Phi Delta Theta
From Greekopedia | The Fraternity & Sorority Encylopedia
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| Name: | Phi Delta Theta |
| Founding Date: | {{{founding_date}}} |
| Founding Campus: | {{{founding_campus}}} |
| Number Chapters: | {{{number_of_chapters}}} |
| Council: | {{{council}}} |
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| NAME | Phi Delta Theta |
| LETTERS | ΑΔΠ |
| NICKNAME | Phis, Phi Delts, Phi Deltas |
| FOUNDING DATE | December 26, 1848, |
| FOUNDING UNIVERSITY | Miami University, (Oxford, Ohio) |
| TYPE | Social |
| SCOPE | International |
| COLORS | Azure (Blue) and Argent (White) |
| SYMBOL | Pallas Athena |
| MASCOT | Owl |
| FLOWER | White Carnation |
| MEMBERS | 228,000 Alumni 9,000 Undergraduate |
| HEADQUARTERS | 2 South Campus Avenue . Oxford, OH 45056-1801 |
| WEBSITE | www.phideltatheta.org |
Contents
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History
The Beginning
As the Christmas holidays approached in 1848, the atmosphere on the Miami campus in Oxford, Ohio was gloomy and uncertain. This was the mood in which Robert Morrison suggested to a close friend and classmate, John McMillan Wilson, that they consider putting together a new collegiate brotherhood.
From this elemental beginning, Phi Delta Theta evolved into the positive international force for good it has become over the past 159 years.
Immortal Six
Morrison and Wilson, thinking in terms of providing a permanent base with growth potential, sought out underclassman they visualized as joining them. Thus juniors John Wolfe Lindley and Robert Thompson Drake were approached, as were sophomores Ardivan Walker Rodgers and Andrew Watts Rogers, all of who accepted the concept.
All six men were among the depleted ranks of Miami students who did not attempt to go home to join their families for the Christmas holidays because of the difficult travel conditions and bitter winter weather.
The need for close companionship had to be evident when the six met the night of December 26, 1848 in Wilson’s second floor room in Old North Hall, directly above Morrison’s room. They firmed up their desire to establish a brotherhood.
They met two nights later in the same room to consider an appropriate motto and constitution. Morrison and Wilson put the consensus ideas into terminology that became The Bond that every initiate has signed to become a member of the Fraternity.
Elliott Hall
On December 30, the “Immortal Six” put their signatures to The Bond of the Phi Delta Theta in Wilson’s room. Their names remain a vital part of the rituals that continue today in every chapter room across the United States and Canada. The Bond has remained unchanged from that day to this. So far as it is known, it is the only document of any fraternity of such a character, and it is easy to understand the veneration with which all Phis regard it.
The first branch of Phi Delta Theta was established at Indiana University in October of 1849 and other chapters followed at Centre College and Wabash College. The real growth occurred during the two decades from 1870 to 1890 due principally to the efforts of Walter B. Palmer, Emory-Vanderbilt 1877, and George Banta, Franklin-Indiana 1876. The two were given the title Second Founders for their work.
An International Fraternity
In 1900, twelve students at McGill University submitted a charter application. The request was presented at the General Convention in November where it was decided to grant the charter. At the installation of Quebec Alpha on April 5, 1902, a toast to the King was followed by a toast to the President and Phi Delta Theta was hence forth known as an international fraternity. The Fraternity continued to extend its presence in Canada, eventually stretching from coast to coast.
The Leader in the Fraternity World
Phi Delta Theta was the first Fraternity to create an endowment for free lifetime subscriptions to the Fraternity magazine called The Scroll, a plan later adopted by nearly every other fraternal organization. Phi Delta Theta was also the first to adopt a pledge button and the first to publish a pledge manual.
Phi Delta Theta members have occupied every major public office including the presidency and vice presidency of the United States, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senators and Congressmen, State Governors and Senators in the Canadian House of Commons. Phi Delta Theta also holds the unique distinction of having Brother Neil Armstrong as the first man on the moon.
The Fraternity continued to grow and expand surviving tough times such as war, the Great Depression, and the civil rights movement. The 1980s changed the way Fraternities conducted business with new legal charges in suits involving alcohol abuse, hazing, and discrimination. Fraternity insurance and risk management programs were born and new educational program initiatives were directed at combating these issues to ensure the safety and well being of our members.
Phi Delta Theta reaffirmed its leadership role in the late 1990s when it voted to eliminate alcohol from chapter facilities by the year 2000. Based on this new movement, the Fraternity has undergone one of its largest growth spurts in the history of the modern Fraternity. This indicates a renewed demand for a values-based organization from college students. Phi Delta Theta continues to be a model for other Greek organizations looking to make the same positive move.
