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Phi Sigma Pi was founded on February 14, 1916 at State Teachers College, Warrensburg, known today as Central Missouri State University. World War I raged in Europe from 1914 to 1918. Meanwhile, another struggle was occurring in the American Midwest. Unlike the war, this American struggle was not one of nationalism, expansionism, or alliances, but rather a fight for identity, recognition, and increased potential for professional advancement. The theater for this encounter was the State Teachers College at Warrensburg, Missouri, one of almost 200 institutions nationwide dedicated to the task of preparing educators for the ever-growing country. |
State Teachers College,
Warrensburg, today known as Central Missouri State University |
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Upon reviewing the academic records of each of the students, Hendricks, Phillips and McClure felt that the group should affiliate with a nationally recognized fraternal organization stressing scholarship. They therefore contacted the most prestigious honorary scholastic fraternity existing in the United States, Phi Beta Kappa, requesting permission to establish a chapter on their campus. They were advised immediately by Phi Beta Kappa that chapters could only be established on campuses of qualified liberal arts colleges and universities, not on campuses of teachers colleges, teachers training schools or normal schools. The professors were distressed to receive this information, but undaunted, they decided that since many of the club's members were campus leaders they should be affiliated with a national fraternal organization stressing leadership. To this end, the professors contacted the most prestigious honorary leadership fraternity existing in the United States, Omicron Delta Kappa. Again, they were advised immediately by Omicron Delta Kappa that chapters could only be established on campuses of teachers colleges, teacher training schools or normal schools. The professors were greatly disturbed by this information, but believing that outstanding young men preparing for the teaching profession should not be denied membership in a national fraternal organization primarily because they were matriculating at teachers colleges, they decided to contact nationally recognized social fraternities stressing fellowship. Since the local club was social in nature, this seemed like a reasonable alternative. Once again, the professors received the same answer to their request. The three professors decided that if no national fraternal organization would recognize these fine men simply because they were enrolled in a teachers college, then they would create a fraternal organization unique unto itself. They would not create one that would stress only scholarship, or leadership, or fellowship, but one that would be built on a tripod which equally stressed all three qualities of scholarship, leadership and fellowship. So on February 14, 1916, Phi Sigma Pi was founded and originally named Phi Sigma Pi Honorary Professional Fraternity. Dr. Hendricks, the leading force behind the creation of Phi Sigma Pi, was the first person to sign a Phi Sigma Pi rollbook. And is therefore known as Alpha 1. He was followed by Dean Phillips and Professor McClure. Together, Hendricks, Phillips and McClure are known as the founding fathers of the fraternity. In addition to the three faculty members, the first chapter also consisted of ten undergraduate and honorary members. They were Fred Thayer, J. A. Leach, R. W. Grinstead, Ray F. Pankins and Harry Hill. Within one year, the chapter had elected another twelve members into its ranks. The Birth
of a National Fraternity From the very moment that Phi Sigma Pi was born, chapter members at Warrensburg intended to make the organization a national fraternity. As their careers allowed for new doors of opportunity to be opened to the fraternity, many of the early Alpha Chapter members founded new Phi Sigma Pi chapters. The first four years were extremely difficult due to World War I. Despite this challenge, the chapter managed to perfect a local constitution, establish a National Constitution that detailed how to start new chapters and defined the roles of National Officers, prepare a ritual, and actively promote the fraternity to other institutions. Finally on May 2, 1921, the fraternity became national when Gamma Chapter was installed at Bradley Polytechnic Institute in Peoria, Illinois. Gamma Chapter was founded due to the dedication of Alpha alumnus Joseph V. Hanna, who began the chapter shortly after he accepted a teaching position at Bradley in 1920. |
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With the addition of a second chapter, it was time to define the national structure. National Officers were elected to advance, advise and direct the growth of the fraternity. The first National President of Phi Sigma Pi was Joseph G. Bryan, Alpha 28. However, due to a lack of aggressive leadership, it took another four years to add Delta Chapter on May 2, 1925. While other national fraternities were booming and taking advantage of the economic paradise of the 1920's, Phi Sigma Pi floundered nationally. Finally, Rolla F. Wood, Alpha 39, emerged as the National President. He is credited with galvanizing the National Officers into a cohesive unit and capitalizing on this unity for expansion and increased services for member chapters. During his tenure, the national organization was made more visible to attract interested institutions. One way this was accomplished was |
Rolla
F. Wood |
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through Wood's efforts to make Phi Sigma Pi one of twenty-one professional
fraternities representing the fields of architecture, chemistry, commerce,
dentistry, education, engineering law, medicine and pharmacy who banded
together on March 2, 1928, to form the Professional Interfraternity Conference.
