Phi Kappa Sigma

North American collegiate secret society and fraternity

Not to be confused with Skull and Bones.

Phi Kappa Sigma

ΦΚΣ
Founded| October 19, 1850; 174 years ago (1850-10-19)
University of Pennsylvania
Type| Social
Affiliation| NIC
Status| Active
Scope| North America
Mottos| Stellis Aequus Durando
“Equal to the Stars in Endurance”
Slogan| Once a Phi Kap, Always a Phi Kap
Brotherhood is More Than Skin Deep
Men of Honor Since 1850
Member badge|
Colors|  Black
Old Gold
Symbol| Maltese Cross
Flag|
Flower| Yellow Chrysanthemum
Publication| Maltese Cross
Philanthropy| Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Chapters| 42
Colonies| 3
Members| 1,500 active
35,000+ lifetime
Nickname| Skulls
Headquarters| 716 Adams St
Carmel, Indiana 46032
United States
Website| pks.org

Phi Kappa Sigma (ΦΚΣ), also known as Phi Kap, Skulls, Skullhouse, or PKS, is an international all-male college secret society and social fraternity. Commonly known as “Skulls”, the name is inspired by the skull and crossbones on the fraternity's badge and coat of arms. Members are often recognized by the solid gold membership pin depicting the fraternity’s symbol, a Maltese Cross surrounding a human skull.

## History

[edit]

Samuel Brown Wylie Mitchell founded Phi Kappa Sigma at the University of Pennsylvania.[1] Mitchell recorded the initial concepts of Phi Kappa Sigma on August 16, 1850. He discussed his idea with other students, including Alfred Victor du Pont, James Bayard Hodge, Charles Hare Hutchinson, Andrew Adams Ripka, John Thorne Stone, and Duane Williams.[2] The seven men formally founded the fraternity on October 19, 1850, becoming the founding fathers of Phi Kappa Sigma.[2]

The fraternity became regional with the establishment of the Beta chapter at Princeton University and Gamma chapter at Lafayette College in 1853.[2] Other chapters soon followed elsewhere in Pennsylvania, including the Zeta Chapter at Franklin & Marshall College, which currently serves as the oldest active chapter of the fraternity worldwide.[2] Members from the South at the University of Pennsylvania, led the establishment of eight chapters in southern states between 1855 and 1860.[2] The Civil War resulted in the closing of the Southern chapters; although three of the eight chapters were later revived.[2]

The fraternity began publishing the Phi Kappa Sigma Quarterly in February 1891.[2] It was succeeded by Phi Kappa Sigma News Letter in 1901.[2] The fraternity published its first songbook in 1906, followed by a second edition in 1912.[2]

Phi Kappa Sigma was a charter member of the North American Interfraternity Conference. Since 2017, it has been headquartered in Carmel, Indiana. Previously, its offices were in Philadelphia, Valley Forge, and Chester Springs.

As of 2024, the fraternity has 1,500 undergraduates and over 35,000 alumni.[1] It has 42 active chapters and three colonies.[1]

## Symbols

[edit]

Phi Kappa Sigma's colors are black and old gold.[1][2] Its symbol is the Maltese cross, surrounding a skull and crossbones. Maltese Cross is also the name of its publication.[3] The fraternity's flower is the yellow chrysanthemum.[1] Its motto is "Stellis Aequus Durando" or "Equal to the stars in endurance."[1][2]

The fraternity's badge was designed by its founder, Samuel Brown Wylie Mitchell. Other than changes in size, its design has remained the same. It is a gold Maltese cross with black decoration.[2] The center of the cross has a skull and crossbones.[2] The four arms of the cross display, individually, the Greek letters Φ, Κ, and Σ, starting at the left arm and rotating counter-clockwise.[2] The fourth and top arm display a six-pointed star.[2] The back of the badge has an engraved serpent echoing the serpent from the fraternity's coat of arms.

Its coat of arms is a shield that includes the fraternity's symbols on its four quarters, a crest of the skull and bones, and the motto "Stellis Aequus Durando".[2] The fraternity's flag is black with the letters ΦΚΣ in the center and a skull and crossbones in the upper left corner, both in gold.[2]

Its members are known as “Skulls”, the name is inspired by the skull and crossbones on the fraternity's badge and coat of arms.

## Chapters

[edit]

See List of Phi Kappa Sigma chapters

As of 2024, Phi Kappa Sigma has 42 active chapters and three colonies.[1]

## Notable members

[edit]

Main article: List of Phi Kappa Sigma members

Phi Kappa Sigma is an Antebellum fraternity, one of the country's earliest collegiate societies and the 19th of the 36 national Greek letter organizations formed before the Civil War. Since that founding generations of members have achieved notability in politics, law, business, professional sports, or military service. Every year from 1886 through 1980, at least one Skull was serving in the United States Senate. This 94-year history of Skull’s involvement in the Senate ended when Richard Schweiker (Psi, 1954) retired from the Senate to serve as United States Secretary of Health and Human Services under the administration of President Ronald Reagan.

