Sigma Pi

Sigma Pi () is a collegiate fraternity with 233 chapters at American universities. As of 2021, the fraternity had more than 5,000 undergraduate members and over 110,000 alumni.

Sigma Pi headquarters are in Nashville, Tennessee.

The fraternity was founded on February 26, 1897, by William R Kennedy, James T Kingsbury, George M Patterson, and Rolin R James at Vincennes University. The group was initially known by the Greek letters Tau Phi Delta (ΤΦΔ), but was renamed Sigma Pi in 1907. The change of name was instigated by Robert George Patterson, then a student at Ohio State University. Patterson had wanted to join the Sigma Pi literary society at Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois, but the latter group had rejected his request to expand to OSU. In 1907 Patterson approached Tau Phi Delta members, claiming to represent a historic fraternity called Sigma Pi that dated to the 18th century. Tau Phi Delta accepted Patterson's invitation to merge and adopted the named Sigma Pi.

Later, Patterson's “history” of Sigma Pi was shown to be false, but the organization kept the name.

The organization oversees several charitable programs, including the Altruistic Campus Experience and maintains the Sigma Pi Educational Foundation "to assist needy and deserving students to complete their education; and to aid aged or disabled former students who are in need or worthy of assistance."

History

Founders

* Rolin Rosco James (October 16, 1879 – February 4, 1953): Born in Lincolnville, Indiana. Graduated from Vincennes University in 1900; A. B., Earlham College, 1902; Studied at Harvard Law School. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and by profession, a consulting attorney.''I Believe''. Brentwood, TN: Sigma Pi Fraternity, International, 2010. Print.
* William Raper Kennedy (November 22, 1877 – December 5, 1944): Born in Vincennes, Indiana. Graduated Vincennes University in 1897. Served in the Spanish–American War and re-enlisted in the infantry a month after being discharged. He was continuously in military service and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the infantry. He was a faculty member at Culver Military Academy from 1905 until retiring in 1944.
* James Thompson Kingsbury (January 8, 1877 – October 1, 1950): Born in Lawrence County, Illinois. Descended from the Kingsbury family who settled in Massachusetts in 1615. Graduated Vincennes University in 1897; A. B. University of Illinois 1899, LL.B 1902. Practiced law in Bisbee, Arizona. He was a member of the Christian Church and of Masonic Lodges in Tombstone, Arizona and Phoenix.
* George Martin Patterson (November 7, 1877 – April 7, 1960): Born in Palmyra, Township, Knox County, Indiana. His ancestors settled in Vincennes before Indiana became a state and was a prominent part in the development of that part of the country. Served as the Deputy Recorder of Knox County and then followed in his father's footsteps of farming.

Founding and early history (1897–1908)

On January 26, 1897, Charlotte N. Mallote, a professor of Latin and French, spoke to a group of students during chapel hour at Vincennes University about College Fraternities. One month later, on February 26, 1897, a new literary society had its first meeting, founded by James, Kennedy, Patterson, and Kingsbury. The first two initiates of the society were Samuel and Maurice Bayard, who were brought into the organization well before a name or constitution was established. The constitution, name, and first ritual were developed at the home of the Bayard's. The founders soon agreed upon a name, and the society was christened Tau Phi Delta (ΤΦΔ). By the end of its first year in 1898, Tau Phi Delta had 10 members, but the new Fraternity encountered membership struggles at the turn of the 20th century, as many of America's young men left to fight in the Spanish–American War. As such, personal endeavors were paused, while the nation focused all efforts and resources on the war that was raging in the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans. Key members of Tau Phi Delta, William Raper Kennedy, Lee B. Purcell, and Maurice Bayard had all left to fight in the war, leaving James as the sole member by the end of the war. James restored the society by initiating five new members shortly after the turn of the 20th century. These new members pressured James to change the name to Theta Gamma Psi (ΘΓΨ), but James successfully argued to keep the society named Tau Phi Delta. In 1903–1904, the Fraternity had grown so large that it stopped meeting at Vincennes, instead, meeting at The Bayard Cottage. This structure is considered the fraternity's first chapter house. In 1907, Tau Phi Delta began meeting at the old colonial residence of Judge J.P.L Weems. It was in the Niblack-Weems household that Tau Phi Delta was rechristened as Sigma Pi. The home would later play host to the first national congress.

