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Francis H. Bacon, 1876

5/31/2025

Our brothers careers have been productive, constructive, spirited, and prosaic. They displayed impressive skills, talents, and abilities They were, and we continue to be, a beautiful and lively expression of our enduring fraternal beliefs, and that underlying harmony is far-reaching in expectation for all brothers’, undergraduate and graduate. It is the core of what our fraternal founders asserted in 1848 and 1874 and 1899: to live active, commendable, and responsible lives, and to build up community. Clearly and compellingly, they added, and continue to add, positive value at the local, state, national, global, and fraternal level because they engaged life fully and responsibly. In short, they were authoritative pillars throughout life. They were-are exemplary in their citizenship, character, and their sense of dutiful responsibility, and, in many instances, they were leading voices in their career fields. They prove that success of any kind does not occur by luck or accident, and we remember them because they continue to provide that message for our time. Their spirit permeates our brotherhood, and it always will.

We have long been, from one generation to the next, proud to be Omega Mu Fijis. We continue to cherish our fraternal friendships, our shared memories, and our evolving, forward-focused history at the University of Maine. These things, above and beyond everything else, are the underlying rooted connections that make us proud to be Omega Mu Fijis. Why, after all, should we believe otherwise? We have always exhibited a can-do fraternal spirit since 1874. And, to be sure, all present and future generations of Omega Mu Fijis will continue to do the same, with fraternal enthusiasm and commitment. As a brotherhood, we always see the path behind us and the way forward with equal clarity, and our future remains bright at 79 College Avenue because we fearlessly move forward, always guided by sound fraternal principles. Perge.

Omega Mu Portrait
Francis H. Bacon,
1876

Q.T.V. Years

"The Q. T. V. Hall, erected in 1876 by the labor of the members of the fraternity, stood where Coburn Hall is now."

"The first meeting place if fraternities on the Maine campus was in this building....students helped build this hall (funds and labor). First secret society in college."

"The entire expense of its erection was borne by the members and this demanded from them considerable self-sacrifice and loyalty. As this was the first fraternity chapter built in the State, it surely must have been a building
to be proud of."

Q.T.V Brothers

Oliver Crosby, 1876

Horace Estabrooke, 1876

Charles Oak, 1876

Oliver Crosby was Francis Bacon's best friend at the University of Maine, and they kept up a regular correspondence through life.

Edward M. Blanding was Francis Bacon's roommate at Maine.

Edward M. Blanding

"Oliver Crosby's most intimate friend while at college was Francis Henry Bacon and I have taken the liberty to forward a copy of your letter to him in distant Turkey.....His letters have invariably been very interesting and some of them were accompanied with pictures of himself and
the picturesque Dardanelles."

White Hall

"F. H. Bacon, ---Trombone"

Archeologist

After Francis finished college at M.I.T. , he worked for an architectural firm in Boston, but in 1881 he was asked to join the Harvard archeological team that was going to Assos, Turkey to do extensive excavation work. Assos is just south of Troy, and I am sure a historic time-capsule of thoughts may have gone through Francis’s head as he considered the offer: Patroclus, Achilles, Cassandra, Darius, Xerxes, as well as Luke the Evangelist and Paul the Apostle (Both Luke and Paul visited Assos). Francis gave notice to the architectural firm and joined the Harvard team as the key architectural site draftsman, as well as being second in command. His effectiveness as a leader was unquestioned, and he did a beautiful, comprehensive job as a draftsman. His finished drawings of the Assos site are eye-catching, beautiful, calm, and systematically precise. They are interesting to look at because of their precision and clarity, and they whet the appetite to read about the archeological importance of the site in human history. This experience of working at the Assos archeological site, from 1881-1883, was unique, rich, and profound in meaning for Francis, and he worked for over thirty years to compile and then publish the account of the archeological work done by the Harvard team in 1923, a year before the ceremony dedicating Francis’s marble repository shrine to preserve and protect the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Furthermore, to broaden this great pulse of the historic, Francis’s younger brother, Henry Bacon, designed the Lincoln Memorial. The Bacon brothers have a single, enduring, incalculable legacy in our nation’s history, and one of them is our fraternal brother, Francis H. Bacon, 1876, a fitting fraternal testimony to what we believe as Omega Mu Fijis. In sum, Francis would not be denied in anything he set out to achieve as an archeologist, architect, and designer of furniture. He did everything with consummate skill and attentiveness, creative interest and integrity, and he remains, across all Omega Mu generations, as a fraternal inspiration and a challenge to always remain undaunted, perseverant, and determined. And again, as we all know, that has been our history at the University of Maine, a proud historic truth that continues today with our collective single-mindedness. Perge.

