Upsilon Chapter was first founded April 5, 1915 by twelve young men of what was then a local fraternity named Sigma Epsilon. Sigma Epsilon itself was organized in September 1914 for the specific purpose of "furthering the good fellowship and brotherhood of Engineering and Science students; and to petition the Grand Lodge of Theta Xi Fraternity for a charter and the installation of a Chapter at the University of Washington." - (Extract from the Constitution of Sigma Epsilon).

The organization worked very carefully in choosing its members and were twelve strong when they requested chartering. They began without a Chapter House, but moved into one, in accordance with their planning, the semester following their chartering. They had three seniors, seven juniors and two sophomores. Of these, five were students of Mining Engineering, two in Chemical Engineering, four in Civil Engineering and one in Electrical Engineering.

Upsilon Chapter’s founders are: Villeroy Gleason (¡1), Gardner W. Carr (¡2), Friend D. Mack (¡3), Seamore A. Crandall (¡4), Shelley I. Gleason (¡5), Louis G. Gerhardt (¡6), William H. Whittier (¡7), Robert Q. Brown (¡8), Perry L. Charles (¡9), Roscoe N. McJannet (¡10), Earl R. Pilgrim (¡11), and Claire L. Egtvedt (¡12). Gardner Carr had already pledged to Theta Xi Fraternity, Nu Chapter, at the University of California, Berkeley, but left that college before initiation.

In 1926, they built a Chapter House; one of the few houses nationwide constructed for the express use of Theta Xi Fraternity brothers. The crest of Theta Xi Fraternity can be seen on the wall sconce lights located throughout the first floor of the house near the windows and on the chandeliers. The badge of membership is displayed in relief on the concrete archway above the front entry sally port. In addition, the crest as it was constructed prior to the Kappa Sigma Kappa merger of August 20, 1962, is carved on the chimney above the fireplace.

The Chapter fell on hard times, much like a number of other fraternities during the Second World War, and had to be shut down. Soon after the war ended, the Chapter was reopened to the delight of the Upsilon alumni. Nevertheless, it was again shut down in the 1970’s due to a lack of funds and membership. It was reopened in 1976 and it remained strong until 1990. At this time the Chapter was shut down for the third time with the last recorded number being Upsilon 951. The reasons for the shutdown, hazing and misappropriation of funds, serve as a constant reminder of the way the fraternity ought not to be. The alumni took it upon themselves to wait for the proper time to start anew.

Throughout 1996, the Alumni Association, incorporated in Washington State as Campus Corporation, developed a vision to re-colonize the fraternity. Their emphasis was on what Theta Xi Fraternity was originally founded upon back on April 29, 1864. The new Upsilon Colony would be characterized by a strong emphasis on academics as well as an active lifestyle. With this in mind, it became clear that alcohol, tobacco, and non-prescription drugs would not be conducive to this type of lifestyle, and therefore, it was agreed the Chapter property would be substance-free. The Campus Corporation Board at that time consisted of Bob Davidge (¡338), Dick Bristol (¡448), Don Brace (¡453), Con Nelson (¡480), Bill Tracy (¡589), Dick James (¡591), Tom Harris (¡614), Jim Tysver (¡665), Bart Hamilton (¡757), Mike Eaton (¡898) and John McGaw (AX12).

Theta Xi Fraternity National Headquarters was contacted and shortly thereafter Brandon Nichols (Q1462) and Aaron Peters (AZ 1255) were hired to begin recruiting out of the Colony's Annex next to the Chapter House. This was to be a new fraternity unlike anything seen on Greek Row at the University of Washington. Many events were conducted such as paint-balling, hiking, bungee jumping, mountain biking, sky diving, skiing (some of which were brotherhood events and many of which had women joining the men) and functions with sororities. All of this was done in a substance-free environment. Eight young men were recruited and took up the challenge of re-colonizing the Chapter. The re-founding brothers envisioned the new Upsilon Chapter as the new standard by which all fraternities would be judged.

The re-founding brothers assumed full responsibilities after a quarter of recruiting by Brandon and Aaron. With much help from alumni and visits from the National Headquarters including that of the Executive Director Alan L. Gardner (BZ 634), Upsilon had a solid Spring Quarter.

At the end of Spring Quarter, 1997, the brothers held a retreat to plan for recruiting and other events for the summer. Ryan Larson (¡953) and Kevin Kepler (¡955) were quickly chosen out of the membership to recruit during the summer. This proved to be a very difficult period for the colony. Alpha Kappa Lambda Fraternity, who had been renting the house for the seven years Upsilon had been on hiatus, had just vacated the Chapter House and left it in deplorable condition. The alumni purchased bonds totaling $140,000 dollars to renovate the house and therefore, it was imperative membership increase. The condition of the house brought tears to the membership. Through adhering to the core philosophy of the re-founding of the Chapter, the membership had more than doubled by fall term and the Upsilon Colony boasted nine new brothers. It seemed the principles, not the house, were what captured the new members’ attention and brought them into the fold of Theta Xi Fraternity.

The President of Theta Xi, Walter Brock, returned the Charter to Upsilon on October 24, 1998. What had started out as eight young men with a commitment to the idea of how a fraternity ought to be, which hearkened back to the principles and ideals of the eight founding fathers at Rensselaer, had become a reality.

By January of 2002 Upsilon Chapter, still totally substance-free, initiated its 78^th member since the re-colonization five years earlier. They are academically at the top of 26 fraternities on campus, have a full social life, and rush by selecting from the many who want to join.