Nu Beta Epsilon

{{Short description|Defunct American legal fraternity}}

{{Infobox fraternity

|name = Nu Beta Epsilon

|letters = {{lang|grc|ΝΒΕ}}

|crest =

|image_size =

|founded = {{Start date and age|1919}}

|birthplace = Northwestern University Law School

|affiliation = Independent

|status = Defunct

|defunct_date = After 1969

|type = Professional

|emphasis = Law, Jewish

|scope = National

|mission =

|vision =

|motto = {{lang|la|Nomus Carcilia Esta}} (Law is king)

|colors =

|symbol =

|flower =

|jewel =

|publication = The Nu Bate

|members =

|lifetime = 1,750 (as of 1963)

|chapters = 23

|address =

|city =

|state =

|ZIP code =

|country = United States

|homepage =

}}

Nu Beta Epsilon ({{lang|grc|ΝΒΕ}}) was an American professional Jewish law fraternity.{{Cite book |last=Sanua |first=Marianne Rachel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1u0sPzMEwOUC&dq=%22Nu+Beta+Epsilon%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA318 |title=Going Greek: Jewish College Fraternities in the United States, 1895-1945 |date=2003 |publisher=Wayne State University Press |isbn=978-0-8143-2857-6 |page=318 |language=en |via=Google Books}}Robson, John, ed. (1963). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. pp. 547.

History

Nu Beta Epsilon was formed in 1919 at Northwestern University School of Law by Barnet Hodes, with the assistance of Louis Brandeis and Dean Wigmore, as a Greek letter fraternity for Jewish students at accredited law schools.{{Citation |last1=Dashefsky |first1=Arnold |title=National Jewish Organizations |date=2012-09-03 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5204-7_9 |work=American Jewish Year Book |pages=238 |access-date=2023-08-04 |place=Dordrecht |publisher=Springer Netherlands |isbn=978-94-007-5203-0 |last2=Sheskin |first2=Ira|doi=10.1007/978-94-007-5204-7_9 |url-access=subscription }}{{Cite news |date=1971-01-14 |title=Woman Judge to Address Chapter of Law Fraternity |pages=10 |work=Valley News |location=Van Nuys, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/valley-news-woman-judge-to-address-chapt/129417893/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=1939-06-24 |title=Hodes to Speak as Jewish Law Fraternities merge |pages=13 |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-hodes-to-speak-as-jewish/129419739/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |via=Newspapers.com}} It expanded to other law schools across the United States.{{Cite news |date=1930-12-05 |title=Becker Elected as New President of Alumni Law Club |pages=14 |work=Suburbanite Economist |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/suburbanite-economist-becker-elected-as/129418849/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |via=Newspapers.com}} It also established an alumni association.

Alpha Kappa Sigma (ΑΚΣ) was a Jewish law fraternity founded by H. Edwin Siff at University of Maryland Law School in 1918.{{Cite news |date=1936-01-07 |title=Massell Will Head Alpha Kappa Sigma Jewish Law Council |pages=14 |work=The Atlanta Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-massell-will-head-al/129419467/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |via=Newspapers.com}} Representatives of the two fraternities met at a convention in Columbus, Ohio in 1939 with Hodes as the keynote speaker.{{Cite news |date=1939-06-28 |title=Atlantian Elected by Nu Beta Epsilon |pages=21 |work=The Atlanta Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-atlantian-elected-by/129417346/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |via=Newspapers.com}} The merger of the two fraternities went into effect in 1940 under the name of the Nu Beta Epsilon group.{{cite journal |title=Legal Fraternities|first=Kenneth H. |last=York |journal=Michigan Law Review |volume=50 |issue=7 |date=May 1952 |jstor=1284939|page=1048|doi=10.2307/1284939 }} A. D. G. Cohn of Atlanta was elected as its vice grand chancellor.

Nu Beta Epsilon's quarterly newsletter was The Nu Bete. The fraternity presented three awards each year:

  • Barnet Hodes Awards to an alumnus performing outstanding service to the fraternity on a national level
  • Ben Rubin Endowment to an undergraduate for scholarship, with the trophy going to his chapter
  • National Pledge Essay Award for the best legal essay written by a pledge

Symbols

Nu Beta Epsilon adopted the seal and motto of the former Nu Beta Epsilon fraternity. Its motto was {{lang|la|Nomus Carcilia Esta}}, meaning "Law is king". Its seal or crest included symbols associated with the legal professional.

Governance

The Ground Council of the fraternity's annual national convention governed Nu Beta Epsilon.

Membership

Nu Beta Epsilon was founded as non-sectarian, with no racial membership limitations.{{cite book|author=Marianne Rachel Sanua|title=Going Greek: Jewish College Fraternities in the United States, 1895-1945|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1u0sPzMEwOUC&pg=PA177|year=2003|publisher=Wayne State University Press|isbn=0-8143-2857-1|page=318}} Originally male only, its membership became open to women {{Circa|1960}}. In 1945, it had 850 members. Its membership had grown to 1,750 in 1968.

