The History of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity
Founded over
150 years ago, Phi Psi boasts a rich history at many of the nation's top colleges
and universities.
William Henry Letterman and Charles Page Thomas Moore founded Phi Kappa Psi in the
little college town of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, when they were nursing their stricken
friends during an epidemic of typhoid fever at their college. It was through these
long night vigils that an appreciation of the great joy of serving others came into
their lives.
Calling a number of others to join them, a Brotherhood was founded on February 19,
1852. It flourished, and gradually extended to other colleges and universities throughout
the country. Idealists all, these founders of Phi Kappa Psi taught a new fraternity
- a Fraternity that would complement the work of the university by cultivating those
humanities without which the educated man fails of his greatest usefulness.
At the time of our founding, Jefferson College was considered one of the "Big Three"
in what was known as the "Jeffersonian Cradle." The other two institutions comprising
this group, Harvard and Princeton, were of very nearly equal size and equal high
esteem. These institutions all graduated predominantly ministers, lawyers and physicians
from an academic curricula based in classical literature, religious doctrine and
basic sciences.
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Thomas C. Campbell and the Expansion of Phi Psi
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 Charles
P.T. Moore was very eager to spread the principles of Phi Kappa Psi to other colleges.
The second Phi Kappa Psi chapter was established in 1853 at the University of Virginia.
At this time, a man named Thomas Cochran Campbell was the most active man in the
Fraternity. He felt that Phi Kappa Psi was founded by its' peculiar character and
strong foundation. In 1855, the first Grand Arch council was held in Charolettesville,
Virginia. Members from Virginia Alpha exerted a strong influence and the following
GAC in Canonsburg showcased members from this chapter.
After the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, the chapters of Phi Kappa Psi suspended
operations. A majority of the brotherhood (552 out of 800) were involved in the
war, and more than 100 were killed. One brother, C.F. "Dab" Williams, donated to
the Fraternity an unidentified, antique, homemade Phi Kappa Psi badge found on the
Hagerstown Pike near Gettysburg, Pa. the day after the Civil War battle ended at
that location.
 During
the 1880s there had been a growing demand for changes from the Grand Chapter method
of government. In 1885, the Grand Arch Council appointed a committee to draft a
new system providing a strong, centralized Executive Council. This new Council would
consist of graduates and undergraduates serving as heads of each district. In 1886,
the report of this system was adopted at a special Grand Arch Council in Indianapolis
and this revolutionary system was adapted and still in effect today. William Clayton
Wilson planned the new form of government and drafted the new constitution. As a
result of this farseeing development the Fraternity owes a debt of gratitude to
this individual.
In 1952, a centennial anniversary was celebrated in the old home of the Widow Letterman
in Canonsburg. Over 100 members gathered together for the occasion and a bronze
tablet commemorating the centennial was moved to the Pennsylvania Alpha chapter
house. Phi Kappa Psi had grown to 56 chapters, 40 Alumni Associations and 40,000
initiates within its' first 100 years.
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The History of Texas Gamma
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The Texas Gamma Chapter of Phi Kappa Psi has a long, distinguished history at Texas
State University. In the fall of 1966, the Greek system of Southwest Texas State
College was one in which diverse groups of men or women were few and far between.
Our chapter’s founder, Clifford Jay Berkman soon realized that even though
he wanted to join a fraternity, nothing the college had to offer at the time was
truly appealing to him. It was then, in the spirit of William Henry Letterman and
Charles Page Thomas Moore that C.J. Berkman decided to form a new kind of fraternity
at Southwest Texas; one devoted to diversity, humility, scholarship, gentlemanly
conduct, and most importantly, brotherly love.
On October 15, 1966, Brother Berkman’s vision of a new fraternity was realized
in the formation of a local fraternity known as Delta Phi Theta. Berkman’s
experiment in brotherhood would quickly prove a success, finding many young men
of similar ideals who wished to join the campus’ newest fraternity. In early
November of that year, Delta Phi Theta was formally accepted into the university’s
Interfraternity Council. Before long, Delta Phi Theta had earned a reputation as
one of the most competitive chapters on campus; all while keeping to their ideals
of honor and diversity.
Delta Phi Theta continued to operate successfully for two more years as a local
fraternity before its members made the decision to petition a national fraternity
for membership. In 1968, Brother Cecil Trainor, a graduate of Texas Tech University
and an alumnus of Texas Beta, was serving as the faculty advisor for the brothers
of Delta Phi Theta. Brother Trainer was the man who first suggested that the Deltas
contact the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity and request that they be made the fraternity’s
next chapter. The Executive Council ultimately agreed and on September 20,
1968, the Delta Phi Theta fraternity officially ceased operations to form the Texas
Gamma Colony of Phi Kappa Psi.
The colony worked and struggled for several months to prove to the National Headquarters
that it was deserving of receiving their charter. On April 26 1969, the chapter’s
efforts were rewarded, and the Texas Gamma Chapter was formally initiated into the
Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. Initiated into the fraternity as the 100th chapter, the
chartering of Texas Gamma represented an important milestone in the history of Phi
Kappa Psi. The Executive Director, Ralph “Dud” Daniels (later named
Mr. Phi Psi) invited the entire chapter to the National Headquarters in Indianapolis,
IN for their lavish initiation banquet.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the Texas Gamma chapter thrived at Southwest Texas
State University as one of the school’s most successful Greek organizations
winning Greek Week in '75 and the campus all-sports championship in '81. Dwindling
membership numbers, however, led the chapter to voluntarily surrender its charter
in 1993 with Badge # 298 as its final initiate.
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A New Beginning at Texas State
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 However,
alumni wouldn't let the chapter stay gone lone. In 1997 more than 50 alumni gathered
in San Marcos to plan Texas Gamma's return. Spearheaded by Bill Taylor, Joe O'Connell
and chapter founder C.J. Berkman, the alumni had to fight resistance from the school's
Interfraternity Council--which worried about the added competition--but continued
for five years in the effort.
Finally, the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity returned to Southwest Texas State University
and began the process of resurrecting its once-proud 100th chapter. To this end,
the National Headquarters sent two of its finest young Phi Psi advisers, Joel Gildner
and Chad Stegemiller, to San Marcos to begin the arduous process of re-colonization.
The new colony worked diligently for over a year to regain its charter, and on October
11, 2003, Texas Gamma was once again reinstated as a full chapter of Phi Kappa Psi.
At Phi Psi’s 2004 Grand arch Council, Texas Gamma was greeted with uproarious
applause and presented once again with the Chapter’s GAC banner. After more
than 10 years, Texas Gamma had finally returned home.
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