.png)
HISTORY
Over a century of Triangle brotherhood
Triangle History
April 15 is historic in the annals of Triangle Fraternity, the annual Founders Day. On that date in 1907, the band of 16 students constituting the Founders obtained incorporation papers from the State of Illinois. Before the incorporation papers could be applied for, however, there had to be some kind of organization. The Founders, all junior civil engineering students at the University of Illinois, for the most part, had known each other since they were freshmen. In the fall of 1906, four students - Stan Cutler, Milton McCoy, Meryl Morgan, and Emil Weber - started discussions about establishing a Civil Engineering club. As the group developed and added members of the next few months, they decided to become a fraternity with plans to rent a house and live together during their senior year, 1907 - 1908.
A large number of names had been suggested, but Transiters, Eads, Level, and Triangle seemed to meet with the most favor. Finally, it narrowed down to a choice between Eads and Triangle, and the latter won out. It was decided to call the Illinois Chapter "Eads" because even at that time, there was a vision of a fraternity which was to extend beyond the horizon of Illinois and take in all of the large engineering schools in the country.
Code of Ethics
As a member of Triangle, I recognize my obligation to:
Observe the precepts of the Fraternity as set forth in the Ritual;
Accept cheerfully my full share of any task, however menial, involved in maintaining a chapter home;
Preserve and promote the chosen ideals of my Fraternity;
Pay all personal bills promptly, and always live within my means;
Help create in my chapter home an environment in which enduring friendships may be formed;
Maintain a creditable scholastic record;
Promote the welfare of my profession;
Maintain self-respect by proper conduct at all times;
Uphold faithfully the traditions and program of my Alma Mater;
Pay the price of success in honest effort.
The Origin of Triangle Fraternity
Triangle's origin came from the desire of some congenial college friends to extend their friendship, not only through college but also for life. It was in the fall of 1906 that sixteen civil engineering juniors at the University of Illinois began the association that became Triangle Fraternity. These Founders based their organization on the principles of honor,
friendship, character, brotherhood, and courage.
They developed their plans quickly, and on April 15, 1907, incorporated Triangle in the state of Illinois.
Edwin B. Adams
Wilbur G. Burroughs
Stanley G. Cutler
Rubey O. Harder
Theron R. Howser
Robert Emmett Keough
Thomas G. Lowry
Milton H. McCoy
Meryl S. Morgan
Ernest B. Nettleton
Raymond C. Pierce
Franklin N. Ropp
Arthur Schwerin
Charles M. Slaymaker
Charles E. Waterhouse
Emil A. Weber
Triangle Moments in History
December 9 - 11, 1909
The first National Convention is held at Champaign, Illinois
February 7 - 8, 1913
-
The 4th National Convention is held at Champaign, Illinois
-
Triangle adopts the national colors of old rose and gray
-
The ceremonial gavel is presented to the Fraternity by W.A. Knapp illasc
-
A Civil Engineering Fraternity of the University of Wisconsin is installed as Wisconsin Chapter
March 3 - 5, 1921
-
The 12th National Convention is held in Champaign, Illinois
-
The present form of membership is adopted
April 30 - May 2, 1925
The first presentation of the Service Key and Scholarship Cup is made at the 16th National Convention in Cincinnati
September 29 - 30, 1928
The first copies of a new publication, A Syllabus on Pledge Training, are distributed at Chapter Officer's School
August 1932
The first information booklet for use as a rushee prospectus is published
1944
Triangle becomes a senior member of the National Interfraternity Conference
August 30 - September 2, 1955
-
The National Convention in Milwaukee introduces Triangle's first full-time executive director
-
A vote is confirmed to admit approved chemistry, physics, and mathematics majors to membership
July 31 - August 3, 1974
The first leadership school not associated with a Convention is held in Columbus, Ohio
March 10, 1991
-
Triangle's membership reaches 20,000 initiates
-
Matthew Lawrence Stamm rose91 is initiated as the 20,000th member
August 6 - 9, 1994
At the Leadership School in Madison, Wisconsin, the School is renamed the "Herbert F. Scobie Leadership School" to honor Triangle's long-time Executive Director and editor
August 5 - 8, 1995
-
The National Convention is held in Overland Park, Kansas
-
A major rewrite of the National Constitution and Bylaws is completed
January 14 - 16, 2000
At the first annual President's Academy in Plainfield, Indiana, 25 chapter presidents gather to discuss leadership in Triangle
November 8, 2008
The National Council declares November 8, 2008, to be Bob Patten Day in recognition of Brother Patten's long service to the Armour Chapter
July 2015
Two new educational programs are introduced to Triangle members: The Judy & Larry Garatoni Building Better Men Chapter Endowment Fund Program, and the Melissa & John Gargani Academic U
July 2016
The Fraternity's first Chapter Accreditation Program, The Pyramid is introduced to Triangle membership
November 1911
The first issue of the Triangle REVIEW, the official magazine of the Fraternity is produced by W.A. Knapp ill asc.
