GT Beta Iota History
The founding of the Beta Iota Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega is intertwined with the founding of Georgia Tech. In 1888, Isaac S. Hopkins was selected as the founding President of the Georgia School of Technology. President Hopkins realized the new school needed to develop strong leadership to survive and prosper. As an ATO at Emory, President Hopkins knew that the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity was the best choice for leadership at this new school. On September 18th, 1888, a full month before classes ever began at Tech, President Hopkins, with the help of Frank G. Corker, founded the Beta Iota Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega.
From these noble beginnings, the Beta Iota Chapter has flourished. The chapter house was originally located on North Avenue before moving to its present location at 205 Fourth St NW. Our house on 4th Street was built in 1929 for the Chi Psi fraternity and purchased by ATO July 18th, 1944. The house, which had served as a hospital during WWII, suffered severe fire damage in 1945. The living room wing was rebuilt and several rooms were added at that time.
Alpha Tau Omega National History
Who knew that over 130 years after three young, brave soldiers dedicated their lives to the betterment of men, their endeavor would still remain in the minds and hearts of so many great men of this nation? Alpha Tau Omega has withstood the test of time to become one of America's foremost fraternities. We can only hope that our lives can be as prosperous and valued as our three founders, Otis Allen Glazebrook, Erskine Mayo Ross and Alfred Marshall.
The year was 1865 and the United States was in a time of desperation. The Civil War had destroyed most of the South and severely depleted the fraternity system. Only 5 months after the end, one man, Otis Allen Glazebrook, invited two of his friends, Erskine Mayo Ross, and Alfred Marshall, to join what would become one of the largest fraternities in the United States. All three men were cadets of the Virginia Military Institute and had participated in the Civil War. Due to the deplorable conditions between the North and the South following the war, these three men founded Alpha Tau Omega to "rekindle a spirit of brotherly love." So on September 11, 1865 at 114 East Clay Street in Richmond Virginia, Glazebrook, Ross and Marshall pledged their eternal love to the newly born Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.
Since the founding 132 years ago Alpha Tau Omega has come to the forefront of the American Greek System. Though we have experienced periods of low enrollment and problems, our brotherhood has always been there to continue our rich history and move us towards the future. Today Alpha Tau Omega has over 175,000 members and more than 6,000 undergraduate members. Alpha Tau Omega has 258 active and inactive chapters and annually ranks in the top 10 of national fraternities and members. Hopefully there will be a continuance of good members and more chapters in the future so that we may expand our brotherhood. We look to the future with open eyes and are looking for our future's brightest young men to join the fraternity.
The future looks bright for the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. Alpha Tau Omega has several distinguished Alumni, such as Greg Kinnear, Joe Girardi, Jack Kemp, and many more. These are examples of Tau's that have gone on to become leaders on the screen, field, and political scene. Alpha Tau Omega believes that the fraternity should be dedicated to the development of tomorrow's leaders, today. We are dedicated to this development by the implementation of guidelines, awards and interest in what we do every day. These were the ideals set forth by our founders. With the brotherhood that has blessed the past century of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, it is very possible to reach the goal set long ago. As Otis Allen Glazebrook once said, "Alpha Tau Omega holds before the young men of the country an ideal and something greater than a mere intellectual ideal. Alpha Tau Omega stands for heart as well as head. It has given men a true ideal of life."
View the full story of our founding at the national website.