Bacon's work at Assos, in fact, stretched over a lifetime; at his personal expense he undertook the completion of the full five volumes of the Investigations at Assos after Clarke had abandoned the project under the pressure of family life. Not until 1927 did Bacon finish the task of publication, or as he said, "kiss it Goodbye.”

Francis H. Bacon's
Archeological Drawings
In The Dardanelles

"Edited With Explanatory Notes By
Francis H. Bacon."

Francis H.Bacon
American
Furniture Designer

Francis worked as the principle designer for the Herter Brothers and the A. H. Davenport Company, two furniture companies, before he started the Francis H. Bacon Company, Designers and Manufactures. He exhibited a great of talent with all of his designs, and he emphasized and then translated the ideals of hand-crafted furniture into factory-made furniture. With a great deal of reflective study and thought, many sketches and refined drawings, he introduced many new elements to Colonial Renaissance style in furniture. He helped decorate the Glessner home in Chicago, William H. Vanderbilt’s home on 5th Avenue, New York City; the Warder Mansion in Washington, DC; the Converse Memorial Library in Malden, Massachusetts, and the White House. Because of the unique quality and style of furniture creations, many of Francis’s chairs and tables have been put on display in the MET and the Smithsonian Museums.

Francis H. Bacon’s Furniture Sketches

Francis H. Bacon’s Furniture

"With furniture designed by Francis H. Bacon."

Glessner Home

"Mrs Glessner's piano designed by Francis H. Bacon."

"Theodore Thomas, founding conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, traveled to the Steinway factory and tried out the instrument, giving it his approval before delivery for decoration to A. H. Davenport and Company's chief designer, Francis Bacon."

Vanderbilt Home In
New York

Warder Mansion

Converse Memorial Library

The White House
Furniture

Architect of the Shrine for the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence
of the United States

Francis H. Bacon designed the marble repository shrine to preserve and safeguard the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, as well as being open and accessible to the general public. When the repository shrine was dedicated in 1924, President and Mrs Calvin Coolidge were in attendance.

"Before long, the "sort of 'shrine" was being designed by Francis H. Bacon, whose brother Henry was the architect of the
Lincoln Memorial."

"In February 1924 President and Mrs. Calvin Coolidge dedicated the newly completed shrine in the Library of Congress that contained the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence."

On a historical side-note, Francis’ younger brother, Henry Bacon, was the
architect of the
Lincoln Memorial.

Our Omega Mu Brother,
Francis H. Bacon

“What if the space be long and wide,
That parts us from our brother’s side
A soul-joined chain unites our band,
And memory links us hand in hand.”
(Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song)

Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82
Perge!

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Stephen L. Hopping, 1971

5/30/2025

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Truthfully, there is no fraternal brotherhood quite like Omega Mu at the University of Maine. We are proud of our history, and we are proud of the impressive number of fraternal brothers who played on many University of Maine athletic teams. In addition, we are equally proud of our brothers participated achieved national and international recognition in sports

