Phi Kappa Psi (ΦΚΨ, Phi Psi) is a U.S. national college fraternity.
History
Phi Kappa Psi was founded in
1852 in
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, on the campus of
Jefferson College by
William Henry Letterman and
Charles Page Thomas Moore. Through long nights of caring for a sick friend during an outbreak of disease, the founders grew to appreciate their service, and decided to form an organization that would ensconce these ideals, and on the dreary night of
February 19,
1852, the brotherhood of Phi Kappa Psi was born.
Creed
The
creed of Phi Kappa Psi was a result of efforts by John Henry Frizzell (Massachusetts Alpha,
University of Massachusetts Amherst,
1898) and Kent Christopher Owen (Indiana Beta,
Indiana University,
1958). It was adopted by the Grand Arch Council at
Denver in
1964. It reads as follows:
I believe that Phi Kappa Psi is a brotherhood of honorable men, courteous and cultured, who pledge throughout their lives to be generous, compassionate, and loyal comrades;
I believe that I am honor bound to strive manfully for intellectual, moral, and spiritual excellence; to help and forgive my Brothers; to discharge promptly all just debts; to give aid and sympathy to all who are less fortunate;
I believe that I am honor bound to strengthen my character and deepen my integrity; to counsel and guide my Brothers who stray from their obligations; to respect and emulate my Brothers who practice moderation in their manners and morals; to be ever mindful that loyalty to my Fraternity should not weaken loyalty to my college, but rather increase devotion to it, to my country and to my God;
I believe that to all I meet, wherever I go, I represent not only Phi Kappa Psi, but indeed the spirit of all fraternities; thus I must ever conduct myself so as to bring respect and honor not to myself alone, but also to my Fraternity;
To the fulfillment of these beliefs, of these ideals, in the noble perfection of Phi Kappa Psi, I pledge my life and my sacred honor.
Symbols
The fraternity flag is in the proportions of eight and one-half feet wide by six feet high; the colors are the official fraternity colors; the design is three vertical stripes of equal width, a hunter green in the middle, flanked on either side by a cardinal red stripe.
Notable Phi Psis
Public Service
Current
- Evan Bayh, U.S. Senator (IN), former Governor of Indiana (1989-97) (Indiana Beta, Indiana University, 1975)
- Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City, founder of Bloomberg L.P. (Maryland Alpha, Johns Hopkins University, 1961)
- Stephen Hadley, U.S. National Security Advisor (New York Alpha, Cornell University, 1966)
- Charlie Dent, U.S. Congressman (PA), (Pennsylvania Lambda, Pennsylvania State University, 1982
- David Shafer, Georgia State Senator (Georgia Alpha, University of Georgia, 1983)
- Earl "Butch" Ehrhart, Georgia State Representative (Georgia Alpha, University of Georgia, 1978)
Former
- President Woodrow Wilson, (1913-21), Governor of New Jersey (1911-13), President of Princeton University, Nobel Peace Prize recipient (Virginia Alpha, University of Virginia, 1879)
- Joseph W. Barr, Secretary of the Treasury (1968-69), FDIC Chairman (Indiana Alpha, Depauw University, 1936)
- Joseph Blatchford, Director of the Peace Corps (1969-71) (California Epsilon, UCLA, 1953)
- Pierce Butler, U.S. Supreme Court Justice (1922-39) (Minnesota Alpha, Carleton College, 1885)
- George E. Chamberlain, U.S. Senator (OR), Governor of Oregon (1903-09) (Virginia Beta, Washington and Lee University, 1872)
- John T. Connor, Secretary of Commerce (1965-67) (New York Beta, Syracuse University, 1933)
- Paul Coverdell, U.S. Senator (GA) (1993-2000, died in office), Director of the Peace Corps (Missouri Alpha, University of Missouri, 1959)
- John W. Davis, Democratic presidential nominee (1924), U.S. Ambassador to Britain, U.S. Solicitor General, noted attorney (Virginia Beta, Washington and Lee University, 1889)
- J. Edward Day, Postmaster General (1961-63) (Illinois Beta, University of Chicago, 1933)
- Joseph Benson Foraker, U.S. Senator (OH), Governor of Ohio (1886-90), candidate for 1908 Republican presidential nomination, first alumnus president of Phi Kappa Psi (Ohio Alpha, Ohio Wesleyan University, 1866)
- James P. Goodrich, Governor of Indiana (1917-21) (Indiana Alpha, Depauw University, 1885)
- Herbert S. Hadley, Governor of Missouri (1909-13) (Kansas Alpha, University of Kansas, 1888)
- Homer A. Holt, Governor of West Virginia (1937-41) (Virginia Beta, Washington and Lee University, 1916)
- Lawrence Judd, Territorial Governor of Hawaii (1929-34), Governor of American Samoa (1953) (Pennsylvania Iota, University of Pennsylvania, 1906)
