Alpha Sigma Phi (ΑΣΦ, commonly abbreviated to Alpha Sig) is a social fraternity with 68 active chapters, colonies, and interest groups. Founded at Yale in 1845, it is the 10th oldest fraternity in the United States.

The fraternity practices many traditions, some of which involve esoteric symbols. This is alluded to by the Latin motto, Causa Latet Vis Est Notissima ("The cause is hidden, the results well-known."). The fraternity's official symbol is the phoenix, signifying the refounding of the fraternity in the early 1900s. Due to active expansion efforts, Alpha Sigma Phi continues to offer services and opportunities to over 2,000 undergraduate students and 40,000 living alumni.

History

---

Founding

Alpha Sigma Phi was founded at Yale College in 1845 as a secret sophomore society composed of many of the school's authors, poets, athletes, and scholars. Upon rising through the ranks of the school, members shared membership with Alpha Sigma Phi in Skull and Bones, Scroll and Key, and eventually Wolf's Head.

The founders of Alpha Sigma Phi:

• Louis Manigault was the son of Charles I. Manigault, a wealthy rice planter from South Carolina who traced his ancestry to a Huguenot refugee who fled from Louis XIV's persecution and came to America in 1691.
• Stephen Ormsby Rhea was the son of John Rhea, an important cotton planter of Louisiana who helped open the disputed territory of West Florida and made it a part of the U.S. and state of Louisiana.
• Horace Spangler Weiser, of York, Pennsylvania, was a descendant of Conrad Weiser, also a refugee from Europe who became famous in the French and Indian War, representing several colonies in treaty negotiations with Native Americans.

Manigault and Rhea met at St. Paul's Preparatory School near Flushing, New York, where both were members of the same literary society and were preparing themselves for admission to Yale. Weiser attended a private school in New Haven, and he met Rhea early in his freshman year, who introduced him to Manigault.

Once at Yale, Manigault and Rhea became members of Yale's Calliopean Literary Society, and Weiser was a member of the Lininian Literary Society. Manigault was very much interested in the class society system at Yale and noted the class fraternities provided experience for their members and prepared them for competition in literary contests. The sophomore class there had only one society, Kappa Sigma Theta, which displayed an attitude of superiority toward non-fraternity men.

Manigault revealed to his friend Rhea a plan for founding another sophomore society. Rhea agreed and enlisted Weiser to become the three founders of Alpha Sigma Phi. Their first official meeting was held in Manigault's room on Chapel Street on December 6, 1845. The constitution and ritual were then written and the fraternity pin was designed. The first pledge class, of 14 members, was initiated on June 24, 1846.

After the birth of Alpha Sigma Phi, an intense rivalry began between Alpha Sigma Phi and Kappa Sigma Theta. The rivalry expressed itself in their publications, Kappa Sigma Theta's "The Yale Banger" and Alpha Sigma Phi's "The Yale Tomahawk." In 1852, the editors of The Tomahawk were expelled after violating faculty orders to cease publication. However, the rivalry between the organizations continued until 1858, when Kappa Sigma Theta was suppressed by the faculty.

Beyond Yale

The first charter was granted to Amherst College as Beta Chapter, but it only lasted about six months, at which time the parent chapter requested that it dissolve and return the constitution. However, a fragmentary document in the Yale library suggests that Beta was chartered in 1850 at Harvard but lived a very short life due to a wave of puritanism. The chapter at Harvard was revived in 1911 as Beta Chapter but only survived about 20 years; the charter was withdrawn due to the Harvard's anti-fraternity environment. When Amherst was restored in 1854, it was designated as Delta Chapter. However, when the chapter at Marietta College was chartered in 1860, it too was given the Delta designation, despite the parent chapter being aware of this discrepancy.

When the Civil War swept the United States, almost every member of Delta at Marietta enlisted in the Union Army. Three of the brothers gave their lives for the Union cause. Former chapter presidents William B. Whittlesey and George B. Turner fell on the battle fields of Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain. They willed their personal possessions and their swords to the chapter, which treasured those mementoes until the chapter closed in the mid 1990s.

During the Civil War, the mother chapter at Yale was rent by internal dissension. Because less attention was being given to the sophomore class societies, some Alpha Sigma Phi members pledged to Delta Kappa Epsilon, a junior class society, and attempted to turn the control of Alpha Sigma Phi over to Delta Kappa Epsilon. However, the attempt was thwarted by members of Alpha Sigma Phi who had pledged to the other two junior class societies. A conflict ensued, and the faculty suppressed Alpha Sigma Phi to end the disorder. However, the traditions of Alpha Sigma Phi were carried on by two new sophomore class societies, Delta Beta Xi and Phi Theta Psi. Louis Manigault sought to renew his loyalty and friendship with his brothers of Alpha Sigma Phi, and agreed with Rhea and Weiser to consider Delta Beta Xi its true descendant. They were unaware at the time that Delta Chapter at Marietta still existed as Alpha Sigma Phi.

