Theta Kappa Omega
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Theta Kappa Omega (), also known by its nicknames TKO or "Teke", was a social secondary fraternity for high school–aged men founded in 1872 at California Military Academy in
Mayfield, California Mayfield was a historic town in Santa Clara County, California. It was one of the oldest towns, predating the establishment of nearby Palo Alto and Stanford University. In 1853, prior to its becoming a town, Elisha Oscar Crosby acquired a parce ...
. The fraternity established local chapters in towns and cities across the United States. The chapters were run by a chapter president, known as the Grand Master, and other elected officers. The national fraternity was governed by an elected body of alumni known as the Grand Council. National conventions were held annually. Most chapters were defunct by the end of the 1960s.


History


Founding

Theta Kappa Omega was formed in1972 at the California Military Academy in
Mayfield, California Mayfield was a historic town in Santa Clara County, California. It was one of the oldest towns, predating the establishment of nearby Palo Alto and Stanford University. In 1853, prior to its becoming a town, Elisha Oscar Crosby acquired a parce ...
. On November 13, 1872, three young men decided to meet to discuss the problem of one of their comrades. This fourth friend was of high moral character and great intelligence but planned to discontinue his education since he could no longer pay all of his school expenses. That night, three young men pledged to each other that they would pay the expenses of their comrade to enable him to continue his higher education. In 1875, this beloved young friend graduated from California Military Academy, after having received help from his three companions for the past three years. He had decided that such unselfish, brotherly acts should continue. He felt his friends' deeds should be recognized; that young men of the future should endeavor to follow in their footsteps. To show his gratitude, and to insure that brotherly love and help should be extended to all deserving students, he organized an undergraduate group into a fraternity to continue in the first group's tradition. He selected the name of Theta Kappa Omega. This first chapter, ''Alpha chapter'', was located at the California Military Academy in
Mayfield, California Mayfield was a historic town in Santa Clara County, California. It was one of the oldest towns, predating the establishment of nearby Palo Alto and Stanford University. In 1853, prior to its becoming a town, Elisha Oscar Crosby acquired a parce ...
. The history of Theta Kappa Omega Fraternity between 1872 and 1926 is very vague. During that period, the national headquarters were in the hands of ''Alpha'', the oldest chapter. In 1899, all records were destroyed by a fire at ''Alpha'', located at California Military Academy.


Peaks and valleys

Theta Kappa Omega was at a peak between 1885 and 1905 and additional chapters were added. However, from 1915 through 1924, the lack of organization, poor leadership, and strict rules prevented any secret organization from expanding. When the California Military Academy ruled against fraternities, the ''Alpha chapter'' was dissolved, and the ''Beta chapter'' took over the national leadership. A similar school ruling forced the closure of Beta, and finally ''Delta chapter'' of
Columbia Military Academy The campus of Columbia Military Academy was built as an arsenal for the US Army in 1891 and closed after the Spanish–American War. The arsenal was declared surplus property in 1901 and in 1904 the land was formally turned over to the Columbia ...
became the official national headquarters. All history concerning ''Beta'' and a subsequent chapter, ''Gamma'', has been hopelessly lost. However, it is noted that ''Gamma'' ceased to exist before 1911. ''Delta chapter'' was established on September 28, 1906, by Charles Shamotulski and Carl T. McPheeters at
Columbia Military Academy The campus of Columbia Military Academy was built as an arsenal for the US Army in 1891 and closed after the Spanish–American War. The arsenal was declared surplus property in 1901 and in 1904 the land was formally turned over to the Columbia ...
. Between 1906 and 1911, little is known about the chapter. In 1911, William H. Riley was Grand Master of ''Delta'', and therefore, the National President. The following year he transferred to
Gulf Coast Military Academy The Gulf Coast Military Academy (GCMA) was a military school in Mississippi. It was founded in 1912 by Colonel James Chappel Hardy in Gulfport, Mississippi, Gulfport, Gulfport, Mississippi, Mississippi. It ceased operation in 1976. After severe d ...
where he installed ''Zeta chapter'' in October, the first fraternity in that school. ''Delta'' is responsible for the installation of ''Chi'' and ''Epsilon chapters'' at
Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...
and also ''Alpha Beta'' at
Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...
. These chapters were formed in a city rather than a school, an innovation for T.K.O., selecting outstanding boys of a town rather than the usual military boarding school. ''Chi chapter'' was formerly Delta Tau Sigma Fraternity, a local, which was organized on February 24, 1923. Immediately following their petition to ''Delta chapter'', H. Grayson Lambert Jr., ''Delta chapter'' Grand Master, and G. O. Melchor installed them into the bonds of T.K.O. The first Grand Master of ''Chi chapter'' was Frank M. Boston. ''Chi'' was admitted into the Pan Hellenic Council of Boy's High School soon after it became a chapter. Shortly after ''Chi'' was installed in Atlanta, Georgia; the Epsilon chapter was also founded there. This was the first time there existed two chapters of T.K.O in the same city. In September 1925, Warfield Rogers, H. Grayson Lambert, Jr., Harry Rogers, Grattan Brown, Herman Jorgenson, and Julian James met in Memphis, Tennessee and decided that in the best interest of their fraternity, the national headquarters should be moved from Delta chapter of Columbia, Tennessee to Memphis, Tennessee, and that the national work of the fraternity should be carried on by a body of alumni from three or more chapters, this body of men to be known as the Grand Council.


