Alpha Beta Chi

Alpha Beta Chi
ΑΒΧ
Founded1941; 84 years ago (1941)
University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus
TypeSocial
AffiliationCIPFI, CIPR
StatusActive
ScopeNational
PillarsLove, Honor, and Loyalty
Chapters3 active collegiate
9 active alumni
Headquarters97 Calle Agua Azul - Urb. Costa Norte
Hatillo, Puerto Rico 00659-2761
United States
Websitewww.abxpr.com

Alpha Beta Chi (ΑΒΧ) is a fraternity founded in Puerto Rico in 1941. It has established at least seven student chapters since its establishment at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. It also has alumni chapters across Puerto Rico and in Florida.

History

Alpha Beta Chi was established as ABC at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus in 1941 by Ricardo Alegria who had been a member of Nu Sigma Beta.[1][2][3] Its founding members were:[4]

  • Ricardo Alegria
  • Jose A. "Chinche" Benitez
  • George Bothwell
  • Jose Luis Figueroa
  • Jaime Garcia Blanco
  • Johnny Gonzalez
  • Jose "Pirulo" Hernandez
  • Jose Ledesma
  • Roberto Todd
  • Jose A. Villanueva

ABC's was established to "defend authentic culture, education, and help the people of Puerto Rico".[3] Later, it changed to the Greek letter name Alpha Beta Chi.[1]

The fraternity established Beta chapter at the College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts in 1942.[5] It was the first collegiate in Puerto Rico to attempt to establich a high school chapter at Central High School.[6] Other chapters followed at various colleges in Puerto Rico. By July 1964, it had joined the Concilio Interfraternitario de Puerto Rico.[7]

In 2014, the fraternity created the Ricardo Alegría Gallardo Award, presented to a high school graduate who is studying the fine arts.[3] Later, it established the Carmen Ana Pons Castañer Award, named after Alegría's widow, for award for graduates of middle school with fine arts programs.[3]

The fraternity's headquarters are located at 97 Calle Agua Azul - Urb. Costa Norte in Hatillo, Puerto Rico.[8] The fraternity also has a clubhouse in Guaynabo.[1]

Symbols

The fraternity's principles or pillars are Love, Honor, and Loyalty.[1] Instead of using a crest or coat of arms, it adopted a Taino emblem.[9] The emblem was based on a drawing found in a cave in Lares.[1]

Chapters

Chapter Charter date Institution Location Status References
Alpha (First) 1941 University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus San Juan, Puerto Rico Moved [4]
Alpha Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico Active [4]
Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, San Juan campus
Beta 1942 University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez Mayagüez, Puerto Rico Active [5][a]
Gamma (First) August 1942 Central High School Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico Inactive, Reassigned [6][1]
Delta (First) 1943–19xx ? Polytechnic Institute of Puerto Rico San Germán, Puerto Rico Reestablished, Reassigned [10][b]
Gamma 1958 Interamerican University of Puerto Rico San Germán, Puerto Rico Active [10][b]
Delta 1958 Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico Ponce, Puerto Rico Inactive [11][c]
Epsilon 19xx ? Alumni chapter Puerto Rico Moved [1][d]
Kappa 19xx ? Alumni chapter New York City, New York Inactive [1]
Eternal Memorial [12]
  1. ^ The chapter was established at the College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts, now called the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez.
  2. ^ a b The chapter was established at Polytechnic Institute of Puerto Rico, now called the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. After going inactive, the Delta chapter was re-established as the Gamma chapter.
  3. ^ The chapter formed at the Catholic University of Ponce, now the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico.
  4. ^ Chapter was converted in the fraternity's Alumni Zones

Alumni chapters

Originally, Alpha Beta Chi established Epsilon chapter for alumni.[1] In 1961, the Epsilon chapter authorized the creation of local alumni chapters.[13] The first local alumni chapter was created in Mayaguez in 1961.[13] Eventually, alumni chapters were established in various locations throughout Puerto Rico. However, this system was replaced with the current Alumni Zonas or areas.[1] In the following list, active chapters are indicateds in bold and inactive chapters are in italics.