Refounding

The second founders were:

• Wayne Montgomery Musgrave, an honors graduate of New York University, Yale and Harvard. He provided the organizational spark that fanned Alpha Sigma Phi into national prominence.
• Edwin Morey Waterbury, born in Geneseo, New York on September 26, 1884, son of Dr. Reuben A. and Frances Waterbury. Dr. Waterbury was an educator, and vice-principal of the New York State Normal School at Geneseo from 1873 to 1895.

With the inactivation of Delta Beta Xi at Yale, Alpha Sigma Phi was kept alive only at Marietta by Delta. At Yale, four friends agreed in a conversation over a card game that an organization was needed that was open to all students, instead of representing only the sophomore or junior classes. The four friends were Robert L. Ervin, Benjamin F. Crenshaw, Arthur S. Ely, and Edwin M. Waterbury.

Other members soon joined the group in their mission, the first of which were Fredrick H. Waldron and Wayne M. Musgrave. Ervin knew some of the alumni brothers of Delta at Marietta and asked them to send the first letter to Delta. On March 27, 1907, Ely, Crenshaw, Musgrave, Waldron, and Waterbury traveled to Marietta and were initiated into Alpha Sigma Phi. Upon returning to New Haven, they initiated the other friends they had recruited into the new Alpha chapter at Yale.

Many of the old Alpha members returned to Yale upon hearing the news of the refounding, and helped acquire the fraternity's first piece of real estate, the "Tomb", a windowless two story building. No non-member was allowed entrance. No member could speak of the interior of the building, and were even expected to remain silent while passing by the exterior of the building.

Expansion

A new national organization was formed at an Alpha Sigma Phi conference at Marietta in 1907, and within a year there were three new chapters: Zeta at Ohio State, Eta at the University of Illinois, and Theta at the University of Michigan. In 1910 another convention was held with the members of the former chapters at Yale, Amherst and Ohio Wesleyan University, and a delegation from the Yale Delta Beta Xi fraternity. All of these pledged to anew their loyalty to a restored Alpha Sigma Phi.

Alpha Sigma Phi survived World War I fairly easily and even recruited many new members during those years. In the post-war era, Alpha Sigma Phi expanded at the rate of one chapter per year. In 1939, Phi Pi Phi merged with Alpha Sigma Phi, as the Great Depression left that fraternity with only five of its original twenty-one chapters. World War II hit Alpha Sigma Phi hard, with many brothers losing their lives due to the conflict, forcing many chapters to close.

On September 6, 1946, Alpha Kappa Pi merged with Alpha Sigma Phi. Alpha Kappa Pi had never had a national office, but was still a strong fraternity. During the war, they had lost many chapters and realized the need for a more stable national organization. Alpha Sigma Phi expanded again in 1965 by five more chapters when it merged with Alpha Gamma Upsilon.

The 1980s found a younger generation of leaders taking the reins of the fraternity. Keeping in mind one of its oldest traditions, being a fraternity run by undergraduates, the leadership and undergraduates began expanding in new directions.

In addition to the chapters in the United States, over 80 chapters have been chartered at universities and colleges throughout the Philippines.

Symbols and Traditions

---

The Old Gal - Traditionally, Alpha Sigma Phi has been referred to as "The Old Gal", an affectionate term so old that its origin is unknown. Alfred Dewey Follett, the first Grand Senior President of the fraternity, addressed the 1918 National Convention with his visualization of "The Old Gal."

The Rituals and Grip - The oldest and most cherished traditions of the fraternity are contained in the esoteric Rituals of Alpha Sigma Phi, never revealed to anyone outside the fraternity. The secret grip of the fraternity has never been described in writing, and it is passed on from brother to brother as new members are initiated into the Mystic Circle of Alpha Sigma Phi. This grip and the traditional heraldry in the coat of arms serve as devices of recognition shared only by the initiated.

Annual Traditions - Most chapters hold an annual "Sig Bust", when alumni brothers return to renew fraternal ties and meet the current undergraduate membership. The highlight of the reunion is a traditional dinner. On or near December 6 each year, chapters hold a banquet or other observance of Founder's Day to honor the anniversary of the founding of Alpha Sigma Phi. Alumni brothers and special guests are invited to attend. It is a time of rededication of the fraternity to the pursuit of its goals and objectives.