- Thomas H. Kuchel, U.S. Senator (CA), (1953-69; Senate Minority Whip) (California Delta, University of Southern California, 1929)
- William P. Lane, Governor of Maryland (1947-51) (Virginia Alpha, University of Virginia, 1910)
- Lloyd Lowndes, Jr., Governor of Maryland (1895-99) (Pennsylvania Beta, Allegheny College, 1864)
- A. Mitchell Palmer, U.S. Attorney General (1919-21), candidate for 1920 Democratic presidential nomination (Pennsylvania Kappa, Swarthmore College, 1889)
- Raymond P. Shafer, Governor of Pennsylvania (1967-71) (Pennsylvania Beta, Allegheny College, 1935)
- William C. Sproul, Governor of Pennsylvania (1919-23), candidate for 1920 Republican presidential nomination (Pennsylvania Kappa, Swarthmore College, 1889)
- Lt. Gen. E.O. Thompson, Texas Railroad Commission's longest-serving member (1933-65) (Texas Alpha, University of Texas at Austin, 1913)
- James E. Watson, U.S. Senator (IN) (Majority Leader 1929-33), U.S. Congressman and Republican Party Whip (Indiana Alpha, Depauw University, 1881)
Statistics
- Over 100 Phi Psis have served as members of the U.S. Congress, including 17 Senators
- Members have served in the following positions with the U.S. government: President of the United States, Attorney-General, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of the Army (2), Postmaster General, Director of the Peace Corps (2), FDIC Chairman, and U.S. Ambassador (7)
- At least 12 members have served as state (or territory) governors
Military
- Brig. Gen. William "Billy" Mitchell, "Father of the U.S. Air Force," Congressional Gold Medal of Honor recipient (D.C. Alpha, George Washington University, 1896)
- Maj. Gen. William "Wild Bill" Donovan, World War I Medal of Honor recipient, founder of the Office of Strategic Services (precursor of the CIA) during World War II (New York Gamma, Columbia University, 1903)
- Gen. Tasker Bliss, U.S. Army Chief of Staff during World War I (Pennsylvania Gamma, Bucknell University, 1870)
- Maj. Gen. Frank "Machine Gun" Parker, Commander of the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division during World War I (South Carolina Alpha, University of South Carolina, 1888)
- Maj. Gen. Henry Terrell, Commander of the U.S. Army's 90th Infantry Division during World War II (Texas Alpha, University of Texas at Austin, 1908)
- John Marsh, Secretary of the Army (1981-89), U.S. Congressman (VA) (Virginia Beta, Washington and Lee University, 1948)
- Stephen Ailes, Secretary of the Army (1964-65) (West Virginia Alpha, West Virginia University, 1934)
- Captain Henry H. Bingham, Congressman and Medal of Honor Recipient
- Over 60 Generals and 20 Admirals
Arts and Entertainment
- John Astin, actor (Pennsylvania Alpha, Washington and Jefferson College, 1949)
- Zach Braff, actor (Illinois Alpha, Northwestern University, 1997)
- Roy Crane, nationally-syndicated cartoonist (Texas Alpha, University of Texas at Austin, 1922)
- Peter Graves, actor (Minnesota Beta, University of Minnesota, 1946)
- Edward Herrmann, Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor (Pennsylvania Gamma, Bucknell University, 1965)
- Edward Everett Horton, stage and screen actor; television performer (New York Zeta, Brooklyn Poly, 1907)
- Frank Morgan, Academy Award-nominated actor (New York Alpha, Cornell University, 1908)
- James Whitcomb Riley, poet/writer (Indiana Alpha, DePauw University, 1883)
- Charles "Buddy" Rogers, actor/band leader (Kansas Alpha, University of Kansas, 1923)
- Roy Scheider, Academy Award-nominated actor (Pennsylvania Eta, Franklin and Marshall College, 1954)
- Steve Tesich, Academy Award-winning screenwriter (Indiana Beta, Indiana University, 1962)
- James Thurber, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and humorist (Ohio Delta, Ohio State University, 1918)
- Frederick Jackson Turner, prominent historian (Wisconsin Alpha, University of Wisconsin, 1878)
- Pat Weaver, pioneering television executive and Emmy Award winner (New Hampshire Alpha, Dartmouth College, 1927)
Sports
- Forrest "Phog" Allen, Basketball Hall of Fame member, "Father of Basketball Coaching" (Kansas Alpha, University of Kansas, 1905)
- Ron 'Babe' Bontemps, Olympian (Wisconsin Gamma, Beloit College)
- Terry Bowden, former college football coach and current broadcaster (West Virginia Alpha, West Virginia University, 1975)
- Jeff Cirillo, current Major League Baseball player, All-Star 1997 and 2000 (California Delta, University of Southern California, 1989)
- Jerry Colangelo, Basketball Hall of Fame member, former Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks majority owner (Illinois Delta, University of Illinois, 1959)
- Ford Frick, Major League Baseball Commissioner (1951-65), National Baseball Hall of Fame member (Indiana Alpha, Depauw University, 1913)
