Theta Kappa Phi () was an American social fraternity for Catholics founded on , at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. On , it merged with a similar Catholic fraternity, Phi Kappa, to form Phi Kappa Theta.
History The idea for the organization developed from a group of men who were a part of the university’s Newman Club, who had met in 1914. Plans for the official establishment of the fraternity fell through upon the entry of the United States into the First World War in 1917, with several members subsequently joining the armed forces. Of the original group, three returned to Lehigh at the end of hostilities to resume their studies, including Raymond J. Bobbin, Peter J. Carr, and August Concilio.
Following the conclusion of the war in November 1918 and the return of members to college, Carr led efforts to restart the process of establishing a social fraternity at Lehigh. Ultimately thirty men, including Concilio, Carr, and Bobbin, agreed to the establishment of the X Club, the original name of Theta Kappa Phi.
During the first few months of the new fraternity’s existence, several important actions were undertaken. In a meeting on November 12, 1919, the X Club would select Theta Kappa Phi as its new name. At the time of its adoption, the letters simply stood in place for ‘The Catholic Fraternity’ before they were given a secret meaning later upon merger into Phi Kappa Theta in 1959. The founding group would elect Concilio as the fraternity’s first President. Carr successfully began the infant fraternity’s nationalization by unifying with Kappa Theta fraternity at Pennsylvania State University, establishing the group there as its Beta chapter on .
Meanwhile, the fraternity would receive valuable help and inspiring leadership from local Bethlehem pastor, Rev. William I. McGarvey. Since none of the existing members had fraternity experience, McGarvey was a valuable asset in developing the fledgling group into a true fraternity in its early days. McGarvey would additionally secure the help of Rev. Michael Andrew Chapman in writing Theta Kappa Phi’s ritual, who was an Episcopal priest as well as a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Bard College. The basics of Theta Kappa Phi’s ritual are still used in Phi Kappa Theta’s ritual today, while McGarvey’s effort for Theta Kappa Phi gained him recognition as the fraternity’s fourth founder.
Theta Kappa Phi continued to expand to other colleges and universities in the surrounding region. On , Theta Kappa Phi merged with a similar Catholic fraternity, Phi Kappa, to form Phi Kappa Theta. At the time the merger, Theta Kappa Phi had 24 active chapters across the United States. It had 4,000 members in 1957.
Symbols The Greek letters Theta Kappa Phi were selected to stand for "The Catholic Fraternity".
The badge of Theta Kappa Phi was a gold shield with a black enamel center that featured the Greek letters , over a golden heart. The badge was bordered with crown-set pearls, and four rubies in the form of a cross. Its pledge pin was a white shield, bordered with a gold chain that enclosed a golden sun.
The fraternity's colors were red, silver, and gold. Its flower was the Columbine. Its publications was The Sun of Theta Kappa Phi.
Chapters Following are the chapters of Theta Kappa Phi, with inactive chapters in italics.
ChapterCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatusAlpha – Lehigh UniversityBethlehem, PennsylvaniaMerged ()Beta – Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity Park, PennsylvaniaMerged ()The Journey of Phi Kappa Theta. Phi Kappa Theta, 2011. via issuuGamma – Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OhioMerged ()Delta – University of IllinoisChampaign and Urbana, IllinoisMerged ()Epsilon – University of New HampshireDurham, New HampshireMerged ()Zeta – Ohio Northern UniversityAda, OhioMerged ()Eta – City College of New YorkNew York City, New YorkMerged ()Theta – 1931Cornell UniversityIthaca, New YorkInactiveIota – Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaMerged ()Kappa – University of OklahomaNorman, OklahomaMerged ()Lambda – Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcester, MassachusettsMerged ()Mu – Missouri School of Mines and MetallurgyWorcester, MassachusettsMerged ()Nu – Oklahoma State UniversityStillwater, OklahomaMerged ()Xi – Louisiana State UniversityBaton Rouge, LouisianaMerged ()Omicron – University of Louisiana at LafayetteLafayette, LouisianaMerged ()Pi – St. Louis UniversitySt. Louis, MissouriMerged ()Rho – Mississippi State UniversityStarkville, MississippiMerged ()Sigma – Boston UniversityBoston, MassachusettsMerged ()Tau – Saint Francis UniversityLoretto, PennsylvaniaMerged ()Upsilon – University of MissouriColumbia, MissouriMerged ()Phi – Kent State UniversityKent, OhioMerged ()Chi – University of MississippiOxford, MississippiMerged ()Psi – Northern Illinois UniversityDeKalb, IllinoisMerged ()Omega – University of Detroit MercyDetroit, MichiganMerged ()UW ColonyUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonMadison, WisconsinMerged ()
See also
List of social fraternities Christian fraternities
References