With conviction and commitment, our Omega Mu athlete brothers brought a great deal of joy and satisfaction to the university community, creating many wonderful memories since the first baseball team was established at Maine State College in the 1870's. The worked together for the success of each Maine team, and the overall civic good of the University of Maine. The sheer number of Omega Mu athlete brothers is an unqualified triumph for the University of Maine. Their positive impact on the University of Maine community cannot be overstated. They each gave their best efforts on each team, and what they achieved perfectly compliments what we fraternally believe: drive and determination. It is a heady athletic legacy. Accordingly, their accomplishments claim our fraternal attention and respect. For the eminence of their athletic success; and, above all, for being our Omega Mu brothers, we are proud. Therefore, in the linked soul and spirit of our long fraternal history, we gratefully remember and celebrate our QTV and Omega Mu brothers who participated on many varsity athletic teams at the University of Maine. Our scorecard is deep, and we appreciate, and we are proud of, all of our Omega Mu athlete brothers.

Thoreau said it best: “What a difference, whether in all your walks, you meet only strangers, or in one house is one who knows you, and whom you know. To have a brother…How rare these things are.” How true that is, and we remain that way to this day.

Omega Mu Athlete
Stephen L. Hopping,
1971

Omega Mu Years

Omega Mu Housemother,
Clara Hammond

Bob Deutsch, Bob Vam Dyke, John Collins, Chris eaton, Fred Galella

Dick York and Rod Macklin

Chris Tremblay on Tom Richardson's shoulders.

Paul Dulac and John Collins

Chris Eaton, right

Jim McLean, right, talking with some friends.

Jim McLean talking with a friend.

Rod Macklin, right.

L-R: Leigh Morrill, John Collins, Doyle Vatour, John Kimball, and behind is Dusty Rhodes

Fiji Island

Behind, looking to his left, is Pat Ladd; center, with cup in hand, is Bob Mennaly; looking to his right, towel wrapped around his head, Paul Wood; looking down and wearing sunglasses is Mike Soloby.

1971
Snow Sculpture

Working on the left portion of the sculpture:
Wearing a brown jacket, Mike O'Leary
To his right wearing a white and blue Maine jacket, Jim McLean
To the right of Jim McLean is Tom Richardson

Standing in the middle:
Red sweater, Chris Eaton
Sammy Cosgrove or Galella
Wearing a hat, Greg Papasodora
Jimmy Dunn
John Duffy
Tony Flaherty
#36Bob Dandolfi
Back turned, Dave Smith
Far right, Glenn Smith

On the wall:
Check jacket, Tyler Libby
Fred Galella
Jin Chaplin
Red sweater, Chris Eaton
Wearing hat, Bill Pond
Red Wolfe
Jim Hayes

Around the car:
Holding the hose, Eric Sjostrom
In front of Eric, bending down, left hand on the car, Ernie Niles
On the far right, next to the drivers side of the car and looking at the wall, Bob Mennealy

L-R:
Green jacket, Pat Ladd
Yellow jacket, George Thomas
White jacket, John Collins

Back of the car:
Looking toward the camera, standing at the rear of the car, Mike O'Leary

Carving on the all:
Green sweater, John Halloran
Red sweater, Chris Eaton
Wearing Maine jacket, Jim McLean

Clara Hammond and the pledge brother who designed the
snow sculpture

Clara Hammond

University Of Maine Athlete

Steve Hopping played for the University of Maine baseball team for four years, but there was only one team picture in all those years.

"Brother Steve Hopping at first base has been the squad's clean-up hitter for two seasons and is back to spark
the offensive punch."

Our Omega Mu Brother,
Jim Chaplin

"The Maine club is led by Fiji captain Jim Chaplin."

"When all the statistics were in the Bears' 18-5 record made the '70 season the
best since 1885."

Ipswich High School
Athletic Hall Of Fame

Steve Hopping, Football, Hockey, Baseball

Stephen L. Hopping

“What if the space be long and wide,
That parts us from our brother’s side
A soul-joined chain unites our band,
And memory links us hand in hand.”
(Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song)

Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82
Perge

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Arthur D. Serota, 1966

5/29/2025

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Omega Mu Portrait
Arthur Serota,
1966

Omega Mu Years

Mrs. Tate and Mrs. Blaisdell,
Omega Mu Housemothers

1963
Snow Sculpture

1965
Snow Sculpture

Pig Dinner

Wayne Robbins and Ted Curtis, '23

Suffolk University School of Law

Arthur Serota received his law degree from Suffolk University Law School in 1969.

