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The Phi Kappa Tau fraternity has had a rich history with Michigan Technological University and its hometown of Hancock, MI. Originally founded as the Mu Kappa Mu fraternity on April 24, 1957, it was founded by 12 young men attending Michigan Tech and Joe Kirkish, a humanities professor, as their advisor. The Mu Kappa Mu fraternity stands for brotherhood, acceptance, and integrity. Mu Kappa Mu adopted the Lowenbrau Crest as its own. The crest was chosen for its many symbolic meanings: the "fleur de lis" for liberty, equality, and brotherhood; the lion for power, leadership, aggressiveness and open arms for welcoming and aid; and the twelve bars representing the twelve signers of the "Mu Kappa Mu Fraternity Charter." The fraternity also adopted wine and white as their symbolic colors and a gold, squared tie tack for their pin.
By the spring of 1957, the search for a house had begun. The "Old Ray Hill Hotel" was purchased and the membership began moving into their new home during the summer of that same year. This house, over one hundred years old, remains in excellent condition due to repairs from pledge class projects, updates for reunions every five years, and an alumni fund which holds over $100,000 for major repairs.
In January of 1958, the search for a national fraternity for Mu Kappa Mu to become associated with started by looking at five different national fraternities. On July 7, 1958 Mu Kappa Mu was accepted as a colony of Phi Kappa Tau. On April 24, 1959 the Gamma Alpha Chapter was installed during a ceremony presided over by the National President Roland Maxwell.
In 1973, the second mortgage was paid off, officially giving ownership of the house to the members of the fraternity. In 1988, the Gamma Alpha Chapter won its first Maxwell Award for the best Phi Kappa Tau Chapter in the nation and, the next year, repeated as Maxwell winners. Recently, Phi Kappa Tau won the Winter Carnival in 1999 and has won again in 2004, 2006, and 2008 and is an annual contender.
Now, for over 50 years, the Gamma Alpha Chapter of Phi Kappa Tau has over 800 members and retains many traditions that date back to 1957. Our fraternity remains an outstanding member of the Michigan Technological University and Houghton/Hancock communities. Members are involved in various local philanthropy functions including Tutoring Math for the Hancock Middle School and High School, Pancake Breakfast for Hancock Elementary, Wood Cutting for Big Brothers/ Friends of the Elderly and other campus events.