Theta
  • Les Horvath
    Football Hall of Fame
    Delta Tau Delta
  • James Houston '61
    Professional Football
    Alpha Tau Omega
  • William V. Houston '20
    Pres., Rice University
    Delta Chi
  • Raymond Hutchens '35
    Pres., Salmon Chase College
    Delta Sigma Phi
  • John Jakes '52
    Author
    Sigma Alpha Epsilon
  • Edward H. Jennings
    Pres., The Ohio State University
    Sigma Nu
  • Robert A. Johns '42
    Pres., Sacramento State University
    Sigma Chi
  • Richard Joseph '32
    Editor, Esquire Magazine
    Sigma Alpha Mu
  • John R. Kasich '74
    U.S. Congress
    Alpha Sigma Phi
  • Charles F. Kettering '04
    Founder, General Motors Co.
    Delta Upsilon
  • Williard M. Kiplinger '12
    Kiplinger Washington Letter
    Sigma Pi
  • Frank L. Kloeb '11
    U.S. Congress
    Sigma Alpha Epsilon
  • Frederic B. Knoop '29
    Founder Modern Photography Mag.
    Sigma Alpha Epsilon
  • Foy D. Kohler '31
    Ambassador, Soviet Union
    Delta Upsilon
  • Helen Davis Kromer
    Musical and Drama producer
    Delta Delta Delta
  • George P. Larrick '23
    Comm., U.S. Food & Drug Admin
    Beta Theta Pi
  • Frank J. Lausche
    U.S. Senator, governor of Ohio
    Phi Sigma Kappa
  • Jerome Lawrence '37
    Broadway Playwright
    Zeta Beta Tau
  • Fred Lazarus
    CEO, Federated Department Stores
    Zeta Beta Tau
  • Richard Lewis '69
    Comedian, actor
    Alpha Epsilon Pi
  • James F. Lincoln '07
    Pres., Lincoln Electric
    Sigma Alpha Epsilon
  • Jerry Lucas '62
    NBA Hall of Famer
    Beta Theta Pi
  • Vince Doria '70
    ESPN Vice President and Dir. of News
    Delta Tau Delta

 

  • Fred Machetanz
    Artist, author, explorer
    Phi Kappa Psi
  • Thomas R. Matte '61
    Professional Football Player
    Phi Gamma Delta
  • David A. Meeker '23
    Pres. Hobart Manufacturing
    Beta Theta Pi
  • Joan M. Mock '69
    First female to circle the world solo
    Phi Mu
  • Gary Moeller '63
    College Football Coach
    Phi Kappa Sigma
  • Richard M. Morrow '48
    Chmn, CEO Standard Oil of Indiana
    Sigma Alpha Epsilon
  • Thomas Moyer '61
    Chief Justice, Ohio Supreme Court
    Sigma Alpha Epsilon
  • Russell C. Newhouse '29
    Inventor of altimeter
    Pi Kappa Phi
  • Jack Nicklaus '61
    Professional Golfer
    Phi Gamma Delta
  • Elliot Nugent '19
    Broadway playwright
    Phi Kappa Psi
  • C. William O’Neill '42
    Governor of Ohio
    Delta Upsilon
  • Jesse Owens '36
    Olympic Gold Medallist
    Alpha Phi Alpha
  • Thomas F. Patton '26
    Pres., Republic Steel
    Phi Kappa Theta
  • Clarence I. Pontius '15
    Pres., University of Tulsa
    Phi Delta Theta
  • Donald C. Power '22
    Chmn General Telephone Electronics
    Sigma Chi
  • Gardner Rea '14
    Author, cartoonist
    Alpha Sigma Phi
  • Dominic P. Renda '38
    Pres., Western Airlines
    Alpha Phi Delta
  • Lynn W. St. John
    Ohio State Athletic Director
    Alpha Tau Omega
  • William Saxbe '40
    U.S. Senator, Ambassador
    Chi Phi
  • Alex Schoenbaum '39
    Chmn., Shoney’s & Big Boy
    Phi Sigma Delta
  • John C. Sharp '23
    Pres., Hotpoint Inc.
    Phi Delta Theta
  • Robert B. Smallwood '17
    Pres., Lipton Tea Co.
    Delta Upsilon
  • William S. Snyder '28
    Pres., International Paper Co.
    Sigma Alpha Epsilon
  • Margaret Speaks '25
    Classical Singer
    Kappa Kappa Gamma
  • Frank Stanton '32
    Pres., CBS
    Phi Delta Theta
  • Bland L. Stradley
    Vice Pres, The Ohio State University
    Acacia, Kappa Delta Rho
  • J. Russell Thomas '45
    Pres., Detroit Lions
    Delta Upsilon
  • Lorin A. Thompson '23
    Chancellor, George Mason University
    Delta Upsilon
  • James Thurber '17
    Author, humorist, cartoonist
    Phi Kappa Psi

 

Buildings on the Ohio State Columbus Campus named for famous fraternity and sorority members:
  • Baker Hall
    Newton D. Baker
    Phi Gamma Delta
  • Bricker Hall
    John W. Bricker
    Delta Chi
  • Canfield Hall
    Dorothy Canfield Fisher
    Kappa Kappa Gamma
  • Conaway House
    Christine Y. Conaway
    Pi Beta Phi
  • Drackett Hall
    Harry R. Drackett
    Sigma Chi
  • Drake Union
    Edward “Beanie” Drake
    Phi Sigma Kappa
  • Enarson Hall
    Harold L. Enarson
    Alpha Tau Omega
  • Evans Laboratory
    William L. Evans
    Sigma Chi
  • Fawcett Center
    Sherwood L. Fawcett
    Delta Chi
  • Hagerty Hall
    James E. Hagerty
    Phi Kappa Theta
  • Haverfield House
    James W. Haverfield
    Beta Theta Pi
  • Hayes Hall
    Rutherford B. Hayes
    Delta Kappa Epsilon
  • Hitchcock Hall
    Esbury A. Hitchcock
    Triangle
  • Owens Recreation Center
    Jesse Owens
    Alpha Phi Alpha
  • Kepler Club House
    Robert H. Kepler
    Delta Upsilon
  • Mendenhall Laboratory
    Thomas C. Mendenhall
    Beta Theta Pi
  • Nosker House
    William C. Nosker
    Phi Gamma Delta
  • Orton Hall
    Edwin Orton Sr.
    Alpha Delta Phi
  • Park Hall
    Joseph A. Park
    Alpha Tau Omega
  • Postle Hall
    Wendell D. Postle
    Phi Kappa Psi
  • Ritemire Hall
    George W. Ritemire
    Alpha Tau Omega, Delta Chi
  • St. John Arena
    Lynn W. St John
    Alpha Tau Omega
  • Stradley hall
    Bland L. Stradley
    Acacia, Kappa Delta Rho
  • Townshend Hall
    Norton S. Townshend
    Alpha Zeta
  • Troutman Building
    George Troutman
    Phi Delta Theta
  • Wexner Center for the Arts
    Les Wexner
    Sigma Alpha Mu

Ohio Union: The Ohio State University.
1961 Tuttle Park Place
Columbus, OH 43210
Phone: (614) 292-7924