Wood's strong leadership led to the founding of Epsilon Chapter at George
Peabody College (now Vanderbilt University) on August 16, 1928, mainly
through connections he made while pursuing graduate work there. Zeta Chapter
at Eastern State College (now Dakota State College) had been founded rather
informally about one month earlier in July of 1928, and consisted of four
faculty members, one of whom was Lawerence N. Pease. Pease was also one
of the last members of Phi Lambda Epsilon at Warrensburg in 1914, and
he undoubtedly helped conceptualize the idea of Phi Sigma Pi.
While efforts were being
made to establish what became known as the Gamma Chapter, McClure accepted
a faculty position at the State Teachers College in Kirksville, Missouri,
and was attempting to organize a chapter at this college campus. Because
it was believed that this would be the second Phi Sigma Pi chapter,
Beta, the second letter in the Greek alphabet, was reserved for this
chapter. Although approval cam after the second Phi Sigma Pi chapter
was activated, this new chapter was installed at the State Teachers
College in Kirksville, Missouri, on April 30, 1929, and was named Beta
Chapter. On the same day, Eta Chapter was installed at the State Teachers
College, Indiana, Pennsylvania, after receiving a petition from Walter
P. Percival, professor of education. |
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Walter
P. Percival |
So enthusiastic was Percival, Eta 1, that he was elected National President in 1930. During his brief tenure, the fraternity more than doubled in size from seven to fifteen chapters. Of these eight new chapters, six were at Pennsylvania state teacher colleges. This phenomenal interest was due to Clarence O. Williams, Alpha 26, who served as National Secretary from 1930 to 1936 and used his position as an associate professor at Pennsylvania State College, State College, Pennsylvania, to make valuable contacts at a majority of the fourteen Pennsylvania state teachers colleges. The years 1929 to 1931 built upon the national solidarity concept initiated under President Wood. In 1930, the Grand Seal of the fraternity was cast. Standardized charters and membership certificates were also designed. The official badge, service key and other jewelry pieces were created in consultation with the L.G. Balfour Company. The Coat of Arms was redesigned in 1930 in hopes that a more professional emblem would better depict the |
ideals of the fraternity. The first national publication for all undergraduate members and alumni was introduced in 1930 as the Phi Sigma Pi News Letter. Several months before the end of his term in 1931, President Percival was forces to resign when he accepted an educational position in the province of Quebec. However, his resignation was preceded by three major changes in the National Constitution of Phi Sigma Pi at the February 22, 1931, Grand Chapter Convention in Detroit, Michigan. Originally, the National Officers had been the Grand President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Counselor. This meeting eliminated the Second Vice President, added the Historian, and changed the official titles of the officers from Grand to National Officers. Second, the position of Regional Director, designed to cultivate new chapters in designated geographic regions throughout the country, was established as an appointed position. Finally, the fraternity was changed from an |
Clarence O. Williams |
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professional fraternity to a professional education fraternity to better
reflect its purpose. The Phi Sigma Pi News Letter format was changed in
the Fall of 1931 to magazine form. The Lampadion, which means the little
torch, became the official magazine of the fraternity and was mailed three
times a year to all members. James K. Stoner, Eta 38, began his two decades
of association with the national organization by serving as the editor
of the magazine. Despite the hardships of the Great Depression, 1929-31
were some of the most productive years the fraternity experienced to date.