Zona Charter date Location Status References
Coayuco 1951 Yauco, Puerto Rico Active [1][14][a]
Yahueca 1961 Mayaguez, Puerto Rico Active [1][13][b]
Guainí 1961 Ponce, Puerto, Rico Active [15][c]
Guaynabo 1960s Guaynabo, Puerto Rico Inacitve [1]
Borinquen mid 1960s–19xx?; 1970s Guaynabo, Puerto Rico Active [1][16][d]
Majagua 1965–19xx ?; 2009 Bayamón, Puerto Rico Active [1][17][e]
Porta Coeli 1974 San German, Puerto Rico Active [1][18][f]
Jumacao 19xx ? Humacao, Puerto Rico Inactive [1][g]
Taina 1986 Miami, Florida Active [1][19]
Yaholo 1991 Orlando, Florida Active [1][20]
Agueybana 2008 Tampa, Florida Active [1][21]
  1. ^ Was the Yauco alumni chapter (Zona Yauco)
  2. ^ Was originally the Mayaguez alumni chapter (Zona Mayaguez)
  3. ^ Was originally the Ponce alumni chapter (Zona Ponce)
  4. ^ Was originally the Río Piedras alumni chapter (Zona Río Piedras)
  5. ^ Was originally the Bayamón alumni chapter (Zona Bayamón)
  6. ^ Was the San Germán alumni chapter (Zona San Germán)
  7. ^ Was the Humacao alumni chapter (Zona Humacao)

Notable members

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Historia". Fraternidad Alpha Beta Chi (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  2. ^ "Athenea (yearbook)". Universidad de Puerto Rico. 1940. p. 303 – via issuu.
  3. ^ a b c d "Reconocen a Estudiantes con Premio Ricardo Alegría" [Students Recognized with Ricardo Alegría Award]. Ciudad de Bayamón (in Spanish). El Todo. June 15, 2017. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  4. ^ a b c "Capitulo Alpha". Fraternidad Alpha Beta Chi (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  5. ^ a b "Capitulo Beta". Fraternidad Alpha Beta Chi (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  6. ^ a b "Open Frat Chapter". Puerto Rico World Journal. August 17, 1942. p. 3. Retrieved December 19, 2024 – via University of Florida George A. Smathers Library Digital Collections.
  7. ^ Cabrera, Alba Raquel (July 15, 1964). "Concilio Interfraternitario Dona Equipo de Anesthesia Hospital Oncológico". El Mundo (Puerto Rico) (in Spanish). San Juan, Puerto Rico. p. 7. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  8. ^ "Contactenos". Fraternidad Alpha Beta Chi (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  9. ^ "Procedimientos y Debates de la Decimocuarta Asamblea Legislativa Sengunda Session Ordinara año, 2001" [Procedures and Debates of the Fourteenth Legislative Assembly Second Ordinary Session year, 2001] (PDF). Senado de Puerto Rico Diario de Sesiones (Senate of Puerto Rico Session Diary) (in Spanish). 52 (2): 8001–8002. August 23, 2001. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Capitulo Gamma". Fraternidad Alpha Beta Chi (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  11. ^ "Capitulo Delta". Fraternidad Alpha Beta Chi (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  12. ^ "Capitulo Eterno". Fraternidad Alpha Beta Chi (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  13. ^ a b c "Zona Yahueca". Fraternidad Alpha Beta Chi (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  14. ^ "Zona Coayuco". ABX Fraternidad Alpha Beta Chi (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  15. ^ "Zona Guainia". Fraternidad Alpha Beta Chi (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  16. ^ "Zona Borinquen". Fraternidad Alpha Beta Chi (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  17. ^ "Zona Majagua". Fraternidad Alpha Beta Chi (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  18. ^ "Zona Coeli". Fraternidad Alpha Beta Chi (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  19. ^ "Zona Taina". Fraternidad Alpha Beta Chi (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  20. ^ "Zona yaholo". Fraternidad Alpha Beta Chi (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  21. ^ "Zona agueibana". Fraternidad Alpha Beta Chi (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-12-19.