Founding years (1904–1911)

Theta Tau was founded by four engineering students at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota as the Society of Hammer and Tongs on October 15, 1904. Its founders were Erich J. Schrader, Elwin L. Vinal, William M. Lewis, and Isaac B. Hanks who were mining engineering students at the University of Minnesota. They agreed that character qualification should have top priority in membership selection.

Schrader served as its first Grand Regent and was chiefly responsible for the ritual, constitution, and bylaws adopted by the founders. He created one of the original artifacts of incorporation for the Society of Hammer and Tongs, the bolt of "strength and unity" in late 1904.

The constitution provided for the establishment of additional chapters at other leading engineering schools, and the fraternity soon began to expand nationally. Hanks spoke of the fraternity to his friend, Robert Downing, a member of the Rhombohedron Club at Michigan College of Mines. After correspondence and an inspection trip by Hanks, the club was installed as Beta chapter in 1906. Lewis transferred to the Colorado School of Mines and contacted the Square Set Club, which became the Gamma chapter in 1907. The Southwestern Alumni Association, the fraternity's first, was established in Douglas, Arizona, in 1908.^[1][2]

In 1911, representatives of the three chapters and the alumni association met at the University of Minnesota for the first national convention. The name was changed to Theta Tau, a revised ritual was approved, and the present badge was adopted. Perhaps most important for its future expansion, they decided that Theta Tau would include all branches of engineering.^[2][1]

Pre-World War II growth (1911–1935)

In the next two years, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta, and Eta chapters were installed. The second convention was held in Houghton, Michigan, in 1913. That convention designated The Gear of Theta Tau as the national fraternity's magazine and appointed Jack E. Haynes, A '08, as its first editor-in-chief. Previously, the magazine had been published by Beta chapter with Herman H. Hopkins, B '08, as editor. Hopkins, a member of the Rhombohedron Club, had been initiated by Beta chapter as an alumnus. He served until 1919 as the Grand Scribe and later (1935) was elected Grand Regent.

The third (1915) and fourth (1919) conventions were held in Cleveland, Ohio. Meanwhile, Theta, Iota, and Kappa chapters were installed. Elected as Grand Regent in 1919 was Dr. George D. Louderback, E '96, a charter member of the Epsilon chapter. During his tenure, rapid growth continued, with nine more chapters being installed. In 1920, Schrader became the Grand Scribe, serving in this capacity for 35 years.

J. Sidney Marine, H '21, was elected Grand Regent in 1925, the youngest to serve in that position. In 1926, Donald D. Curtis, O Hon. '19, was appointed editor. Three more chapters were installed during the terms of Grand Regent Dr. Richard J. Russell, E '19. He designed and issued the first 5,000 membership certificates and also designed the officer robes. Joseph W. Howe, O '24, and Paul L. Mercer, O '21, became editors of The Gear in 1929, producing the publication for 32 years.

Fred Coffman, L '22, served as Grand Regent during the depression years through 1935. Despite the conditions, three more chapters were installed. A period of very conservative extension began during the thirties with charters generally being granted only to petitioning long-established locals.^[2][1]

World War II history (1935–1944)

Regional Conferences were established during Hopkins' term as Grand Regent (1935–37). Dr. John M. Daniels, N Hon. '22, was the last to serve out his term as Grand Regent in the pre-World War II period. At the 1939 convention, Russell G. Glass, S '24, was elected Grand Regent and reelected in 1941. At the 1941 Convention, Theta Tau began a tradition of honoring a student chapter delegate as the convention's "Outstanding Delegate."

During World War II, conventions were discontinued and chapters decreased in size, but few went inactive. Hopkins was named Acting Grand Regent for the 27 months that Glass served abroad in the Navy. When conventions were resumed in 1946, Ralph W. Nusser, Z '28, was elected Grand Regent. During his term, the chapters grew unusually large due to the influx of returning veterans. Norman B. Ames, GB '17, was elected Grand Regent in 1948.^[2][1]

Post World War II (1944–1962)

Donald D. Curtis, who a few months after his initiation into the fraternity had been appointed Editor in 1926, added to his years of continuous service as a national officer and began his term as Grand Regent in 1950. Another longtime officer, Jamison Vawter, Z '16, was elected Grand Regent for the term concluding Theta Tau's first half-century. He had served for 27 years as Grand Treasurer and was honored by being the first for whom a Theta Tau Convention was named (1935).

