Phi Theta Psi

  1. Home
  2. Wiki
Phi Theta Psi
ΦΘΨ
Symbols of Phi Theta Psi, from the Hopkinsian yearbook, 1893
Founded1886; 139 years ago (1886)
Washington and Lee University
TypeSocial
AffiliationIndependent
StatusDefunct
Defunct date1895
ScopeNational
Member badge
Colors  Purple,   Light blue and   Gold
FlowerViolet
PublicationThe Crown
Chapters10+
HeadquartersLexington, Virginia
United States

Phi Theta Psi (ΦΘΨ) was an American collegiate fraternity. It was established in 1886 at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. The fraternity established at least ten chapters, mostly in Virginia, before going inactive in 1895. Its Alpha chapter merged into Delta Tau Delta.

History

[edit]

Phi Theta Psi was a social fraternity established in 1886 at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.[1][2][3] One of its founders was George A. Wauchope, later a professor at the University of Missouri.[4] A second chapter was established at the University of Virginia, followed by chapters at Richmond College and the College of William & Mary.[5]

By 1890, the fraternity had initiated 170 members.[6] It had established six chapters in Virginia by 1891.[5] The fraternity became a national fraternity when it chartered Eta chapter at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, and Theta chapter at Columbia College in New York City.[7] In June 1892, the Iota chapter was established at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.[1] In October 1892, Iota had a chapter rooms at 1035 North Eutaw Street.[8][9]

The fraternity held a convention from December 28 to 30, 1892, in Richmond, Virginia.[10] The fraternity's 1893 convention was held on December 28 and 29 in Richmond.[11][12][13] Its first order of business was to send a telegram with greetings to Sigma Alpha Epsilon, its sister fraternity that was holding a convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[14][15][16] Other actions at the convention included securing subscriptions for chapter houses, recalling charters for some charters, and granting charters for new chapters.[14][17][16] The fraternity also decided to begin issuing its secret publication, The Crown, for general circulation.[3] Its editor was alumnus Edward T. Boggs of Northport, New York.[3][18]

Phi Theta Psi had seven active chapters in 1894, and also had an alumni association in Richmond.[19][3][20][17] In May 1894, The Record of Sigma Alpha Epsilon noted that Phi Theta Psi was "in a flourishing condition".[3]

In 1894, Phi Theta Psi explored merging into Sigma Alpha Epsilon, which had also chapters at the University of Virginia and Washington and Lee University.[19] The merger plan included retaining the Phi Theta Psi chapter name at those two institutions because its chapters were larger.[19] However, the two fraternities did not agree on minor details, and plans for the merger fell through.[19]

In May 1895, Phi Theta Psi was disbanded by its general convention for unknown reasons.[19][21] The active chapters at the time of dissolution were Alpha at Washington and Lee, Beta at the University of Virginia, Delta at William and Mary, and Zeta at Hampden–Sydney College.[21]

The Alpha chapter withdrew and contacted Delta Tau Delta on December 6, 1895, about possibly becoming a chapter.[2][19] At the time, Alpha had eight members, including one at the Virginia Military Institute.[21] Six students at Washington and Lee sent a formal petition to Delta Tau Delta on January 11, 1896.[21] Delta Tau Delta rejected Alpha's first application over concerns about the college; however, it accepted the second petition because of a strong desire to expand into the South.[21] Alpha was installed as a chapter of Delta Tau Delta on August 17, 1896.[21]

In early 1896, the former Delta chapter petitioned to become a chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, but its request was denied.[22] In September 1900, alumnus Rev. John G. Griffith unsuccessfully tried to motivate Phi Theta Psi alumni to place chapters at some Virginia colleges.[23][24]

Symbols

[edit]

Phi Theta Psi's colors were purple, light blue, and gold.[5][10][11][12] The fraternity's flower was the violet.[5] Its publication was The Crown.[10][11][12][3]

Membership

[edit]

The University of Virginia newspaper described Phi Theta Psi as "an organization composed almost entirely of Fraternity men, being to all outward appearance a quig club lacking altogether the fundamental characteristics of the college Greek letter."[25] The article details that Phi Theta Psi admitted members of other fraternities, such as Kappa Alpha.[25]

Governance

[edit]

Phi Theta Psi was governed by the executive board of its Crown Chapter or grand chapter, elected at its biennial conventions.[11][14][17] Its grand president was called the G.W.D.[10][11][12] It also had a grand vice-president, grand chaplain, secretary, assistant secretary, and sergeant-at-arms.[11][14][12][17]

Chapters

[edit]

Following is an incomplete Phi Theta Psi chapter list, with inactive chapters indicated in italics.[3][5][7][19][20]

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
Alpha 1885 – May 1895 Washington and Lee University Lexington, Virginia Withdrew (local, then ΔΤΔ) [1][5][21][a]
Before 1890–189x ? Roanoke College Salem, Virginia Inactive [6]
Beta Before 1890 – May 1895 University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Inactive [6][10][21]
Gamma February 17, 1890 – c. 1895 Richmond College Richmond, Virginia Inactive [26]
Delta March 1890 – May 1895 College of William & Mary Williamsburg, Virginia Withdrew (local) [21][22][27]
Epsilon Before September 1891 – c. 1895 Randolph–Macon College Ashland, Virginia Inactive
Zeta 1890 – May 1895 Hampden–Sydney College Hampden Sydney, Virginia Inactive [21][28]
Eta Before 1893 – 189x ? Kenyon College Gambier, Ohio Inactive
Theta Before 1893 – 189x ? Columbia College New York City, New York Inactive
Iota June 1892 – c. 1894 Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland Inactive [1][9][29]
  1. ^ Became a chapter of Delta Tau Delta.

