Founded on February 19, 1852, Phi Kappa Psi boasts a rich history at many of the nation's top colleges and universities.

William H. Letterman and Charles P.T. Moore founded Phi Kappa Psi in the little college town of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, when they were nursing their stricken friends during an epidemic of typhoid fever at their college. It was through these long night vigils that an appreciation of the great joy of serving others came into their lives.

Calling a number of others to join them, a Brotherhood was founded on February 19, 1852. It flourished, and gradually extended to other colleges and universities throughout the country. Idealists all, these founders of Phi Kappa Psi taught a new fraternity - a Fraternity that would complement the work of the university by cultivating those humanities without which the educated man fails of his greatest usefulness.

At the time of our founding, Jefferson College was considered one of the "Big Three" in what was known as the "Jeffersonian Cradle." The other two institutions comprising this group, Harvard and Princeton, were of very nearly equal size and equal high esteem. These institutions all graduated predominantly ministers, lawyers and physicians from an academic curricula based in classical literature, religious doctrine and basic sciences.

Phi Kappa Psi recognizes the need and value of the best and broadest education possible and encourages that goal within our membership. But unless actuated by a proper love for and service to mankind, the educated man may often waste his talents. It is to counteract this tendency that Phi Kappa Psi was founded to encourage the best in men, to inspire and assist them to reach their potential as students, brothers, men and citizens.

(Taken from the Phi Psi Nationals Website.)

A Rich Heritage

The Alpha Omicron Chapter of Phi Sigma Chi Fraternity, a national social fraternity, was founded and secured a charter on May 11, 1929.  The realization of this chapter was accomplished through the efforts of several local Ashland men who found it desirous to have such an organization in the city.  To say that Phi Sigma Chi was affiliated with or recognized by Ashland College would be misleading.  This recognition did not come until years later.  However, at this particular time, the chapter members did initiate college men into the fraternity.  The first house was located at 311 College Avenue.

Due to World War II, after eleven years, Alpha Omicron Chapter of Phi Sigma Chi was forced to disband.  Many of its members were called to defend their country.

The attempt to bring fraternities to the Ashland College campus once again was not begun until December of 1958.  This attempt was made by a group of Ashland College students who felt that fraternity life was an essential part of the college experience.  The first real organizational meeting was held on April 14, 1959.  The committee adopted the name "Fraternity Future" for the new organization.  Charter members numbered fifteen.

Fraternity Future and a New Beginning

To get the ball rolling, Fraternity Future held its first fundraiser on May 9, 1959: a jazz concert, held in the Ashland College Little Theatre, and featuring the Collegians, a group of Fraternity Future and other Ashland College men who had formed their own band.  The event proved to be a roaring success.

The next event, probably one of hte greatest moments for Fraternity Future, was a debate held during a regular chapel session in the Ashland College Memorial Chapel between two Fraternity Future men and two other Ashland College men over whether or not Ashland College should have fraternities.  The result:  Resolved: That Ashland College Should Have Fraternities!  There were no judges, only the students themselves.  It can only be ascertained that Fraternity Future won the debate.

What to name the new Fraternity that would rise out of these humble beginnings?  Phi Sigma Chi was no longer a national fraternity but, with the help of $200 left in an old safe deposit box under that name, the new organization once again adopted the Greek letters "Phi Sigma Chi" as their own, but this time as a local Fraternity.  In September of 1959, Phi Sigma Chi took its first pledge class of five men, and adopted its colors of Olive Green and Pumpkin Gold in 1960.

502 Claremont Avenue

In 1962, the Brotherhood of Phi Sigma Chi moved to a new house, located at 502 Claremont Avenue. House mother Helen B. Smith gave up her Ashland College housemother campus seniority to move to the Claremont Avenue house, allowing the Brotherhood of Phi Sigma Chi to be housed at the 502 Claremont address. Today, 502 Claremont Avenue still stands as the Ashland office of the American Automobile Association, and the second floor still remains virtually untouched from the days that it served as a residence for the brothers of Phi Sigma Chi.

Phi Sigma Chi Becomes the Ohio Theta Chapter of Phi Kappa Psi

In the mid-1960's, the brothers of Phi Sigma Chi began to seek a national fraternity to associate themselves with, to better compete with the other Greek organizations on campus. The brothers first approached another national fraternity, but decided that it was not a fit for the brothers of Phi Sigma Chi as the organization would only initiate brothers of the Christian faith. Seeking a national fraternity that was open to those of all beliefs, the brothers of Phi Sigma Chi found the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, a largely Midwestern fraternity that believed in the freedom of religion among its Brotherhood.

On April 16, 1966, the brothers of Phi Sigma Chi became the first initiated brothers of the Ohio Theta Chapter of Phi Kappa Psi.

Phi Kappa Psi Today

Today, the Ohio Theta Chapter of Phi Kappa Psi resides within the Phi Kappa Psi House located off Broad Street in Ashland University's Fraternity Circle. The Ohio Theta Chapter of Phi Kappa Psi stands as the largest fraternity on the campus of Ashland University, with 34 undergraduate brothers, and more than 700 living alumni.