The Depression took its toll on six chapters by 1941. Zeta was the first chapter to go inactive in 1931 when the state of South Dakota changed Eastern State College from a four-year to a two-year school. Financial hardships and decreased enrollments also forced Beta, Delta, Epsilon, Nu and Xi chapters to go inactive. Fortunately, the fraternity added six new chapters during the 1931-41 decade. Unlike the other new chapters, which began as Phi Sigma Pi, Tau Chapter, charted on May 28, 1936, began as a local fraternity known as Tau Sigma Sigma. Beecher Flanagan, Epsilon 2 and Tau 12, was a professor at East Carolina Teachers College at the time. He persuaded the existing group to seek affiliation with Phi Sigma Pi. |
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| James
K. Stoner |
Beecher Flanagan |
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the decade was not profitable in terms of chapter growth, several important
events occurred within he national organization. In 1933, Edward Ingraham,
Theta 21, and Charles Darrin, Theta 42, worked with the Music Department
at Mansfield State Teachers College to put the ideals and spirit of the
fraternity to music. The fraternity song that they composed is entitled
Brothers Are We. This original version is still the official one that
is sung today.
In 1935, Kappa Phi Kappa, a professional education fraternity founded at Dartmouth College on April 2, 1922, which had forty-two active chapters at four-year institutions, contacted Phi Sigma Pi to consider a merger. Since eleven chapters had been chartered in the past five years, the fraternity felt that it possessed ample growth potential and that a merger with Kappa Phi Kappa would only serve to destroy the identity of Phi sigma Pi. The discussion to merge was tabled by Phi Sigma Pi in 1936, but Kappa Phi Kappa continued for the next four years to encourage a merger. By 1940, Phi Sigma Pi had lost six of its chapters and inquiries for new chapters were basically non-existent. With World War II now looming in the future, the fraternity was more open to the idea of a merger as insurance of the survival of its ideals. After much debate, a plan to merge the two fraternities was prepared by two officers from each of the fraternities. During the first two weeks of 1940, the fourteen active chapters of Phi Sigma Pi voted on the proposed merger conditions, which would have resulted in the loss of Phi Sigma Pi as a national entity. The active members voted 172 to 106 against the merger. While the merger debate raged, several internal developments occurred. The first was the realization of the need to develop alumni support. In the summer of 1937, twenty-seven members of Phi Sigma Pi were doing graduate work at Pennsylvania State College and organized the first, though unofficial, alumni chapter of the fraternity. In response to this demand, a constitutional amendment adopted at the 1941 Atlantic City Convention allowed for the official creation of alumni chapters. Additionally, life memberships were established to keep alumni in better contact with the fraternity through mailings of newsletters, magazines and announcements. The first life member was Charles W. Chance, Gamma 18. The second development dealt with enhancing the national image and increasing communication with the active student members. In 1940, the Coat of Arms was simplified to allow for better reproduction. In March of that same year, the Purple & Gold newsletter was established as an outgrowth need for closer contact between the National Office and the active local chapter members. Unlike The Lampadion magazine, this publication was not tailored to include articles which would also interest alumni. Up until 1941 there was no national medium through which new members could learn the national history and goal of the organization. National President Clair B. Wilson, Kappa 10, recognized the need to encourage the learning of the material and transformed his ideas into the Handbook of Phi Sigma Pi. Had it not been for the Depression, the 1931-41 decade probably would have been even more profitable in terms of new chapters. However, it was a boost of confidence for the fraternity when Phi Chapter at State Teachers College, Minot, North Dakota, was chartered on May 8, 1941. WWII and the Passing of the Old Guard Due to the war, all of the fifteen active chapters went inactive in late 1942. Many of the schools had such low enrollments during this time that the state legislatures considered closing them permanently. The war prevented the 1943 Grand Chapter Convention, where the election of new National Officers would have taken place. It was agreed that the current officers would guide the fraternity and its ultimate reorganization until the next Grand Chapter meeting could be held after the war. |
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| By the Fall of 1946,
all of the fifteen chapters active prior to the war were reactivated with
the exception of Mu Chapter at State Teachers College, Slippery Rock,
Pennsylvania. The war caused chaos while updating alumni addresses. The
great number of alumni lost their lives during the war or relocated at
its end. The national organization did not have the finances or resources
to locate these men since its main priority was to reactivate and develop
the chapters. Because students at teachers colleges historically were
of limited financial ability, the national treasury reflected this situation
and did not have the finances to develop programs like other fraternities
chartering chapters at colleges and universities. The loss of alumni,
not only as a financial resource but as a leadership pool, proved to be
a traumatic blow with effects that would be felt for years.
