Norman in Cleveland County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

Beta Theta Pi Fraternity House, The University of Oklahoma

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 18, 2025

1. Beta Theta Pi Fraternity House, The University of Oklahoma Marker

Inscription.
This property has been
placed on the
National Register
of
Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1929.

Location. 35° 12.432′ N, 97° 27.029′ W. Marker is in Norman, Oklahoma, in Cleveland County. It is at the intersection of Chautauqua Avenue and West Brooks Street, on the right when traveling south on Chautauqua Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 800 Chautauqua Ave, Norman OK 73069, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Oklahoma — Frontier Country

and in Greater Oklahoma City.

It is also in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Ledbetter House (within shouting distance of this marker); Home of Chi Omega (within shouting distance of this marker); Anne and Henry Zarrow Hall (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Farzaneh Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); David L. Boren College of International Studies Marker (approx. 0.2 miles away); Goddard Health Center (approx. 0.2 miles away); Historic Robertson Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); Patricio Gimeno House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Norman.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Ellison Hall (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Regarding Beta Theta Pi Fraternity House, The University of Oklahoma. Excerpt from the National Register nomination:

The Beta Theta Pi Fraternity House is significant both in terms of architecture and education. Like most major universities in America there are many fraternities and sororities at The University of Oklahoma. Many of these organizations constructed elegant
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 19, 2025

2. Beta Theta Pi Fraternity House, The University of Oklahoma Marker
Plaque is to the right of the front doors.
houses in the 1920's during a period of economic growth and university expansion. And the Beta's at OU outdid all the others. They hired a young architect named Harold Gimeno who was just beginning his career. Gimeno had grown up in Norman and was the son of Professor Patricio Gimeno, a long-term OU faculty member in the School of Art. Young Harold acquired a BA in Mathematics from OU in 1918 and then attended the Harvard Graduate School of Architecture on a scholarship. He returned to Oklahoma to practice architecture and the commission for the Beta House was one of his first projects. Gimeno later moved to California and practiced there until his death two years ago [1979]. Throughout his long career he worked in a number of styles - Spanish Revival, Art Deco, and Modern. Yet during his career he never returned to the architectural style associated with one of his earliest and most successful efforts - the Italian Renaissance Revival style of the Beta House. Although he designed a number of very good buildings, both in Oklahoma and California, the Beta House is one of his finest. And this building has even greater meaning since it
Courtesy of Santa Ana Library, Santa Ana History Room photograph collection (11457097), July 7, 1958

3. Santa Ana, Calif. Library Groundbreaking
The library was among several buildings that Harold Gimeno (far right) designed during his career.
is the only example of this style in Norman, Oklahoma.

Also see . . . Beta Theta Pi Fraternity House, The University of Oklahoma (PDF). National Register nomination for the fraternity house, which was listed in 1981. (Prepared by Arn Henderson; via State Historic Preservation Office of Oklahoma) (Submitted on July 7, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 7, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 322 times since then and 90 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 7, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on July 11, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.