Phi Delta Theta

History

Founding

In 1839, Beta Theta Pi was founded at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. In protest against the university's president, members of Beta Theta Pi and another fraternity, Alpha Delta Phi, blocked the entrances of the main educational and administrative building in what became known as the Great Snowball Rebellion of 1848.

After the president expelled most of the students involved in the uprising, Phi Delta Theta was formed by six men staying in a dormitory the day after Christmas. Robert Morrison, a senior, proposed to classmate John McMillan Wilson that they form a secret society together; the two subsequently invited juniors Robert Thompson Drake and John Wolfe Lindley and sophomores Ardivan Walker Rodgers and Andrew Watts Rogers to join them. These men are known today as "The Immortal Six." The first meeting was held in Wilson's room at Old North Hall, now called Elliott Hall.

Phi Delta Theta was created under three principal objectives: "the cultivation of friendship among its members, the acquirement individually of a high degree of mental culture, and the attainment personally of a high standard of morality". These cardinal principles are contained in The Bond of Phi Delta Theta, the document to which each member pledges on his initiation into the fraternity.

19th century

During the early meetings, the Founders wrote The Bond of Phi Delta Theta, which is the fundamental law of the fraternity. It has remained unchanged ever since, and it is believed to be the only document of any fraternity of such a nature. Morrison designed the shield form of the badge, with the eye as an emblem, while Wilson suggested the scroll with the Greek letters on it. The first branch of Phi Delta Theta was founded at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in 1848. Fearing punishment from the university, the activities of the fraternity were sub rosa for its first three years of existence. Phi Delta Theta also took an unusual step, unique among all fraternities, of splitting into two chapters at both Miami and Centre College, so their meetings would be smaller and attract less attention. Eventually, as the organization attracted new individuals into their membership including prominent university officials, members began to openly wear their badges indicating their affiliation.

Phi Delta Theta held its first convention in 1851 in Cincinnati when the organization had only four chapters. The event was attended by seven members. Despite the limited number, positive steps were taken for the establishment of new chapters by forming an expansion committee. It was also during the first convention that the chapter at Miami University was designated as the Grand Chapter whose duties were to oversee the overall fraternity operations. Subsequent conventions were held again in Cincinnati five years later; Bloomington, Indiana in 1858; and Danville, Kentucky in 1860. Another convention was held in 1864 in Bloomington during the American Civil War. The Civil War was difficult for all fraternities. Battles put fraternity brother against fraternity brother. Fifty Phis fought on the side of the Confederacy while 231 Phis fought for the Union Army.

At its convention in Indianapolis in 1868, the first steps were taken to create an overall administrative plan for the fraternity. The convention was regarded as the first "National Convention" as permanent convention rules were adopted during this time. Twelve years later, the most important of all Phi Delta Theta conventions took place. The Indianapolis Convention of 1880 established new rituals, insignia, and customs that are still used today. Moreover, the convention saw the creation of the General Council, the governing body of the fraternity, with Walter B. Palmer, Emory-Vanderbilt 1877, and George Banta, Franklin-Indiana 1876, becoming the president and historian, respectively. The convention also called for the organization of groups of chapters into provinces, which were to be headed by province presidents.

20th century

With constant expansion into the Western United States, Phi Delta Theta became an international fraternity when the organization's first chapter in Canada, the Quebec Alpha, was installed at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec on April 5, 1902. Phi Delta Theta was being a founding member of the North American Interfraternity Conference, in 1910. By 1918, there were 78 chapters with a membership of 77,000.

At the outbreak of World War I, college administrators urged its undergraduate members to stay in school. However, many were eager to enlist. The first Phis to fight in the war were members of the chapters at the University of Toronto and McGill University, the fraternity's only Canadian chapters during that period. By the time the United States entered the war in 1917, over 5000 Phis served in the conflict with 155 of them losing their lives. Because many of the undergraduate Phis put their studies on hold, many chapter houses either had limited occupants or none at all. To prevent losing houses pending the return of Phis from the war, many housing corporations consented to have the houses used as barracks or for YMCA programs.

