Editing Theta Xi (section)

== History ==
Theta Xi was founded on April 29, 1864 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in [[Troy, New York]] as an engineering fraternity.<ref name=":0">Shepardson, Francis Wayland, ed. ''[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.b3119647?urlappend=%3Bseq=288%3Bownerid=9007199274501863-322 Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 12th edition]''. Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/George Banta Publishing Company, 1930. pp. 256-258. ''via'' Hathi Trust.</ref> Its founders were [[George Bradford Brainerd]], Samuel Buel Jr., Henry Harrison Farnum, Peter Henry Fox, Ralph Gooding Packard, Thomas Cole Raymond, Nathaniel Henry Starbuck, and Christopher Champlin Waite.<ref name=":0" />

All of the original founders were members of a local fraternity called Sigma Delta, established in 1859 to rival [[Theta Delta Chi]], which was then a secret society at RPI. Debates were common and encouraged at Sigma Delta meetings; however, on the evening of October 30, 1863, George Brainerd tendered his resignation to the society. This resignation was unanimously declined, but ultimately created a rift. Soon after, talks began circulating of affiliating with a larger organization such as [[Sigma Phi]]. However, when Sigma Phi declined to issue a charter, this only increased tensions.<ref name=Quest/>

On March 12, 1864, voting took place for members of a new organization, and on April 1, a committee consisting of Waite, Buel, Brainerd, and Packard began preparing a new constitution. By April 6, Buel presented monograms for two new names, Theta Xi and Theta Psi. Theta Xi was chosen to avoid confusion regarding a local fraternity called Theta Psi at Yale.<ref name=Quest/>

Within its first forty years, six chapters were established at [[Yale]], [[Stevens Institute of Technology]], [[MIT]], [[Columbia University]], [[Cornell University]], and [[Lehigh University]]. It was not until 1905 that a westward expansion occurred with chapters at [[Purdue]] and, a month later, [[Washington University in St. Louis]]. The first west coast chapter came in 1910 at [[UC Berkeley]], and in April 1921, the first southern chapter was founded at [[LSU]].<ref name=Quest/>

In 1962, talks began of folding [[Kappa Sigma Kappa]], a smaller, struggling fraternity into Theta Xi. The merger was completed on August 20, 1962. As a direct result, several of Theta Xi's traditions were altered.  The coat-of-arms' fleur-de-lis was changed to have crescent moons in tradition with Kappa Sigma Kappa and the “pledge” pins were also changed to incorporate Kappa Sigma Kappa's traditions diagonal white band. The fraternity flower was changed from the white carnation to the blue iris. Finally, the membership manual was changed from ''The Theta Xi Pledge Manual'' to ''The Quest for Theta Xi''. In 1964, as a commemoration for the fraternity's centennial, a new Memorial Headquarters was formally dedicated in St. Louis. This served as the official home of the Grand Lodge until 2001.<ref name=Quest/>

In 1974, the ''Beta Alpha chapter'' at [[Georgia Institute of Technology|Georgia Tech]] became a Christian chapter while remaining a full member of Theta Xi and the Georgia Tech IFC. The chapter remains Christian today and is the only Christian chapter of a secular national fraternity in the United States. Their model expanded to the ''Gamma Phi chapter'' at [[Georgia Southern University]] in 2008, however that chapter has since reverted to the traditional non-religious status.<ref>[[Christian fraternity (fraternities and sororities)#Branded Chapters|Christian fraternity]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=November 2017}}

Beginning in 1999, Theta Xi began offering Leadership academies to its active brothers. That year, the first President's Academy was held to train new chapter presidents, funded by the Theta Xi Foundation. In 2006, this was expanded to include Rising Stars Academy, which aims to make first-year initiates more active in the fraternity.<ref name=Quest/>

The [[Theta Xi Fraternity Chapter House]] at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 2013.<ref name="nps">{{cite web|url=http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/listings/20131220.htm|title=National Register of Historic Places Listings|date=2013-12-20|work=Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 12/09/13 through 12/13/13 |publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>

In 2014, Theta Xi celebrated its sesquicentennial. In honor of this occasion, the National Convention was held in Troy, New York to commemorate the founding of Theta Xi.<ref>[http://6294.org ''Θ Ξ - 150 Years'']</ref>

William S. Mason, considered to be one of the greatest benefactors and supporters of Theta Xi, was the main supporter of the fraternity's adoption of [[Benjamin Franklin]] as its patron saint.

Although the fraternity had been headquartered in St. Louis since 1924, on October 3, 2022, it opened new headquarters at 260 Peachtree Street in [[Atlanta]] with the address for the Theta Xi Foundation remaining in St. Louis.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schaffer |first1=Adam |last2=Marcantel |first2=Tanner |title=Theta Xi Headquarters Moves to Atlanta |url=https://mailchi.mp/thetaxi/txhqrelocation?e=77b2922b13 |website=mailchi.mp |publisher=Theta XI Fraternity |access-date=12 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Theta Xi Announces New Headquarters Location |url=https://www.thetaxi.org/2022/08/15/hq-relocation/#:~:text=Theta%20Xi%20Headquarters%20will%20begin,Street%2C%20Atlanta%2C%20GA%2030303. |website=thetaxi.org |publisher=Theta Xi Fraternity |access-date=12 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Theta Xi Fraternity |url=https://www.thetaxi.org/ |website=thetaxi.org |publisher=Theta Xi Fraternity |access-date=12 June 2023}}</ref>