Beta Phi Theta

Beta Phi Delta (ΒΦΘ) was a three-state regional American fraternity, established in 1917. It ceased operations in 1948 with four remaining chapters. Of these, three would go on to merge into other national fraternities.

History
Beta Phi Delta was founded at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1917-10 as an outgrowth of friendships that were developed among students in the Student Army Training Corps, at UW Milwaukee during WWI. Within a decade it had expanded to four chapters, eventually chartering seven known chapters, all in the Midwest states of Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois.

A merger with similarly sized Alpha Delta Alpha was discussed in the 1930s, but was not consummated.

Baird's described its organization as "loose". Beta Phi Theta was dissolved in 1948, with four chapters remaining active at that time.

Baird's notes no single national successor group. However, its University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee chapter would operate as a local chapter for a decade, later becoming a chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon. Within a year of dissolution its Bradley University chapter accepted a charter as a unit of Theta Xi. Finally, its Tri-State chapter, now Trine University, would hold on until 1969 as Beta Phi Theta (local), when it would accept a charter as a chapter of Delta Chi. The fourth surviving chapter, situated at the two-year UW Wisconsin-Racine campus well prior to that school's merger into the four-year Parkside campus, appears to have ceased operations without merger immediately after the regional fraternity's dissolution.

Symbols
The badge of Beta Phi Theta was an eight-sided shield, the major sides of which curved inward. On a field of black enamel were displayed the three Greek Letters, Β, Φ and Θ, ordered vertically, in gold. This field was surrounded by pearls.

The fraternity's colors were green and white.

Chapters
The Baird's Manual Archive notes the formation of seven chapters by 1948. Active chapters at the time of dissolution that same year are listed in bold, inactive chapters listed in italics.