In 1904–05, Tau Phi Delta finally began to seek expansion to other universities. Although rejected, a local fraternity at Indiana University petitioned to become the second chapter, and Tau Phi Delta began to engage in talks with other local fraternities at nearby universities. These discussions ultimately ended without expansion. Additional chapters would eventually be added after Tau Phi Delta became Sigma Pi on February 11, 1907.

In May 1908 the fraternity had its first National Convocation in Vincennes and charters were granted to groups at the University of Illinois (Phi chapter) and Ohio State University (Gamma chapter). Francis L. Lisman was elected as the fraternity's first Grand Sage.

Patterson episode: how Sigma Pi got its name

Robert George Patterson (of no relation to the founder) was only 11 years old in 1896 when he first heard William Jennings Bryan speak. Patterson was convinced Jennings Bryan was the greatest American of his time. Shortly after the presidential election of 1896, Patterson read Jennings Bryan's autobiography ''The First Battle'', which revealed Jennings Bryan was a member of Sigma Pi, a literary society at Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois. Patterson was determined to attend the college and follow the footsteps of Jennings Bryan. However, Patterson's parents forced him to attend the nearby Ohio State University, prohibiting him from joining the literary society that only existed at Illinois College. Patterson still desired to become a member of the prestigious Sigma Pi. He wrote Sigma Pi at the Illinois College to petition for expansion but was rejected as the society refused to expand. Patterson also contacted another fraternity named Sigma Pi at the University of Toronto to request expansion but was again rejected.

In 1907, Patterson learned of Tau Phi Delta and wrote them asking if they would "consolidate with us and become a chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity." Despite seeking to expand, Sigma Pi did not actually exist; Patterson was its sole member. Tau Phi Delta agreed and planned to consolidate. Patterson himself faked and made up the entire history of his Sigma Pi. Patterson stated it was founded in 1752 at the College of William & Mary and historical elites such as James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, and others were members. He claimed Sigma Pi failed during the Revolutionary War, but was kept alive by passing down its traditions from father to son. According to Patterson, Sigma Pi was revived in 1801 by Payne Todd, step-son of alleged member James Madison. He claimed Sigma Pi was successful until its repression by the Anti-Masonic Party in 1835. Patterson was the first to bring about its public revival since the repression. Under this guise, Sigma Pi expanded and added several chapters.

In 1909, Patterson's lies and fallacies began to collapse. The World Almanac published Patterson's Sigma Pi on its list of fraternities. It listed its founding date as 1752 and William Jennings Bryan as its most famous alumnus. Upon hearing this, Jennings Bryan sent letters to inform the magazine of its mistake and denounce his inclusion as its alumni. Jennings Bryan was a brother of the Delta Chi. He never belonged to any organization at the College of William & Mary, just Delta Chi Fraternity and Sigma Pi Literary Society at the College of Illinois. Furthermore, when Patterson submitted materials for Sigma Pi Fraternity's inclusion in William Raimond Baird's 7th edition of ''Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities'', it was rejected. Discussing the request for inclusion, Baird wrote "all statements concerning the alleged origin of this society are inherently incredible." He suggested the story seemed to "be the product of a rather sophomoric imagination." Sigma Pi Fraternity, still unaware of Patterson's lies, appealed to Baird to reconsider. Baird refused and eventually published an article ridiculing Sigma Pi Fraternity to the entire Greek community. Patterson was immediately expelled from the society and all records bearing his name were deleted. Only in the second half of the 20th century did Sigma Pi research and include this incident in its history.

With the expulsion of Patterson at end of 1909, Sigma Pi had 5 chapters: Vincennes University, University of Illinois, Ohio State University, Temple University, and the University of Pennsylvania. At this time the Fraternity redesigned its badge, coat of arms, and ritual, becoming Sigma Pi as it is known today.

Early Growth: 1910–World War II

Sigma Pi survived the embarrassment of the Patterson Incident and continued to grow. In 1910, the fraternity co-founded and became part of the National Interfraternity Conference, now known as the North American Interfraternity Conference. On July 15, 1911, Sigma Pi's official publication, ''The Emerald'', was first published, although it would not be regularly published until 1914. In 1913, Iota, the first chapter west of the Mississippi River was installed at the University of California, Berkeley. World War I saw only the Kappa chapter at Temple University close, although many others operated on a "skeleton" basis. The fraternity was able to expand when men returned home at the end of the war and began, or resumed, their education. By 1918 there were 14 chapters in seven states from California to New York.