Since the fraternity had gone national in 1921, the leaders at the national level had been faculty advisors of the chapters and active alumni. By 1950, not only was |
Clair B. Wilson |
|
James M. McCallister |
contactwith alumni critically severed, but the faculty advisors who guided the fraternity through most of the past two decades were ready to retire. By 1954, all of the men who had led Phi Sigma Pi so well were gone. Gone were the wisdom and guidance of Clair B. Wilson; James M. McCallister, Alpha 33; James K. Stoner; and long-time Regional Director Simon S. Shearer, Omicron20. Death claimed Beecher Flanagan in 1950 and Sanders P. McComsey, Sigma 17, in 1955, while both men were in office. The Regional Diretor system was shelved in order to utilize the available leaders in National Officer positions. The positions of Secretary and Treasurer were combined to form the Secretary/Treasurer position in 1951. The Lampadion was no longer published and communication between the chapters and National Office was poor. Despite these obstacles, the fraternity was incorporated nationally in Illinois on April 25, 1949. |
Transition and Adaptation The fraternity was in need of new leadership as the Old Guard retired--and it got it. Two of the fraternities most dedicated National Officers emerged from this era--namely, Joseph Torchia, Sigma 296 and Richard C. Todd, Sigma 58 and Tau 878. Their leadership and love of the fraternity allowed the organization to survive its greatest challenge to date. This challenge manifested itself as a loss of identity. Most state teachers colleges were changed to state colleges between the 1950s and the early 1970s. Phi Sigma Pi could no longer exist as just as just a professional education fraternity for teachers in state colleges. If it did, it would have no growth potential. The 1950s were booming times for other fraternities and Phi Sigma Pi was once again missing its opportunity for growth. Proof of this was the fact that from 1955 to 1965, only two new chapters were added. Omega Nu Epsilon, a local fraternity at State Teachers College, Gorham, Maine, joined the ranks of Phi Sigma Pi on May 21, 1955, under the condition that the next two Greek letters--Chi and Psi--be skipped so it could be called Omega Chapter and retain part of its original name. Similarly, November 21, 1961, saw the Big Guy Fraternity at State Teachers College, Farmington, Maine, admitted as the Beta Gamma Chapter of Phi Sigma Pi. With the assistance of Henry W. Olsen, Rho 98; Leroy G. Pulver, Pi 27; Perry McCandless, Alpha 384; and Abram Foster, Sigma 340, Todd and Torchia led the fraternity to the realization that it must either adapt or perish. At the October 1, 1966, Grand Chapter Convention, held in Washington D.C., President Abram Foster said, "We have remained stagnant and this is not good. We are losing this opportunity to spread the purposes of Phi Sigma Pi. We must act." He stated that honor fraternities were necessary on all campuses at a time when schools were openly discouraging social fraternities. Seeing that Phi Sigma Pi had always placed exceptional emphasis on scholarship--the premise being that good teachers were also good scholars--it was suggested that an honor fraternity which stressed scholarship, leadership and fellowship would preserve the tripod, yet allow for expansion. To this end, it was moved and accepted to create Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, with the word honor being interpreted as a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or better on a 4.00 scale. |
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| In 1966, the decision was made to hold the National Convention every year instead of every two years to keep enthusiasm alive among the active chapters. Foster, Torchia, and Todd also undertook a massive expansion program after the fraternity was incorporated as an honor fraternity in Pennsylvania on December 2, 1966. Over 300 four-year institutions nationwide were contacted by letter to spark their interest in this new honor fraternity. Assumably, the social climate of the late 1960s contributed to the fact that no new chapters resulted from these efforts. Many colleges were being torn apart internally due to student unrest with the Vietnam War. Of the schools returning a no response, most indicated that an all-male honor fraternity was not desirable during an era of increased civil rights awareness. Meanwhile, the transition to an honor fraternity placed unbearable stress on some chapters and several folded. By 1974, only eight active chapters remained. Were it not for the encouragement and devotion of Todd and Torchia, Phi Sigma Pi may have folded, closing the door on future opportunities. In recognition of Torchia's |
Joseph Torchia |
Richard C. Todd |
achievements, the Outstanding Chapter Award, established in 1957, was renamed the Joseph Torchia Outstanding Chapter Award in 1970 The Coeducational
Issue Late in 1975, Tau Chapter
was informed by its university that it was in violation of Final Title
IX Regulation Implementing Education Amendments of 1972 Prohibiting
Sex Discrimination in Education (hereafter referred to as Title IX).
