Sigma Phi

American collegiate fraternity

Sigma Phi

Founded| March 4, 1827; 197 years ago (March 4, 1827)
Union College
Type| Secret
Affiliation| Independent
Former affiliation| NIC
Status| Active
Scope| National
Motto| Esto Perpetua ("Let it be perpetual")
Colors|  Azure and  Argent
Publication| The Flame
Chapters| 7
Headquarters| P.O. Box 57417
Tucson, Arizona 85732-7417
United States
Website| sigmaphi.org

The Sigma Phi Society (ΣΦ) is the second Greek fraternal organization founded in the United States and the first to establish a chapter at another college, making it the first national Greek organization.[1]

## History

[edit]

The Sigma Phi Society (ΣΦ) was founded on March 4, 1827, on the campus of Union College as a part of the Union Triad in Schenectady, New York. Its founders were:

* Samuel W. Beall
* Thomas Fielder Bowie
* Rev. R. H. Chapman
* Hon. Charles T. Cromwell
* George N. Porter
* Hon. Charles N. Rowley.[2]

The Alpha chapter of Sigma Phi at Union College has been in continuous operation since its founding, making it the oldest continuously running fraternity chapter in the United States.[3]

In 1831, Beta of New York was established at Hamilton College, making the society the first Greek fraternal organization in the United States to establish a chapter at another college. Thus, Sigma Phi Society is the first National Greek Organization in the United States.[citation needed]

Sigma Phi is a founding member of the North American Interfraternity Conference.[citation needed]

## Symbols

[edit]

The practices and rituals of the Sigma Phi Society are relatively unknown due to its establishment, and continued consideration, as a secret society.[1]

The Sigma Phi badge is a monogram with a jeweled Σ directly over a Φ that is either plain or chased.[2] It was designed by Charles N. Rowley, founder of the Beta of New York chapter.[4] In 1879, Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities stated that the badge was royal purple.[2] Since 1879, the badge has been produced mainly in gold.

The society's colors are azure and argent. Its motto is Esto Perpetua or "Let it be perpetual". Its publication is The Flame.

## Chapters

[edit]

In the following list, active chapters are indicated in bold and inactive chapters are in italics.[5]

Chapter  | Letter  | Charter date and range  | Institution  | Location  | Status  | Reference

|
|
|
|
|
|

Alpha of New York | U  | March 4, 1827 | Union College | Schenectady, New York | Active  |
Beta of New York | H  | 1831–2019  | Hamilton College | Clinton, New York | Inactive  | [a]
Alpha of Massachusetts | W  | 1834–1968  | Williams College | Williamstown, Massachusetts | Inactive  |
Gamma of New York | N  | March 4, 1836–March 4, 1848 | New York University | New York City, New York | Inactive  | [2]
Delta of New York | G  | August 4, 1840 | Hobart College | Geneva, New York | Active  |
Alpha of Vermont | V  | March 4, 1845 | University of Vermont | Burlington, Vermont | Active  |
Alpha of New Jersey | P  | 1853–1858  | Princeton University | Princeton, New Jersey | Inactive  | [2][b]
Alpha of Michigan | M  | 1858–2022  | University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Inactive  | [2][c][a]
Alpha of Pennsylvania | L  | February 4, 1887–2002  | Lehigh University | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Inactive  |
Epsilon of New York | C  | October 4, 1890 | Cornell University | Ithaca, New York | Active  |
Alpha of Wisconsin | F  | October 31, 1908 | University of Wisconsin–Madison | Madison, Wisconsin | Active  |
Alpha of California | I  | September 7, 1912 | University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, California | Active  | [a][d]
Alpha of Virginia | S  | 1953  | University of Virginia | Charlottesville, Virginia | Active  |
Alpha of North Carolina | T  | 2008–2019  | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Inactive  |

### Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Attempted, with little success, to include women in the chapter's membership.
2. ^ Charter returned to the Convention of 1860 after the college banned fraternities.
3. ^ Charter revoked.
4. ^ Formed from the local social group La Junta Club.

