Above are two photos of a 1917 edition of the Constitution & Bylaws of Tau Beta Pi. It is not certain when this document arrived at K-State, but it was most likely during the earliest efforts to start a Tau Beta Pi chapter at Manhattan. The booklet is archived in the Tau Beta Pi vertical files at K-State Special Collections in Hale library.

Between 1909 and 1921, much correspondence was exchanged regarding the formation of a Tau Beta Pi chapter at Kansas State Agricultural College (KSAC). Multiple factors contributed to unfruitful efforts including non-compliant KSAC entrance requirements, low student awareness of Tau Beta Pi, wavering faculty support for the same, and the chartering of the Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Tau in May 1912. At times, support for a chapter was high, but other factors were prohibitory, and vice versa. Ultimately, the right combination of factors was not present during these early days.

• Myron Ralph Bowerman (MI-A 1909), Instructor in the Mechanical Arts Dept., KSAC

• Robert Clayton Matthews (IL-A 1902), 1st Secretary-Treasurer of Tau Beta Pi

• Herbert John Kuelling (WI-A 1908), Office of the County Highway Commissioner, Milwaukee, WI

• Walter Scott Gearhart (MO-A 1907), State Highway Engineer of Kansas, KSAC

• Lowell Edwin Conrad, Professor of Civil Engineering, KSAC

• Albert C. Bux, Mechanical Arts student, KSAC

• Charles Forrest Zeigler, civil engineering student, KSAC

• Henry Harold Higbie (NY-A 1904), President of Tau Beta Pi

• Walter T. Rolfe, architectural engineering student, KSAC

Dear Sir: I should like to see a chapter of Tau Beta Pi established at this school and want to know the proper way of going about to apply for one. I think the institution is worthy. I am teaching mechanical engineering there. Very truly yours, M. R. Bowerman, Alpha of Mich. '09

I should like to know what procedure would be followed to establish a chapter of Tau Beta Pi at this college. I think the engineering course is strong enough to warrant a chapter. I am teaching mechanical engineering here and am much interested in some such a project. Hoping to hear from you in this regard, I am, very truly yours, M. R. Bowerman, Alpha of Mich. '09

Dear Brother: Your letters of Dec. 27th and Jan. 8th are at hand. I should have answered the first, but was away during the holidays, and have since been unusually busy with college work.

I know almost nothing regarding your school and can give no idea whether a petition would be favorably received or not. We have of late rather held to the following prescriptions in the case of new chapters: At least fourteen Carnegie entrance units must be required by the college. The senior and junior classes must have not less than thirty-six members each, in order that a minimum of nine men from each class be assured. If these conditions can be met there, I shall be glad to consider the matter further, and to receive fuller information upon it. With kindest regards, I am, Very fraternally, Secretary.

Dear Brother: About a month ago I was in Manhattan Kansas where the Agricultural College of that state is situated. At this school there is a standard Engineering Department of about five hundred students, and they have no Tau Beta Pi chapter but are very anxious to get one started.

I spent considerable time with the Dean talking the matter over and also in inspecting the school and I am convinced that some steps should be taken to have a chapter established. The Dean is perfectly willing to do all he can to aid though he is not a brother himself.

The only Brothers I could locate out there were Brother Gearhart, who is the State Highway Engineer of Kansas and located at Manhattan, and his assistant Mr. Walker. They are both willing to undertake the task of starting the Chapter and think they can get help from some of the Brothers in Kansas City.

I promised them I would get them in touch with the right officials so I would be very much oblidged if you would write to them telling them the necessary steps for them to take. Brother Gearhart will be glad to attend to it. Fraternally yours, H. J. Kuelling, Alpha of Wis. '08

Dear Brother: At the request of Brother Herbert John Kuelling of Milwaukee, I am sending you an information sheet covering the points necessary for consideration in establishing a chapter of Tau Beta Pi. I have had several similar requests lately, and accordingly made a number of carbons of this, and I know you will pardon my sending one of them to you.

Brother Kuelling said you and Brother Walker seemed to be in favor of a chapter at Manhattan; and that the authorities there would like to have something done. I am somewhat of an expansionist myself, feeling that we ought to establish chapters wherever and whenever conditions warrant. If you have any doubts as to the desirability of putting a chapter in at Manhattan, please do not hesitate to say so. We have a great plenty now to get along satisfactorily, and are not seeking new ones very vigorously. If things seem right to you, I shall be glad to do whatever I am able to push matters along.

To actually set the ball rolling, I should determine the men eligible, and call them together someday and explain the aims and objects of Tau Beta Pi in so far as seems advisable. If they seemed to wish to push the thing along, then the information on the enclosed sheet could be made known, and the necessary steps taken. I do not think it wise to try-to establish a chapter unless the students want it. Hoping to hear from you at an early date, I am, very fraternally, Secretary. 