After consultation with the United States Department of Health, Education
and Welfare, it was concluded that the national organization must allow
Tau Chapter to admit eligible women or the chapter would cease to exist
by July 1, 1976. Title IX argued that since Phi Sigma Pi was an honor
fraternity, it must become coeducational since remaining an all-male
organization would have a discriminatory effect upon the future career
opportunities of eligible women. (Social fraternal organizations are
exempt from Title IX). |
| President
Vaughn Rhodes, Pi 359; Secretary/Treasurer Gerald Burkhardt, Sigma 669;
and Todd argues that this was not a matter of wanting to go coeducational,
but rather a matter of having to comply with federal regulations. To remain
an honor fraternity, Phi Sigma Pi would have to become coeducational.
Three of the existing eight chapters threatened to withdraw from Phi Sigma
Pi if women were admitted and two were told by respective universities
to close their doors if they did not.
At the October 7, 1977, National Convention in Washington D.C., under the leadership of President Richard J. Donald, Iota 800, the National Constitution was amended to admit eligible females, thus ensuring that Phi Sigma Pi would remain an honor fraternity. Women were admitted into Phi Sigma Pi beginning in the Fall semester of 1977. Alpha Chapter was reactivated coeducational and Tau Chapter was the first existing chapter to induct a female honorary member, Claude Pennock Todd, Tau 879, wife of Richard C. Todd. The other chapters gradually went coeducational, with Sigma Chapter being the last all-male chapter to admit women. Some were not able to adjust to the change and by 1984 only six active chapters remained. |
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Rebirth
and Revitalization The years 1985-86 were a time of self-evaluation for Phi Sigma Pi. After seventy years of evolution, there was much to learn from the successes and failures of the past. A course of action to revitalize the fraternity was constructed and continues to develop today. Under the continuing leadership of Steven A. DiGuiseppe, Sigma 734; Jeffrey L. Johnson, Sigma 794 and Alpha Gamma 1; Jack W. Thorton, Tau 862; and numerous others, the foundation for the future was condensed into four wide-reaching premises. First, fundamental changes had to be made in the executive and legislative structure of the fraternity. Second, the National Office needed to offer more services to the existing chapters. Third, the financial stability of the National Office had to be secured if growth and development were to occur. Finally, a plan of action to add new chapters to the |
Jack W. Thornton |
Jeffrey L. Johnson |
ranks of Phi Sigma Pi had to be developed. If anything was learned from the past seven decades, it was that this fraternity would reach its potential only with a strong national organization in place to serve as a resource for its chapters. A new marketing approach was taken and it proved to be phenomenally successful. A brochure was developed to attract eligible students. Professional posters and advertisements were created and personalized stationary and envelopes were produced. The Purple & Gold newsletter began to be printed professionally. Its informative announcements, essays, reports and photographs added the finishing touch in the effort to let the world know Phi Sigma Pi was a unique group which would be an asset to any campus. This was very refreshing alternative for many institutions. So refreshing, in fact, that by May 1989, twelve new or reactivated chapters were added to the rolls of active chapters, bringing the total to eighteen.
