The Bent of Tau Beta Pi

The Bent of Tau Beta Pi (title registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office) was established by the 1905 Convention, and was first published by Pennsylvania Alpha for two years, the first issue bearing the date April 1906. Issues are now published in Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. Until 1913, it was in the hands of a board of alumni. From 1913-18, its business was conducted by the Executive Council.

World War I caused the suspension of publication with the combined number for January-April,1918. Publication was resumed with the combined number for July-November, 1922. The 1922 Convention adopted a bylaw placing the election of an editor in the hands of the Convention and elected John W. Ross to that position.

While experiencing most of the vicissitudes of a journal of its class, The Bent has filled a positive place in the activities of the Association and has been an indispensable means of unifying the various chapters in a comprehensive organization. Action by the 1910 Convention, requiring all new initiates to subscribe to the quarterly for three years, put it on its feet financially and, by insuring a large circulation, made it of more value to the members of the Association.

Because of rising costs, the 1925 Convention changed the size of The Bent from 6 X 9 inches to 8.5 x 11.5 inches, and reduced the number of pages, as well as requiring all new initiates to subscribe for a period of four years. In 1968 to effect savings, page-size of The Bent was reduced to 8.25 x 11 inches. In 1984, page-size was reduced to 8.25 x 10.875 inches.

The 1946 Convention, in providing for a full-time, permanent Secretary-Treasurer, also included among the duties of that office those of Editor of the Association. The Executive Director currently serves as Editor of The Bent. However, the 2014 Convention gave the Executive Director the authority to designate someone else to serve as the Editor.

The life subscription plan for The Bent was adopted by the 1929 Convention as a means for perpetuating the Fellowship Program. The plan provides for use of income from the invested Life Subscription Fund for publication expenses during the life time of the subscriber, and transfer of the life subscription fee to the Fellowship Fund on the death of the subscriber. The 1963 Convention raised the price of life subscriptions from $25 to $35, the 1989 Convention to $50, and the 1996 Convention to $60. The price was raised to $75 in 2013 and to $95 in 2016 by act of the Executive Council on the authority of the Convention. An electronic-only subscription is available for $45. On December 31, 2016, there were more than 80,000 life subscribers. Annual subscriptions are $10.

The Bent carries advertising of numerous major business firms and universities in the engineering field. Advertising rates are available on request from the Editor. Total paid circulation of The Bent exceeds 88,000 copies per issue.