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Before we became Tau Kappa Epsilon – Alpha Tau Chapter we were known as the local fraternity Phi Kappa Beta (PKB). The PKB house, located at 3357 Arch Street, was the first fraternity house at Drexel University. On May 26th, 1939, Phi Kappa Beta officially became TKE Alpha Tau. The first initiated member of Alpha Tau is Charles Morris Hobson Jr. The first Prytanis, or President, of Alpha Tau Chapter is Wilbur Pierce Ellis, Jr.
The first TKE residence was located at 219N 34th Street, the current residence that is shared by the members of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority. In 1952, we purchased our current house located at 3421 Powelton Avenue for $24,000 from Charles & Mary Fife. The Fife’s had the option to turn the house over to become a nursing home, or sell it to TKE, they chose the latter because, in the words of Mrs. Fife;
“It would be a shame for this house to become a place where people go, in order to wait to die. My husband and I threw such great parties here. I do not want to see that tradition end. I want it to continue.”
The residence at 3421 Powelton Avenue was constructed in 1898 and is registered with the Philadelphia Historical Society as the only Georgian style manor in Philadelphia. For this reason, it cannot be condemned. In 1960, the lease to the house was burned by fraters Charles Bryden and Joe Lescavage as proof that the house was completely paid off. For tax purposes, the house was “sold” to Drexel University under the stipulations that it can be purchased back at any time for $1.00
During a three year span from 1990 to 1993, the Alumni of Alpha Tau Chapter raised $500,000 that contributed to major repairs of the chapter residence. Frater Robert L. Byers lead the fundraising efforts. As a token of his hard work and efforts to the fraternity, the West Living Room is dedicated to Frater Byers, AT 541. Throughout our history, our dedicated Alumni have provided the chapter with over a million dollars in fundraising efforts.
The Alpha Tau Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon is the only Chapter to win the Top TKE Award, the most prestigious award any chapter can receive, consecutively three times. In our 68 years as Alpha Tau Chapter, we have won the Top TKE Award a total of 19 times. (1958, 1959, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1990, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008)
Alpha Tau Chapter has been one of the leading Chapters of Tau Kappa Epsilon since its foundation in 1939. Although we take pride in our history, we never rest on past laurels. Our members are constantly dedicated to the improvement and progression of Alpha Tau Chapter.
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Official TKE National Links
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