In the spring of 1844, tensions in Yale College’s Sophomore class, fueled by undergraduate politics and exclusionary practices of the existing societies, Alpha Delta Phi and Psi Upsilon, led to a bold initiative. Many men of high character and academic distinction were denied bids to these societies, while some who received offers rejected them outright, decrying the unfairness of the selection process. This sense of injustice inspired fifteen resolute young men to form their own society, one grounded in fraternity, fairness, and inclusivity, with a spirit they believed was lacking in their rivals.

On June 22, 1844, in Room 12 of Old South Hall at Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut, these fifteen men founded Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE). At their inaugural meeting, they established the fraternity’s secret and open Greek mottos, the latter being “Kerothen Philoi Aei” or “Friends from the Heart, Forever.” They also designed the DKE pin, a black diamond adorned with the Greek letters ΔΚΕ on a white scroll, gold rope trim, and a star in each corner. DKE’s heraldic colors—azure (blue), or (gold), and gules (crimson)—and its flag, a triband with a left-facing rampant lion at the center, were also adopted.

The founding members, who became known as the Phi of Delta Kappa Epsilon, were William Woodruff Atwater, Edward Griffen Bartlett, Frederic Peter Bellinger, Jr., Henry Case, George Foote Chester, John Butler Coyngham, Thomas Isaac Franklin, William Walter Horton, William Boyd Jacobs, Edward Van Schoonhoven Kingsley, Chester Newell Righter, Elisha Bacon Shapleigh, Thomas Du Bois Sherwood, Orson William Snow, and Albert Everett Stetson.

From its humble beginnings, DKE grew into a distinguished fraternity with over 64 chapters and more than 85,000 initiated members across North America. Its principles of balancing the qualities of “The Gentleman, the Scholar, and the Jolly Good-Fellow” have left a lasting legacy. DKE’s influence extends deeply into American history, with five U.S. presidents—Rutherford B. Hayes, Theodore Roosevelt, Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush—proudly counted among its ranks. Today, the fraternity continues to embody the spirit of friendship, excellence, and inclusion envisioned by its founders.

1876–2025

Founded on December 8, 1876, Theta Zeta became the first Delta Kappa Epsilon chapter west of the Mississippi and the fourth fraternity at the University of California, Berkeley. But the road to founding wasn’t straightforward.

Efforts to bring DKE to Berkeley began as early as 1866, with renewed attempts in 1874. During a celebration of the Transit of Venus in December of that year, a group of students—eager to bring DKE to the West—adopted the name “TVs”. Publicly, it referred to the celestial event. Privately, it stood for “Teutonian Vagabonds”, a playful nod to the local tavern they frequented.

With strong support from East Coast DKEs—including University President Martin Kellogg, a Yale (and Phi chapter) alumnus—the group submitted a formal petition for a charter in late 1875 or early 1876. The application was approved at the 1876 DKE National Convention, and on December 8, the charter was presented during the first initiation, held at the Grand Central Hotel in Oakland.

Theta Zeta’s Founding Brothers:

• Peter T. Riley, Reginald H. Webster, William E. Jory, William J. Kingsland, George H. Hudson, Walter B. Jones, Charles L. Tilden, James Lee Cotton, and Sherrod Williams

Building a Legacy in Berkeley

In its early years, the chapter rented homes around Berkeley. But by 1897, thanks to the support of Thomas Bishop (father to four Theta Zeta DKEs) and founding brother Charles Tilden, Theta Zeta moved into its first permanent house at 2330 Telegraph Avenue. Tilden would later transfer ownership to the California Alumni of DKE in 1909.

As the chapter flourished, it hosted the 1915 DKE National Convention in San Francisco at the Palace Hotel, held in conjunction with the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.

In 1923, with the business district closing in on the Telegraph house, the chapter purchased a new property at 2302 Piedmont Avenue, a large family home once owned by Berkeley’s ex-mayor. It featured ample space—including a parking lot and a garden—and became the new chapter house for decades to come.

A Resilient Brotherhood

Despite the economic struggles of the Great Depression, the chapter remained strong throughout the interwar years. Following World War II, Theta Zeta gained a bit of notoriety when its brothers played a part in the 1946 “liberation” of the Stanford Axe, cementing their place in campus legend.

But the 1960s brought significant challenges. Like many Greek organizations, Theta Zeta struggled during this era. In 1966, the City of Berkeley ordered costly safety renovations to the house. Lacking funds and grappling with generational differences, the alumni were unable to rally sufficient support.

In 1967, part of the property—including the beloved garden—was sold to an alumnus, who developed what is now Piedmont Gardens. Even so, the chapter pushed on, hosting the 1968 DKE Convention at the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco—no doubt influenced by the Summer of Love taking place just a year earlier.

By 1972, as the anti-war movement swept UC Berkeley, alumni engagement reached a low point. In a brief but memorable chapter of DKE history, the actives admitted several women and lived communally in the house. But by 1973, the alumni—led by Bob Tuller—stepped in. They closed the house, reclaimed the charter, and leased the property to the University Athletic Association.

Revival and Recognition

Theta Zeta’s comeback began in 1977, when five young men—Tim Gripp, Russ Dement, Al Galdrige, Mark Lambert, and Steve Sutherland—volunteered to bring the chapter back to life. With support from the national fraternity, they were initiated at the house that spring. A new pledge class followed that fall, and by 1980, active membership had grown to 35 brothers.

In the decades that followed, Theta Zeta once again became a model chapter within DKE. Honors include:

• Lion Trophy – 1958, 1981, 1984 (hosted at the Bohemian Club), 1999, and 2008

• Delta Award – 2014 (for dramatic chapter improvement)

• Henderson Award – 1979, presented to Bob Tuller for exceptional alumni service

Today, Theta Zeta stands as a testament to resilience, tradition, and the unshakable bonds of brotherhood that have defined our chapter for nearly 150 years.