Please have a college catalog sent to me.

Dear Sir: Your favor of the 26th inst. and the enclosed letter and constitution and bylaws of the Tau Beta Pi received for which kindly accept my thanks.

Neither Mr. Walker or myself do any teaching work but we are interested in having a Chapter established here and will take this matter up with the students and faculty at once and write you later.

In compliance with your request, I am sending you College catalogue under separate cover.

Thanking you for your courtesy in this matter, I am, very truly yours, W.S. Gearhart, State Engineer

Dear Sir: During the past few months, considerable interest has been aroused in this institution regarding the establishing of a Chapter of Tau Beta Pi. I am writing you at the suggestion of Dean E.B. McCormick for information regarding the best method of determining eligibility in this institution. Our markings consist of five letters, E (Excellent), G (Good), P (Passed), C (Condition), and F ( Failure). As a general thing I believe that the teachers consider a grade of E equivalent to a numerical grade of from 90 to 100, G from 80 to 89, P from 70 to 79, C 60 to 69, and F below 60. In your opinion would it be permissible to average grades in this case by calling all E's 95, G's 85, P's 75, C's 65 and F's 50. Of course the numerical value of an F is indeterminate, but I think we are safe in saying that students eligible to Tau Beta Pi will have very few F's on their record. If you consider that the method of determining eligibility above described would not be permissible, will you please state what, in your opinion, would be the best method of determining it.

Also, will you please state the present amount of dues for both juniors and seniors.

Do you know of any reason likely to make it difficult for this institution to obtain a charter for a Chapter of Tau Beta Pi? We have about 300 engineering students here in Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering.

Please accept my thanks in advance for your attention to this matter. Respectfully, L.E. Conrad

My dear Sir: Your inquiry of the first reached me, and I wish to say that upon examination of your catalog, a copy of which I received a few days ago, I find that only eight units are required for admission. As we have a very definite feeling that chapters should not be established where less than fourteen units are required, I fear that our chapters would not be inclined to consider favorably a petition from your institution at this time. If there are any points which might put another face upon this matter, I should be glad to have you write me concerning them. Until this is cleared up it would be profitless to discuss other details, but I will say that the method of averaging you mention, if weighted according to the value of the subject in credits, would be satisfactory. Awaiting your further favors, I am, cordially yours, Secretary.

My dear Sir: I have your letter of September (February) 5, and wish to thank you for the same.

I can think of no reason which would lead your Executive Council to consider favorably an application for a Chapter of Tau Beta Pi at this place. The fourteen-unit entrance requirement effectively blocks the plan, so far as I can see. Respectfully, L.E. Conrad

Dear Sir: A few of the instructors in Engineering here have been wondering if it would be a good thing to have a Chapter of Tau Beta Pi established here. Since two years ago the entrance requirements here have been up to the standard of other schools, which have Chapters, and we think it is time to start a chapter here.

Please give us your opinion concerning this, and the requirements which we would have to fulfill in order to get the Chapter. Very truly yours, M.R. Bowerman, Alpha of Mich. '09

Dear Brother Bowerman: Your letter of the 27th is at hand, and contents noted. An Institution in order to be considered by us, must require fourteen Carnegie entrance units or the equivalent thereof. As I understand it, your college did not meet this requirement some time ago. Also, there should be an average of about 40 engineers or more in the graduating class, with reasonable assurance that this number will not be materially diminished. In addition to these, our unofficial requirements, you will find the official ones in the enclosed copy of the Constitution, Article VI. The Constitution has been amended, and is now in press, but Article VI has not been changed.

If you desire to petition for a chapter I shall be glad to expedite the matter as much as possible. There should be not more than twenty petitioners, all of whose full names should be signed to the petition

The net expense for an installation would be about $10.00 per man, plus the expenses of the installing officer, probably myself. I understand that the University of Kansas is arranging to petition for a chapter, and in case these two matters came up together, the installing officer might attend both of them on one trip, thus reducing expenses. It is customary to charge an initiation fee to all the members of about $15.00 or more, depending upon local conditions. 

If I can give you any further information, I shall be pleased to do so. Very fraternally yours, Secretary-Treasurer.

P. S. Please send me a copy of the latest edition of the college catalog.

Dear Sir: Your letter enclosing copy of constitution of Tau Beta Pi, received. I am sending you under separate cover, a copy of our College catalogue. You will see that our graduates for last year in Engineering, numbered 42.

In regard to the entrance requirements, the requirements were raised one year ago, to the 15 Carnegie unit basis, our Freshman and Sophomore classes are now on that basis, and we would probably have to wait at least another year before asking for a Chapter. In the meantime, will you please give me a list of the Colleges and Universities which have Chapters at present? Is the Directory published yet, and what is the price per copy?

