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The History of Zeta Psi
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"A mystic bond of brotherhood makes all men one."
Thomas Carlyle
The First Greek letter society was created by John Heath, called Phi Beta Kappa, which held its first secret meeting on December 5, 1776. Zeta Psi was founded on June 1, 1847 at the New York University primarily through the efforts of John Bradt Yates Sommers, William Henry Dayton and John M. Skillman. Zeta Psi celebrated its one hundred and fiftieth birthday in August 1997 in convention in New York city. Expansion of the Fraternity began when Zeta Psi was less than a year old, with the establishment of a Chapter at Williams College, and a third chapter was founded at Rutgers University on November 24, 1848.
The Zeta Psi Fraternity, although regarded as quite conservative by other fraternities, has often acted with considerable daring. Zeta Psi was the first Greek-letter society to cross the continent and establish itself on the Pacific Coast, by founding a chapter at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1870. Also, Zeta Psi was the first to cross the Canadian Border and become the first International Fraternity by establishing a chapter at the University of Toronto in 1879.
Zeta Psi was also the first Greek-letter society to found a chapter at many prestigious universities in North America: Tufts, Cornell, UC Berkeley, Toronto, Stanford, McGill, Case Institute, Manitoba, Alberta, Calgary and the Claremont Colleges.
Our chapter here at the Claremont Colleges, was given the Greek letter designation of Alpha Nu by our Grand Chapter and we strive to do our best to maintain its ideals and the spirit of brotherhood embodied by our motto: Tau Kappa Phi.
The main impetus for the founding of Alpha Nu came from Brian Auzevados, a transfer student from the University of Texas at Austin. He felt that there was a serious gap in the social life of the Claremont Colleges that could be filled by Zeta Psi.
| Founding Members | Past Presidents |
| Brian Auzevados | Brian Auzevados |
| Joseph Wright | Joseph Wright |
| Paul Kindred | Matt Brewer |
| Bradley Roue | Quindi Franco |
| Cylus Colener | Mark Cameron |
| Mike McCabe | Alec Moreno |
| Kevin Murphy | Sean Patrick Meadows |
| Chris Mudhank | |
| Matt Paxson |
Statement of Fraternal Values and Ethics
Basic Expectations
I
I will know and understand the ideals expressed in my fraternity Ritual and will strive to incorporate them in my daily life.
II
I will strive for academic achievement and practice academic integrity.
III
I will respect the dignity of all persons; therefore, I will not physically, mentally, psychologically or sexually abuse or haze any human being.
IV
I will protect the health and safety of all human beings.
V
I will respect my property and the property of others; therefore, I will neither abuse nor tolerate the abuse of property.
VI
I will meet my financial obligations in a timely manner.
VII
I will neither use nor support the use of illegal drugs; I will neither abuse nor support the abuse of alcohol.
VIII
I acknowlege that a clean and attractive environment is essential to both physical and mental health; therefore, I will do all in my power to see that the chapter property is properly cleaned and maintained.
IX
I will challenge all my fraternity members to abide by these fraternal expectations and will confront those who violate them.
John Bradt Yates Sommers (1829-63) the founder of Zeta Psi. An attorney in New York City from 1854, he was also prominent in the Masonic affairs of the state. Left a widow and two young sons at his untimely death
Reverend George S. Woodhull, Phi Chapter 1848, first graduate and first AA of Zeta Psi. Civil War chaplain for W. Va. infantry, Presbyterian minister many years in Wisconsin and Michigan
Israel C. Pierson, Phi Chapter 1865, Was Zeta Psi's first and foremost archivist and historian. He was the leading force in the monumental Semi-Centenial Biographical Catalogue (1900) which contains 5,100 detailed entries about brothers of Zeta Psi.
Dr. John V. N. Dorr, Delta Chapter 1894, first President of the Zeta Psi Educational Foundation. An intentive practitioner in early chemical engineering and a leading figure in mining in the western U.S.
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