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."
- Alpha Phi was the first sorority to be domiciled at OSU in 1912. The chapter rented the house owned by actress Elsie Janis on High St across from old Ohio Field from September 1912 and stayed until the end of the 1916 school year. This location is now the McDonald's parking lot. In the fall of 1917, Alpha Phi rented a house at 1917 Waldeck.
- 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
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- 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
-
Curtis Lemay '29
United States Air Force Chief of Staff
Theta 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
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- 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
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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
-
Cockins Hall
Edith Cockins
Kappa Alpha Theta
- 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
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Ohio Union > Greek Life > Enhancing Your Greek Experience : OSU Greek History
