Beta Phi Sigma () was an American pharmacy fraternity. Beta Phi Sigma stands for Buffalo Pharmacy School. Beta Phi Sigma was the first Greek-letter fraternity at the University at Buffalo and the first Greek-letter Pharmaceutical fraternity in the United States.
History The fraternity was founded in the office of Dr. Henry G. Bentz on the night of December 15, 1888. Originally organized by the graduating classes of 1889, Beta Phi Sigma grew from one chapter, Alpha, at the University at Buffalo to eleven chapters before World War II. The induction of so many males into the military decimated the ranks of Pharmacy students so that by the end of World War II Beta Phi Sigma ceased to exist.
Alpha chapter was reorganized at the University at Buffalo Pharmacy School. This chapter grew until 1973 when the influx of women to the profession reduced the number of men pledging the fraternity; Beta Phi Sigma was dissolved.
There is still an alumni chapter that holds a reunion every ten years, the first being held in 1997.
Symbols and traditions The name Beta Phi Sigma was selected to stand for Buffalo Pharmacy School. The fraternity's colors were blue and white. Its publication was The Adelphos.
Found in the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science Apothecary archives, Beta Phi Sigma had the following song, set in B-flat major:Join hands again and sing for Beta Phi and pledge anew our vows so firm and high. To stand for the right and to shun the wrong forever in our hearts a song. So now to thee oh Beta Phi we bring our love and our most humble off-ring. As we answer the call we'll be true one and all to the vows we made to thee oh Beta Phi.
Chapters Following are the former and current chapters of Beta Phi Sigma. Active chapters are indicated in bold; inactive chapters are indicated in italic.
Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status Alpha 1889–194x ?, 19xx ?–1973 Buffalo School of Pharmacy Buffalo, NY Inactive Beta 1900–194x ? Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy Pittsburgh, PA Inactive Gamma 1911–194x ? Philadelphia College of Pharmacy Philadelphia, PA Inactive Delta 1919–194x ? Tulane University New Orleans, LA Inactive Epsilon 1923–194x ? University of Iowa Iowa City, IA Inactive Zeta 1923–194x ? Kansas State University Lawrence, KS Inactive Eta 1923–194x ? Texas State University Galveston, TX Inactive Theta 1923–194x ? Baylor University Dallas, TX Inactive Iota 1923–194x ? Atlanta College of Pharmacy Atlanta, GA Inactive Kappa 1924–194x ? Wisconsin State University Madison, WI Inactive Lambda –194x ? Loyola University New Orleans, LA Inactive
See also Professional fraternities and sororities Rho Chi, co-ed, pharmacy honor society
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