Beta Phi Gamma () 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.
History 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.The Oak (yearbook) . Louisburg College, 1941. p. 31. 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.
Symbols 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".
Chapters The following is an incomplete list of chapters of Beta Phi Gamma, with inactive chapters and institutions in italics. ChapterCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatusAlphaPasadena City CollegePasadena, CaliforniaBeta San Bernardino Junior College San Bernardino, CaliforniaGamma Phoenix Junior CollegeEncanto, Phoenix, ArizonaDeltaGlendale Junior CollegeGlendale, CaliforniaEpsilonSan Benito County Junior CollegeGilroy, California1934Ouachita Parish Junior CollegeMonroe, LouisianaEta<= 1935Taft Junior CollegeTaft, California"Member Entertains Journalistic Group" Bakersfield California (February 20, 1935), p. 5. via Newspaper Archives.<= 1935Santa Rosa Junior CollegeSanta Rosa, CaliforniaIota<= 1941Textile Industrial InstituteSaxon, South Carolina"Four School Honors". Bluefield Daily Telegraph (May 11, 1941), p. 12. Newspaper Archives. Accessed June 23, 2026.Lambda1934Visalia Junior CollegeVisalia, CaliforniaMu<= 1935Colorado Women's College Denver, Colorado"June Kincaide is Pledged to Honor Group at C.W.C.". Greeley Daily Tribune (November 22, 1938), p. 4. via Newspaper Archives.NuBeckley CollegeBeckley, West Virginia"Beta Phi Gamma Frat Installed" Beckley Raleigh Register (February 28, 1935), p. 2. via Newspaper Archives.XiSt. Helens HallPortland, OregonOmicron– 19xx ?; 1965Coalinga CollegeCoalinga, California1935Northeast Center of Louisiana State UniversityMonroe, Louisiana<= 1937Los Angeles Junior CollegeLos Angeles, CaliforniaPiLong Beach City CollegeLong Beach, CaliforniaRhoLouisburg CollegeLouisburg, North CarolinaSigmaSanta Ana Junior CollegeSanta Ana, CaliforniaJaysee Gets National Journalism Society. Sigma Chapter, Beta Phi Gamma. Santa Ana Daily Evening Register (May 24, 1938), p. 11. via Newspapers Archives.Tau<= 1939Armstrong CollegeBerkeley, CaliforniaSanta Ana Daily Evening Register Newspaper Archives March 21, 1939 Page 4Hutchinson Junior CollegeHutchinson, Kansasc. 1940–1943Spokane Junior CollegeSpokane, WashingtonUpsilon1941Amarillo CollegeAmarillo, TexasAmarillo Sunday News Globe Newspaper Archives June 1, 1941 Page 21Chibefore 1948Compton Junior CollegeCompton, CaliforniaPsiStephens CollegeColumbia, Missouri1944Fairleigh Dickinson Junior CollegeMadison, New Jerseybefore 1948Bakersfield Junior CollegeBakersfield, CaliforniaLong Beach Press Telegram Newspaper Archives December 15, 1947 Page 34Alpha Beta John Muir Junior CollegePasadena, California"Beta Phi Gamma Holds Convention" PCC Chronicle (December 10, 1947), p. 1. via PCC Digital Archive. Accessed June 23, 2026.Alpha GammaEast Los Angeles Community CollegeMonterey Park, CaliforniaAlpha EpsilonSan Antonio CollegeSan Antonio, TexasAlpha EtaEl Camino CollegeTorrance, CaliforniaActiveAlpha Thetabefore December 1957Los Angeles Valley CollegeVan Nuys, Los Angeles, CaliforniaAlpha Kappa<= 1957–19xx ?, 1970Santa Monica City College Santa Monica, CaliforniaCoyle, Linda. "Beta Phi Gamma Revived at SMC". The Santa Monica College Corsair (November 25, 1970), p. 3. via Newspaper Archive."Times Columnist Art Ryan Speaks Today" Santa Monico City College Corsair (April 10, 1957), p. 1. via Newspaper Archive.Cerritos Junior CollegeNorwalk, CaliforniaAlpha TauLos Angeles Harbor CollegeWilmington, Los Angeles, CaliforniaAlpha ChiModesto Junior CollegeModesto, CaliforniaPierce Junior CollegeWoodland Hills, Los Angeles, California<= 1962Riverside City CollegeRiverside, California"Announce Plans for Wedding in Month of June".Palm Springs Desert Sun (May 5, 1962), p. 21. via Newspaper Archives.Beta LambdaMoline Community CollegeMoline, IllinoisBeta Muc. May 1962Navarro Junior CollegeCorsicana, TexasBeta XiSacred Heart CollegeCullman, Alabama<= December 1963Point Park Junior CollegePittsburgh, Pennsylvania"Peter Pennlines Now at Home" Monessen Valley Independent (December 11, 1963), p. 6. via Newspaper Archives. Accessed June 23, 2026.