## See also

[edit]

* List of social fraternities and sororities
* Collegiate secret societies in North America

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g "Experience". Phi Kappa Sigma. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Shepard, Francis W., ed. (1927). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (11th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: George Banta Publishing Company. p. 143-145 – via Google Books.
3. ^ "The Maltese Cross". Phi Kappa Sigma. Retrieved 2024-04-10.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website of Phi Kappa Sigma

* v
* t
* e

Fraternities and sororities

Active academic fraternities originating from North America

General|

* Colony
* North American fraternity and sorority housing
* Stepping
* U.S. racism
* Hazing in Greek letter organizations
* U.S. deaths
* Philippines deaths
* Mother of Fraternities

History|

* Fraternities and sororities
* North America
* High school
* Professional
* Service
* Canada
* Lists by country/territory
* France
* Philippines
* Puerto Rico

Historically
African-American|

* ΑΚΑ
* ΑΦΑ
* ΔΣΘ
* ΖΦΒ
* ΗΦΒ
* ΙΦΘ
* ΚΑΨ
* ΣΓΡ
* ΦΒΣ
* ΦΡΗ
* ΩΨΦ
* WΨΦ

Historically
Asian/Pacific Islander-American|

* ΑΙΟ
* αΚΔΦ
* ΑΦΓ
* ΒΧΘ
* ΧΔΘ
* ΔΕΨ
* ΔΚΔ
* ΔΣΙ
* ΔΦΩ
* ΙΝΔ
* ΚΦΓ
* ΚΦΛ
* ΛΦΕ
* ΠΑΦ
* ΠΔΨ
* ΣΒΡ
* ΣΟΠ
* ΣΨΖ
* ΣΦΩ
* ΧΡΟ

Christian
fraternities and sororities|

* ΑΔΓ
* ΑΔΧ
* ΑΓΩ
* ΑΛΩ
* ΒΕΓΓΑΡΣ
* ΒΣΨ
* ΒΥΧ
* ΣΑΩ
* ΣΘΕ
* ΣΦΛ
* ΦΒΧ
* ΧΑΩ

Historically Jewish|

* ΑΕΠ
* ΑΕΦ
* ΖΒΤ
* ΣΑΕΠ
* ΣΑΜ
* ΣΔΤ
* ΤΔΦ
* ΤΕΦ

Multicultural|

* ΔΞΝ
* ΔΞΦ
* ΓΗ
* ΖΣΧ
* ΖΦΡ
* ΖΧΦ
* ΘΔΣ
* ΘΝΞ
* ΛΤΩ
* ΛΨΔ
* ΜΣΥ
* ΣΛΒ
* ΣΛΓ
* ΣΘΨ
* ΤΦΣ
* ΨΣΦ
* ΩΔΦ
* ΩΦΧ
* Delphic

Historically Scout-affiliated|

* ΑΦΩ
* ΕΤΠ
* ΓΣΣ
* ΩΦΑ

LGBTQ|

* ΑΛΖ
* ΔΛΦ
* ΓΡΛ
* ΘΠΣ
* ΚΘΕ
* ΟΕΠ
* ΣΦΒ

Native American|

* ΑΠΩ
* ΦΣΝ
* ΣΟΕ

Latino and Puerto Rican|

* ΑΒΧ
* ΑΖ
* ΑΨΛ
* ΑΟΣ
* ΔΤΛ
* ΓΑΩ
* ΓΖΑ
* ΗΓΔ
* ΚΔΧ
* ΛΑΥ
* ΛΠΥ
* ΛΠΧ
* ΛΣΥ
* ΛΘΑ
* ΛΘΝ
* ΛΘΦ
* ΛΥΛ
* ΜΑΦ
* ΝΑΚ
* ΝΣΒ
* ΣΔΑ
* ΣΙ
* ΣΙΑ
* ΣΛΑ
* ΣΛΥ
* ΣΠΑ
* ΦΔΓ
* ΦΗΜ
* ΦΙΑ
* ΦΛΑ
* ΦΣΑ
* ΧΥΣ
* ΨΑΚ
* ΩΦΒ

Major specific|

* ΑΓΡ
* ΑΓΣ
* ΑΚΨ
* ΑΣΚ
* ΑΩΕ
* ΔΣΠ
* ΚΚΨ
* ΣΑΙ
* ΤΒΣ
* ΦΣΓ
* ΦΣΡ
* Ceres
* FarmHouse
* Triangle

