History of Chi Phi

The Chi Phi Fraternity, as it exists today, is the outgrowth of three older organizations, each of which bore the name of Chi Phi. These organizations were the Chi Phi Society, founded at the College of New Jersey (Princeton); the Chi Phi Fraternity, established at the University of North Carolina; and the Secret Order of Chi Phi, founded at Hobart College.

The first of these older organizations, the Chi Phi Society, which is known in the history of the fraternity at the Princeton Order of Chi Phi, was established at the College of New Jersey, later Princeton University, on December 24, 1824, by Robert Baird, then a tutor in the college and later a prominent Presbyterian clergyman. He associated with himself in the formation of this secret Chi Phi Society, a number of the members of the faculties of both college and seminary as well as undergraduates of both institutions. This society ceased to be active in 1825. Thirty years later, in the winter of 1853-54, John MacLean, Jr., found among the papers of his uncle, John MacLean, President of Princeton University, the old constitution, minute book, and ritual of the Chi Phi Society of 1824 and, with these as his guide, he united with Charles Smith Degraw and Gustavus W. Mayer in reorganizing the old society at Princeton along "modern lines." The old motto and a great part of the ritual were retained. In the fall of 1854, Mayer organized a second chapter of the Chi Phi Society at Franklin and Marshall College. Joseph Henry Dubbs, later a distinguished professor of history at this Alma Mater, being the first initiate. The opposition of the Princeton faculty and the prohibitory pledge caused the death of the reorganized Princeton Chapter in 1859 when its records were destroyed by the last active members, leaving the Lancaster Chapter alone to represent the society.

The second of these older organizations, called the Chi Phi Fraternity and now known in our history as the Southern Order of Chi Phi, was founded at the University of North Carolina on August 21, 1858, by Thomas Capehart, Augustus Flythe, John C. Tucker, William H. Green, Fletcher T. Seymour, and James J. Cherry, who were students at the University and organized this club to perpetuate their preparatory school friendships and named it the Chi Phi Fraternity. The idea of expansion was early manifested and chapters were rapidly organized at Centenary, Davidson, Virginia, Nashville, and Cumber- land. However, the War Between the States meant the end of all but the parent chapter. With the cessation of hostilities, new chapters sprang up at Hampden-Sydney, Georgia, Edinburgh, Mercer, Emory, Oglethorpe, Trinity, Kentucky Military Institute, and St. John's. The extinct chapters at Virginia and Davidson were reorganized. Following the War, the University of North Carolina itself was closed, necessitating the transfer of the "Alpha" Chapter title to the Virginia Chapter. While this organization had a constitution and held conventions, the primary authority rested with the "Alpha" Chapter.

When the North Carolina Chapter was reestablished, it took on the hyphenated name "Alpha-Alpha." Those chapters of Chi Phi with hyphenated names indicate that upon the reorganization of that chapter, its prior chapter name was already taken by an existing chapter. The hyphenated Alpha was added to the front of the old chapter name.

The Secret Order of Chi Phi, which is now known in the history of the Fraternity as the Hobart Order of Chi Phi, was formed at Hobart College on November 14, 1860 by Amos Brunson and Alex J. Beach, who were students at the college and, being dissatisfied with the fraternities existing at Hobart, associated themselves with John W. Jones, George G. Hopkins, Edward S. Lawson, Samuel W. Tuttle, David S. Hall, David P. Jackson, William H. Shepard, Harvey N. Loomis, William Sutphen and Frank B. Wilson, and founded the Upsilon Chapter of the Secret Order of Chi Phi. From Hobart, charters were soon issued at new chapters at Kenyon, Princeton, and Rutgers.

Five years later the Secret Order of Chi Phi at Hobart learned of the existence of the Chi Phi Society in Pennsylvania and on May 29,1867, the two societies formally united. The Northern Order of the Chi Phi Fraternity was thus formed, and later placed chapters at Muhlenberg Cornell, Dickinson, Wofford, Washington and Lee, Lehigh, Brown, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Amherst, Ohio Wesleyan, and Lafayette. In early winter of 1865-66, the Hobart alumni in New York learned of the existence of the Chi Phi Fraternity in the South through John R. D. Shepard, a member of the Alpha Chapter at North Carolina. Negotiations for union were initiated but languished until the Northern Chi Phi's placed chapters at Wofford and Washington and Lee in 1871- 72. Particularly through the energy of the members of the latter chapter, these negotiations were renewed and, after many mutual concessions, the union was finally consummated at a meeting of a joint committee held In Washington, D.C. on July 23, 1874. The new organization took the name Chi Phi Fraternity from the Southern Order, while the fabric of organization and ritual come from the Northern Order.
 

Lambda Delta History

            It has been ten years since Chi Phi’s have moved in to the house 1104 E. 7^th street and we are still as strong as ever.  Since the re-chartering of this chapter at the University of Arizona, our goals are to establish ourselves by keeping to certain standards; developing young men into gentlemen through the unique ideals of the Chi Phi Fraternity.  We do this by recruiting on a semester basis looking to initiate quality members into the chapter house, rather than based on quantity. 

            Since the initial move-in occurred, Chi Phi brothers have acted aggressively with time, money, labor and good social skills to ensure not only our survival but that we thrive.  This includes rush, philanthropy events, alumni relations, community service, Greek relations, earning high grade point averages, participating with the inter-fraternity council, road trips, Regional Leadership Alliances, College Of Excellence, Congress and other various social events such as date-dashes.

            By the late 90’s the house was almost 100 years old and needed certain repairs.  The actives along with the housing corporation got together and instituted these repairs.  In general, the last four years have brought about a transitional period in a number of different areas.  Higher standards needed to be enforced, along with a better condition of the house.  By adding new rush techniques for better recruitment and increasing the chapter’s GPA and working to grow in size, we were able to bring our chapter to a new level.

            Currently the new goals of the house are being reached, such as growing in size by continually producing pledge classes in the fall and spring semester, building better relations with other Greek organizations through homecoming, serenading, spring fling, kickball tournament, Greek week and many other events.  We just initiated 10 new members which are significantly larger in compared to past years.  This is due to a new rush system using effective rush events and the help of actives that are eager to have our chapter grow.  We also pinned a spring pledge class of 6, which is one of our best spring classes in years.  The chapter is growing because the quality base has been established.  The overall moral of the house is excitement because with the new standards and a unique dedication that is being shown by the active brothers in the house we will have a long and successful future for the Lambda Delta chapter, here at the U of A.

            We recently won the Gehring Award for the Most Improved Chapter. We plan to win the coming Gehring Award for the BEST Chapter with the start of our Alumni Association, our new website, and many other things. We have a very bright future. Stay tuned for our newsletter tentatively set to mail mid-march.

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