For many years, there existed in the Department of Pharmacy at Columbia University, two fraternities. Neither of which, however, would allow the admission of members of minority races, religions or creeds.

During the year 1910, two small groups of men became intrigued with the idea that friendship acquired during collegiate days should be bound together through some means for the remainder of one's life.

With the contact of these two groups, it was immediately evident that one could not get along without the other and the union was made. It was decided that a fraternity was the solution to their problem.

On October 10, 1910, a determined group of young men met in Central Park to hold a lengthier discussion and see the plans that they had dreamed of approach reality.

The first recorded meeting was called to order in the library of the Department of Pharmacy, Columbia University, on Friday afternoon, October 19, 1910.

Next came the naming of the group, and with little knowledge of the ties that these men could gather among themselves, they wisely chose the name of Tau Epsilon Phi to signify that which they were founded.