Controversies

[edit]

In January 1893, other fraternities at the University of Virginia protested Phi Theta Psi receiving a spot on the editorial board of the campus yearbook, a privilege granted to all Greek lettered organizations.[25] Because Phi Theta Psi members belonged to other fraternities, its appointment gave another fraternity two seats on the annual's board and resulted in an unfair election of the annual's editor.[25] Nine fraternity representatives, including the one for Phi Theta Psi, threatened to resign from the annual's board unless there was a new election for editor that excluded the participation of the Phi Theta Psi representative.[25] This situation was apparently resolved agreeably, as there was still a representative of Phi Theta Psi on the yearbook staff in November 1893, along with sixteen other fraternities.[30]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Closing the Schools. The Johns Hopkins University". The Baltimore Sun. 1892-06-08. p. 8. Retrieved 2025-11-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b Shepardson, Francis Wayland, ed. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 11th edition. Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/George Banta Publishing Company, 1927. p. 90. via Hathi Trust.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "The Crown" (PDF). The Record of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. 14 (2): 151. May 1894.
  4. ^ "The Work Begins". The Richmond Times. 1891-09-01. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-11-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Phi Theta Psi: A Fraternity Entertainment Last Evening at Mr. J. H. Griffith's Home". The Richmond Times. 1891-09-19. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-11-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c Baird, William Raimond, ed. American College Fraternities, 4th edition. New York: James P. Downs, 1890. p. 171. via Hathi Trust.
  7. ^ a b Hopkinsian (yearbook) Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University, 1893. p. 101.
  8. ^ "Local Briefs". The Baltimore Sun. 1892-10-20. p. 8. Retrieved 2025-11-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b "City College Boys". The Baltimore Sun. 1892-10-21. p. 8. Retrieved 2025-11-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b c d e "The Phi Theta Psi. Special Convention and Banquet Held During the Holidays". Richmond Dispatch. 1893-01-01. p. 10. Retrieved 2025-11-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Phi Theta Psi". Richmond Dispatch. 1893-12-29. pp. 3, pt.2. Retrieved 2025-11-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b c d e "A Greek Convention. The Phi Theta Psi Fraternity in Biennial Session". Richmond Times-Dispatch. 1893-12-29. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-11-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "The Phi Theta Psi's Banquet". Richmond Dispatch. 1893-12-31. p. 6. Retrieved 2025-11-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b c d "Phi Theta Psi". Richmond Dispatch. 1893-12-30. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-11-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "The Phi Theta Psi". Richmond Times-Dispatch. 1893-12-30. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  16. ^ a b "The Phi Theta Psi. Permanent Officers Elected--Encouraging Reports, Etc". The Richmond Star. December 29, 1893. p. 1. Retrieved November 15, 2025 – via Virginia Chronicle, Library of Virginia.
  17. ^ a b c d "Phi Theta Psi. Delegates from Various Colleges and Alumni Chapters Present". The State. December 23, 1893. p. 4. Retrieved November 15, 2025 – via Virginia Chronicle, Library of Virginia.
  18. ^ "Social and Otherwise". Birmingham Post-Herald. 1895-02-14. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-11-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g Levere, William C. (1968) [1911]. The History of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity (PDF). Vol. 2. Nashville, Tennessee: Benson Printing Co. pp. 278–279. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  20. ^ a b Kaleidoscope (yearbook). Bortz Library Hampden-Sydney College. Hampden Sydney, Virginia: Hampden-Sydney College. 1894. pp. 49–50 – via Internet Archive.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Moore, F. Darrell (Winter 1967). "Babcock's Second Term, 1895-97: Washington and Lee Entered" (PDF). The Rainbow of Delta Tau Delta. 90 (2): 18–20.
  22. ^ a b Levere, William C. (1968) [1911]. The History of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity (PDF). Vol. 2. Nashville, Tennessee: Benson Printing Co. p. 345. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  23. ^ "Rev. John G. Griffith". Richmond Times-Dispatch. 1900-09-02. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-11-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Personal and Genral. [sic]". Richmond Times-Dispatch. 1900-09-14. p. 7. Retrieved 2025-11-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ a b c d e "A Protest". College Topics. Vol. 4, no. 15. University of Virginia. January 14, 1893. p. 1. Retrieved November 15, 2025 – via Virginia Chronicle, Library of Virginia.
  26. ^ "Phi Theta Psi". Richmond Dispatch. 1890-02-18. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-11-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Phi Theta Psi". Richmond Dispatch. 1890-03-11. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-11-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Kuegler, Wes (September 26, 2016). "History on the Hill: A Look at Greek Life in 1893" (PDF). The Hampden-Sydney Tiger. 97 (3): 4.
  29. ^ Hullabaloo (yearbook). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University. 1885. p. 129. Includes members of Phi Theta Psi in its list of "Members of Fraternities Having No Chapter at the University"
  30. ^ "Corkes and Curls". College Topics. University of Virginia. November 25, 1893. p. 3. Retrieved November 15, 2025 – via Virginia Chronicle, Library of Virginia.