Theta Upsilon Omega - Miami University
A New Name and a New House
The petition of the local fraternity Phi Sigma Phi was 
accepted by the Arch Chapter of Theta Upsilon Omega at their annual convocation held in Philadelphia, January 2-3, 1925, and was granted a charter as the Beta Beta chapter of Theta Upsilon Omega. It became the first Theta Upsilon Omega chapter admitted by petition and made the growing organization truly national in scope.
Shortly after the appearance of Phi Sigma Phi as a new local fraternity on Miami's campus in 1922, it secured a small eight-room frame residence at 101 E. Collins St., one block from the campus to be used for the chapter home of the organization, which at that time was sufficiently large enough to accommodate the small group of men. The chapter would remain at this location through chartering Theta Upsilon Omega and another year until spring 1927. As the chapter doubled in size, it needed to consider acquiring a larger house.
In the fall of 1926, the chapter realized that it was an opportune time to sell the home and the property was placed in the hands of real estate agents. After a month and a half, it was officially announced the chapter house was sold in November. Possession to the new tenant was not given until the middle of June, so the chapter continued to occupy the house until the end of the academic year.
A large beautiful structure, located on the corner of S. Campus and E. Collins (122 S. Campus Avenue), one of the finest residences in the town of Oxford, was the dream of all members of the organization, and all hoped that some day this property could be the new chapter house. Much time had been spent dreaming about a wonderful new home, but little was accomplished until Robert L. Hammond '28 proceeded to talk business with the owner of the property. Later in 1927, after negotiating with the owner for several months and working out financing, a contract was finally drawn up which made at once the dream of Theta Upsilon Omega a reality.
The house was described from an account as follows: 'One of 
the best located properties for fraternity purposes, being only four blocks from the business district, and exactly opposite one of the entrances to the campus. The house is on a very large lot, having a beautiful, shady, front lawn and a spacious back yard on which can be built good tennis and volleyball courts. There is also a two-car garage at the rear of the lot. The house has three floors and a basement, and can well accommodate thirty men. The first and second floors have five rooms each: three rooms of each floor being equipped with a large fireplace. Rooms on the first floor are to be used for social activities. One room will be equipped for chapter meetings, and another room will be furnished to accommodate alumni and other guests. The second floor will be used entirely for study, and the third floor is one large room, well ventilated, which can very easily be converted into a dormitory. Except for the third floor, the entire house is steam heated.'
Today, the house is owned by the Phi Kappa Psi - Ohio Lambda Alumni Company who acquired it in the 1980's at some point after the chapter established itself at Miami in 1972 at 205 E. Vine St. The house was built in 1911 for George S. Bishop (grandson of Miami's first president) and had previously been the location of the Joel Collins home (hence the street that intersects this corner), which was one of the first brick houses in Oxford. Joel Collins was a pioneer settler of Oxford and is known for saving Miami University from being moved to Cincinnati in 1822, prior to Miami holding its first classes in 1824. Collins Hall on East Quad is named after him for his successful efforts as a state legislator to keep Miami in Oxford instead of becoming 'The Miami University in Cincinnati'.
A Thriving Chapter and Great Depression
Beta Beta chapter brothers were active and leaders on campus in Football, Cross Country, Freshman Council, Glee Club, Interfraternity Council, University Band and Orchestra, and Intramurals. They had an internal chapter award called the 'Scholarship Key' awarded to the brother with the highest academic average each semester.
From December 28-29, 1928, Beta Beta hosted the Sixth Convocation of the Arch Chapter of Theta Upsilon Omega at the new chapter house. Delegates from the various chapters traveled by train to Oxford from Chicago, Cincinnati, and other locations and were accommodated by the Delta Kappa Epsilon chapter while in town. The most important legislation to come out of this meeting was to revamp the Arch Council and to employ a full-time Executive Secretary.
In 1930, the Beta Beta alumni association organized and located itself in Dayton, OH where alumni had resided. The first 'Alumni Board' would prove important to preserve any chapter assets and guide the undergraduate chapter. It would later be integral in the organization and early success of OH Eta SigEp in 1948.
On September 24, 1933 the Beta Beta chapter was indefinitely suspended pending solution of financial difficulties. The nation had already begun the depression and the Great Depression was setting in. "This is a difficult time for all fraternity chapters, action is necessary for a chapter to keep its head above water." At the 10th Convocation of the Arch Chapter in 1934, the Beta Beta charter was officially suspended, becoming the first Theta Upsilon Omega chapter to have done so. Theta Upsilon Omega would itself succumb to the realities of the Great Depression and find the only way to survive would be through Sigma Phi Epsilon.
