Mu Beta Psi

Mu Beta Psi National Honorary Musical Fraternity was founded on November 5, 1925, at North Carolina State College (now North Carolina State University) by music director Percy W. "Daddy" Price and a group of twelve men from the class of 1926 who were involved in campus music organizations.[1] The purposes of the fraternity were to promote music in its proper place as an educational subject, foster a fellowship among musicians, and stimulate interest in music across the college campus. Over the next few years, Price determined that the fraternity was different from the other music groups on campus and decided to expand it into a national fraternity.[1]

Beta chapter was established at Davidson College in early 1929. The two chapters met in late 1929 and early 1930, resulting in the adoption of the fraternity's constitution. The national organization was founded on April 26, 1930, accompanied by the elections of the first national officers. Price pushed hard for the fraternity's expansion. Some of the earliest prospects included Wake Forest and the College of William & Mary.[1]

Price's died in 1933 and was succeeded by Christian D. Kutschinski as music director.[1] Kutschinski became National Executive Secretary in the mid-1930s and sought to expand the fraternity.[1] Despite the challenges of the Great Depression and the Beta chapter going inactive, Delta chapter was established at Clemson University in 1937.

World War II brought about new challenges for Mu Beta Psi. As many students entered the armed forces, chapter activity was limited. With the war's conclusion, Kutschinski helped the Delta chapter reorganize. Alpha and Delta chapters met for a National Convention in 1949. During the 1950s, the majority of activities took place on the local level, with minimal collaboration between the chapters. The first post-war National Convention was held in 1957.

At the 1961 National Convention, Mu Beta Psi amended its constitution to allow membership to women. Additionally, a national publication, The Clef, was established. New expansion efforts were also put into place.

Kutschinski stepped down as National Executive Secretary in 1962. Three years later, Ralph W. Daniel was elected to the position and served for the next eighteen years. Two new chapters were installed: the Epsilon chapter at Washington & Lee University in 1965 and the Zeta chapter at Michigan Technological University in 1967. The latter was the result of a merger with Tri-Beta Honorary Band Fraternity.[6] In 1967, "Hail the Spirit," written by Milton C. Bliss, was adopted as the fraternity's song.

The Mu Beta Psi Alumni Association was formally established in early 1970, providing college graduates with a chapter to continue participating in the fraternity's activities. The short-lived Eta chapter was installed at Virginia Military Institute in mid-1970. Theta chapter was established at Saint Augustine's College in 1973 and remained active for thirteen years. Iota chapter was established at Duke University in 1981 and went inactive three years later. Kappa chapter was established at Wofford College in 1989. In the mid-1980s, the fraternity created its Permanent Board of Trustees to ensure the organization's stability. The first members of the Permanent Board included Wallace DesChamps, Charlie Emki, David Wilson, and Bryan Reamer.

In the early 1990s, the national organization underwent a reorganization with the creation of new national offices, including the vice president of chapter maintenance, vice president of expansion, national treasurer, and national historian. The National Constitution was revised and approved in 1996. Lambda chapter was established at Anderson University in 1991, only to go inactive a year later. Mu chapter was established in 1993 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and would remain active for nineteen years. The fraternity extended northward with the establishment of the Nu chapter at SUNY Oswego in 1994 and Xi chapter at Saint Vincent College in 1996.

Five new chapters were established in the 2000s. Omicron chapter was established at Roanoke College in 2001. In 2007, the brothers of Mu Upsilon Alpha at Rutgers University merged with Mu Beta Psi to establish Pi chapter.[7] Rho chapter was established at Northern Michigan University in 2008. A year later, Mu Beta Psi crossed the Mississippi River for the first time with the establishment of Sigma chapter at Saint Louis University in 2009; although, it would quickly go inactive.

During the 2010s, Mu Beta Psi officially established a national scholarship that is open to college students at the locations where it maintains active chapters. In 2011, the Tau chapter was established at American University in Washington, D.C. The position of chief financial officer was added to the Permanent Board. At the 2018 Convention, all national policies were amended with gender neutral language, as the organization accepts members without regard to their gender identity.[8] A new fraternal life and conduct policy was also adopted "to achieve the safest environment possible for our members, pledges, and guests."[9]