| Beta Phi Gamma | |
|---|---|
| ΒΦΓ | |
| Founded | December 1, 1933 San Bernardino, California, US |
| Type | Honor |
| Affiliation | Alpha Phi Gamma |
| Status | Active |
| Emphasis | Journalism |
| Scope | National |
| Colors | Black and White |
| Publication | The Mouthpiece |
| Headquarters | United States |
Beta Phi Gamma (ΒΦΓ) was an American coeducational two-year college fraternity and honor society for journalism. It was established in 1933 as an affiliate of Alpha Phi Gamma. After going inactive nationally, it currently exists as a local group at El Camino College.
Beta Phi Gamma was established on December 1, 1933, at an Alpha Phi Gamma national conference in San Bernardino, California. It was created as a national coeducational fraternity and honor society for journalism at two-year colleges and an affiliate of Alpha Phi Gamma. Its first president was James P. Beasom Jr.
Beta Phi Gamma's charter members were existing student organizations at Pasadena City College, San Bernardino Junior College, Phoenix Junior College, and Glendale Junior College. These chapters were installed at a joint ceremony on January 5, 1934. A fifth chapter was installed at San Benito County Junior College on March 17, 1934.
The fraternity published the first issue of its magazine, The Mouthpiece, in April 1937. In 1939, Beta Phi Gamma was recognized by the American Association of Junior Colleges.
By the end of 1940, Beta Phi Gamma had established chapters from North Carolina to California and from Arizona to Oregon. It had 26 chapters in 8 states by the end of 1957. In 1969, it established its first chapter on the East Coast at Ocean County College in New Jersey. By 1972, it had sixty chapters at junior colleges in the United States; it had grown to ninety chapters and 6,000 members by 1978.
The name Beta Phi Gamma was selected to stand for the Greek words for Trustworthy, Prudent, and Sincere. The society's insignia includes a gold key, a book, a newspaper, and an inkwell and pen. The key symbolizes sincerity to the club and mankind, while the book and newspaper "represent the responsibility and trust of mankind which is placed in the profession to inform and educate all areas of life." The inkwell and pen symbolize the tools of journalism.
Beta Phi Gamma's colors are black and white. Black symbolizes ink. Its badge bore the fraternity's name, "Beta Phi Gamma".
The following is an incomplete list of chapters of Beta Phi Gamma, with inactive chapters and institutions in italics.
For membership, students were required to be a staff member of a college publication, had to demonstrate outstanding work in the field of journalism, scholastic standing in the upper one-third of the college, and a B average in journalism classes and at least a C average overall. Members who later attended an institution with an Alpha Phi Gamma chapter were automatically transferred into that group.