Phi Delta Theta now has nearly 160 active chapters in 43 states and five Canadian provinces. The Fraternity has initiated more than 230,000 men and currently has more than 142,000 living alumni. There are over 100 recognized alumni clubs across the U.S. and Canada. The Fraternity operates from the General Headquarters building on South Campus Avenue, across from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. At the corner of the campus closest to headquarters, memorial gates were erected in honor of the Fraternity's 125th anniversary.
Symbols
Member Badge
The Phi Delta Theta badge was first made in 1849. It consisted of a flat gold shield with a scroll in the lower part bearing the Greek letters for Phi Delta Theta and an eye in the upper portion. Beginning in 1866, a sword attached to the shield was commonly worn, but the attachment was not officially a part of the badge until it was formally adopted by the Convention of 1871. The badge, except as to size and ornamentation, has not been changed since then.
The badge is made of gold or platinum, and consists of a shield, with a scroll bearing the letters of Phi Delta Theta over the fesse and nonbril points, an eye over the honor point, and a sword attached by a chain from the sinister chief point to the hilt. The badge may be jeweled, and the scroll may be enameled in white and the eye in black. The sword shall always be worn with the shield, and both may be made in one piece. Every member shall wear the badge at all times appropriate. The proper place for it is over the heart rather than on the coat lapel. The Code provides that only initiated members of the Fraternity, their mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, or fiancées should wear the badge.
The Phikeia Button
The first Phikeia button was adopted in 1894 and was the first pledge button to be used by any fraternity. The present pin was designed in 1900. It is a square with rounded corners with a white diagonal bar across it bearing the Greek word for Phikeia. Above and below the bars are two blue fields with three gold stars in each field.
The Coat-of-Arms
The present coat of arms was adopted in 1898. The shield is blue with a diagonal silver bar bearing a gold sword and three silver stars above and below the bar; a gold helmet with closed visor; mantling of blue and silver; the crest; a right arm, armored, hurling a javelin; the open motto on a rib and below the shield.
Open Motto
The open motto was adopted in 1880 and means literally, “One man is no man,” or more freely interpreted, “We enjoy life by the help and society of others.” The open motto can be found on the bottom of the coat-of-arms.
Fraternity Colors
The Fraternity colors, azure and argent (heraldic terms for blue and white), were chosen in 1871.
Fraternity Flag
The flag was first used in 1889 and consisted of three white stars on a blue field. Its present form was adopted in 1896. It consists of three vertical bards of equal width; each of the outer bars is charged with three white five-pointed stars; the middle bar is charged with the Greek letters in blue, reading downward; the width of the flag is two-thirds the length.
Fraternity Banner
The Fraternity banner was first printed on the cover of The Scroll in 1884. The form now in use, adopted in 1896, is triangular, and bears across the body of the word “Miami” over the figures “1848,” with a Greek symbol for phi in the upper left, a Greek symbol for delta in the lower corner, and a Greek theta symbol in the upper right. The body is blue; the lettering is gold. The standard bar, cord, and tassels are silvered.
The chapter banner is of the same design as the Fraternity banner except that “Miami” and “1848” are substituted with the name or initials of the college or university where the chapter was established and the year in which the chapter was chartered.
The Great Seal of Phi Delta Theta
Adopted in 1898, the seal consists of the escutcheon of the coat of arms with the legend: “Great Seal of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity,” and the figures “1848” in a circle around it.
White Carnation
The white carnation was adopted as the Fraternity flower in 1891.
Legion Buttons and Charms
Recognition Button
The Silver Legion recognition button consists of the coat of arms in silver, above which are displayed the words “Silver Legion” and the number “25.” Similarly, the Golden Legion button is gold, diamond in shape, and displays the coat of arms with a “5” and “0” to either side.
Every five years after the Golden Legion anniversary, an alumnus receives a charm recognizing the number of years he has been a Phi. The charm, which attaches to the Golden Legion button, is in the shape of an owl and displays the Greek symbols for Phi Delta Theta and the number of years the alumnus has been a Phi.
The Diamond Legion charm is like the other charms, but is gold and displays the number “75.” The Diamond Legion was established in 1992 and honors those men who have been Phis for 75 years or more.
Alumnus Charm
The Alumnus Charm is of the same design as the pledge button, except that the Greek letters phi, delta, and theta replace the word phikeia.
The Recognition Button
A small gold, silver, or platinum button in the form of a coat of arms is the badge of recognition. It is used to recognize undergraduates or alumni who have achieved something exceptional for the Fraternity.
