Phi Kappa (ΦΚ) was an American social fraternity founded onOctober 1, 1889 by a group of Catholic students atBrown University who were refused entrance to other fraternities because of their faith. On April 29, 1959, Phi Kappa merged with a similar fraternityTheta Kappa Phi to formPhi Kappa Theta.
Phi Kappa originated as a local club for Catholic students atBrown University calledPhi Kappa Sigma, meaning "Fraternity of Catholic Students".[1] Its founders were James E. Brennan, Thomas P Corcoran, Edward F. Cunningham, John J. Fitzgerald, James M. Gillrain, Dennis J. Holland, Joseph Mary Killelea, Edward S. Kiley, Joseph Kirwen, William H. Magill, Arthur F. McGinn, Edward DeV. O'Connor, and James E. Smith.[1][a]
From the beginning the organization emphasized loyalty toalma mater and remained a home for Catholic students who were otherwise unable to join other fraternities.[1][2] Its name was changed toPhi Kappa in 1900 after the discovery of an older society with the same name.[2] It was incorporated onApril 29, 1902 in the State ofRhode Island. This date was celebrated by the fraternity as its Founders Day.[1]
Expansion was sought out at large schools, and not specifically Catholic institutions. ItsBeta chapter was placed at theUniversity of Illinois in 1912 with the adoption of the local Loyola Club. This was soon followed by theGamma chapter atPenn State in 1913. Many of its chapters came from the absorption of earlier local groups or Catholic clubs.[2] Phi Kappa joined theNorth American Interfraternity Conference in 1916.
Phi Kappa went on to form 40 chapters before its merger withTheta Kappa Phi onApril 29, 1959, at which time the two Catholic-affinity fraternities formedPhi Kappa Theta.[1][2] At the time of the merger it was found that, despite the size of both organizations, there were only five schools where both fraternities existed: Illinois, Penn State, Ohio State, Missouri and Wisconsin. Phi Kappa has 32 active chapters at the time of the merger.[2]
The badge of Phi Kappa badge was square, situated in a diamond fashion (called aquatrefoil), with amethysts at each corner. The sides were finished with pearls. The Greek letterΚ, etched, was in the center, superimposed by the Greek letterΦ, in plain (Roman) finish.[3]
Its colors were purple, white, and gold.[3] The fraternity flower was the "Ophelia Rose".[3] Its jewel was theamethyst. The fraternity's flag consisted of vertical stripes of purple, white, and gold, with the letterΦ on the purple stripe, the letterΚ was on the gold stripe, and a replica of the pledge pin on the white stripe.[3] Its motto was "Loyalty to God and College."[3]
The fraternity's original magazine was first published in 1916. It was called theYippa-Yappa, after the nickname of the brotherhood during its early days at Brown. Later, it had a quarterly publication calledThe Temple.[3] Its other publications included a songbookManual for Chapter Fellows, a Pledge Manual, and a membership directory.[3]
^Phi Kappa Theta's History notes nine founders, but Baird's goes on to mention four more. Baird's list is shown here. Three of these men are the first initiates, Magill, Fitzgerald, and Corcoran, with the addition of Kirwen.
^This chapter was dormant at the time of the merger. It was granted the post-merger name asRhode Island Alpha chapter of Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as the Loyola Club (local) in 1909. It became theIllinois Beta Delta chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as Sigma Phi Delta (local) in 1913. It became thePennsylvania Beta Gamma chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as the Loyola Club (local). It became theAlpha chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as the Columbus Club Knights (local) in 1908. It became theKansas Epsilon chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as the Newman House Club (local) in 1913. It became theIndiana Zeta chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as Alpha Epsilon (local) in 1918. It became theMassachusetts Eta chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as the Newman Club (local) in 1909. It became theOhio Gamma Theta chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as Phi Gamma (local) in 1919. It became theKansas Iota chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as the Mercier Club (local) before 1922. It became theMissouri Kappa Upsilon chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as the Mercier Club (local) before 1922. It became theWisconsin Lambda chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger, absorbing an existing Theta Kappa Phi colony.
^This chapter originated as Psi Delta Chi (local) in 1921. It became thePennsylvania Mu chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as the Richard Club (local) in 1922. Although the chapter was inactive at the time of the national merger, it later became theMichigan Nu chapter of Phi Kappa Theta.
^This chapter originated as the American Club (local) in 1920. It became theIowa Xi chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as Pi Alpha Chi (local) in 1923. It became theOhio Omicron chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as Nu Alpha (local) before 1925. Although the chapter was inactive at the time of the national merger, it later became theNebraska Pi chapter of Phi Kappa Theta.
^This chapter originated as Kappa Epsilon (local) in 1923. It became thePennsylvania Rho chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as Delta Delta (local) in 1923. It became theNew York Sigma chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as Phi Iota Chi (local) in 1921. Although the chapter was inactive at the time of the national merger, it later became theNew York Tau chapter of Phi Kappa Theta.
^Although the chapter was inactive at the time of the national merger, it later became theMaine Upsilon chapter of Phi Kappa Theta.
^This chapter originated as Kappa Phi Delta (local) in 1925. It became theColorado Phi chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as Kappa Gamma (local) in 1924. Although the chapter was inactive at the time of the national merger, it later became thePennsylvania Chi chapter of Phi Kappa Theta.
^This chapter originated as Rho Mu Phi (local) in 1928. It became theOhio Psi chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as the Dod Noon Club (local) in 1921. It became theDistrict of Columbia Omega chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as the Torch and Skull Club (local) in 1937. It became theIndiana Alpha Alpha chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as Theta Psi Kappa (local) in 1932. It became theOhio Alpha Beta chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^Regarding the Trine (Tri-State) chapter, there was a Catholic club on that campus beginning in 1929. This became a local, ΑΓΩ in 1940, and is listed as the predecessor to the existing ΦΚΘ chapter. However, it may be that this group of Catholic students signed up as a colony with ΦΚ in 1943, a colony that was named but (apparently) never installed as a chapter. Alternatively, that effort may have simply incorporated another set of Catholic students. It's a moot point today, as Phi Kappa and Theta Kappa Phi would merge in 1959 to form Phi Kappa Theta, with a chapter placed on campus in 1966 - chapter records may have further information.
^This colony was named, but never installed A later chapter of ΦΚΘ was installed in 1966, calledIndiana Alpha Gamma chapter of Phi Kappa Theta..
^This chapter originated as Chi Nu Chi (local) in 1940. It became theWashington Alpha Delta chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as a Phi Kappa colony in 1947. It became theMinnesota Alpha Epsilon chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as Phi Kappa colony in 1949. It became theWyoming Alpha Zeta chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as Gamma Sigma (local) before 1950. It became theNew York Alpha Eta chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as a Phi Kappa colony in 1950. It became theOregon Alpha Theta chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as Phi Kappa Kappa (local) in 1950. It became theArizona Alpha Iota chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as Phi Kappa Beta (local) in 1950. It became theIndiana Alpha Kappa chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as Sigma Alpha Kappa (local) in 1943. It became theAlabama Alpha Lambda chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as Phi Kappa Alpha (local) in 1952. It became theTexas Alpha Mu chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as Phi Delta Chi (local) before 1956. It became theCalifornia Alpha Nu chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as Kappa Sigma Phi (local) in 1924. It became thePennsylvania Alpha Xi chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as a Phi Kappa colony in 1957. It became theArizona Alpha Omicron chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
^This chapter originated as the Catholic Club (local) in 1956. It became theTexas Alpha Pi chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at the time of the national merger with Theta Kappa Phi.
