California Zeta
Seeking the bond of brotherhood, fifteen students and three faculty of then San Jose State College founded Gamma Phi Sigma in 1938. Those brothers enjoyed many firsts including – first in sports, first in academics and the first fraternity to have a house at San Jose State.
Membership was generally 50 brothers. However college enrollment declined during World War II as did the fraternity. Tragically seven of our brothers never returned home having been lost during the war. Afterwards membership grew as did the desire to join a national fraternity. With numerous letters of support including Province Kappa, California Alpha, California Beta, and then San Jose State President Thomas MacQuarrie, Gamma Phi Sigma petitioned to become a chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
During the 91st national convention in August of 1947 the brothers pledged their unfailing loyalty to Sigma Alpha Epsilon. On November 1, 1947 at 2:30 in the afternoon that petition was granted with a formal initiation at the Sainte Claire Hotel in downtown San Jose.
And thus, California Zeta was born.
