Alpha Beta Chi () is a

fraternity A fraternity (; whence, "wikt:brotherhood, brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club (organization), club or fraternal order traditionally of men but also women associated together for various religious or secular ...

founded in

Puerto Rico ; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...

in 1941. It has established at least seven student chapters since its establishment at the

University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Univ ...

. It also has alumni chapters across Puerto Rico and in Florida.

History

Alpha Beta Chi was established as ABC at the

in 1941 by Ricardo Alegria who had been a member of

Nu Sigma Beta Nu Sigma Beta Fraternity () is a Puerto Rican fraternity. It was established in 1937 at the University of Puerto Rico by 10 students from diverse backgrounds. It quickly expanded and 86 years later, there are chapters and zones all over the isla ...

. Its founding members were: ABC's was established to "defend authentic culture, education, and help the people of Puerto Rico". Later, it changed to the Greek letter name Alpha Beta Chi. The fraternity established ''Beta chapter'' at the College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts in 1942. It was the first collegiate in Puerto Rico to attempt to establich a high school chapter at Central High School. Other chapters followed at various colleges in Puerto Rico. By July 1964, it had joined the

Concilio Interfraternitario de Puerto Rico The Concilio Interfraternitario de Puerto Rico or "Interfraternity Council of Puerto Rico" is an umbrella council for the seven oldest Puerto Rican fraternities and sororities. History In November 1957, representatives of the fraternities Phi ...

. In 2014, the fraternity created the Ricardo Alegría Gallardo Award, presented to a high school graduate who is studying the fine arts. Later, it established the Carmen Ana Pons Castañer Award, named after Alegría's widow, for award for graduates of middle school with fine arts programs. The fraternity's headquarters are located at 97 Calle Agua Azul - Urb. Costa Norte in

Hatillo, Puerto Rico Hatillo () is a town and municipality located in Puerto Rico's north coast, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Lares and Utuado to the south, Camuy to the west, and Arecibo to the east. According to the 2000 US Census Hatillo is spre ...

. The fraternity also has a clubhouse in

Guaynabo Guaynabo (, ) is a city and municipality on the northeastern coastal plain of Puerto Rico. Located west of the capital San Juan, east of Bayamón, south of Cataño and San Juan Bay, and north of Aguas Buenas, Guaynabo is spread over 9 barrio ...

Symbols

The fraternity's principles or pillars are Love, Honor, and Loyalty. Instead of using a crest or coat of arms, it adopted a Taino emblem. The emblem was based on a drawing found in a cave in

Lares Lares ( , ; archaic , singular ) were Tutelary deity#Ancient Rome, guardian deities in ancient Roman religion. Their origin is uncertain; they may have been hero-ancestors, guardians of the hearth, fields, boundaries, or fruitfulness, or an ama ...

Chapters

Alumni chapters

Originally, Alpha Beta Chi established ''Epsilon chapter'' for alumni. In 1961, the ''Epsilon chapter'' authorized the creation of local alumni chapters. The first local alumni chapter was created in Mayaguez in 1961. Eventually, alumni chapters were established in various locations throughout Puerto Rico. However, this system was replaced with the current Alumni Zonas or areas. In the following list, active chapters are indicateds in bold and inactive chapters are in ''italics''.

Notable members

* Ricardo Alegria (''Alpha'', 1941),

scholar A scholar is a person who is a researcher or has expertise in an academic discipline. A scholar can also be an academic, who works as a professor, teacher, or researcher at a university. An academic usually holds an advanced degree or a termina ...

, cultural

anthropologist An anthropologist is a scientist engaged in the practice of anthropology. Anthropologists study aspects of humans within past and present societies. Social anthropology, cultural anthropology and philosophical anthropology study the norms, values ...

, and

archaeologist Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of Artifact (archaeology), artifacts, architecture, biofact (archaeology), biofacts or ecofacts, ...

known as the "father of modern Puerto Rican

archaeology Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of Artifact (archaeology), artifacts, architecture, biofact (archaeology), biofacts or ecofacts, ...

References