Chi Phi Fraternity history

The opposition of the Princeton faculty and the prohibitory pledge caused the death of the reorganized Princeton Chapter in 1859 when its records were destroyed by the last active members, leaving the Lancaster Chapter alone to represent the society.

The Secret Order of Chi Phi, which is now known in the history of the Fraternity as the Hobart Order of Chi Phi, was formed at Hobart College on November 14,1860, by Amos Brunson and Alexander J. Beach, who were both students at the college.

Excerpts From Xi History 1865: A bill to establish Cornell University was approved by the New York State Legislature, and signed by Governor Reuben E. Fenton on April 27.

Five years later the Secret Order of Chi Phi at Hobart learned of the existence of the Chi Phi Society in Pennsylvania and on May 29, 1867, the two societies formally united.

1868: On October 8, 1868 Cornell received its first 421 students (of which 332 were freshmen), the largest entrance admitted to any college up to that time.Charles Fitch Hendryx ’69, a Chi Phi at the Upsilon Chapter at Hobart, was one of the 80 transfer students to enter Cornell that year.

Eventually, as many southern colleges reopened, the charter for the Theta Chapter was withdrawn in 1870.

Negotiations for union were initiated but languished until the northern Chi Phis placed Chapters at Wofford and Washington and Lee in 1871-72.

The period following the war, Reconstruction, was largely defined by regional differences even though the union of the Northern and Southern Orders of Chi Phi occurred in 1874—a unification that illustrated the strength of the common ideals that drew the two orders into union.

Another geographic milestone for Chi Phi Fraternity happened when Lambda Chapter was established at the University of California on February 11, 1875.

The chapter’s fortunes fell and rose with those of the University, and in 1881, with admissions declining, Xi alumni and undergraduates decided to relinquish the chapter’s charter.

In 1887, W.F.D, Crane and J. Herbert Ballantine, along with William B. Smith and alumni Robert Treman, Eben Treman and William H. Miller, reactivated the Xi Chapter.

Xi soon had a footing at Cornell, such that in May of 1890 the Chi Phi Chapter House Association Inc was formed.

Further westward expansion followed in 1892 with Nu Chapter at Texas.

In 1898 a stone sidewalk was added, and trees, presented by Brother J. Herbert Ballantine, were planted.

1901: The gift of our handsome dining room, richly carved from the Black Forest of Bavaria, was the occasion for the first addition to Craigielea.

1903: On May 18th, a nearly disastrous fire did extensive damage to the west end of Craigielea.

President Schuman personally congratulated the Xi on their scholastic achievement in 1911.

The chapter now contained an average of 30 to 35 men, and in 1914 the next addition began.

Brother William Henry Miller designed the expansion, and by September 23, 1915, the new addition had been completed.

Other items agreed to be acceptable for public display were the badge, the alumni emblem, the service ring (worn instead of the badge by those in military uniform) and the wall plaque approved in 1916.

However, the proposed crest was intended to be a private symbol according to this quote from the Report of the Grand Council to the Congress of 1923: The Congresses of the past have gone on record as opposed to hat bands, pennants, or other means of advertising.

Phi Chi Theta was founded on June 16, 1924 in Chicago, Illinois.

Xi suffered a great loss with the passing of William Torey Morris in 1928, a man who for 55 years was always present and willing to help the brotherhood, which had meant so much to him.

1929: When fire destroyed their lodge at the end of Junior Week, a large fraction of Alpha Delta Phi members lived in Craigielea during the spring term.

The Chi Phi Educational Trust was organized September 8, 1930, for the purpose of assisting deserving students and promoting scholarship and leadership.

The crest went public at Congress that year, when Grand Alpha J. Pollard Turman, Gamma 1934, made the official announcement and noted that a ring with the crest had been added to the official jewelry of the Fraternity.

Every symbol of the fraternity is somewhere woven into the structure of the Crest. It is hoped that in this manner a universal interest in the adoption of the Crest may be manifest." The Grand Council considered the crest at its December 5, 1936, meeting.

The chapter felt another great loss on January 4, 1937 with the passing of Robert H. Treman ’78.

The crest was again discussed at the 1940 Congress.

Richard N. Ames, Alpha-Chi 1941, moved the adoption of the crest.

On July 1, 1943 the Navy moved into Craigielea as a barracks, and much of her beautiful furnishings and equipment was stolen or sold by the university.

On March 6, 1946 Craigielea was reopened after a complete remodeling.

With the help of his chapter's alumni, a campaign to promote the crest was conducted through word-of-mouth and other means. It made its first Chakett appearance on the cover of the February 1948 issue.

George L. Freeman, Xi 1949, as chairman of the Committee on the Crest, motioned that the Council be authorized to adopt a crest for the Fraternity.

Membership began to grow steadily in the 1950’s, and an addition was made Craigielea.

In 1960, the Constitution was changed to add the Grand Epsilon and Grand Zeta as voting members of the Grand Council.

In 1965, the position of Assistant National Director was created.

In 1968, the Chi Phi Educational Trust began to offer educational programs oriented toward the assembly of undergraduate delegates.

Later, the Grand Beta was granted voting rights, and in 1970 the undergraduate positions of Grand Theta and Grand Iota were added to the Grand Council.

Brother Krannert entered the Chapter Eternal in 1972.

1977: In an effort to slow the rising energy costs, the active members of Xi with the aid of the alumni undertook a major insulation project.

Randolph M. Loos, Theta Delta '77 (Florida), was appointed in 1978.

The Congress of 1980 authorized the Thomas A. Gehring Chapter Excellence Awards as a tribute to the memory and constructive work of Doctor Thomas A. Gehring, Iota Delta '60 (Indiana), a former Grand Officer.

1981: A pipe burst on the third floor of Craigielea, ruining most of the Ballantine Dining and several brothers’ rooms.

In 1985, the position of Director of Chapter Services was created.

In 1988, the Krannert Leadership School took a huge step forward as the leadership sessions were greatly expanded in duration and in depth.

1989: Craigielea underwent an extensive rewiring project.

The newly expanded Chronicles of Chi Phi was published in 1993 in both a registered hard-cover version as well as a soft-cover format.

1994: Weights and equipment were purchased, and the common room in the basement was converted into a weight room.

2003: A porch was built, allowing Craigielea to meet the most recent fire safety codes.