History of Beta Upsilon Chapter of Gamma Phi Beta

During the week of October 14th through the 21st of 1956, six women were organizing a “colonization program” to establish a Gamma Phi Beta chapter at Kansas State University. This “colonization” consisted of “tea” parties in the Union followed by appointments and in-depth interviews with each potential member.

Of the two hundred women who had registered in Anderson Hall for the opportunity to become Gamma Phi Betas, only thirty-six remained after the Gamma Phi’s from KU made their final selections. Thirty-two of the original thirty-six were initiated into Gamma Phi Beta following the five months of pledge ship. The Beta Upsilon chapter of Gamma Phi Beta became the tenth sorority on the Kansas State Campus.

Initiation began the real growth of our chapter here at K-State. On the evening of March 22nd, 1957, at the Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, twenty girls from the Sigma Chapter at KU and the original Manhattan alums initiated the girls into the sorority. Each girl contributed an original song and a decorated paddle. Following initiation was a banquet at the Wareham Hotel. Among those present at the banquet were Mrs. George Docking (the First Lady of Kansas) and Mrs. Gerald Arnold (the International Grand President). The chapter at Kansas State University was designated Beta Upsilon and Mrs. Arnold presented Beta Upsilon’s president with their charter. The weekend festivities ended Sunday with a tea and reception in the Student Union.

The Gamma Phi Betas at Kansas State University were soon-after presented with their first major dilemma. Where were these girls going to live? Renting a house on 17th Street easily solved this problem, but brought up another, more important problem. Where were these girls going to live permanently? The ladies finally agreed on a local architect and an empty lot northwest of campus, on Todd Road. After two tries, the architect and the girls agreed on a plan that was quickly put into action.

The Gamma Phi’s held their first Rush, during the fall of 1957, in the house on 17th street, because the new house was still under construction. This was the only Rush held in that house, for on January 31st, 1958, the women of Gamma Phi Beta moved into their $165,000 “ULTRAMODERN” home.

The house was said to have shocked the neighborhood because of its modern styling. The forty-six girls moved in, and had a few difficulties adjusting to lack of telephones and furniture. Because the house was completed in January, the ground was still frozen so cables could not be laid until later that spring. The lack of furniture did not cause too much distress for the innovative Gamma Phi’s and their creative alums. Although somewhat rustic, dining room tables made of doors proved to be quite functional. By Rush Week 1958, the only furniture that had been delivered for the second floor were the mattresses.

With Rush Week upon them, the girls knew that they needed furniture in the living room even if there was none in the rest of the house. The alums came through again by loaning some of their own furniture as well as finding stores to temporarily donate during the week.

The charter members of Beta Upsilon Chapter had begun a tradition of involvement in all areas of campus activities. At the same time they, along with the alums, assumed the responsibility of providing a base on which to build the chapter for years to come. They were involved in everything. "You’d have thought there were seventy-six of them rather then thirty-six~”, is how the supervisor of the colonization described them. And so with hard work and dedication, the Gamma Phi’s at Kansas State had arrived!