Chapter List

The chapters of Nu Beta Epsilon were as follows. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters and institutions are in italics.

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chapter

!Charter date and range

!Institution

!Location

!Status

! References

Alpha

|1918

|University of Maryland Law School

|Baltimore City, Maryland

|Inactive

|

Brandeis

|1919–{{Circa|1935}}

|Northwestern University Law School

|Chicago, Illinois

|Inactive

|{{Cite web |title=Collection: Records of Nu Beta Epsilon, Northwestern University (Brandeis) Chapter {{!}} Archival and Manuscript Collections |url=https://findingaids.library.northwestern.edu/repositories/6/resources/951 |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Northwestern}}{{Efn|Chapter named for Louis Brandeis.}}

Delta

|1919–{{Circa|1965}}

|Temple University Law School

|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

|Inactive

|

Epsilon

|1919–{{Circa|1963}}

|Newark Law School

|Newark, New Jersey

|Inactive

|

Cardozo

|1923

|DePaul University College of Law

|Chicago, Illinois

|Inactive

|

Benjamin

|1924

|Chicago-Kent College of Law

|Chicago, Illinois

|Inactive

|{{Cite journal |date=October 1928 |title=Nu Beta Epsilon Fraternity |url=https://scholarship.kentlaw.iit.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1164&context=cklawreview |journal=Chicago-Kent Law Review |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=4}}{{Efn|Chapter named for Judah P. Benjamin.}}

Marshall

|1926

|Washington University School of Law

|St. Louis, Missouri

|Inactive

|[https://scholarship.kentlaw.iit.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1164&context=cklawreview Chicago-Kent Law Review October 1928]

Chicago

|1929–{{Circa|1963}}

|University of Chicago Law School

|Chicago, Illinois

|Inactive

|

Horner

|1921

|University of Illinois Law School

|Champaign, Illinois.

|Inactive

|

Beta Gamma

|1931

|George Washington University Law School and Georgetown University Law School

|Washington, D.C.

|Inactive

|

Loyola

|1932–{{Circa|1963}}

|Loyola University Chicago School of Law

|Chicago, Illinois

|Inactive

|

Zeta

|1933

|Atlanta Law School, Emory University Law School, Atlanta's John Marshall Law School

|Atlanta, Georgia

|Inactive

|

Coleman

|1941

|University of Southern California Law School

|Los Angeles, California

|Inactive

|

Theta

|1946

|University of Miami School of Law

|Coral Gables, Florida

|Inactive

|

Currie

|1950

|UCLA School of Law

|Los Angeles, California

|Inactive

|

Warren

|{{DTS|September 1966}}

|University of San Fernando College of Law

|San Fernando, California

|Inactive

|{{Cite news |date=1966-09-08 |title=Law Fraternity Branch Formed at Valley School |pages=13 |work=Los Angeles Evening Citizen News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-angeles-evening-citizen-news-law-fra/129425680/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Efn|Chapter named for Earl Warren.}}{{Efn|The San Fernando Valley College of Law merged into the University of West Los Angeles in 2002.}}

Gamma Gamma Lambda

|{{DTS|September 1967}}

|California College of Law

|Hollywood, California

|Inactive

|{{Cite news |date=1967-09-08 |title=Chapter of Law Fraternity Receives Charter in Rites |pages=12 |work=Valley News |location=Van Nuys, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/valley-news-chapter-of-law-fraternity-re/129425334/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Traynor

|

|Western State University College of Law

|Orange County, California

|Inactive

|{{Cite news |date=1976-03-01 |title=Local Men New Legal Fraternity Leaders |pages=12 |work=Anaheim Bulletin |location=Anaheim, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/anaheim-bulletin-local-men-new-legal-fra/129421053/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Efn|Chapter named for Roger J. Traynor.}}

Holmes

|February 1, 1969

|University of West Los Angeles School of Law

|Los Angeles, California

|Inactive

|{{Cite news |date=1969-01-09 |title=Fraternity to Gain Chapter |pages=165 |work=The Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-fraternity-to-gain/129423488/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=1979-11-21 |title=Nu Beta Epsilon Nat Law Frat |pages=68 |work=The Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-nu-beta-epsilon-na/129425065/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Efn|Chapter named for Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.}}

|September 1969

|John F. Kennedy University

|Pleasant Hill, California

|Inactive

|{{Cite news |date=1969-09-11 |title=Law Fraternity Formed at JFK |pages=33 |work=Contra Costa Times |location=Walnut Creek, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/contra-costa-times-law-fraternity-formed/129422859/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Baker

|

|Humphrey College

|Stockton, California

|Inactive

|{{Cite news |date=1971-06-30 |title=County District Attorney Lauded |pages=20 |work=Tracy Press |location=Tracy, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tracy-press-county-district-attorney-lau/129422218/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |via=Newspapers.co}}{{Cite news |date=1974-06-03 |title=Fellow voters, Joe Baker is the only Experienced, Qualified Candidate |pages=7 |work=Tracy Press |location=Tracy, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tracy-press-fellow-voters-joe-baker-is/129421477/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Efn|Chapter is named for Joseph H. Baker, district attorney.}}