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| Since
the founding of Phi Sigma Pi, the National Office was traditionally located
in the home of the National Secretary. Each time a new Secretary was elected,
the office moved to a different part of the country. Since 1951, the office
of the Secretary/Treasurer was held by a Sigma brother. For this reason,
it became an unofficial understanding that National Office was located
in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. However, as more chapters were added, the
workload on the volunteer National Officers intensified and the supplies
and equipment required to run the fraternity were quickly overwhelming
the capacity of the Secretary/Treasurer's home. To remedy this situation,
the National Office was officially separated from the Secretary/Treasurer
in 1988. The fraternity began renting 1,000 square feet of space in Millersville,
Pennsylvania, as its official office and a part-time administrative assistant
was hired to manage many of the day-to-day functions.
In Search of Excellence |
Steven A. DiGuiseppe |
| With twenty active chapters and many more targeted for development, the National Council made one of the boldest moves in the fraternity's history by hiring a full-time executive director in July 1990. Since that time, the fraternity's full-time staff has grown to include a director of expansion, director of member services, chapter consultants, office manager and an administrative assistant. With the addition of more chapters and staff, the National Office quickly outgrew its Millersville location. In January 1992, the fraternity purchased a three-story townhouse in downtown Lancaster. As the final step in a long journey for the National Office, a permanent headquarters was constructed in the Lancaster area in the spring of 1996.These developments could not have occurred had it not been for the ever increasing financial security of the national treasury. For years, the leanness of the national treasury prevented the development of the fraternity. Since 1986, readjustments in dues and fees, along with increased memberships and sale items, generated revenues that have caused the national budget to increase considerably. However, the task of achieving financial security is far from accomplished. To this end, a database of over 20,000 alumni has been established and current addresses are being added daily. A program is also being developed to bring these alumni back into Phi Sigma Pi as sources of leadership, professional expertise and financial assistance. Chapters prosper with guidance and support. This concept is critical to the long-term stability of the fraternity. Initially, if a chapter is to operate efficiently, resources must be made available for the education of new members and the training of existing members. To this end, the National Office published its first Guidebook in 1987, with revisions in 1988 and 1990. This publication was geared toward chapter committees and provided examples of service projects, fund-raisers, recreational events, speakers and leadership and management skills. By 1991, the Guidebook evolved into individual committee and officer manuals. In addition, The Scholar's Province handbook, originally written in 1941, continues to be revised and improved periodically. |
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National Headquarters |
The National Office also sponsors several seminars at the annual national convention and attempts to have a national representative visit each chapter at least once a year to help further develop the chapter's potential. When guidance fails and the chapter borders on inactivity, national support is essential if the chapter is to be saved. Since 1986, when chapters could not help themselves, national support has manifested itself through financial assistance, consultation, emergency trips and organizing and operating membership drives. The ability to do this has saved many chapters in times of crisis. These chapters would have gone inactive without the changes that have served to strengthen the National Office. |
| The leaps and
bounds made since 1986 have been remarkable. Once again, this is a growing,
promising national organization. The National Office exists for the chapter
and because of the chapter. The two are so closely linked that one cannot
survive with the other. Working together as a national unit has brought
the fraternity to is brightest spot in its history; the potential for
growth and development is limitless. The only thing that can hold it back
now are our prejudices and ignorances.
The National Vision for Phi Sigma Pi Over the years, it has become increasingly apparent that Phi Sigma Pi needs to have a vision--a formalized statement of legitimacy for the many changes that are occurring. A national vision is not new to Phi Sigma Pi. Hendricks, McClure and Phillips envisioned the day when the fraternity would have a chapter at over 200 teaching colleges throughout the United States. That was their vision, their ultimate goal, their finish line. It requires a tremendous amount of effort, planning, leadership, time, money and commitment to achieve a vision--to make the hundreds of changes and improvements necessary to turn aspirations into reality. With that in mind, Phi Sigma Pi aspires to be the leader in the fraternity world, as evidence by -- international chapter representation Historical Overview 1916 February 14, founding
of Phi Sigma Pi at State Teachers College, Warrensburg, |
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