During the 1920s and 1930s, expansion was carefully controlled. Focus was placed on re-activating chapters whose charters were revoked years earlier.

World War II exacted a heavy toll on the membership and operations of the fraternity. Many undergraduate members joined the military, and 13 chapters were closed. As active membership declined, most of the Phi Delt houses were used as women's residence halls or became makeshift military quarters. A newsletter, The Fighting Phi News, was sent to members whose contact information was known to the fraternity.

Fifty Phi generals and admirals served in the United States and Canada during the conflict, the most for any fraternity. Prominent among them were General Edward P. King, leader of the U.S. and Filipino forces in Bataan, Philippines; Admiral Robert L. Ghormley, commander of the Guadalcanal campaign; and Admiral John S. McCain Sr., commander of carrier task forces in the Pacific. Members of Phi Delta Theta also received every major military decoration in both the United States and British Commonwealth forces, including the Medal of Honor (MOH) awarded to Leon Vance of the Army Air Corps and the Victoria Cross (VC) to Robert Hampton Gray, a Canadian naval aviator. Vance's MOH was the last to be awarded before the D-Day landings, and Gray was both the last military personnel to receive the VC in the war and the last Canadian to lose his life during the war.

21st century

In 2002, Phi Delta Theta, along with Kappa Sigma and Phi Sigma Kappa left the North American Interfraternity Conference due to ideological differences. Fraternity officials had been concerned of the direction of the conference for six years before leaving. Phi Delta Theta officials believed that the conference had been placing too much emphasis on individual undergraduates through specific programs such as leadership conferences rather than focusing on the fraternity movement as a whole. Phi Sigma Kappa has since re-joined the NIC.

In 2005, the fraternity issued a progress report. Significant improvements have occurred in many areas of fraternity life and operations. Since the implementation of the alcohol-free housing policy, the undergraduate grade point average rose from 2.77 in 2000 to nearly 3.00 in 2005. The insurance premiums of individual members have also gone down as risk management violations have decreased. Perhaps the most telling area is in membership, where Phi Delta Theta showed an increase in new members. In 2004, Phi Delta Theta had 3,102 new members while other fraternities averaged 2,415. In 1990, chapters of Phi Delta Theta were 18% larger than the typical fraternity chapter. In 2004, they were 30% larger. Also, in 2004, Phi Delta Theta was one of only 13 national/international fraternities to show an increase in total undergraduates from the previous year with an increase of 4.2%. The significance of this is highlighted by the fact that Phi Delta Theta had fewer chapters than other fraternities. Competitively, Phi Delta Theta has remained a constant among others. In terms of new members, it ranked ninth in 1990, eighth in 2000, and ninth in 2004. Many alumni members have credited the alcohol-free housing policy with continuing this trend.

Symbols

Phi Delta Theta's motto is Εἷς ἀνὴρ οὐδεὶς ἀνήρ. Its slogan is "One man is no man". The fraternity's badge is a shield, that has an eye in its upper field and a scroll with the Greek letters ΦΔΘ in the lower field, with a sword in back.

The fraternity's colors are azure and argent. Its flag consists of three vertical bars, with the center bar being white with the Greek letters ΦΔΘ in blue. Its two outer bars are blue with three five-pointed stars in white.

Its flower is the white carnation. Its patron Greek deity is Pallas Athena and her owl. Its nicknames are Phi Delts and Phis.

The Scroll of Phi Delta Theta is the official magazine for members of the fraternity, first published in 1875. The Palladium was a private annual magazine specifically for members of Phi Delta Theta. Its first issue was printed in 1894 and the last issue was released in the mid-1960s.

Famous firsts

Phi Delta Theta instituted several policies and traditions that are not only still used by the fraternity today, but have also become standard among almost all fraternities, as well as sororities.

