Xi Deut's white house just north of the University of Washington is a landmark of the campus, looking much like the West Portico of the real White House in the other Washington. From its start in 1909 as a local fraternity with three men, Xi Deut has grown to one of the largest and strongest Theta Delt Charges in the West, hosting three International Conventions (in 1956, 1977 and 1998) and winning numerous fraternity awards for the strength of its brotherhood.

Yesterday and Today at Xi Deuteron

Xi Deuteron Charge began as a local group called the Chalet Club, started by George Hamilton Martin Jr. in the spring of 1909. Hamilton started the local with two friends after they were unable to find what they were looking for in the established fraternities on campus. That the same year, the Chalet Club began petitioning Theta Delta Chi for membership. In the fall of 1912, the fraternity finally accepted the Chalet Club's petition and on January 4, 1913 the Xi Deuteron Charge of Theta Delta Chi was officially installed.

The brothers decided in the spring of 1916 that they needed a bigger house, so they rented a lot at the Charge's present location. Our house was built in the late fall of that same year, designed by a brother to accommodate 25 men. In 1920, the owner of the land attempted to sell it out from under them. To prevent further speculation, the brothers formed Xi Deuteron Corporation and bought the land.

The decades of the 1960's and 1970's were hard on all fraternities. The majority of students on campus were liberal. Fraternities were seen as conservative institutions and looked down upon, so membership in all fraternities plummeted. Xi Deut was no different. In fact, by 1971 we had lost almost 90% of our undergraduate brothers. There was talk of disbanding the house, but it was decided by a few undergrads and some dedicated local alumni to give it one last shot. Fortunately, the Charge made a dramatic turnaround, enough to win the Theta Delta Chi Achievement Award in 1973. By 1977, the Charge was thriving enough to hold the 130th International Convention.

In 1982, we were able to pay off the $120,000 mortgage on the house and became debt-free. The payment of the mortgage marked the year Xi Deut came into its own as a very strong Charge of Theta Delta Chi, representative of the ideals and brotherhood of Minerva. Thus began a string of awards including the Victory Cup (best charge in the fraternity), and the President's Cup (most adept at the traditions and rituals), and the placement of several of our members in positions of International leadership.

Xi Deut hit on hard times again just a few years ago.  Dwindling membership nearly brought the charge to extinction.  At the eleventh hour, a loose knit group of friends, tired of the dorms and apartments, desired a more social and cohesive atmosphere.  They wanted to start their own fraternity.  By joining up with Theta Delta Chi, they were able to realize their ambitions while enjoying the stability and support the alumni were able to provide.  By the Fall of 2007 things were looking extremely promising as the house was again full.

The Convention will return in 2013 as we also celebrate Xi Deuteron's Centennial.  Additionally, we begin the planning to rebuild the Charge House as parts of it are nearly 100 years old.  It promises to be an exciting and challenging time for the brothers and alumni of the Xi Deuteron Charge of Theta Delta Chi.