Our History

Eta Tau Chapter History

The Eta Tau Chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity was founded in 1971 at Austin Peay State University. The Chapter went inactive in 1990 and, through great effort and dedication of many people, was recolonized in March of 2008. Not only did ATO touch each of our lives, but its history is part of the legacy that the alumni turn over to the members of the new Colony. Whit McMahan is working on a written chapter history and welcomes your contributions via email. The information will be compiled in a book and presented to the Colony.


Alpha Tau Omega National History

Otis Allen Glazebrook, founder of Alpha Tau Omega.

Otis was a young Civil War veteran who desired peace and reconciliation. At 19 years old, he was deeply religious and believed that other young men would be willing to accept, forgive, and reunite with their Northern counterparts if motivated by a Christian, brotherly love. But Otis needed an organization so that he could gather and organize like-minded people. Otis discovered fraternities and consulted with alumni for further information. He found that the organizations were not merely Greek in name; they reflected Greek ideals, philosophy, and culture. Though a student of the Greek language, Glazebrook recoiled from the Greek ideology and morals. He wanted something Christian, where Christian love could be expressed and held as the utmost priority.

The name Alpha Tau Omega followed logically. The Alpha and Omega stand for the Christian absolute plenitude and perfection, the beginning and the end. These two letters were joined by a cross, or Tau, to signify that Christ is the beginning and end of salvation. From here, Otis designed a proper symbol, a believed Maltese Cross, and inscribed it with the letters Alpha, Tau, and Omega, and a crescent, three stars, the Tau Cross, and clasped hands.

Otis chose two close friends, Alfred Marshall and Erskine Mayo Ross, to join the fraternity; ATO was the first fraternity to be formed after the Civil War. It was born at the Virginia Military Institute. ATO is set apart from other fraternities in four distinct ways.

They did not establish ATO in imitation of or in opposition to any existing fraternity. They meant for ATO to be a national fraternity, rather than a local or sectional society. They had a higher objective than fraternal fellowship -- they sought peace and brotherhood for the entire nation. They placed Jesus Christ and his teachings at its center. ATO faced critical years some 20 years after its creation. Chapters were out of touch, National Officers were neglecting their duties, and only 2 of 22 chapters showed up for the 1876 Congress. They refused to let the fraternity die. These men chose a "second Founder" for ATO. His name was Joseph R. Anderson. Anderson responded to the challenge of revitalizing ATO with great zest and commitment.

For more information on the National History, Click Here.