At its founding the new President of Beta Phi, Arthur S. Bowes, said that "a child would lead them." He was referring to the youthful, idealistic leadership that young men bring to a fraternity. It is this type of leadership that has provided the necessary direction for Beta Phi to take hold and remain one of the top fraternities on Purdue's campus.

Emanon Club

The early days of our chapter's existence began as that of a social club called the Emanon Club. With little formal organization at first, the Emanon Club was essentially the first generation of Pi Kappa Alpha at Purdue University. The members of the Emanon Club sought to become a national fraternity and after much research they chose Pi Kappa Alpha. Through strong leadership the Emanon Club grew into the Beta Phi chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha. At that time, the chapter house at 175 Littleton symbolized the common goal of establishing a permanent existence for the chapter and its members. As times changed and the chapter grew, Beta Phi moved into a larger house at 149 Andrew Place.

The Andrew Place house still exists as a co-op house with much of what is considered the second generation of PiKA still very apparent inside. The chapter continued to thrive at this location and set the standard for all to follow at Purdue University. Memories of those days include the sometimes difficult period of the Great Depression, the hard years of World War Il when Beta Phi remained active, housing members of other fraternities together with its own men so that the fraternity system might be maintained at Purdue. Many Brothers will remember the fire which all but destroyed the third floor of the chapter house in 1944 and the extensive remodeling which gave 149 Andrew Place a complete and thorough face lift in 1949. In the midst of all those times, Beta Phi continued to grow and expand.

Current Pike House

By building the current house at 629 University Street, the Home Association Board of the chapter helped establish Beta Phi's most solid foundation. On the edge of campus, where we still stand proud, Beta Phi is now in its third generation. Beta Phi continues its tradition of outstanding leadership, nationally, by winning Smythe chapter excellence awards, and locally by nurturing bright campus leaders into successful young men. Pi Kappa Alpha has established itself as a dominant Greek letter organization on campus.