Expansion

Between 1925 and 1930, 37 chapters were installed. By May 1926, the fraternity was international with chapters located in Canada and London, England. In June 1931, the fraternity had 7,500 members and 41 chapters; all but three chapters were location in the
Southern United States The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, Dixieland, or simply the South) is List of regions of the United States, census regions defined by the United States Cens ...
. It held a national convention in Birmingham, Alabama from June 22 to 25, 1931. In January 1928, the ritual and blackbook were printed and distributed by the Grand Council. In the same year, the official song of T.K.O. was written by Oscar Hurt and Julian James. The Endowment Fund of T.K.O. was established at the Biloxi Convention in 1933. Eight hundred dollars left from the administration of John Singreen was used to start the Endowment Fund and Singreen served as its trustee. J.B. Hermon was instrumental in building the fund during the years of 1934 to 1940 to about $3,000. Singreen revised the blackbook and the new edition was issued in February 1935. Singreen also compiled the National Directory in 1932.


1940s and 1950s

The late 1940s were marked by some twenty active chapters, with the best-attended conventions in its history. Some two hundred brothers gathered in Atlanta, Memphis, or New Orleans. Following this period, the early 1950s saw an increase in anti-fraternity activity, and subsequently, a reduction in the active chapters, with a low of eight in 1957. However, this period was certainly not without bright spots - the ''Teke Echoes'' became firmly established under the supervision of Jack Francis as the leading secondary fraternity publication; Tekes assumed leadership positions in the Inter-Fraternity Congress; and conventions were held in such places as New Orleans, Mobile, and Biloxi. The installation of ''Theta Gamma'' in 1959 signaled new success in the expansion efforts of the fraternity. The reactivation of ''Zeta Nu'' and ''Delta Epsilon'' and the installation of ''Theta Zeta'', ''Theta Eta'', and ''Theta Mu'' brought new zest to the fraternity and an era of greater acceptance of the role of fraternities began.


1960s

1963 saw the Endowment Fund reach the long-sought objective of $10,000. Because of financial inflation occurring in the nation, in 1967, the fraternity raised its national dues from the original $40 per chapter, which had been established in 1925, to $60 per chapter. 1968 saw a second expansion wave starting with the installation of ''Theta Kappa'', ''Theta Lambda'', and ''Theta Nu''.


Symbols

The original coat-of-arms showed a griffin standing rampant, or, in full standing position, with a smaller shield, and the paw grasping the sword at a salute. In September 1925, the Grand Council adopted an updated coat-of-arms. The shield displays a Maltese Cross, a sword, and a plumed knight’s helmet. From the top of the shield extends a griffin’s head. On one side, the griffin’s talon emerges from behind the shield, while on the other side, the griffin’s tail. Beneath the shield is a scroll bearing the Greek letters . Above all is a crown surrounded by rays of glory. The badge of membership for the fraternity was in the shape of a diamond, enameled in black. At the top of the badge is a Maltese Cross, across the center are the Greek letters , and, at the base, a plumed knight's helmet in profile; all in gold. Until the 1940s, the bottom of the badge displayed the Greek letters of the member's chapter in place of the knight's helmet. During that period, Theta Kappa Omega was the only secondary fraternity that displayed a member's chapter letters on the face of its badge. The pledge pin was in the shape of an equilateral triangle with the Greek letters displayed across the bottom. The pin was enameled in black with the Greek letters in gold. The fraternity's flower was the white rose. Its colors were black, white, and gold. Its publication was ''Teke Echoes''. The official song was "Sweetheart of T.K.O."; the words were written by Oscar Hurt and Julian James, and the music by Rupert Biggadike, recorded by
Columbia Phonograph Co Columbia most often refers to: * Columbia (personification), the historical personification of the United States * Columbia University, a private university in New York City * Columbia Pictures, an American film studio owned by Sony Pictures * Co ...
. in 1928, with music provided by Oscar Celestin and his original Tuxedo Band of New Orleans.


Chapters

Following is an incomplete list of Theta Kappa Omega chapters, with inactive chapters and institutions indicated in ''italics''.


References

{{Reflist


External links


TKO Facebook page
High school fraternities and sororities Fraternities and sororities in the United States Student organizations established in 1872 1872 establishments in California 2000 disestablishments in the United States