Sigma Phi house at the University of Michigan, circa 1900 (now an inactive chapter, house no longer occupied by Sigma Phi)

## Chapter houses

[edit]

Some chapters own buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, such as the Thorsen House, owned by the Alpha of California chapter in Berkeley and designed by Greene and Greene.[1] The Alpha of Wisconsin chapter house is the Harold C. Bradley House, a National Historic Landmark designed in 1908 by Louis Sullivan.[6]

Sigma Phi Place, University of Vermont, 2022

### Alpha of Vermont

[edit]

The Alpha of Vermont chapter house, known as Sigma Phi Place, is a list contributing building to the National Register of Historic Places' University Green Historic District.[7] It was designed in 1903 by architect Marcus T. Reynolds of Albany, New York, who was a member of the Alpha of Massachusetts chapter.[7] Located at 420 College Street, Sigma Phi Place was the first purpose-built fraternity house at the University of Vermont.[7] It is a three-story, Colonial Revival style brick house.[7] Its main entrance has a gable pedimented portico with four columns that have Corinthian capitals.[7]

## Notable members

[edit]

Main article: List of Sigma Phi members

## See also

[edit]

* Triad (fraternities)
* List of social fraternities and sororities

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Home". Sigma Phi Society. Retrieved 2023-01-15.
2. ^ a b c d e f Baird, William Raimond (1879). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities.
3. ^ "What's The Oldest Continually-Running Fraternity Chapter In America?". Total Frat Move. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
4. ^ "Rowley, Charles N." 1829. January 1829 - via Union College.
5. ^ Catalogue of the Sigma Phi: E.P.V. at Google Books
6. ^ "Our house - Wisc". Sigma Phi Society. Retrieved 2023-01-15.
7. ^ a b c d e National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form for University Green Historic District. Revision, 2021.

* v
* t
* e

Fraternities and sororities

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
* ΙΦΘ
* ΚΑΨ
* ΣΓΡ
* ΦΒΣ
* ΦΡΗ
* ΩΨΦ
* WΨΦ

Historically
Asian/Pacific Islander-American|

* Alpha Iota Omicron
* αΚΔΦ
* ΑΦΓ
* ΒΧΘ
* ΔΕΨ
* ΔΚΔ
* ΔΦΩ
* ΙΝΔ
* ΚΦΛ
* ΛΦΕ
* ΠΑΦ
* ΠΔΨ
* ΣΒΡ
* ΣΟΠ
* ΣΨΖ
* ΣΦΩ
* XPO

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
* ΘΝΞ
* ΛΤΩ
* ΛΨΔ
* ΜΣΥ
* ΣΛΓ
* ΣΘΨ
* ΤΦΣ
* ΨΣΦ
* ΩΔΦ
* ΩΦΧ
* Delphic

Historically Scout-affiliated|

* ΑΦΩ
* ΕΤΠ
* ΓΣΣ
* ΩΦΑ

LGBTQ|

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

Native American|

* ΑΠΩ
* ΦΣΝ
* ΣΟΕ

Latino and Puerto Rican|

* ΑΨΛ
* ΑΟΣ
* ΔΤΛ
* ΓΑΩ
* ΓΖΑ
* ΗΓΔ
* ΚΔΧ
* ΛΑΥ
* ΛΠΥ
* ΛΠΧ
* ΛΣΥ
* ΛΘΑ
* ΛΘΝ
* ΛΘΦ
* ΛΥΛ
* ΜΑΦ
* ΝΑΚ
* ΝΣΒ
* ΣΔΑ
* ΣΙΑ
* ΣΛΑ
* ΣΛΒ
* ΣΛΥ
* ΣΠΑ
* ΦΔΓ
* ΦΗΜ
* ΦΙΑ
* ΦΣΑ
* ΧΥΣ
* 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
* ΑΚΛ
* ΑΣΦ
* ΑΤΩ
* ΑΦΔ
* ΑΧΑ
* ΑΧΡ
* ΒΘΠ
* ΔΚΕ
* ΔΣΦ
* ΔΤΔ
* ΔΥ
* ΔΦ
* ΔΧ
* ΖΨ
* ΘΔΧ
* ΘΞ
* ΘΧ
* ΚΑ Order
* ΚΑ Society
* ΚΔΡ
* ΚΔΦ
* ΚΛΨ
* ΚΣ
* ΛΧΑ
* OΚΕ
* 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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