Sigma Phi Society () is an American college fraternity. Established in 1827 at Union College in Schenectady, New York, it was the second Greek letter fraternal organization founded in the United States. Sigma Phi was the first collegiate social fraternity to establish a chapter at another college, making it the first national fraternity. It was also a founding member of the National Interfraternity Conference, now the North American Interfraternity Conference. It is part of the Union Triad along with the Kappa Alpha society and Delta Phi.

History Sigma Phi Society was formed as a secret society on March 4, 1827, on the campus of Union College in Schenectady, New York. Its founders were Charles Thorn Cromwell, John Thomas Bowie, Thomas Fielder Bowie, and Thomas Sydenham Witherspoon. 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.

In 1831, Beta of New York was established at Hamilton College by John Cochrane, a student from Hamilton who had come to study at Union for one academic year and then returned to his home institution. In doing so, it made the Sigma Phi society the first Greek fraternal organization in the United States to establish a chapter at another college, thus becoming the first national Greek letter organization in the United States.

In 1834, Sigma Phi became the first fraternity to publish a catalogue of its membership. The fraternity was incorporated in the State of New York in 1885 and was reincorporated in 1920.

In 1901, Sigma Phi became a founding member of the National Interfraternity Conference, now the North American Interfraternity Conference.

Historically, the fraternity had been conservative in adding chapters. In 1963, the fraternity had eleven active chapters, two inactive chapters, and 3,910 living members.

Its headquarters is in Tucson, Arizona.

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

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

The society's colors are azure (light blue) and argent (white). Its motto is or "Let it be perpetual". Its publication is the Sigma Phi Flame, first published in 1920.

Chapters In the following list, active chapters are indicated in bold and inactive chapters are in italics.

ChapterLetter Charter date and range Institution Location StatusAlpha of New York UUnion CollegeSchenectady, New YorkActiveBeta of New York H1831–2019Hamilton CollegeClinton, New YorkInactiveAlpha of Massachusetts W1834–1968Williams CollegeWilliamstown, MassachusettsInactiveGamma of New York N–New York UniversityNew York City, New YorkInactiveDelta of New York GHobart CollegeGeneva, New YorkActiveAlpha of Vermont VUniversity of VermontBurlington, VermontActiveAlpha of New Jersey P1853–1858Princeton UniversityPrinceton, New JerseyInactiveAlpha of Michigan M1858–2022University of MichiganAnn Arbor, MichiganInactiveAlpha of Pennsylvania L – 2002Lehigh UniversityBethlehem, PennsylvaniaInactiveEpsilon of New York CCornell UniversityIthaca, New YorkSuspendedAlpha of Wisconsin FUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonMadison, WisconsinActiveAlpha of California IUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CaliforniaActiveAlpha of Virginia S1953University of VirginiaCharlottesville, VirginiaActiveAlpha of North Carolina T2008–2019University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, North CarolinaInactive

Notes

Chapter houses Alpha of Massachusetts at Williams College was the first chapter to build its own chapter house. Today, 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. The Alpha of Wisconsin chapter house is the Harold C. Bradley House, a National Historic Landmark designed in 1908 by Louis Sullivan.

Alpha of Vermont

The Alpha of Vermont chapter house, known as Sigma Phi Place, is a listed contributing building to the National Register of Historic Places' University Green Historic District.National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form for University Green Historic District. Revision, 2021. It was designed in 1903 by architect Marcus T. Reynolds of Albany, New York, who was a member of the Alpha of Massachusetts chapter. Located at 420 College Street, Sigma Phi Place was the first purpose-built fraternity house at the University of Vermont. It is a three-story, Colonial Revival style brick house. Its main entrance has a gable pedimented portico with four columns that have Corinthian capitals.

Governance Sigma Phi is governed by officers who are elected at an annual convention of chapter delegates. Until 1887, the annual conventions were held in Schnectady, New York, on March 4, the date of the first initiation ceremony.

Its national headquarters is in Tucson, Arizona.

Notable members

See also List of social fraternities and sororities Triad (fraternities)

References