George Banta: Difference between revisions
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'''George Banta''' (July 16, 1857 – 1935) was the founder of the George Banta Company (later the [[Banta Corporation]]) and an influential figure in the development of the collegiate [[Phi Delta Theta]] [[fraternities and sororities|fraternity]] and [[Delta Gamma]] women's fraternity. |
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#REDIRECT [[Banta Corporation]] |
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==Biography== |
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Born on July 16, 1857 in [[Covington, Kentucky]], Banta attended [[Franklin College (Indiana)|Franklin College]] in [[Franklin, Indiana]], where he became an active member of Phi Delta Theta. After graduating in 1876, he was admitted to the Indiana bar in 1878. He moved to [[Menasha, Wisconsin]], around 1885, where in 1901 he established the George Banta Printing Company. He remained active in the management of the company until his death September 23, 1935.<ref name="dwh">"[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=1054&term_type_id=1&term_type_text=People&letter=B George Banta]" in the ''Dictionary of Wisconsin History'' biographies</ref> |
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Much of the company's early growth came from educational contracts. George Banta, a member of [[Phi Delta Theta]], secured a contract to print its national magazine. Other national [[fraternities and sororities]] followed; the company would also publish ''[[Banta's Greek Exchange]]'', a monthly review of fraternity and sorority news, and several editions of ''[[Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities]]''. George's father was dean of the [[Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington|Indiana University School of Law]], and through this connection the company also won orders for university catalogs and yearbooks, textbooks, and magazines.<ref name="idch">"Banta Corporation." International Directory of Company Histories. The Gale Group, Inc. 2006</ref> |
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He served as alderman (1890–1891), and mayor (1892, 1895, 1902–1903) of Menasha, and served on the boards of several local companies.<ref name="dwh" /> |
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George Banta died in 1935 and was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in [[Neenah, Wisconsin]] |
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==Greek system involvement== |
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Banta served as national historian of Phi Delta Theta, and was highly instrumental in that society's expansion to new campuses. For his contributions, he is recognized as one of two "Second Founders" of Phi Delt, along with Walter B. Palmer. |
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Banta was instrumental in establishing the first [[Delta Gamma]] chapter outside the [[Southern United States]], at his alma mater. The chapter was designated the "Phi" in honor of Phi Delta Theta, and Banta was made an honorary member—the only man ever initiated into the women's fraternity.<ref name="anchorsonline">"[http://www.deltagamma.org/brother_fraternity_phi_delta_theta.shtml "Brother Fraternity" - Phi Delta Theta]," retrieved June 15, 2007</ref> |
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Banta also encouraged the formation of new Greek letter organizations. [[Emily Helen Butterfield|Emily Butterfield]], a co-founder of [[Alpha Gamma Delta]] contracted as a designer for the company, is credited as designer or co-designer of the [[coat of arms|coats of arms]] of Alpha Gamma Delta, [[Lambda Omega]], [[Phi Beta]], [[Sigma Delta Rho]], [[Sigma Tau Gamma]], [[Tau Kappa Epsilon]], [[Theta Kappa Nu]], [[Theta Phi Alpha]], [[Theta Upsilon Omega]], and [[Zeta Tau Alpha]]. He also encouraged her to publish articles she had compiled concerning fraternity and sorority heraldry, released in 1931 as ''College Fraternity Heraldry''.<ref name="cc">Raymond, Mike. "[http://www.crossandcrescent.com/2006/02/butterfields-mark/ Butterfield's Mark]" in the ''Cross and Crescent'', February 2006</ref>. Furthermore, he was elected an honorary member of the Alpha Chapter of [[Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity]], the national fraternity for men in music, at the [[New England Conservatory]] on December 20, 1917. |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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{{Portal|Biography}} |
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*{{Find a Grave|34384498}} |
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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. --> |
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| NAME = Banta, George |
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| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = |
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| SHORT DESCRIPTION = |
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| DATE OF BIRTH = July 16, 1857 |
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| PLACE OF BIRTH = |
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| DATE OF DEATH = 1935 |
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| PLACE OF DEATH = |
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}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Banta, George}} |
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[[Category:1857 births]] |
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[[Category:1935 deaths]] |
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[[Category:American printers]] |
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[[Category:Phi Delta Theta]] |
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[[Category:People from Menasha, Wisconsin]] |
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[[Category:Franklin College (Indiana) alumni]] |
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Revision as of 03:19, 10 January 2012
George Banta (July 16, 1857 – 1935) was the founder of the George Banta Company (later the Banta Corporation) and an influential figure in the development of the collegiate Phi Delta Theta fraternity and Delta Gamma women's fraternity.
Biography
Born on July 16, 1857 in Covington, Kentucky, Banta attended Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana, where he became an active member of Phi Delta Theta. After graduating in 1876, he was admitted to the Indiana bar in 1878. He moved to Menasha, Wisconsin, around 1885, where in 1901 he established the George Banta Printing Company. He remained active in the management of the company until his death September 23, 1935.[1]
Much of the company's early growth came from educational contracts. George Banta, a member of Phi Delta Theta, secured a contract to print its national magazine. Other national fraternities and sororities followed; the company would also publish Banta's Greek Exchange, a monthly review of fraternity and sorority news, and several editions of Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. George's father was dean of the Indiana University School of Law, and through this connection the company also won orders for university catalogs and yearbooks, textbooks, and magazines.[2]
He served as alderman (1890–1891), and mayor (1892, 1895, 1902–1903) of Menasha, and served on the boards of several local companies.[1]
George Banta died in 1935 and was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Neenah, Wisconsin
Greek system involvement
Banta served as national historian of Phi Delta Theta, and was highly instrumental in that society's expansion to new campuses. For his contributions, he is recognized as one of two "Second Founders" of Phi Delt, along with Walter B. Palmer.
Banta was instrumental in establishing the first Delta Gamma chapter outside the Southern United States, at his alma mater. The chapter was designated the "Phi" in honor of Phi Delta Theta, and Banta was made an honorary member—the only man ever initiated into the women's fraternity.[3]
Banta also encouraged the formation of new Greek letter organizations. Emily Butterfield, a co-founder of Alpha Gamma Delta contracted as a designer for the company, is credited as designer or co-designer of the coats of arms of Alpha Gamma Delta, Lambda Omega, Phi Beta, Sigma Delta Rho, Sigma Tau Gamma, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Theta Kappa Nu, Theta Phi Alpha, Theta Upsilon Omega, and Zeta Tau Alpha. He also encouraged her to publish articles she had compiled concerning fraternity and sorority heraldry, released in 1931 as College Fraternity Heraldry.[4]. Furthermore, he was elected an honorary member of the Alpha Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, the national fraternity for men in music, at the New England Conservatory on December 20, 1917.
References
- ^ a b "George Banta" in the Dictionary of Wisconsin History biographies
- ^ "Banta Corporation." International Directory of Company Histories. The Gale Group, Inc. 2006
- ^ ""Brother Fraternity" - Phi Delta Theta," retrieved June 15, 2007
- ^ Raymond, Mike. "Butterfield's Mark" in the Cross and Crescent, February 2006