Chapter Designations - Chapters of Alpha Sigma Phi are given Greek-letter designations, assigned in order of installation into the Fraternity. No chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi is designated Omega, the last letter of the Greek alphabet that traditionally signifies "the end." Deceased brothers are respectfully referred to as having joined Omega Chapter.

The Badge - The Badge of Alpha Sigma Phi is almost exactly the same design as that created by Louis Manigault in 1845. It is the only fraternity badge that is rectangular with right-angle corners. The badge of Alpha Sigma Phi is never to be modified in size or jeweled in any way. Every member of Alpha Sigma Phi wears exactly the same badge. Inscribed on the back of each member's badge is the brother's name, initiation date, chapter name (in Greek letters), and chapter founding date.

The Pledge Pin - The Pledge Pin of Alpha Sigma Phi is an adaptation of the Badge of Alpha Kappa Pi, which consolidated with Alpha Sigma Phi in 1946. It is worn on the left lapel of a suit or sport coat or over the heart on sweaters or shirts. The Pledge Pin is the property of the Chapter and is entrusted to the Pledge in accordance to the instructions given to him. The symbolism of the Pledge Pin is explained in the Pledging Ritual.

The Delta Beta Xi Key - A special key, a replica of the Delta Beta Xi badge worn by Alpha Chapter at Yale from 1864 to 1875, recognizes outstanding service to the fraternity. It is worn only by brothers who are recipients of the Delta Beta Xi award. The award is given to no more than ten brothers each year by the Grand Council, based on nominations by chapters. The Delta Beta Xi key is suspended by a cardinal-and-stone ribbon, similarly to a military medal.

Songs of Alpha Sigma Phi

---

Alpha Sigma Phi has a collection of traditional songs, many of them written over the years by Alpha Sig brothers. One of the first publications of the fraternity was a songbook. The Songs of Alpha Sigma Phi is available through National Headquarters as both a song book and a cassette tape.

For He's an Alpha Sig

For he's an Alpha Sig,

He's a man you ought to know,

For he's an Alpha Sig,

He's not too fast and not too slow,

He's a gentleman and a scholar

with a heart beneath his vest;

He looks like all the others,

but he's better than the rest!

For he's an Alpha Sig,

He's a man you ought to, a man you want to,

a man you're sure to know!

The Sweetheart Song

Who says sweetheart to you,

who calls you all his own?

Who stands lonesome and blue,

talking of love to the moon up above?

Tell me who's eyes are gazing in yours,

make all your dreams come true?

Who has the right to kiss you goodnight?

Tell me, whose Alpha Sig Girl are you?

The Loyalty Song

Now everyone knows Alpha Sigma Phi,

That they are the best just cannot be denied;

They have that style, that smile, that friendly way,

No matter where you'll go you'll recognize them,

and you'll say, "Now they're the Greeks I'd like to know

They've got that Alpha Sig fight, zip and go,

And just to see them smile is quite a treat,

Can't be beat, Alpha Sigma Phi!

Other notable songs include Within the Mystic Circle, A Toast to Alpha Sigma Phi, Wake Freshmen Wake, The Table's Set, and Come Let's Gather.

Notable Alumni

---

Name	Chapter and Year	Known For
Samuel Wright Bodman	Cornell University 1961	United States Secretary of Energy (2005-)
Warren Buffett	University of Pennsylvania 1948	CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, second richest man in the US
Ted Cassidy	West Virginia Wesleyan 1939	Actor, Lurch on The Addams Family
Ray Eliot	University of Illinois 1932	American football coach
Arthur Flemming	Ohio Wesleyan University 1927	United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (1958-1961)
Burton Jastram	University of California, Berkeley	Gold medalist in Rowing at the 1932 Summer Olympics
Billy Johnson	Widener University 1971	American football player
Skip Humphrey	American University 1962	Minnesota Attorney General (1983-1999)
John Kasich	Ohio State University 1974	Congressman from Ohio (1983-2001)
C. Everett Koop	Dartmouth College 1938	Surgeon General of the United States (1982-1989)
Press Maravich	Davis and Elkins College 1941	College basketball coach
John Ogden Merrill	University of Wisconsin 1914	Partner of architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
Jon Mittelhauser	University of Illinois 1992	Co-founder of Netscape Communications
Reinhold Niebuhr	Yale University 1914	Protestant theologian
Bennie Oosterbaan	University of Michigan 1927	American football player and coach
Vincent Price	Yale University 1930	Film actor, The Inventor in Edward Scissorhands
Robin Reed	Oregon State University 1926	Gold medalist in Wrestling at the 1924 Summer Olympics
Stephen Schnetzer	University of Massachusetts 1967	Actor, Cass Winthrop on Another World
Willard Scott	American University 1946	TV personality, weatherman on The Today Show
Tom Shipley	Baldwin-Wallace College	Member of 1970s folk rock duo Brewer & Shipley
Ross Swimmer	Oklahoma University 1962	Special Trustee for American Indians at the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs
Ratan Tata	Cornell University 1962	Chairman of the Tata Group, India's wealthiest business group
Tom Watson	Stanford University 1971	Pro golfer, three-time Vardon Trophy winner
Frank Wolf	Penn State 1960	Congressman from Virginia (1981-)
Andrew Dickson White	Yale University 1850	Co-founder and first president of Cornell University