Pallas Athena and her Owl
Pallas Athena, the Ancient Greek’s goddess of wisdom, is the tutelary goddess of Phi Delta Theta. The owl, which the Greeks regarded as sacred to her, is a symbol of the Fraternity.
The Badge of Mourning
Adopted in 1872, the badge of mourning consists of black and white crepe worn under the badge.
Famous Phis
Phi Delta Theta has initiated many men who have gone on to do notable things in their fields. Below, you will see a collection of 'Famous Phis.'
Robert Allen, Wabash '57, Former Chairman, AT&T
William W. Allen, Oklahoma State '56, CEO Phillips Petroleum
Neil Armstrong, Purdue '55, Astronaut, First man on the moon
James A. Baker, Texas '57, Former Secretary of State
William B. Bankhead, Alabama 1893, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives 1934-41
Gary Bender, Wichita '62, Television Sportscaster
Dirk Benedict, Whitman '67, Actor
Bill Bixby, California '56, Actor
Rich Brooks, Oregon State '63, Football Coach, Kentucky
Chris Cagle, Northwest Missouri State '90, Country Singer
Ron Cey, Washington State '70, Former L.A. Dodger
Dabney Coleman, Texas '53, Actor
Barber Conable, Cornell '43, Former President of the World Bank
Tim Conway, Bowling Green '56, Actor, Comedian
John Dasburg, University of Miami '65, CEO, Burger King
Mark DeCarlo, Drake '84, Actor & TV Host
Greg Dell'Omo, Pittsburgh '77, President, Robert Morris University
George Eads, Texas Tech '89, Actor
Roger Ebert, Illinois '64, Film Critic, Columnist
Morgan Ensberg, Southern California '98, Baseball Player
Weeb Ewbank, Miami University '28, NFL Coach
George M. C. Fisher, Illinois '62, CEO, Eastman Kodak
Ralph Friedgen, Maryland '70, Maryland Football Coach
Lou Gehrig, Columbia University '25, First Baseman, New York Yankees
Jack Ham, Penn State '71, NFL Hall of Fame
Tom Harmon, Michigan '41, 1940 Heisman-winner
Benjamin Harrison, Miami University 1853, Former U.S. President
Mark Hurd, Baylor '79, CEO, Hewlett-Packard
F. Ross Johnson, Manitoba '52, Former CEO of RJR Nabisco
Harry Kalas, Iowa '59, Hall of Fame MLB Broadcaster and Voice of NFL Films
Hank Ketchum, Washington '41, Cartoonist, "Dennis the Menace"
Francis D. Lyon, UCLA '28, Academy Award Winning Director
J. Willard Marriott, Utah '25, Founder, Marriott Hotels
Michael V. Martin, Minnesota State '69, Chancellor, LSU
Michael McDonald, Southern Cal '86, Actor
James McLamore, Cornell '47, Founder, Burger King
Jason McManus, Davidson '56, Editor-in-Chief, Time Magazine
Don Meredith, Southern Methodist '60
F. Story Musgrave, Syracuse '58, Astronaut
Sam Nunn, Georgia Tech '60, Former U.S. Senator
Jim Otto, Miami (Fl.) '60, NFL Hall of Fame
Billy Payne, Georgia '69, President, '96 Atlanta Olympic Games Organizing Committee
James B. Milliken, Nebraska '79, President, University of Nebraska
Burt Reynolds, Florida Sate '57, Actor
Grantland Rice, Vanderbilt 1901, Fames Sportswriter
Bob Schieffer, Texas Christian '59, CBS News Anchor
Detlef Schrempf, Washington '84, NBA All-Star
C.J. Silas, Georgia Tech '53, Former CEO, Phillips Petroleum
John Smale, Miami '49, Former CEO, Procter & Gamble
Roger Smith, Michigan '52, Former Chairman of GM
Adlai Stevenson, Centre 1860, U.S. Vice President 1893-97
Steve Tasker, Northwestern '84, NFL All-Pro
Mike Timlin, Southwestern '88, MLB Player
John Tyson, Arkansas '75, Chairman, Tyson Foods
Phil Walden, Mercer '62, President, Capricorn Records
Doak Walker, Southern Methodist '50, NFL Hall of Fame
Wes Welker, Texas Tech '04, NFL Wide Receiver
William Weiss, Pennsylvania State '51, CEO Ameritech Corp.
Gary Williams, Maryland '68, Maryland Basketball Coach
Gary Wilson, Duke '62, Former Chairman, Northwest Airlines
Ralph Wilson, Virginia '40, Owner, Buffalo Bills
Trey Wingo, Baylor '85, ESPN Sports Anchor
Robert E. Witt, Alabama '79, President, University of Alabama
Frank Lloyd Wright, Wisconsin 1889, Architect
