The
Founding
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.
The
Missouri Beta Chapter of Phi Lambda Epsilon—a national
fraternity founded in 1892, with chapters located
on normal and high school campuses—was organized
in 1894 as the first fraternity on the Warrensburg campus.
This chapter was a thriving organization until the spring
of 1914. At this time, the faculty of the institution thoroughly
investigated the fraternity and found that it only emphasized
the social side of college life. The fraternity was disbanded.
During the 1914–15 school year, a group of students
with strong academic values, who also had been members
of Phi Lambda Epsilon, and a group of other male students
attending the college, who from an educational standpoint
had in mind high ideals regarding the teaching profession
and the social needs of the students, brought together
their concerns and presented them to the faculty. The faculty
at first disapproved of a new fraternity but through the
encouragement and support of President Eldo L. Hendricks,
Dean Claude A. Phillips, and Professor C. H. McClure, the
faculty approved the establishment of a new fraternity
on campus. All three men had been members of Phi Delta
Kappa, a national education fraternity which operated in
larger universities and colleges with graduate departments
of education. The three men concurred that due to the quality
of these students, they should be affiliated with and receive
the membership benefits of a national fraternal organization.
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,
teacher 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 qualified liberal arts colleges and universities,
not on the 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, Wade C. Fowler, Roy G. Bigelow, Arthur Kresse,
John A. Doak, Harold Patterson, and Harry Hill. Within
one year, the chapter had elected another twelve members
into its ranks.
The
Birth of a National Fraternity
1921–42
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.
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
the1920s, 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 through Wood’s efforts to make Phi Sigma Pi one
of the 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 Lawrence 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 came 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.
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 teachers 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 of education 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 forced 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 office of 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 honorary 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, chartered 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.
While
the decade was not profitable in terms of chapter growth,
several important events occurred within the 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 titled 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 26, 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 of a 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
goals 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
1942–54
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.
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. A
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 the faculty advisors of the
chapters and active alumni. By 1950, not only was contact
with 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, Omicron 20. Death claimed Beecher Flanagan
in 1950 and Sanders P. McComsey, Sigma 17, in 1955, while
both men were in office. The Regional Director 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 the National Office
was poor. Despite these obstacles, the fraternity was incorporated
nationally in Illinois on April 25, 1949
Transition
and Adaptation
1955–75
The
fraternity was in need of new leadership as the Old Guard
retired—and it got it. Two of the fraternity’s
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 a professional education fraternity
for teachers in state teachers 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. OmegaNu 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.
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 this 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 achievements, the Outstanding Chapter Award,
established in 1957, was renamed the JosephTorchia Outstanding
Chapter Award in 1970.
The
Coeducational Issue
1975–84
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 argued 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 their 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, Clauda 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 chapters were not able to adjust to the change,
and by 1984 only six active chapters remained.
Rebirth
and Revitalization
1985-1989
The
years 1985-1986 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. Thornton, 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 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 stationery 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 that Phi Sigma Pi was a unique group which would be
an asset to any campus. This was a 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.
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 Secretary/Treasurer
was held by a Sigma brother. For this reason, it became
an unofficial understanding that the 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
1990–Present
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, region 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 sales items, generated revenues that have caused the
national budget to increase significantly. 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, fundraisers,
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.
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 stay maintained. 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 several
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 without the other. Working together as a
national unit has brought this fraternity to its brightest
spot in its history; the potential for growth and development
is limitless. The only thing that can hold us back now
are our own prejudice and ignorance.
