Washington D.C. Chi Phi History
| 1874 | Union of Northern and Southern Orders of Chi Phi at Willard Hotel (original building—see prints at D.C. History Museum, Mount Vernon Square); origin of word “lobbyist” |
| 1890’s | Present Willard Hotel built on site of old (14th & Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) |
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| 1960’s | Chi Phi alumni group including Brother Ralph Ingram meets for lunch in Willard. |
| 1970's | Hotel’s “Round Robin Bar”; Willard goes out of business. |
| 1980 | Chi Phi Club of Washington, D.C. reorganized under Grand Alpha Fred Keiser and past Grand Gamma Chuck Wilson; has quarterly luncheons and other events such as trips to Orioles Games at Memorial Stadium; dinner dance at Kenwood Country Club, and happy hours. |
| 1983 | Members of D.C. Club start colony at George Mason University. |
| 1985 | Around this time Brother Bob Ramin, Xi works in student affairs and development at University of Maryland; colonizing U. Md. discussed but not pursued. |
| 1988 | Restored Willard Hotel reopens. |
| 1989 | Iota Zeta Chapter (George Mason) chartering banquet held at Willard Hotel; Senator Charles Robb of Virginia, Xi ’61, K ’61, sends congratulatory letter read to assemblage by D.C. Club President George MacDonald KD’71, IZ ’89; plaque commemorating Union of Northern and Southern Orders presented by D.C. Club to Willard Hotel (plaque presently displayed in Hotel’s history alcove). |
| 1994 | Iota Zeta Chapter becomes inactive. |
| 1995 | D.C. Club becomes inactive. |
| 1997 | D.C. Alumni Happy Hour; Chi Phi College of Excellence held at George Mason. |
| 1998 | College of Excellence held at University of Maryland, College Park; brothers stay in La Plata Hall; highlight- Saturday eve crab feast in tent on the Mall; casual discussions of colonizing Maryland. |
| 1999 | Chi Phi 175th Anniversary Special Congress and banquet held at Willard Hotel in conjunction with College of Excellence at University of Maryland for second year; brothers stay in La Plata Hall. Special Congress features unveiling of new Ritual to commemorate Union of Northern and Southern Orders; further casual discussions, including Maryland Greek life staff, of colonizing Maryland. |
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| 2000 | Chi Phi Alumni Happy Hour at Blue-‘N- Gold Brew Pub (now Mr. Day’s) in Arlington, VA—reorganization of D.C. Club discussed. |
| 2001 | Chi Phi Educational Trust sponsors alumni reception at Willard Hotel; more discussion of reorganizing Chi Phi Club; Brothers MacDonald, Hess and Giannetti hold “Chinatown” meeting after N.A.I.C. Congress reception. |
| 2002 | Brothers Molinari, Connell, Hess, and MacDonald meet to restart National Capital Chi Phi Club. |
| 2003 | At Congress, Alumni Club of the Year award presented to National Capital Chi Phi Club; Brother MacDonald presents award at Orioles outing to Brother Molinari as President of Club; committee established to colonize Maryland; in early Fall, committee contacted by members of a student interest group. |
| 2003 | On November 18, New Member ceremony is conducted by National Capital Chi Phi Club members at University of Maryland’s Stamp Student Union launching Maryland Colony with 24 new members. |
| 2004 | On February 21st, the members of the Maryland Colony are initiated at University of Virginia's Alpha Chapter of Chi Phi. At Congress, Alumni Club of the Year award presented to National Capital Chi Phi Club for the second year in a row. |
| 2005 | On April 16th the Maryland Colony was formally charted at the chartering banquet held at the In & Conference Center at University of Maryland, becoming the Eta Theta Chapter of Chi Phi. |