Social sororities|

* ΑΓΔ
* ΑΔΠ
* ΑΕΦ
* ΑΞΔ
* ΑΟΠ
* ΑΣΑ
* ΑΣΤ
* ΑΦ
* ΑΧΩ
* ΓΦΒ
* ΔΔΔ
* ΔΓ
* ΔΖ
* ΔΦΕ
* ΖΤΑ
* ΘΦΑ
* ΚΑΘ
* ΚΒΓ
* ΚΔ
* ΚΚΓ
* ΠΒΦ
* ΣΔΤ
* ΣΚ
* ΣΣΣ
* ΣΨ
* ΦΜ
* ΦΣΣ
* ΧΩ
* Clovia

Social fraternities|

* ΑΔΦ (Fraternity/Society)
* ΑΚΛ
* ΑΣΦ
* ΑΤΩ
* ΑΦΔ
* ΑΧΑ
* ΑΧΡ
* ΒΘΠ
* ΔΚΕ
* ΔΣΦ
* ΔΤΔ
* ΔΥ
* ΔΦ
* ΔΧ
* ΔΨ
* ΖΨ
* ΘΔΧ
* ΘΞ
* ΘΧ
* ΚΑ Order
* ΚΑ Society
* ΚΔΡ
* ΚΔΦ
* ΚΛΨ
* ΚΣ
* ΛΧΑ
* ΟΚΕ
* ΠΚΑ
* ΠΚΦ
* ΠΛΦ
* ΣΑΕ
* ΣΔΑ
* ΣΘΠ
* ΣΝ
* ΣΠ
* ΣΤΓ
* ΣΦ
* ΣΦΔ
* ΣΦΕ
* ΣΧ
* ΤΚΕ
* ΦΓΔ
* ΦΔΘ
* ΦΔΨ
* ΦΚΘ
* ΦΚΣ
* ΦΚΤ
* ΦΚΨ
* ΦΛΧ
* ΦΜΑ Sinfonia
* ΦΜΔ
* ΦΣΚ
* ΦΣΦ
* ΧΓΕ
* ΧΦ
* ΧΨ
* ΨΥ
* Acacia

See also|

* Freemasonry
* Odd Fellows
* Gentlemen's club
* Secret society

* v
* t
* e

North American Interfraternity Conference

Currently active members of the NIC|

* Acacia
* ΑΓΡ
* ΑΓΣ
* ΑΔΓ
* ΑΔΦ
* ΑΕΠ
* ΑΚΛ
* ΑΣΦ
* ΑΤΩ
* ΑΦΑ
* ΑΦΔ
* ΑΧΡ
* ΒΣΨ
* ΒΘΠ
* ΒΧΘ
* ΒΥΧ
* ΔΚΕ
* ΔΛΦ
* ΔΣΦ
* ΔΤΔ
* ΔΥ
* ΔΦ
* ΔΧ
* FarmHouse
* ΖΒΤ
* ΖΨ
* ΘΔΧ
* ΘΞ
* ΙΝΔ
* ΙΦΘ
* ΚΑ Society
* ΚΑΨ
* ΚΔΡ
* ΚΔΦ
* ΛΧΑ
* ΛΘΦ
* ΛΣΥ
* ΛΦΕ
* ΝΑΚ
* ΠΚΑ
* ΠΚΦ
* ΠΛΦ
* ΣΑΕ
* ΣΑΜ
* ΣΒΡ
* ΣΛΒ
* ΣΝ
* ΣΠ
* ΣΤΓ
* ΣΦ
* ΣΧ
* ΤΔΦ
* ΤΕΦ
* ΤΦΣ
* Triangle
* ΦΒΣ
* ΦΓΔ(FIJI)
* ΦΙΑ
* ΦΚΘ
* ΦΚΣ
* ΦΚΤ
* ΦΚΨ
* ΦΛΧ
* ΦΜΔ
* ΦΣΚ
* ΦΣΦ
* ΧΦ
* ΧΨ
* ΨΥ
* ΩΔΦ

Active former members of the NIC|

* ΔΕΨ
* ΔΨ
* ΚΑ Order
* ΚΣ
* ΦΔΘ
* ΣΦΔ
* ΣΦΕ
* ΤΚΕ
* ΘΧ

Defunct former members of the NIC|

* ΑΚΠ
* ΑΛΤ
* ΒΚ
* ΒΣΡ
* ΔΑΠ
* ΔΣΛ
* ΘΚΝ
* ΘΚΦ
* ΘΥΩ
* ΚΝ
* ΟΑΤ
* ΣΔΡ
* ΣΛΠ
* ΣΜΣ
* ΣΤΦ
* ΦΑ
* ΦΒΔ
* ΦΕΠ
* ΦΗΨ
* ΦΚ
* ΦΛΘ
* ΦΠΦ
* ΦΣΔ
* ΦΣΕ

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States

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