Law Practice

After graduating from Suffolk University Law School, Arthur Serota set up his law practice in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1971.

Educator

Throughout his multi-faceted professional career, Arthur Serota, with a seriousness of purpose, was concerned about justice, peace, and service to the marginalized, in the United States and Africa. He kept at it; he always cared, and in doing so he truthfully embodied our old two fraternal truths of 'persistence' and 'determination' as a lawyer, teacher, activist, and humanitarian. He beautifully defined those two words in his actions; consequently, he created a lasting, positive legacy of vision, influence, and direction that continues to have a life-long impact for many people. He believed in the call for justice and peace, united virtues, and he took up the cause to work tirelessly for justice and peace in order to improve the world, and that's what counts when you believe in redemptive possibilities and work to make them a reality. That is character of real, life-giving depth and substance, and it was the result of Arthur Serota's unstoppable persistence and determination. That is an unqualified good in and of itself, and the passage of time will never dim the lasting substance of his tireless work in trying to stop the "theater of cruelty" of child soldiers in Zimbabwe, and in helping disadvantaged students improve their chances to get into college in the United States. Arthur Serota persisted and he persevered, and because of that he remains a source of Omega Mu pride.

In the 1980's Arthur Serota moved to Zimbabwe to build schools and teach, and he was inspirational, practical, and wise as an educator. He believed that a good working conscience, in educational and practical terms, can shape and improve human events by opening up possibilities of redemptive change. With gentle, thoughtful human strength, comfort, and encouragement, he tangibly lived up to Margaret Mead's challenging call to be a committed citizen to improve the world through education, not an old-fashion idea. His work and influence in Zimbabwe extended beyond the classroom. With equal breadth, depth, commitment, and industry of his heart and mind, he helped with agricultural and reforestation projects in Zimbabwe.

Quite simply, Arthur Serota's integrity and sense of human decency did not bend because he is a man who did not sway in his ethical vision and commitments, and this led him to establish the United Movement to End Child Soldering, a nonprofit organization to end the human vulgarity of child soldiers. Later in his career, with equal zeal of heart and mind, Arthur Serota created Learning Tree, a community-based education program in Springfield for at risk students who live in marginalized communities, with the practical objective of changing hopelessness into hope and opening opportunities to attend college in order to live a more hopeful, meaningful life. What he accomplished, in his various careers, was unique and profound because he firmly united two simple and obvious truths: intellectual thoroughness and ethical integrity in working to help people and bring about a positive transformation.

Unmistakably, in the broadest sense, Arthur Serota's multi-faceted career was grounded in his unitary ethical vision to help people at the local level and the global level, in Springfield and Zimbabwe. Separately and together, that is a great vision, and his objectives were clearly and inextricably tied together with sense of ethical integrity and his intellectual thoroughness, steady and true, in order to achieve redemptive outcomes in both areas. That is a calling of honorable dimensions because it is positively transformative. Consequently, what Arthur Serota accomplished is an ethically shaped legacy of excellence in caring for humanity in dismantling walls of oppression, exclusion, and racism in order for redemptive change to occur. In conclusion, Arthur Serota is a bold, inspiring leader. Taking on such a persevering responsibility to bring about societal reformation is a lofty ambition, a true calling, to a larger purpose which we remain fraternally proud of as Omega Mu Fijis.

United Movement to End
Child Soldering

"After witnessing a rebel army invasion in Zimbabwe that included child soldiers, the Brooklyn, N. Y. native helped form UMECS."

Arthur Serota is the Executive Director of the
United Movement to End Child Soldering

"Taking part in efforts to save lives, focus on immediate and long-term needs, and transform situations detrimental to human
dignity are ethical choices."

