Phi Kappa Theta
| Phi Kappa Theta | |
|---|---|
| ΦΚΘ | |
 | |
| Founded |
April 29, 1889 (Phi Kappa) October 1, 1919 (Theta Kappa Phi) April 29, 1959 (merged into Phi Kappa Theta) Brown University (Phi Kappa), Lehigh University (Theta Kappa Phi) merged at Ohio State University |
| Type | Social |
| Scope | United States |
| Motto | "Give, expecting nothing thereof." - St. Thomas Aquinas |
| Colors |
White Gold Cardinal-Purple |
| Flower | red tea rose |
| Publication | The Temple |
| Chapters | 50+ |
Phi Kappa Theta (ΦΚΘ) is a national social fraternity, with over 50 chapters and colonies at universities across the United States. Members are commonly referred to colloquially as "Phi Kaps". The fraternity was formed in 1959 from the merger of two older Catholic Christian fraternities. Although Phi Kappa Theta membership is not currently exclusive to any one faith, it was historically a Christian fraternity.[1]
History
Phi Kappa Theta was established by the merger of two fraternities on April 29, 1959: Phi Kappa and Theta Kappa Phi. In 1889, Phi Kappa was founded by a group of Catholic students at Brown University who were refused entrance to other fraternities because of their faith. Later, on October 1, 1919, Theta Kappa Phi (an acronym for "The Catholic Fraternity") was founded by a similar group of students at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. The merger of the two fraternities in 1959 was the first of its kind in the history of the American fraternal system. The merger between the two fraternities occurred at The Ohio State University with the first chartered chapter of Phi Kappa Theta located at Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina. Although historically Catholic, Phi Kappa Theta is open for membership to men of any religion, and many of its members are not Catholic. Phi Kappa Theta is currently the only fraternity in the American Fraternal system that is considered a true "merger" of two separate Greek letter organizations.
The ideals
Phi Kappa Theta is a national social fraternity founded on four ideals: Fraternal Engagement (duty to man), Intellectual (duty to self and parents), Social Impact (duty to society), and Spiritual (duty towards God).
Phi Kappa Theta today
As of 2014, Phi Kappa Theta lists 46 chapters and 6 colonies in the United States,[2] ranking them in the middle, in terms of size, of all national fraternities.
Notable Phi Kaps
Government:
| Name | Fame | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| John F. Kennedy | 35th President of United States (Honorary) | [3] |
| Eugene McCarthy | U.S. Senator (1959-1971), U.S. Congressman (1949-1959) | |
| Eligio "Kika" de la Garza, II | US Congressman, 15th Congressional District (1965-1997) (Texas) | |
| Richard J. Hughes | Governor of New Jersey (1962-1970); Chief Justice, New Jersey Supreme Court (1973-1979) | |
| John J. Barton | Former Mayor of Indianapolis (1964-1968) | |
| Joseph M. Barr | Former Mayor of Pittsburgh (1959-1970) | |
| Alfonso J. Cervantes | Former Mayor of St. Louis (1965-1973) | |
| Paul Hardy | Former Lt. Gov. of Louisiana (1988-1992), Secretary of State Louisiana (1976-1980) |
Business:
| Name | Fame | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Allen | Co-Founder Microsoft, Owner of Portland Trail Blazers & Seattle Seahawks | |
| Paul Galvin | Founder Motorola | |
| Paul Allaire | Former President, Chairman and CEO, Xerox |
Media:
| Name | Fame | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| Ed McMahon | Actor: Announcer Tonight Show, Host Star Search | |
| Gene Kelly | Actor: Singin' in the Rain, Anchors Aweigh | |
| Bob Hope | Actor/Comedian and Famous United Service Organizations Performer (Honorary) | |
| Keegan-Michael Key | Comedian: MADtv, Key & Peele. | |
| Brian Baker (actor) | Actor: Sprint PCS Commercials |
Sports:
Academia:
| Name | Fame | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Ellis | Former President of La Salle University (1977-1992) and The Catholic University of America (1992-1998) | |
| William C. McInnes | Former President of Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (1977-1989), University of San Francisco (1972 to 1977) and Fairfield University (1964 to 1973) |
Religion:
| Name | Fame | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| Pope John Paul II | 264th Pope (Honorary) | [3] |
| Theodore Edgar McCarrick | Archbishop Emeritus of Washington | |
| John Krol | Archbishop of Philadelphia | |
| Donald Wuerl | Cardinal, Archbishop of Washington |
See also
References
- ↑ "XICLONE" (PDF). Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity. Summer 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
The four ideals of Phi Kappa Theta (fraternal, intellectual, spiritual, and social) resonated with me, as well as its roots as a Christian fraternity.
- ↑ "Chapters and Colonies - Phi Kappa Theta, Incorporated". phikaps.org. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
- 1 2 "Famous Phikaps". Retrieved 2008-07-30.