First fraternity to adopt a pledge pin – adopted by the 1894 convention in Indianapolis, Indiana

First fraternity to adopt an alumnus pin – adopted by the 1894 convention in Indianapolis, Indiana

First fraternity to adopt a pledge manual – authored by Walter B. Palmer in 1886

First fraternity to adopt a National Day of Celebration – adopted by the General Council in 1889

First fraternity to adopt life subscriptions to the fraternity magazine – instituted by William Bates, the first editor of The Scroll in 1875

First national fraternity to expand west of the Mississippi River – a charter was given to Austin College in 1853

Chapters

Undergraduate chapters

See List of Phi Delta Theta chapters

Since 1848, Phi Delta Theta has granted more than 285 charters across the United States and Canada. Today, there are over 191 active chapters and colonies. To be granted a charter, a colony must complete certain requirements set forth by the General Council. Chief among these are recruiting a certain number of members and achieving a respectable cumulative grade point average among its members. Phi Delta Theta also has the longest continuous chapter of any fraternity in the United States, that chapter being the Kentucky Alpha Delta chapter at Centre College, which was established in 1850 and is still active today. The largest chapter of Phi Delta Theta is at Indiana University with, on average, 160 active brothers and has been active since 1849.

Alumni chapters

Currently, Phi Delta Theta has over 100 active alumni clubs. Although all the clubs are currently in North America, alumni clubs have been found all over the world throughout its history. At one point, there were over 165 alumni chapters, some as far away as China. The most Phis to ever assemble on foreign land for an alumni club meeting, before the fraternity became international in 1902, was in Manila, Philippines when 30 Phis gathered in 1899. The alumni club in the Philippines lasted for nearly 40 years.

Membership

Membership in Phi Delta Theta is open to all qualified men without concern for race, religion, or ethnicity. Initial membership to the fraternity is contingent upon receiving an invitation to an interested individual from members of an active chapter. A pledge of Phi Delta Theta is called a Phikeia. Previously the pledge period lasted a minimum of eight weeks. During the 2025 Convention this was reduced to a four week period, with the General Council allowed to make exemptions, to fit university requirements. The pledge period is a time when the prospective member learns about the fraternity history, structure, traditions, organization as well as social etiquette. Phi Delta Theta has a strict policy against hazing and does not tolerate chapters that violate the policy. Once initiated, a brother is entitled to all rights and privileges of fraternity membership unless he formally resigns or is expelled.

Activities

The Kleberg Emerging Leaders Institute (Kleberg) is an annual event held at the fraternity's headquarters during the summer where newly initiated undergraduates are instructed leadership classes, as well as participating in programs that help to improve their respective chapters.

Phi Delta Theta has close connections with two sororities: Delta Gamma and Delta Zeta.

Philanthropy

For many years, Phi Delta Theta had no official philanthropy. The fraternity, however, was long associated with the ALS Association (ALSA) because of Lou Gehrig, an alumnus who died of the disease. Amytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a debilitating neuro-muscular disease and has since become known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Although there had always existed a relationship between ALSA and Phi Delta Theta, it was not until November 2002 that the General Council made the partnership official. Undergraduate and alumni chapters from all across North America regularly organize events to raise money for research. In August 2017, Phi Delta Theta terminated its partnership with ALSA and elected to proceed with creating its ALS-related charity. But now they have elected to work closely with the LiveLikeLou Foundation to succeed in leaving ALS better than they found it.

Phi Delta Theta and many other fraternities have an educational foundation fund. Part of the Phi Delta Theta Foundation's aim is to award scholarships to deserving undergraduate members and those pursuing advanced degrees in various graduate schools. Each year, it provides over $150,000 in scholarships. The foundation, which was established in 1962 with only $4,708, has since grown to over $14 million.

Governance

All powers of the fraternity, both legislative and supreme, rest within the General Convention. The convention is a biennial event attended by representatives of undergraduate chapters, alumni chapters, and various foundations. The purpose of the convention is to discuss and vote on a wide range of issues affecting the fraternity. The convention is held in various cities across North America. It is also during the convention where the General Council is elected.

The General Council is the governing body of Phi Delta Theta. Its all-volunteer members are elected every two years during the fraternity's convention. Their chief responsibility is to act as the executive and administrative board of the fraternity. Their duties include the granting and suspending of charters.

The General Headquarters (GHQ) is responsible for the daily operations of the fraternity. Among its many duties, GHQ collects dues, distributes supplies, and tries to maintain up-to-date information about all its members. Unlike other entities within the fraternity, the staff of GHQ are paid for their services. While the main offices of GHQ are held by members of the fraternity, support staff need not be members. The head of GHQ is the executive vice president, who acts as the secretary to the General Council.

