1876 – 2026
150 Years of Theta Zeta
Delta Kappa Epsilon's first chapter west of the Mississippi turns 150. Join brothers from every era in Berkeley this September — Friday night football under the lights, Saturday night at the Banquet.
The House at 2302 Piedmont, 1923
- 150Years at Cal
- 1876Chartered Dec. 8
- 1stDKE west of the Mississippi
- 5Lion Trophy years
Anniversary Weekend
September 25–26, 2026
A full weekend back in Berkeley. Tailgate at the House Friday before Cal hosts Clemson under the lights, then raise a Mai Tai with eight decades of pledge classes on Saturday night.
Cal vs. Clemson Tailgate
Kick off the weekend at the House before the Bears host Clemson — the Tigers' first-ever trip to Berkeley and the only Friday-night home game of the Cal season. BBQs fired up, beer and wine provided, brothers on the front porch.
150th Anniversary Banquet
We've reserved the back rooms and waterfront deck at the birthplace of the Mai Tai: passed appetizers, a three-course dinner, and unlimited Mai Tais, beer & wine. The Actives join us as our guests — every generation of the chapter under one roof.
$200 per Alumnus · payment confirms your seat · gifts above that defray the cost
Coming from out of town? Book flights now and make a weekend of it. And mark Saturday, Sept 5 too — Cal opens the season vs. UCLA (7:30 PM, ESPN) with an alumni tailgate at the House to start the anniversary season.
The Guest List
See who's coming back.
Brothers confirmed for the 150th so far — this list grows as RSVPs come in. Add your name to it.
4 brothers confirmed
- Nolan Halal
- Gordon Bellis
- Brian Lancaster
- Brett Weisel
Your pledge class belongs on this list. RSVP and we'll add your name within a day.
1876 – 2026
A century and a half in Berkeley.
Theta Zeta began as a drinking society with an astronomical alibi — and became the first DKE chapter in the West. A few mile-markers from 150 years:
- 1874The Teutonian Vagabonds. After two rejected petitions, the founders pledge again during the Transit of Venus — calling themselves the "TVs," officially for the astronomical event, unofficially for the tavern they frequented.
- 1876Chartered December 8. With UC President Martin Kellogg (a Yale DKE) sponsoring, the Convention grants the charter. Nine founders are initiated at the Grand Central Hotel in Oakland — the first DKE chapter west of the Mississippi, and the fourth fraternity at California.
- 1897First permanent House at 2330 Telegraph Avenue, backed by Thomas Bishop and Founding Father Charles Tilden — who deeded it to the California Alumni of DKE in 1909.
- 1915Hosts the DKE National Convention at San Francisco's Palace Hotel during the Pan-Pacific Exposition.
- 19232302 Piedmont. The chapter buys the ex-Mayor of Berkeley's family home — our House for the last 103 years.
- 1946The Stanford Axe. As historical pictures attest, Theta Zeta brothers were "involved" in its theft. We'll leave it at that.
- 1977The Re-Founding Fathers. After the House closed in '73, five men — Gripp, Dement, Galdrige, Lambert, Sutherland — reactivate the chapter. By 1980, 35 actives strong.
- 1958–2008Five Lion Trophies (1958, 1981, 1984, 1999, 2008) as DKE's top chapter, plus the 2014 Delta Award — and the 1984 National Convention hosted at the Bohemian Club.
- 2025The comeback. Alumni from every decade stood up for the chapter, won the appeal, and began rebuilding 2302 Piedmont — over $130K invested in the House and counting. The 150th is the celebration of that resolve.
From the Archive
150 years in pictures.
Six frames from fifteen decades. The full archive — and the lightbox to get lost in it — lives on the Historical Photos page.
The 150th Campaign
Build the next 150.
The anniversary is also a turning point. Alumni support is rebuilding 2302 Piedmont and securing the chapter's future — with critical work still ahead.
RSVP
Be there for the 150th.
One night. Fifteen decades of brotherhood. RSVP below — $200 per Alumnus to the 150th Banquet fund confirms your seat. Anything above that helps defray the cost, and your name joins the guest list within a day.
Questions? alumni@thetazeta-dke.com