January 1921
The adoption by the national referendum of constitutional change permits the initiation of members from any brand of engineering
May 26, 1923
-
The Scroll and Triangle Club at Armour Insitute of Technology (now Illinois Institute of Technology) is installed as Armour Chapter in Chicago
-
The Triangle Rattle, originated by the Iowa Chapter is presented for the first time to a "baby" chapter
April 28 - 30, 1927
The first Chapter Officer's School is held in conjunction with the 18th National Convention in Chicago
April 28 - 30, 1932
-
The Silver Anniversary Convention is held at the University of Illinois
-
The Founder's Plaque is dedicated to the Illinois Chapter House
-
The modified coat-of-arms is approved
-
A pledge training course is adopted
October 1932
The first chapter officer's manual is issued
January 29, 1950
Herbert F. Scobie minn32 is appointed as the Executive Secretary
September 2 - 5, 1964
-
The 47th National Convention is held in Champaign, Illinois
-
Founder Arthur Schwerin ill07 receives letters from all living past presidents and a citation designating him "Mr. Triangle"
January 22, 1983
Computer Science joins chemistry, physics, and mathematics as an approved science following a referendum vote of the chapters
March 6, 1994
Triangle becomes one of the first fraternities on the World Wide Web with the creation of the Triangle Fraternity home page
February 1995
The Triangle Wall of Fame is created and the first four members are Frederick R. Kappel minn23, Ellison S. Onizuka col69, Henry J. Ramey, Jr. pur48, and Gerald A. Rauenhorst marq50
August 27, 1997
Triangle moves into a new National Headquarters located in Plainfield, Indiana
July 12- 14, 2007
Triangle's Centennial Convention takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana. Highlights include the dedication of the new front courtyard at the National Headquarters and joint events with Phi Sigma Rho Sorority
November 23, 2008
Triangle's 25,000th initiate, Samuel M. Scalzo pitt08 is initiated into the Pittsburgh chapter
August 2015
A four-year membership development program, The Journey is introduced
The Rattles
History
The Triangle Rattle is traditionally presented to a new chapter at installation to signify its "baby" status in Triangle. The newest chapter is the custodian of the Rattle until the next installment when it passes the Rattle along.
The idea of presenting this token of infancy was conceived by Edward F. Wilsey ia22 before the Minnesota installation. As the proposed Rattle wasn't ready for installation on October 29, 1922, Brother Wilsey presented a beribboned, highly painted rattle to the Minnesota chapter to be required to kiss the pacifier and that it be passed along to the next chapter of Triangle to be installed. Brother V.M. Babcock minn23 then placed the first kiss on the rattle on behalf of Minnesota. The actual Rattle was delivered at the installation of the Armour chapter on May 16, 1923.
In the beginning, the Rattle consisted of a Triangle and enclosed T surmounted by a flat cylinder. The Rattle rattles when shaken due to the pennies in the cylinder. Originally, a coin, with the year of installation, was to be added for each new chapter, but the practice has been discontinued. Each new chapter, however, has added some object of engineering or Triangle significance to the Rattle.
Additions over the years, as each new chapter demonstrated its imagination and ingenuity, made the original Rattle unwieldy, so the RIT Chapter was asked to start Rattle II for presentation at the Colorado State University Chapter installation. Rattle I was given to the Illinois Chapter at the 1967 Convention to display for a year. At succeeding national meetings, Rattle I was transferred to the next chapter in order of installation so that members who have never seen either Rattle can enjoy it. Because of the great interest in the Rattles and because so few members from distant chapters attend installations, the presentation of Rattle II as well as Rattle I had been made a national meeting activity. However, at the 1988 National Meeting in Lincoln, Nebraska, it was decided that Rattle I and Rattle II would be kept on display in the National Headquarters, while the University of Texas/Arlington Chapter would begin Rattle III and pass it to the two newest chapters at the time at Texas A&M and Michigan Technological University for their additions. Since then, Rattle III has been passed on to subsequently installed chapters.
Fraternity records of the rattle are incomplete. In the September 1923 issue of the Triangle REVIEW, following the Armour installation, is a picture of the new rattle. The idea was to start with the rough unfinished casting and have each chapter add something before they passed it on to the new baby chapter. Some of the things done were:
-
Polishing of the casting
-
Mounting on a wooden base
-
Inscription of the names of the Founders
-
List of the chapters
-
Adding the telescope
-
Adding to the fraternity coat of arms
-
Plugging of the hole and the insertion of a piece of metal in the hollow cylinder at the top to make it "rattle"
Chapter Additions
As the Rattle is passed on from chapter to chapter continual additions are made to mark the installation of a new chapter. As the rattles continue to grow they are retired to Triangle National Headquarters and a new rattle is created to take its place. Since the creation of The Rattle, there have been three separate versions. More information on the history of each rattle and individual chapter additions can be found below.
Installed: February 4, 1967
Object Added: Engraved plates on conical base
“The R.I.T. chapter had chosen a simple but fitting addition. Arranged in two tiers of engraved plates encircling the conical base are the name and installation date of each chapter of Triangle from its incorporation in 1907 to the installation of R.I.T. on February 4, 1967.”— George Komorowski
After RITs additions to Rattle 1, it was retired and Rattle 2 was constructed.
Notes: The South Dakota Mines plaque reads “11-27-30” instead of the correct date, “9-27-30”. The order of the UCLA (12-7-57) and Nebraska (3-16-63) plaques is reversed.