We now have a chapter of Sigma Tau here, which was established two years ago. What is your opinion as to the advisability of our trying for another honorary fraternity? Very truly yours, M.R. Bowerman

Dear Brother Bowerman: Yours of the 4th is at hand and contents noted. If you feel that the conditions favor an immediate petition for a chapter at your college, there is no necessity of waiting until later. It is not required that the present men should be on the fifteen unit basis. That applies to the college itself. In case you should wish to petition immediately, I may say that since granting the Arkansas chapter I have been trying to arrange to make a trip out there to install it. We shall receive a petition from K.U., shortly, and if you should petition at once, it might be possible to get action upon both Kansas movements, and for me to arrange to cover all three places in one trip, thus materially reducing the expense. I am sending you under separate cover a copy of the July BENT, which gives our chapter list, and also contains interesting matter regarding the last convention. We have rather a limited supply of these, and I should like to have this one returned unless you would care to enter a subscription to THE BENT to begin with that number.

The new Directory is not published and will probably not be before some time in January or February. I cannot now tell what the price will be.

As regards Sigma Tau, I do not believe it to be a purely honorary society. At some places where we have chapters, Sigma Tau men are frequently taken into Tau Beta Pi. I think their organization is more of a professional one, like Phi Delta Phi, or Eta Kappa Nu. 

Trusting that this covers the matters mentioned in your letter, I remain, Most fraternally yours, Secretary-Treasurer.

Dear Brother Matthews: It appears now as though we would make petition for a Chapter of Tau Beta Pi, within a few days. In the meantime, could you give me a better idea as to the cost of installation of the Chapter? About what will be our share of your expenses, and what initiation fees should be charged? Also what share of the expenses should be borne by present members, who are expecting to be active members of our Chapter?

In regard to the eligibility of Alumni, would a man be eligible when graduated several years ago under the old entrance requirements, if his scholarship is of proper grade? Thanking you, I remain, very truly yours, M.R. Bowerman

To the Members of the Council: I have been receiving communications from the Kansas Agricultural & Mechanical College at Manhattan, Kansas, looking toward formulating a petition for a chapter at that institution. This matter has been up once or twice before, and nothing was done because the college was not up to standard entrance requirements. Now, however, that difficulty has been removed, and 15 Carnegie units acquired. For the year 1913-14 the attendance in Engineering was as follows: 

• 42 seniors

• 61 juniors

• 91 sophomores

• 93 freshmen

I do not know whether the present year shows an increase or not. I judge from a perusal of the Catalog that the college is on par with such institutions as Iowa State, at Ames, Ia., M.A.C, etc. It is rated in Class A by U.S. Dept. of Agriculture - the highest grading.

Would the members of the Council wish to make advance approval of the petition which may or may not be received, so that immediately upon receipt the matter might be submitted to the chapters? I am now planning to make the trip to install the Arkansas and Kansas chapters the week of December 13-19, and should of course wish to include the Manhattan proposition if it materializes in time. If it does not, it can be installed later by the Kansas chapter. Most fraternally yours, Secretary-Treasurer.

My dear Bowerman: If the movement for a chapter at your institution is going to come to a head, I regret that it has not done so in time for the installation to be made by myself on the trip I am to take next week. I install the Arkansas chapter on the 14th inst., and the Kansas chapter on the 17th. In anticipation of an installation at your institution some time later, will you try to be present at the Kansas ceremony? If you do get a chapter the installation can be made by yourself or some other deputized for that purpose, with the aid of the Kansas chapter. I trust therefore you will not fail to be in Lawrence on the 17th. Kindly advise Brother C.C. Williams, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, regarding your attendance and say that I asked you to come over. Most fraternally yours, Secretary-Treasurer

Dear Sir: A number of we students here at the Kansas State Agricultural College of the Mechanic Arts Department, would like as much information relative to getting a chapter of Tau Beta Pi as you can give us at this time.

The questions we would like to know at this time are, how long must a association be organized before you will consider a petition, what prequisites must the members attain, as standing in college year etc., and well to make a long story short send us all the information you conveniently can.

Thanking you for any information you can conveniently give us, I beg to remain, Sincerely yours, Albert C. Bux

Dear Sir: Yours of February 8 is at hand this morning, and in regard to the questions you ask relative to the establishment of a chapter of Tau Beta Pi, would refer you to Mr. M.R. Bowerman, of your city, with whom this matter has previously been taken up at length.

Trusting that the above will cover the matter, I remain, Most fraternally yours, Secretary-Treasurer

Your letter of February 11 received and there is one question that we would like to know, which is, when was that matter taken up with Mr. Bowerman.