Controversies and member misconduct

19th century

In 1852, the Kappa chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) was formed at Miami University after a disagreement among Phi Delta Theta members over prohibiting alcohol. In 1854, two years later, another disagreement in this group led to another break-away. A schism over who would become a Poet for the Erodelphian Literary Society led to the founding of Sigma Chi in 1855.

20th century

In 1924, Charles Lamkin, a former international president of Phi Delta Theta, was instrumental in the formation of a new national fraternity called Theta Kappa Nu, and in recruiting some 30 local fraternities to become chapters of Theta Kappa Nu during its first two years. No mention was made in print of his work at the time (obviously a sensitive issue); but he was listed, along with the Four Founders of Theta Kappa Nu, as one of the first five to have a lifetime subscription to the fraternity's magazine. Having chartered 55 chapters, Theta Kappa Nu merged with Lambda Chi Alpha in 1939.

On the morning of May 15, 1954, near the end of an all-night drinking party held at the home of the fraternity's University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill chapter, member and senior G. "Putnam" Davis, Jr. (23) pulled out his pistol without reason and wounded two other fraternity members: sophomores William H. Joyner (20) and Allen B. Long (21) before going to his bedroom on the third floor and committing suicide.

21st century

In June 2000, when Phi Delta Theta announced the inception of an alcohol-free housing policy, the announcement was met both with hope and skepticism. While some saw the banning of alcohol in housing facilities as a welcome return to the principles on which the fraternity was founded, others felt the drastic cultural shift would hurt social dynamics. The General Council and GHQ had expected resistance from both alumni and undergraduate members when it was first proposed. Among the most vocal chapters against the policy were the University of Virginia chapter, where a faction split off from Phi Delta Theta and chose to form a separate local fraternity known as the Phi Society, and the University of the South chapter, which formed the Phi Society of 1883 rather than adopt the policy. Phi Delta Theta returned to the University of Virginia one year later and formed a new chapter that operates alongside the still active Phi Society Chapter. Phi Delta Theta has not returned to the University of the South.

In 2012, a new member at Northwestern University was hospitalized with a broken nose, fractured in four places as a result of being forced by the fraternity to participate in a fight as hazing. After an investigation of this and other hazing incidents, the fraternity chapter was placed on deferred suspension until June 17, 2016.

In 2013, Emory University voted to ban the fraternity from the campus for four years due to repeated hazing violations and misconduct. New members were forced to participate in "fight club", and "successfully" consume high amounts of alcohol to prove their masculinity and sleep on the floor in the fraternity house's basement in only their underwear.

In 2016, the chapter at the University of Chicago was sued by a former new member who alleged hazing.

In 2016, the chapter at Baylor University was suspended after its president, Jacob Walter Anderson, was charged with sexual assault and rape of a woman who was unconscious at a party the fraternity hosted. The fraternity was cited for providing alcohol to underage students.

In 2017, the chapter at Louisiana State University was suspended, along with all Greek life at LSU (per university president), after a new member was rushed to the hospital where he later succumbed to alcohol poisoning and died. Suspected hazing; alcohol abuse in addition to THC was found in his urine. Later, ten people were arrested and charged with hazing, and one was charged with negligent homicide in the death.

Notable members

See List of Phi Delta Theta members

Members of Phi Delta Theta have held numerous political positions in the United States, including the presidency, vice presidency, and speakership of the House of Representatives. In Canada, fraternity members have served in many levels of government. Members have won major awards in science and entertainment, and have also gained prominence in areas such as architecture, medicine, and sports. Throughout the years, many prominent members have kept a vested interest in the events and operations of Phi Delta Theta. President Harrison, for example, participated in three Phi Delt banquets during his presidency while Medal of Honor recipient General Frederick Funston was the guest speaker at certain chapter installations.

The number of members who have either been involved in armed conflict or have achieved prominence in their respective professions has been documented throughout the years. As of November 2014, the following statistics are the involvement of its members in various fields.