The Founders' Golden Anniversary Convention was held in Minneapolis and was scheduled to include Founders' Day. It was a gala occasion marred only by the absence of founder Schrader and Editor Howe due to illness. It was attended by founders Lewis and Vinal and by many Past Grand Regents, including brother Louderback.

Donald D. Curtis served as Grand Regent from 1950 to 1952. A. Dexter Hinckley, T '25, was elected Grand Regent at the 1954 Convention. Norman B. Ames succeed Schrader as Grand Scribe but resigned to accept a Fulbright Lectureship in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).^[2][1] At its Founders' Golden Anniversary Convention in 1954, Theta Tau established the position of Counselor which only Schrader could hold. He continued to serve until he died in 1962. The position of Regional Director was established by the 1956 Convention.

At the 1958 Convention, Charles W. Britzius, A '33, was elected Grand Regent, the restriction of membership to those who were white was removed, and the fraternity appropriated funds to support extension efforts. Robert E. Pope, Z '52, was appointed Grand Scribe in April 1956 to succeed Ames, was repeatedly elected to that office for 38 years, and was first employed by the fraternity as the traveling secretary in October 1959. William E. Franklin, Z '57, was appointed editor-in-chief of The Gear in 1961, succeeding Howe and Mercer. He served until 1969.^[2]

Vietnam years (1962–1976)

At the convention in 1962, William K. Rey, M '45, was elected Grand Regent, and the fraternity established the position of executive secretary (now executive director) to which Pope was appointed. In 1963, for the first time, the fraternity had a central office. Britzius, retiring as Grand Regent, was elected Grand Treasurer, a position he was to hold for twelve years. The decade of the 1960s was one of moderate growth with seven new chapters installed. Annual alumni gifts were first solicited in 1964.^[2]

The convention in 1964 adopted the colony program as the standard route which a local fraternity would follow in becoming a Theta Tau chapter. It also adopted the official flag featuring four quadrants.^[2][1]

The 1966 convention elected C. Ramond Hanes, S 1924, as Grand Regent. The 1968 convention elected Dr. Charles E. Wales, EB '53, as Grand Regent. The position of a student member of the executive council was created in 1970.

The Executive Council Bulletin, in newsletter format, was first published during the 1970–72 biennium. Now generally issued monthly during the school year, it provides timely news and reminders to officers of the national fraternity, chapters, and alumni organizations.

Dr. George G. Dodd, Z '60, was elected Grand Regent in 1972; and the delegate-at-large (immediate Past Grand Regent) was made an official member of the executive council. The 1976 convention elected Grand Regent Stephen J. Barth, LB '67. In 1977, a plan adopted by the 1976 convention was implemented, making women eligible for membership with the Delta chapter at Case Western Reserve University, being one of the first to admit women.^[2]

A new era (1976–1991)

Richard A. Rummelhart, O '76, was appointed editor in 1978 and was succeeded by Arthur T. Petrzelka, O '79, who edited the magazine from 1979 to 1988. The first membership directory in forty years was published in 1979, and others in 1985, 1990, and 1994. A History of Theta Tau, compiled by Past Grand Regent Charles W. Britzius, was published in 1980. Regional conferences were replaced by a special convention in 1981, establishing the pattern of holding national meetings annually in August rather than biennially in the week after Christmas.

In 1982, A. Thomas Brown was elected Grand Regent. In 1983, Theta Tau moved the central office from the executive secretary's home to space in the Theta Xi Memorial Headquarters Building in Creve Coeur; held its first national conference; and first employed a second member, Dean W. Bettinger, T '81, as extension director/chapter consultant. Since then, others have been employed for limited periods, including Michael T. Abraham, EB '92, who served as an administrative assistant in 1988 and briefly in 1989.

The Theta Tau Alumni Hall of Fame was established in 1986 to honor members who distinguish themselves through the excellence of their contributions to their professions and/or to the fraternity. Randall J. Scheetz, O '79, was first elected Grand Regent in 1986. The fraternity experienced significant growth during his tenure with the installation of eight chapters and the certification of thirteen colonies. This extension effort was sparked by Jerome R. Palardy, EB '90, then a student member of the executive council in the Detroit area. The result was Xi Beta, Omicron Beta, and Phi Beta chapters. Pi and Gamma Beta chapters were re-established after being inactive since the late 1970s. Pi Beta, Rho Beta, Sigma Beta, and Tau Beta chapters were installed and four new alumni clubs were authorized.

