Francis W. Shepardson

Francis Wayland Shepardson (October 15, 1862 – August 9, 1937) was an American academic, historian, politician, author, editor, and Greek letter society executive. He taught at the University of Chicago for 25 years and was the first director of the Illinois Department of Registration and Education. He was also the secretary and acting director of the Julius Rosenwald Fund.

Shepardson was a founder and chairman of the National Interfraternity Conference. He was editor of Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities and Banta's Greek Exchange. He was the first president of the Association of College Honor Societies, the national president of Beta Theta Pi for twenty years, president of Acacia Fraternity, and the national vice president of Phi Beta Kappa. Upon his death, The New York Times noted, "There was no man better known to the college fraternities with their 500,000 members than Francis W. Shepardson..."

Early life Shepardson was born on October 15, 1862 in Cheviot, Ohio. His parents were Eliza (née Smart) and Daniel Shepardson, an educator and Doctor of Divinity. There, Daniel Shepardson taught at the Young Ladies' Institute and founded Shepardson College for Women, later the women's division of Denison University.

Shepardson attended Denison University in Granville, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1882. He then attended Brown University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1883, with Phi Beta Kappa honors. He joined Brown's Beta Theta Pi chapter in 1883.

Career Shepardson taught at the Young Ladies' Institute in Granville, Ohio, from 1883 to 1887.

In 1892, Shepardson became one of the original faculty members of the University of Chicago.

In 1904, Shepardson was a delegate for Frank O. Lowden, representing Chicago's seventh ward in the Illinois Republican Convention. While a university professor, he was an editorial writer and book reviewer for the Chicago Tribune from 1906 to 1910. He continued to teach at the University of Chicago through July 1917. Shepardson continued in this position through the end of Lowden's term in 1921.

In 1921, Shepardson became the secretary and acting director of the Julius Rosenwald Fund, working directly with Julius Rosenwald to educate African American children and adults in the Southern United States. He served in this capacity through 1926.

Shepardson was a member of the American Asiatic Society, the American Geographical Society, the American Historical Association, and the Illinois State Historical Society.

Greek letter organizations Shepardson was widely known as an authority on Greek letter organizations

Shepardson was a member of Beta Theta Pi college fraternity, serving as the fraternity's general secretary from 1907 to 1917 and its president from 1918 to his death in 1937. He was also the editor of The Beta Theta Pi from 1917 to 1930, and wrote five books about the fraternity, including the The Beta Book: The Story and Manual of Beta Theta Pi. His dedication to the fraternity earned him the nickname "Mr. Beta Theta Pi". He served three terms as Acacia's national grand president, from 1910 to 1914.

He was also active with the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. He became the secretary of the Beta of Illinois chapter in 1900 and compiled chapter catalogs in 1909 and 1915. He was a delegate to the Phi Beta Kappa council in 1910 and each succeeding council.

Upon his death, The New York Times noted, "There was no man better known to the college fraternities with their 500,000 members than Francis W. Shepardson..." His ashes were interred in Maple Grove Cemetery in Granville. The United States in the Nineteenth Century. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1902. "The Army in the War of 1812". in The Making of America, vol. 9, editorial edition. Robert Marion La Follette, editor. Chicago: John D. Morris & Company/The Making of America, 1906. The Shepardson Family, a Record of the Early Generations in America (issues 1–9). with John Eaton Shepardson and Albert R. Shepardson. s.l., 1907. Scripture and Song in Worship: A Service Book for the Sunday School. with Lester Bartlett Jones. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1911. Acacia, 1904-1913; Historical Sketch of the Fraternity. Chicago: Acacia Grand Council, 1913. Shall Physicians Have Annual Registration? Springfield, Illinois: Schnett & Barnes, State Printers, 1919. A Report on the Administration of the Medical Practice Act from July 1, 1917, to December 31, 1918. Springfield, Illinois: Schnett & Barnes, State Printers, 1919. "Fifteen Hundred New Country Schoolhouses," The Christian Science Monitor. August 18, 1922 The Beta Book: The Story and Manual of Beta Theta Pi. Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/George Banta Publishing Company, 1927. The Beta Book: The Story of Beta Theta Pi. Revised edition. Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/George Banta Publishing Company, 1930. Denison University, 1831-1931: A Centennial History. Granville, Ohio: Denison University/The Granville Times and Publishing Co., 1931. Alpha Eta: The Story of Beta Theta Pi at Denision. Granville, Ohio: The Chapter/The Granville Times and Publishing Co., 1937.

As editor

Third General Catalogue of the Officers and Alumni of Denison University...1831-1885. Granville, Ohio: Times Book and Job Print, June 1885. Fourth General Catalogue of the Officers and Alumni of Denison University...1831-1888. Granville, Ohio: The Association of the Alumni, June 1888. Fifth General Catalogue of the Officers and Alumni of Denison University...1831-1893. Granville, Ohio: The Association of the Alumni, June 1893. Phi Beta Kappa: The Beta of Illinois Chapter Historical Sketch and List of Members. Chicago: The University of Chicago, February 15, 1915. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 11th edition. Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/George Banta Publishing Company, 1927. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 12th edition. Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/George Banta Publishing Company, 1930. Songs of [Beta Theta Pi]: Music Published by the Fraternity in its Ninety-Fourth Year, 18th edition. with James L. Gavin and Harold J. Baily. Beta Theta Pi, 1932. Beta Theta Pi: A Catalogue of the Fraternity in its Ninety-Fifth Year, 10th edition. with Norman Pomeroy Hall. Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/ George Banta Publishing Company, 1933. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 13th edition. Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/George Banta Publishing Company, 1935. Beta Bards in Sentiment and Song from Beta Hearts, 1839-1936.'' Menasha, Wisconsin: George Banta Publishing Company, 1836.