Dooley

|

|Glendale University College of Law

|Glendale, California

|Inactive

|{{Efn|In 1927, the chapter was renamed in honor of Raymond G. Dooley, a former faculty member.}}{{Cite news |date=1972-03-12 |title=Chapter Announces Scholar Fund Drive |pages=299 |work=The Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-chaper-annouces-sc/129421875/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Sebring

|

|Stetson University College of Law

|Gulfport, Florida

|Inactive

|{{Cite news |date=1969-08-31 |title=Naze-Masi |pages=67 |work=Tampa Bay Times |location=Florida |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-naze-masi/129423035/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=1969-04-22 |title=Honorary Member |pages=9 |work=The Orlando Sentinel |location=Florida |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-honorary-member/129423269/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Efn|Chapter named for Harold Sebring.}}

{{notelist}}

Notable members

class="wikitable sortable"

!Name

!Chapter and year

!Notability

!References

Ellis Arnall

|Honorary, 1946

|Governor of Georgia

|{{Cite news |title=Baruch, Arnall to Be Honored |language=en |page=14 |work=The New York Times |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1946/07/04/93132286.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0 |access-date=2023-08-04}}

Bernard Baruch

|Honorary, 1946

| Financier and statesman

|

Louis Brandeis

|Brandeis, 1919

|Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

|

Raymond Burr

|

|actor

|{{Cite news |date=1960-08-22 |title=Law Fraternity to Meet Here |pages=11 |work=The Evening Sun |location=Baltimore, Maryland |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-sun-law-fraternity-to-meet-h/129417558/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Benjamin N. Cardozo

|

|Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

|

Joseph E. Davies

|

|United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union

|

Paul A. Dorf

|

|State senator and judge

|{{Cite web |title=Maryland State Senator Paul A. Dorf |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/speccol/sc5100/sc5123/000002/html/dorf.html |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=msa.maryland.gov}}{{Cite web |date=2012-07-08 |title=Judge Paul A. Dorf, 86 |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/obituaries/bs-md-ob-paul-dorf-20120708-story.html |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Baltimore Sun}}

Phillip C. Goldstick

|

|Member of Illinois General Assembly

|{{Cite web |title=New Members, General Assembly. vol. 74 (1965-1966). |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112077332515?urlappend=%3Bseq=1 |access-date=2023-08-03 |website= |publisher=Paul Powell, Secretary of State, State of Illinois |page=41 | hdl=2027/uiug.30112077332515?urlappend=%3Bseq=1 |language=en |via=Hathi Trust}}

Barnet Hodes

|Brandeis, 1919

|Counsel of the City of Chicago

|{{Cite web |last=Halstead |first=Whitney |title=The Hodes Collection |url=https://www.artforum.com/print/196607/the-hodes-collection-37742 |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=www.artforum.com |language=en-US}}

Sam Massell

|Alpha, 1936

|Mayor of Atlanta

|

Eurith D. Rivers

|Zeta Honorary 1941

|Governor of Georgia

|{{Cite news |date=1941-07-10 |title=A. D. G. Cohn Heads Nu Beta Epsilons |pages=25 |work=The Atlanta Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-a-d-g-cohn-heads/129417676/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |via=Newspapers.com}}

John M. Slaton

|Zeta Honorary 1941

|Governor of Georgia

|{{cite journal |last=Bauman |first=Mark K. |date=Fall 1998 |title=Factionalism and Ethnic Politics in Atlanta: The German Jews from the Civil War through the Progressive Era |journal=The Georgia Historical Quarterly |volume=82 |issue=3 |page=556 |jstor=40583948}}{{Cite news |date=1938-03-25 |title=Former Governor John M. Slaton |pages=14 |work=The Atlanta Constitution |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-former-governor/129420427/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Harold Washington

|

|Mayor of Chicago and U.S. House of Representatives

|[https://books.google.com/books?id=ghw-lFHzhTwC&pg=PA52 Official Congressional Directory, Volume 98 p 52]{{Cite web |title=New members, General assembly. v.74 (1965-1966). |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112077332515?urlappend=%3Bseq=1 |access-date=2023-08-03 |website= |publisher=Paul Powell, Secretary of State, State of Illinois |page=92 | hdl=2027/uiug.30112077332515?urlappend=%3Bseq=1 |language=en |via=Hathi Trust}}

Wendel Wilkie

|

|lawyer, corporate executive, and nominee for President of the United States.

|

Bernard B. Wolfe

|

|Member of Illinois General Assembly

|"[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112077332515?urlappend=%3Bseq=95%3Bownerid=13510798904155839-99 New members, General assembly. v.74 (1965-1966)]". Paul Powell, Secretary of State, State of Illinois. p. 93. Retrieved 2023-08-03 – via Hathi Trust.

References