Timeline
1906
March 17 - Founding of Non-Fraternity Association at Miami University William H. Shideler Taylor A. Borradaile Dwight I. Douglass Clinton D. Boyd
1909
March 6 - Name Changes to Phrenocon
1916
March 9 - Miami withdraws from National Phrenocon and adopts Phi Kappa Tau as name December 21 - National Phrenocon adopts name Phi Kappa Tau Miami returns as Alpha Chapter
1917
The United States enters WWI; More than 250 Phi Taus perish in service to their country; WWI ends
1929
October 29- "Black Thursday" -The Great Depression Begins
1931
Phi Kappa Tau becomes second National Fraternity to build a National Headquarters
1934
Phi Kappa Tau has two chapters close due to the effects of Great Depression (Delta and Iota)
Roland Maxwell is elected national president
1936
National Constitution is adopted which limits membership on basis of race Constitution establishes governing structure of National Fraternity still used today
1940
Founder Douglass dies
1941
December 7, "A day that will live in infamy;" The United States enters WWII
1942
Roughly 500 Phi Taus called into service
1945
September 2-End of WWII, 8,000 Phi Taus had served proudly for the war effort
1947-48
Memorial Service held at Lake Wawasee, Indiana "Victory Convention" for 151 members of Phi Kappa Tau who died during the war
Rapid Expansion, thanks in part to the G.I. Bill, takes place in the aftermath of the war - 12 colonies established across the nation
1949
30th National Convention, Excelsior Springs, Missouri Language is adopted removing racial membership restrictions from the constitution
1950
November 19-Roland Maxwell writes the Creed of Phi Kappa Tau
Founder Boyd dies
1953
First African-American initiated as a member of Phi Kappa Tau Fred Hall, a Phi Tau from U.S.C., is elected governor of Kansas
1954
Brown vs. Board of Education decided
1956
50th Anniversary of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity - Golden Jubilee
Total Assets: $328,936
Endowment Contributions: $20,054.02
Laurel Endowment Fund: $220,498.98
Total Number of Initiates: 22,705 men
Total Number of Charters: 71 1958 William H. Shideler, Miami '06
Founder Shideler dies
1959
National President Maxwell retires from office to become the first Phi Tau Chairman of the NIC
1964
First member of Phi Kappa Tau dies in Vietnam "Conflict"
1967-68
1,724 members initiated into Phi Kappa Tau
1969
March 23 - 100th chapter of Phi Kappa Tau chartered - Delta Delta, Bryant College
1970
The term "associate member" is introduced at National Convention
Kent State University - four students shot during riot - one, Jeff Miller, had been associated at the Alpha Alpha chapter of Phi Kappa Tau (Michigan State)
1971-72
977 men initiated - symbolizing the drastic decline in men joining fraternities during the turbulent 70s
1977
Founder Borradaile, the last living founder, dies at age 92
1978
" National Lampoon's Animal House" released
1979
Eileen Stevens speaks at National Convention concerning the death of her son, Chuck Stenzel, due to a hazing incident at a local fraternity at Alfred University - Phi Kappa Tau was the first national fraternity to invite her to speak
1981
200-person increase in total initiates into Phi Kappa Tau, first increase in ten years
Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of Phi Kappa Tau - Diamond Jubilee
Phi Tau Circle Memorial dedicated at Miami University
1982
December - Ewing T. Boles issues the "Boles Challenge" stating that he will match any gift to the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation up to $1,000,000 Boles' gift was the largest ever made to a fraternity foundation up to that time 1984 November
Mitch McConnell, Louisville, '61, wins election to U.S. Senate
Dec. 31- The "Decision for Phi Kappa Tau" ends raising $3,230,000
Ewing T. Boles receives NIC gold medal.
1985
Jack Anson receives NIC gold medal
1988
First Phi Kappa Tau Leadership Academy at Miami University
First risk management policies introduced
1990
George Voinovich, Ohio '56, elected governor of Ohio
1992
TEAM Discovery begins
Ewing T. Boles passed away
1993
Ewing T. Boles bequeaths announced $3.7 million to the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation
1994
Astronaut Leroy Chiao, UC-Berkeley '79, becomes first Phi Tau to walk in space
1995
Phi Kappa Tau adopts Hole in the Wall Gang Camps as its National Philanthropy at 52nd Biennial Convention
1999
The Fraternity and Foundation move to a new headquarters building
2000 Bill Jenkins, EVP/Centennial Coordinator, NIC President
Bill Jenkins election as NIC president
Bill Jenkins wins the AFA Jack Anson Award
2001
Beginning of Officers Institute
July 1- Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity and Foundation consolidate
Sept 11- Terrorism strikes a major blow to the US. (Two Phi Taus perish in the attacks)
2006
Phi Kappa Tau celebrated its Centennial