The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest originated at Purdue University in 1949 as a competition between the Phi chapter of Theta Tau and Triangle; it was held annually until 1956. Phi chapter revived the contest in 1983 as a competition open to all Purdue students. From 1988 to 2013, the Theta Tau Rube Goldberg Machine Contest was a national competition held at Purdue University in March each year, with participation by winning entries from local competitions sponsored by Theta Tau chapters across the nation. The national contest gained much coverage by the press and television media.

Sean Donnelly, T'88, and Lawrence El-Hindi, T '87, were appointed co-editors-in-chief of The Gear of Theta Tau in 1988. At the direction of the executive council, the central office staff assumed responsibility for the regular publication of the magazine beginning with the spring 1994 issue. Dean W. Bettinger, who had served as a staff member in 1983, was first elected Grand Regent at the 1990 convention and was reelected in 1992 and 1994. During his tenure, nine chapters were installed: Upsilon Beta, Phi Beta, Chi Beta, Psi Beta, Tau (reestablished), Omega Beta, Delta Gamma, Epsilon Gamma, and Zeta Gamma; and six colonies certified.

The Theta Tau Outstanding Student Member Program was created in 1991 so each chapter could designate an outstanding student member for recognition by the national fraternity. The national fraternity gives recipients an engrossed certificate and an award dangle which the recipient displays on their badge's guard chain. One of these each year is selected as the fraternity's Outstanding Student Member with the announcement made at the national meeting. The national honoree is presented with a special certificate and with a jeweled dangle.^[2][1]

The present-day (1991-present)

In 1991, the central office moved to the 655 Office Building in the Creve Coeur Executive Office Park. Michael T. Abraham returned as a permanent staff member with the title of assistant executive director in 1992 and was elected Grand Scribe in 1994. In 1994, the appointive position of executive director was added to the executive council. Pope, who had served on staff for 37 years, retired in 1996 and was designated executive director emeritus by the executive council. Abraham was appointed executive director.

Lee C. Haas was elected Grand Regent in 1996 and reelected in 1998. He was instrumental in establishing the Theta Tau Educational Foundation in 1998 and served as its first president. In 1999, the foundation sponsored the fraternity's first Leadership Academy which replaced the National Conference. Haas presided at the installation of Eta Gamma, Theta Gamma, and Iota Gamma chapters.

At the fraternity's first convention held in Arizona, Glen A. Wilcox was elected Grand Regent. At the 2000 meeting, many structural changes were made in the constitution and bylaws to more fully integrate the central office into the laws. These changes reflected many practices already in place and allowed the executive council to focus on its responsibilities as the fraternity's board of directors. The convention also endorsed the national fraternity liability insurance standard adopted by the executive council in the spring of 1999.

In 2000, past Grand Regent Haas presided at the installation of the Kappa Gamma chapter at the Virginia Commonwealth University. Grand Regent Wilcox presided at the installation of Lambda Gamma at Clemson University on January 13, 2001, and he later presided at the installations of Mu Gamma and Nu Gamma in the spring of 2003. In November 2001, the central office moved from the St. Louis metropolitan area to Austin, Texas, and the fraternity's archives were moved from a room in the Alpha chapter house to the central office.

As the fraternity reached its centennial in 2004, Theta Tau had initiated over 30,000 members and had more active student chapters than at any time in its history. At the 2004 convention, Michael D. Livingston was elected Grand Regent. During his term, Omicron Gamma, Pi Gamma, Rho Gamma, Sigma Gamma, Tau Gamma, Upsilon Gamma, Phi Gamma, Chi Gamma, Psi Gamma, Omega Gamma, Zeta Delta, Eta Delta, Theta Delta, and Iota Delta chapters were installed. Additionally, Kappa, and Epsilon were re-installed, and Epsilon Delta and Pi Delta were installed.

In 2007, the central office moved from leased office space to its first fraternity-owned headquarters. The roughly 1,500-square-foot (140 m²) office condo is located at the corner of 11th and San Jacinto, within blocks of the capitol and university in downtown Austin, Texas. In the same year, the National Alumni Club of Theta Tau was created.

In the spring of 2010, Grand Marshal Brandon Satterwhite led a group of students and alumni on the fraternity's first national service project with the Habitat for Humanity chapter in Bonnell,