Active Chapters, Colonies, and Interest Groups

---

Chapter	Institution	Chartered	Status
Ε	Ohio Wesleyan University	1863	Active
Ζ	Ohio State University	1908	Active
Η	University of Illinois	1909	Active
Θ	University of Michigan	1908	Active
Ι	Cornell University	1909	Active
Μ	University of Washington	1912	Active
Ν	University of California, Berkeley	1913	Active
Υ	Pennsylvania State University	1918	Colony
Φ	Iowa State University	1920	Active
ΑΝ	Westminster College	1939	Active
ΑΞ	Illinois Institute of Technology	1939	Active
ΑΟ	Missouri Valley College	1945	Active
ΑΠ	Purdue University	1939	Active
ΑΡ	New Jersey Institute of Technology	1921	Active
ΑΤ	Stevens Institute of Technology	1926	Active
ΑΨ	Presbyterian College	1928	Active
ΒΓ	Bethany College	1929	Active
ΒΔ	Marshall University	1929	Active
ΒΖ	North Carolina State University	1930	Colony
ΒΘ	Rutgers University	1931	Active
ΒΜ	Wake Forest University	1932	Active
ΒΝ	West Virginia Wesleyan College	1933	Active
ΒΞ	Hartwick College	1935	Active
ΒΟ	Tri-State University	1935	Active
ΒΡ	University of Toledo	1937	Active
ΒΧ	American University	1940	Active
ΒΨ	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	1940	Active
ΓΕ	University at Buffalo	1950	Active
ΓΖ	Bowling Green State University	1950	Active
ΓΘ	University of Miami	1952	Active
ΓΚ	Michigan State University	1956	Active
ΓΛ	Barton College	1958	Active
ΓΠ	University of Findlay	1964	Active
ΓΧ	Indiana University	1968	Active
ΓΨ	Lawrence Technological University	1968	Active
ΔΒ	Northern Michigan University	1969	Colony
ΔΔ	Slippery Rock University	1970	Active
ΔΕ	University of Rio Grande	1972	Active
ΔΖ	University of North Carolina, Charlotte	1979	Active
ΔΘ	Radford University	1980	Active
ΔΙ	Longwood University	1980	Active
ΔΝ	Lock Haven University	1987	Active
ΔΡ	Central Michigan University	1993	Active
ΔΤ	Murray State University	1994	Active
ΔΥ	Virginia Polytechnic Institute	1995	Active
ΔΦ	Grand Valley State University	1996	Active
ΔΧ	Elmhurst College	1996	Active
ΕΑ	Michigan State University	1997	Active
ΕΒ	Lindenwood University	1997	Active
ΕΓ	University of Southern Indiana	1998	Active
ΕΔ	University of Maryland	1998	Active
ΕΕ	Bloomsburg University	1999	Interest Group
ΕΖ	Pennsylvania State University, Altoona	1999	Active
ΕΗ	Salisbury State University	1999	Active
ΕΘ	Otterbein College	2001	Active
ΕΙ	Western Michigan University	2001	Active
ΕΚ	Albright College	2002	Active
ΕΛ	University of Hartford	2002	Active
ΕΜ	Bentley College	2002	Active
ΕΝ	Binghamton University	2003	Active
ΕΞ	McDaniel College	2003	Active
ΕΟ	Missouri Western State University	2004	Active
ΕΠ	Miami University	2005	Active
ΕΡ	Appalachian State University	2006	Active
	Clemson University		Colony
	College of Charleston		Colony
	University of Akron		Colony
	University of Virginia at Wise		Colony

References

---

External links

---

• Alpha Sigma Phi - Official website
• Songs of Alpha Sigma Phi - Audio recordings (WAV)

North-American Interfraternity Conference | United States student societies | 1845 establishments

Alpha Sigma Phi