In 1920 the fraternity produced its first song book, ''The Songs of Sigma Pi''. The book was produced by brothers James P. deWolfe, Herman S. Sidener, and Philip W. Timberlake. That same year the fraternity opened its first chapter in the American south with the Omicron chapter at Tulane University.

Plans were first made for the creation of the Sigma Pi Foundation in 1922. The fund sold life memberships to alumni and was an endowment fund for the fraternity. Money raised was used to help chapters purchase housing and to fund other fraternity needs. Life memberships also came with a lifetime subscription to ''The Emerald''. The fund was formally chartered in the State of Indiana on February 26, 1923.

From 1920 to 1927, Sigma Pi doubled in number of chapters and established a national office on May 16, 1927. The first office was located in Roselle, NJ which became the new national office.

In 1931 the fraternity produced its first pledge manual with brothers Oscar E. Gerney, Benjamin V. Ogden, and Harold Jacobsen being on the committee that produced it. That same year, the fraternity saw the first publication of the ''Keryx'' newsletter.

In 1937, Mississippi State University chapter was installed, becoming the first new chapter formed from a colony. Before the Alpha-Lambda chapter, all new chapters had been fraternities or societies already in existence that agreed to consolidate into Sigma Pi. That same year the fraternity hired brother James Hauser as its first field representative.

By May 1940, Sigma Pi had 34 active chapters and 2 inactive chapters, and had begun using the new ''I Believe'' pledge manual. World War II decimated the fraternity, causing it to almost disappear entirely. As all able bodied young men left to fight for their country or to serve in defense plants, few college aged men remained. By the end of the war, Sigma Pi had only 11 active chapters.

Post War era: 1945-1980

Following World War II, many veterans attended college under the GI Bill. Sigma Pi, again, took advantage of the spur in college enrollments. By 1950, Sigma Pi had grown up to 53 chapters, 7 of which remained inactive. In 1960, the Fraternity had grown another 10 chapters, leaving Sigma PI with 63 chapters.

In 1945, Byron R. Lewis made a contribution to the fraternity to start an educational fund to provide scholarships to worthy brothers. This gift was the start of the Byron R. Lewis Educational Foundation which was incorporated in 1952.

The chartering of Beta-Kappa chapter at Arizona State University in 1951 was a special one for Sigma Pi. Beta-Kappa is the only chapter (other than Alpha) to have a founder, James Thompson Kingsbury, assist with its founding. Kingsbury assisted with the start of the Sigma Pi colony but died before the chapter received its charter.

During the 1960s the fraternity added 39 chapters, giving it 109 total chapters. In 1961, Vincennes University (through the work of Curtis Shake and Isaac K. Beckes) donated the Shadowwood estate to the fraternity for use as its national headquarters. After renovations in 1962 to Shadowwood's plumbing, heating, and electricity the fraternity moved its national office into the home on July 1, 1963.

1964 saw the merging of a national fraternity into Sigma Pi. A 1953 edict by the New York State Board of Regents prohibited any national fraternity from existing at any state-funded university. Therefore, this forced many chapters of Delta Kappa fraternity to close or become local fraternities. The fraternity had been founded in New York state and half of its chapters were impacted by this. Delta Kappa's national structure was weakened after the edict, but chapters in the rest of the country were determined to continue their national tradition. After ten years of trying to recover, Delta Kappa's national leadership began looking for another fraternity for its chapters to join. They petitioned Sigma Pi for membership for their six remaining chapters. This was approved in 1964, and consequently, four Delta Kappa chapters were re-initiated as members of Sigma Pi.

William J. Cutbirth became the first Sigma Pi to be president of the North American Interfraternity Conference when he was elected to a term running from 1974 to 1976.

International era, 1980-Present

The 1980s saw growth in the fraternity as it chartered 42 new chapters during the decade.

In 1984 Sigma Pi became an international organization upon the chartering of the first Canadian chapter (Zeta-Iota at Western Ontario), ushering the fraternity to change its name to the current title, Sigma Pi Fraternity International.

In 1988, the fraternity was bequeathed the Rose Hill Farmstead by the family of founder George Martin Patterson. The property was visible from the Shadowwood headquarters. The fraternity sold the property to the Sigma Pi Educational Foundation in 1992.

In 2003, the fraternity moved its international offices to Brentwood, TN

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