Trusting that you will be able to give us this information and thanking your for your favor of the past, I am, Resp. yours, Albert C. Bux

Dear Sir: Yours of the 19th is at hand and answering it, I will say that I discussed thoroughly with Mr. M.R. Bowerman, the matter of a chapter of Tau Beta Pi at Manhattan, just before the Holidays. As he is one of our members, and knows my views upon the matter, he may be considered as being representative of our society in this connection. There are three or four other members of Tau Beta Pi at Kansas State and no movement for a chapter could be entertained without their full sanction. I believe the conclusion reached by Mr. Bowerman and myself, after talking the matter over, was that conditions there were such that it would be well not to attempt a movement just at this time. However, conditions always change, and if there is a sentiment there in favor of a chapter of Tau Beta PI, we shall be glad to entertain the matter if the local members will approve. Very truly yours, Secretary-Treasurer

Dear Sir: As you are President of the honorary engineering society, Tau Beta Pi, I concluded that perhaps you would be able to give me some information concerning the probability of the location of a chapter in this school. This college, Kansas State, has an enrollment of over three thousand students, about three hundred and fifty being engineers. A number of honorary societies have chapters here, such as Alpha Psi, Alpha Zeta, Omicron Nu, Gamma Phi Delta, and Phi Kappa Phi, but the only honorary engineering society is Sigma Tau. Sigma Tau is largely controlled by a certain literary society, which causes men who would make good members to be set aside for perhaps an inferior who happened to belong to this literary society. Many students are not satisfied with conditions and would welcome another society, such as the one of which you are president.

Of course upperclassmen only may be taken into Sigma Tau but there are a number of these who are good students that have either not been asked or who would not join them. These along with the pick of this year's sophomore class would form a nucleus for a new organization. I am practically positive that the head of the engineering division would render us great assistance.

I would be greatly obliged to you if you will send me particulars telling how a chapter might be established and if there is any possibility of one being granted this spring or early fall. I wish you to use the utmost secrecy about this matter for if it were known that I had been corresponding with Tau Beta Pi, it would ruin my chances for Sigma Tau. In the event of being refused a chapter of Tau Beta Pi I would then have to resort to the next best and take Sigma Tau. My grades are among the highest in the sophomore class. Anxiously awaiting your reply, I remain, Yours truly, C.I. Zeigler

(Higbie forwarded Zeigler's letter to Matthews with a handwritten note added)

Matthews: I have written to this man telling him that you would furnish information and have told him I doubt that a new chapter would be established so quickly. Better sound out Kansas Alpha on this? I do not think that TBP need feel entirely confluente by the tone of this letter, do you? Get them to send a catalog of their college to each member of the Council. Higbie

Dear Sir: Your letter to Prof. Higbie has been referred to me for answer. About a year and a half ago I discussed the question of a chapter of Tau Beta Pi at Manhattan with Prof. M.R. Bowerman, whom you of course know. We concluded then that conditions were not right for attempting to secure a charter. I suggest that you see him, and if he now thinks conditions are improved, I shall be glad to further efforts in this line as rapidly as possible. It is pretty late in the year now, and the chances are action could not be secured from our chapters so as to permit placing a chapter before fall should the action be favorable. Upon presentation of this letter, I am sure Prof. Bowerman will be glad to consider the case with you. Very truly yours, Secretary-Treasurer.

Dear Sir: After having consulted several members of the engineering faculty who are members of Tau Beta Pi, it has been decided to drop any attempt of establishing a chapter here in the near future. I ask your pardon for not having answered more promptly, but I am on the varsity baseball squad and have little spare time.

Thanking you very kindly for any trouble or inconvenience which I may have caused you. I am, yours truly, C. Forrest Zeigler

Dear Mr. Matthews: There is a group of men here at the Kansas State Agricultural College that is considering the petitioning of Tau Beta Pi Association and they have been advised to write you for information. They are desirous of having the information as to the procedure of such an action.

These are a few of the questions that have come up and which we would like to have you answer if you feel free to do so:

• To whom should such a petition be addressed?

• What should such a petition contain?

• When and where will the next Convention of Tau Beta PI Association be held?

• Would it be advisable for this body of men to send a representative to this Convention?

We would also like very much to have you send us any other information of such nature that would help us if you are in a position to do so. Yours very respectfully, Walter T. Rolfe

Dear Mr. Rolfe: Answering yours of November 21, I should ask you to consult with Mr. M.R. Bowerman in connection of the proposed petition for a chapter of Tau Beta Pi. About six or seven years ago he approached me in this matter, and we met and talked it over, but he felt that the time was not right to undertake at the movement. If he is not there, and you cannot find any member of Tau Beta Pi to consult with let me know and I shall give you further information. Very truly yours, Secretary-Treasurer.