- Johnny "Red" Kerr, former NBA player and coach, current broadcaster for the Chicago Bulls (Illinois Delta, University of Illinois, 1954)
- Nile Kinnick, Heisman Trophy winner (1939) (Iowa Alpha, University of Iowa, 1938)
- John Michels, former NFL player, first-round draft choice in 1996 (California Delta, University of Southern California)
- Ralph Miller, Basketball Hall of Fame member and former college coach (Kansas Alpha, University of Kansas, 1938)
- Tex Schramm, Pro Football Hall of Fame member, former Dallas Cowboys GM, key NFL innovator (Texas Alpha, University of Texas at Austin, 1940)
- Mark Spitz, Olympic swimming legend, won 7 gold medals in 1972 (Indiana Beta, Indiana University, 1969)
- Dick Tomey, current college football coach (Indiana Alpha, Depauw University, 1957)
- George Yardley, Basketball Hall of Fame member (California Beta, Stanford University, 1947)
- Ron Yary, Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Outland Trophy winner (1967), NFL first overall draft choice (1968) (California Delta, University of Southern California, 1966)
Business
- Jerry Yang, Yahoo! co-founder (California Beta, Stanford University, 1987)
- Benjamin Lutch, Excite co-founder (California Beta, Stanford University, 1991)
- David Fout, Aquilent CEO/President (Maryland Beta, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1988)
- Jerry Nelson, Ticketmaster founder (California Epsilon, UCLA, 1948)
- Angus G. Wynne, Jr., Six Flags founder (Texas Alpha, University of Texas at Austin, 1933)
- Michael Bloomberg, New York City Major (Maryland Alpha, Johns Hopkins University)
- Many leaders of major Fortune 500 corporations, banks, and national professional associations
Education
- Current and recent presidents of the University of Cincinnati, MIT, University of San Francisco, Slippery Rock University, and the West Virginia University
- Former presidents of Case Western Reserve, Cornell University, University of Illinois, Johns Hopkins University, University of Kentucky, University of Montana, University of Pennsylvania, Penn State University, Princeton University, and Washington and Jefferson College
Miscellaneous
- Owen Garriott, Skylab astronaut (Oklahoma Alpha, University of Oklahoma, 1949)
- Robert Lowry, Churchman and famed 19th-Century hymn-writer (Pennsylvania Gamma, Bucknell University, 1856); his work includes "Shall We Gather at the River," and "How Can I Keep From Singing?"
- Elliott See, Gemini astronaut (Texas Alpha, University of Texas at Austin, 1945)
- David G. Tyler, U.S. Congressman (VA), son of President John Tyler (Virginia Beta, Washington and Lee University, 1867)
Endowment Fund
Like many fraternal organizations, the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity maintains an independent endowment for the educational benefit of its members. The Endowment Fund of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, Inc., organized in 1914, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational foundation. As of December 31st, 2004 the Endowment Fund had net assets of $18,928,712. In 2004 the Endowment Fund spent $1,085,515 on scholarships, grants and other educational activities for the fraternity's members.
Although established in 1914, it was not until the mid-1990s that the Endowment Fund began to flourish. In 1994, net assets totaled a mere $620,503. Ten years later that amount grew to almost $19 million. In 2004, under the leadership of Tom Pennington, Director of Development, and Wayne Wilson, a probate attorney who serves as volunteer Chairman, the Endowment Fund of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity became the largest endowment fund of any American or international collegiate fraternity or sorority. Generous giving by wealthy alumni such as Jerry Nelson and Bruce McMahan have helped Phi Kappa Psi reach this goal. The fund also relies heavily on smaller contributions to its "Chapter Scholarship Foundation" program, whereby 90% of a donation can be ear-marked for the benefit of a specific chapter. This has spurred giving among those who have a strong connection with the chapter at their collegiate alma mater. The Phi Kappa Psi chapter at USC (University of Southern California) has the largest chapter scholarship fund with $1.3 million in 2004.
List of chapters
Unlike some other college fraternities The Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity has no international chapters. All expansion efforts have been at traditional American institutions as the fraternity has a strong ideal of building the next generation of leaders for America.
Those marked with an asterisk are inactive.
External links
1852 establishments | North-American Interfraternity Conference | United States student societies
ファイ・カッパ・サイ