"To look the other way or not:
Ethical choices we make."

"Serota is a long-time human rights activist and has worked in many parts of Africa. He is also an educator and has written a book, Ending Apartheid in America, and a play,
The Awakening."

Symposium:
Post-Apartheid South Africa

"Dr. Arthur Serota: U.S. Attorney and Journalist who has worked in Zimbabwe."

The Learning Tree

"Minds, ambitions, creativity, and skills blossom and blossom in this program....students from the Learning Tree receive the most unique and mind developing education possible, while Hampshire College is blessed with visions, talents, and
maturity of these students."

"In 1992, nine students from these organizations became Hampshires first James Baldwin Scholars."

University of Maine
Bernard Lown Alumni Humanitarian Award:
Arthur Serota, 2008

Omega Mu Brothers Celebrate
With Arthur Serota

Omega Mu Brothers,
Tom Savage and John Rohman

“What if the space be long and wide,
That parts us from our brother’s side
A soul-joined chain unites our band,
And memory links us hand in hand.”
(Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song)

Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82
Perge

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Benjamin Weston, 1900

5/27/2025

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Omega Mu Portrait
Benjamin Weston,
1900

Q. T. V. - Omega Mu Years

1899
The Year Q. T. V. Became
The Omega Mu Chapter Of
Phi Gamma Delta

Our
Phi Gamma Delta Brother
General Lew Wallace

Union General Lew Wallace's fearless energy and erudite military leadership during the Battle of the Monocacy slowed Confederate General Jubal Early's advance on Washington for one critical day, and this allowed General Grant just enough time to bring more Union troops from Petersburg to reinforce the 23,000 Union troops that were protecting the capital. Thus, the capital of the United States was saved from possibly being taken by the Confederacy because of General Wallace's determined leadership during a critical 24 hour period in Frederick, Maryland, 1864. In point of fact, the one-day that took on July 6th, on the various farms and fields around the Monocacy River, may have been the most important battle of the Civil War, maybe, and we can thank a DePauw University Fiji brother for that: Brigadier General Lew Wallace. Perge.

The blog writer has walked the grounds of this Civil War battle, which took place on the outskirts of Frederick, Maryland, many times with his dogs!

"Fraternally Yours,
Lew Wallace"

"Gen Lew Wallace,
National President of the
Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity"

PHI GAMMA DELTA

"New Fraternity Installed
at the U. of M."

"Former Q. T. V. Society Granted a
Charter in October."

"Initiation and Installation Ceremonies Recently Held at the
Chapter House"

The recently built chapter house of
Omega Mu

Recently built Phi Gamma Delta house, middle. The building that is first on the right is the last Q. T. V. Chapter Hall that was extensively renovated to become a residential dorm for women, Mount Vernon House. In the middle distance, approximately near the small white building is the site where our present
Castle would be built in 1924-1925.

#25 is the Mount Vernon House,
#26 is the site of our first
Phi Gamma Delta Castle.

Inside the house around 1905-1907, above and below.

First Omega Mu
Phi Gamma Delta Brothers

Benjamin F. Weston, November 24, 1899

Card Party

"Phi Gamma Delta fraternity entertained their friends with whist and dancing at
their chapter house."

"Second Lieutenant...Benjamin Thomas Weston"

Coburn Corp of Cadets,
1898

Phi Kappa Phi

Phi Kappa Phi
"It is an honorary society to which the twelve seniors having the best record in scholarship"

B. Weston

First Omega Mu Fiji
Banquet

"Toastmaster, H. M. Estabrooke, 1876"

First Group Of Q. T. V. Brothers To Be
Initiated Into The Omega Mu Chapter Of
Phi Gamma Delta

"Toastmaster, J. F. Gould"

"Valedictory....Benjamin F. Weston"

"The oration by Mr. McDonald (Omega Mu Fiji Brother) and the valedictory by Mr. Weston were both of a very high order and exceedingly well rendered."

"Mr Weston's was
especially impressive."