<= October 1964Pensacola Junior CollegePensacola, Florida"Former Marine from Altoona Eyes Art Career". Altoona Mirror (October 10, 1964), p. 16. via Newspaper Archives. Archives June 23, 2026.<= November 1964Rio Hondo CollegeWhittier, California"Haslam, Francis, Petrillo Win Trophies at Beta Phi Gamma". El Paisano (November 19, 1964), p. 1. via California Digital Newspaper Collection.1964Northwood InstituteMidland, MichiganDaytona Beach Junior CollegeDaytona Beach, FloridaDixie Junior CollegeSt. George, UtahBeta Upsilon<=1966Odessa CollegeOdessa, TexasBeta Chi1965–19xx ?; April 1975Lee CollegeBaytown, TexasHolecek, Cynthia. "Four Apply for Honorary Journalism Society at College". Baytown Sun (January 28, 1965), p. 11. via Newspaper Archives. Accessed June 23, 2026.Theta Delta<=1957Valley Junior CollegeVan Nuys, Los Angeles, California"Journalism Advisor at College Accepts Post in Fraternity". Van Nuys Valley News (October 24, 1957), p. 81. via Newspaper Archives. Accessed June 23, 2026.Gamma Gamma Daytona Beach Junior CollegeDaytona Beach, FloridaGamm Zeta<=1967Southwestern CollegeChula Vista, CaliforniaGamma Theta1966Becker Junior CollegeWorcester, Massachusetts1967Cochise CollegeCochise County, Arizona<= 1967Anderson CollegeAnderson, South CarolinaAnderson College Student Handbook for Men, 1967-1968. Anderson, South Carolina: Anderson College Student Government Association, Fall 1967. p. 27. via Anderson College Archives and History.<= 1967Fox Valley Technical CollegeGrand Chute, Wisconsin<= 1967Chicago City Colleges, Crane CampusChicago, Illinois"Honor 18 from Crane Area" Northwest Journal (June 14, 1967), page 11. via Newspaper Archive.Gamma Phi<= 1967Mount St. Clare CollegeClinton County, Iowa Delta GammaMilwaukee Area Technical CollegeMilwaukee, WisconsinDelta ZetaOcean County CollegeOcean County, New JerseyDelta EtaVincennes UniversityVincennes, Indiana<= March 1969Citrus CollegePomona Progress Bulletin Newspaper Archives March 14, 1969 Page 29College of the DesertPalm Desert, California<= 1969Golden West CollegeHuntington Beach, CaliforniaLambda Delta1970Gloucester County CollegeSewell, New JerseyDelta NuBefore February 1971Barton County Community CollegeGreat Bend, KansasDelta PiColumbia CollegeColumbia, MissouriDelta UpsilonHillsborough Community CollegeHillsborough County, Florida<= 1972Fullerton CollegeFullerton, California<= 1973Miami-Dade Community College NorthMiami, FloridaBrownsville Junior CollegeBrownsville, TexasDelta Psi<= 1974Fort Scott Community CollegeFort Scott, KansasLake Michigan CollegeBerrien County, Michigan
Membership 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.
Conventions 1934 – San Bernardino and Redlands, California 1935 – Fresno, California 1936 – Los Angeles, California 1937 – San Francisco, California 1938 – Santa Barbara, California 1939 – Long Beach City College 1940 – Phoenix Junior College 1941 – Visalia Junior College 1946 – San Bernadion, California 1947 – Pasadena City College 1948 – University of the Redlands 1950 – Glendale City College 1955 – East Los Angeles Junior College 1958 – Long Beach City College 1959 – El Camino College 1964 – Sportsman Lodge, Studio City, Los Angeles, California (hosted by Valley College) 1965 – Disneyland Hotel 1966 – Van Nuys College 1967 – Santa Barbara, California 1968 - San Bernardino, Californiahttps://access-newspaperarchive-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/us/california/long-beach/press-telegram/1968/11-30/page-4 1969 – University of California, Irvine and Newport Beach, California 1970 – Newport Beach, California 1971 – Burbank, California 1972 – Ventura College 1973 – San Jacinto College 1976 – La Verne College
Notable members
Brad Pye Jr. (Alpha Gamma), sports journalist and broadcaster
Notes
References