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The Founding of Phi Sigma Pi (1892 - 1916)

A time when men with passion and dreams of what could be acted on their vision and created a new Fraternity unlike any other.

1892

The story of Phi Sigma Pi begins with the founding of Phi Lambda Epsilon. Phi Lambda Epsilon is a National Education Fraternity that began at the now defunct Clinton Academy in Clinton, Missouri. The academy existed from 1879 to 1896 and there were seventy-one graduates, many of whom became prominent leaders in their professions. Many of the leaders at the school were members of an organization called the Bryant Literary Society. After a school hazing incident in 1891, three members of the Bryant Literary Society and a fourth student united and formed Phi Lambda Epsilon in 1892.


Phi Lambda Epsilon

1893

An opportunity occurred to start a second chapter of Phi Lambda Epsilon . The members at the Clinton Academy originally did not have any intentions of creating a national fraternity, but plans were soon in motion to create a new chapter at the State Normal School in Warrensburg, Missouri, also known as Normal No. 2.

Old Main

1894

The Beta Kappa Chapter of Phi Lambda Epsilon was founded at the State Normal School in Warrensburg. This fraternity, also known as the Missouri Beta Chapter, was the first fraternity on the Warrensburg campus. The State Normal School in Warrensburg is known today as the University of Central Missouri.

Phi Lambda Epsilon 1894

1914

The Beta Kappa Chapter of Phi Lambda Epsilon was disbanded because, after investigation, the faculty found that its membership had strayed from its educational purpose and only emphasized the social side of college life. From its ashes would soon arise a new group; an organization focused on strong academic achievement, the preparation of leaders, and a celebration of fellowship.

Phi Lambda Epsilon 1914

1915

As World War I progressed in Europe in 1915, bad luck struck Normal No. 2. An electrical fire on March 6 engulfed four of the six campus buildings, including Old Main. The library moved into the big gymnasium, the Dockery Building, which had escaped the flames.


1915 Fire	Dockery

After the fire destroyed Old Main, the Science Annex and the Training School, the General Assembly of Missouri forwarded $470,000 for a new administration building, a science hall and a training school. In a seemingly political move just 23 days after the fire, the Regents voted to not retain William J. Hawkins, the head of the school since 1906.

Hawkins

Eldo L. Hendricks, former head of the history department, was appointed new head of the school. Rebuilding the school would be the top priority for Hendricks.


Hendricks	Reconstruction

Alfred Thayer, Harold Patterson and Harry Hill, all student members of the closed Beta Kappa Chapter of Phi Lambda Epsilon, worked with other male students and took their plans for a new professional fraternity to the Warrensburg faculty.

At first, the faculty did not look favorably on starting a new fraternity, mostly because of the recent closing of Phi Lambda Epsilon. However, three influential men gave their support and encouragement to this fledgling group. The three men who convinced the faculty to establish a new fraternity were Dr. Eldo L. Hendricks, Dr. Claude A. Phillips, and Dr. C. H. McClure. All three men were members of Phi Delta Kappa, a national education fraternity which operated in larger universities and colleges with graduate departments of education. Phi Delta Kappa, would not charter chapters at Normal Schools. The fact that the most prestigious education fraternity was not interested in having a chapter at their Normal School did not deter these three men. They felt, that due to the quality of these students, they should be affiliated with and receive the membership benefits of a national fraternal organization.


Hendricks	Phillips	McClure	Phi Delta Kappa

Although there is no proof, it has been passed down verbally through the leadership of the fraternity that this is how Phi Sigma Pi came to be:

Upon reviewing the academic records of each student, the three professors felt that the group should affiliate with a nationally recognized fraternal organization stressing scholarship. They contacted Phi Beta Kappa, the most prestigious fraternal organization stressing scholarship, and requested permission to start a chapter at Warrensburg. Phi Beta Kappa declined because the State Normal School was not a qualified liberal arts college.

Phi Beta Kappa

Undaunted, the three professors then decided to pursue a national fraternity stressing leadership since most of the student members with campus leaders. They contacted Omicron Delta Kappa, the most prestigious fraternal organization stressing leadership, and requested permission to start a chapter at Warrensburg. Omicron Delta Kappa declined because the State Normal School was not a qualified liberal arts college. (It should be noted that since Omicron Delta Kappa was founded at Washington & Lee University on December 3, 1914 and its second chapter on May 1, 1916 at John Hopkins University, it is very unlikely that this part of this story is factual.)

Omicron Delta Kappa

Finally, believing that these young men should not be denied membership in a national fraternal organization solely because they were enrolled in colleges for teachers, the three professors decided to pursue a national fraternity stressing fellowship since most of the student members had developed a close bond of friendship with each other. Once again the professors were declined because the State Normal School was not a qualified liberal arts college.

Hendricks, Phillips and McClure decided that if no national fraternal organization would recognize these students, simply because they were enrolled in a Normal School, then they would create a fraternal organization unique unto itself. This fraternity would not stress only scholarship, leadership, or fellowship, but would be built on a tripod of all three qualities. Originally, the words knowledge, training and fellowship were used.

1916

On February 14, Phi Sigma Pi Honorary Professional Fraternity was born. This chapter would later be named Alpha Chapter. It used Greek letters and its newly created Coat of Arms.

Coat of Arms 1916

In addition to Dr. Hendricks, Dr. Phillips and Dr. McClure, ten other student members were part of the founding group. They were Alfred Thayer, J. Archie Leach, Roland Grinstead, Ray Parkins, Wade Fowler, Roy Bigelow, Arthur Kresse, John Doak, Harold Patterson and Harry Hill. Dr. Hendricks would go on to be known as Alpha 1. There are eight buildings on the campus that have been named after Alpha Chapter Brothers. Alpha Chapter publishes annual newsletters. Those known to exist are the Alpha Nugget from 1930 and 1931, and the Alpha Argus from 1934 and 1935. It is believed these publications began before 1930 and continued after 1935.

Alpha 1916

The Creation of a National Fraternity (1917 - 1928) -->