Graduates Receiving Special Recognition At
Graduation

"Benjamin Thomas Weston, Madison, Mathematics"

“What if the space be long and wide,
That parts us from our brother’s side
A soul-joined chain unites our band,
And memory links us hand in hand.”
(Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song)

Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82
Perge

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Stanley T. S. Fuger, Jr., 1938

5/25/2025

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From multiple angles, our QTV and Omega Mu brothers have enriched the civic life at the University of Maine, and we are fortunate to have had many hardworking, talented brothers throughout our history. The balance between our athletic involvement, intellectual pursuits, and campus involvement is outstanding. In each area of involvement, our brothers brought energy and enthusiasm, and one particular area where our brothers brought particular depth and color was in many wide-ranging Maine Masque theater productions. With fraternal strength, Omega Mu brothers became mainstays on the theater boards when Maine Masque was established in 1906-1907. What a long-lasting accomplishment for all of us to be proud as Omega Mu brothers.

Over the years, our Omega Mu brothers have been involved in many Maine Masque productions, including Charles L. Pfeiffer, Malcolm E. Fassett, Harry Lovely, Nathan F. True, Fernando T. Norcross, Theodore W. Haskell, Charles E. Stickney, Robert Irvine, William Demant, Evans B. Norcross, J. Richard Buck, Willam Keith, Harry P. Carle, Howard L. Farwell, Jacob M. Horne, Jr.; Bryant M. Patten, Sumner Waite, Norman D. Carlisle, Paul F. Slocum, Clifford H. George, Ernest F. Andrews, Robert S. Hussey, Elwood D. Bryant, Howard J. Stagg, III; Stanley S. T. Fuger, John T. Clark, John W. Ballou, George R. Berger, Robert D. Parks, Arthur B. Conner, Louis H. Thibodeau, Henry S. Simms, among many, many others! Praise for them is merited. Exhibiting diligence and discipline, these Omega Mu brothers, through many decades, brought a joyful vibrancy and communal vitality to the University of Maine community. What a superb gift to give the community, rich, alive, and inspiring. Significantly, many of our Omega Mu brothers were a driving force in many of the plays because of the impactful, leading roles that they often played, luring and capturing the imagination of the audience as they moved and glided, with apparent ease and poise, on the theater boards. By all reports in the Maine Campus and the Bangor Daily, their performances were quit affecting. The quality and depth of their disciplined art form joyfully enriched the lives of countless numbers of people.

Our Omega Mu Maine Masque theater brothers, just like our athlete brothers, are an enriching testament to what it means to be a fraternity brother in Omega Mu, and we are proud of their dedication, creativity, and commitment in adding such an important historic angle in our fraternal history at the University of Maine. They exemplify the good of what it means to be a positive part of the university community, and in doing so showing the good of fraternal culture. Attending a play is a special, spirited experience, and we are proud of the legacy of these brothers for their unbending commitment to the beautiful creative art and discipline of Maine Masque theater productions. These Maine Masque theater brothers make us proud, and their legacy in Maine Masque history continues to shine. They, too, like our Omega Mu athlete brothers, continue to enrich and strengthen our perseverant and determined fraternal identity, 151 years strong.

Omega Mu Portrait
Stanley T. S. Fuger, Jr.,
1938

Omega Mu Years

Omega Mu Housemother,
Mrs. Bradley

Watie Akins' Orchestra

Crimson Rambler

1937 Christmas Party For Children

"More than 30 of Orono's small sons and daughters were guests last night at the second annual Christmas party given by the 45 members of Omega Mu Phi Gamma Delta at the fraternity house, University of Maine."

Phi Gamma Delta Honors Dean Hart

Our Q. T. V. - Omega Mu Brother,
1885

1936
Snow Sculpture

"Phi Gamma Delta, with a most remarkably executed tableau of a set of three figures on a raised dais, was adjudged the winner. A purple background sprinkled with stars...the entire scene was excellently sculptured, showing a great deal of work, thought, and skill on the part of the sculptures."