Phi Gamma Delta (also known as
FIJI) is a collegiate social and secret
fraternityFraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In English, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in North America, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
with 108 chapters and 12 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at
Jefferson CollegeWashington & Jefferson College is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college located in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, in the city of Washington, Pennsylvania, USA...
, Pennsylvania in 1848 and its headquarters are located in
LexingtonLexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 65th largest in the United States. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
,
KentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. Kentucky is a Southern state situated in the Upland South, although the state is infrequently placed, geographically and culturally, in the Midwest. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a...
, USA. Phi Gamma Delta is a member of the
North-American Interfraternity ConferenceThe North-American Interfraternity Conference , is an association of collegiate men's fraternities that was formally organized in 1910, although it began on November 27, 1909. The power of the organization rests in a House of Delegates where each member fraternity is represented by a single delegate...
and, along with the Fraternity of
Phi Kappa PsiPhi Kappa Psi Fraternity is an American collegiate fraternity.-History:Phi Kappa Psi was founded in 1852 in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, on the campus of Jefferson College by William Henry Letterman and Charles Page Thomas Moore...
, forms the Jefferson Duo.
Historical sketch of Jefferson College
In 1803 only a small percentage of Americans attended college. Those who did had relatively few choices, especially in what was then the
frontierA frontier is a political and geographical term referring to areas near or beyond a boundary.-Colonial North America:In the earliest days of European settlement of the Atlantic coast, the frontier was essentially any part of the forested interior of the continent beyond the fringe of existing...
lands of western
PennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , often colloquially referred to as PA by natives and Northeasterners, is a state located in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States...
near Canonsburg. There a Presbyterian clergyman named John A. McMillan (1752–1833) had just arrived from the College of New Jersey (now
Princeton UniversityPrinceton University a private university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League and is considered one of the Colonial Colleges....
) to begin his ministry. In the year 1776, McMillan, called the "Apostle of the West", was called to take charge of all the lands west of the
Allegheny MountainsThe Allegheny Mountain Range — informally, the Alleghenies — is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
. This he did, and soon after he established a
Latin schoolLatin School may refer to:* Boston Latin School* Latin School of Chicago* Latin school...
in a small
log cabinA log cabin is a small house built from logs. It is a simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." "Log cabin" generally denotes a simple one, or one-and-one-half story structure, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or...
. This small school grew with time to become the Canonsburg Academy in 1791 and, by 1802, Jefferson College. At the time, Jefferson College was one of the largest institutions of higher learning in North America, boasting 207 enrolled students and ten professors. Thus the origins of Washington and Jefferson College, and Phi Gamma Delta, are inextricably linked to a log cabin on the Pennsylvania frontier.
Founding of Phi Gamma Delta
On the night of Saturday, April 22, 1848 at
Jefferson CollegeWashington & Jefferson College is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college located in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, in the city of Washington, Pennsylvania, USA...
in
Canonsburg, PennsylvaniaCanonsburg is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, southwest of Pittsburgh. Canonsburg was laid out by Colonel John Canon in 1789 and incorporated in 1802. It was the central point of the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. The borough is in a rich coal district, and most of the town's work force...
, six college students gathered in a dormitory room (known by the students as "Fort Armstrong") and determined to establish a secret society. The society they formed was called "The Delta Association". The founders, reverently referred to by Brothers today as the "Immortal Six", are
John Templeton McCartyJohn Templeton McCarty was one of the "Immortal Six" , a Mason and an unsuccessful candidate for the early California State Legislature, losing to future U.S. Supreme Court justice Stephen Field.-Early life:John T...
,
Samuel Beatty WilsonSamuel Beatty Wilson was one of founders of the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. He was born on a farm near Newcastle, Pennsylvania and later attended Jefferson College where he was a brilliant student. At Jefferson College, he was one of the founders of Phi Gamma Delta and its first president...
,
James Elliott, Jr.James Elliott, Jr. was one of founders of the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta....
,
Ellis Bailey GreggEllis Bailey Gregg was one of founders of the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. He was born in Carmichaels, Pennsylvania to the family of a prosperous merchant. As a young man, he attended Green Academy and later matriculated at Jefferson College...
,
Daniel Webster CroftsDaniel Webster Crofts was one of founders of the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. Daniel was one of ten children born on a frontier farm in Columbiana County, Ohio...
, and
Naaman FletcherNaaman Fletcher was one of founders of the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. Naaman's father died when he was three years old. He was adopted by a distant relative and was admitted to the bar before being enrolled in the sophomore class at Jefferson College in 1847. A congenial student, Naaman...
. The first regular meeting of Phi Gamma Delta and the adoption of the Fraternity's Constitution took place on May 1, 1848. Consequently, May 1 was chosen to be "Founder's Day" at the 43rd Convention held in 1891 and has traditionally been celebrated as the founding date of the Fraternity ever since.
Immortal Six
The "Immortal Six" are the six men who founded the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. Each of them graduated from
Jefferson CollegeWashington & Jefferson College is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college located in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, in the city of Washington, Pennsylvania, USA...
in 1848 except for Namaan Fletcher who graduated a year later in the class of 1849.
Beliefs of Phi Gamma Delta
The rewards of membership extend far beyond one's college years through continued commitment to the values, the brothers, and the Educational Foundation. This is why Fiji did not adopt the name "alumni." Rather, post collegiate members are known as "Graduate Brothers," implying that membership extends far beyond the undergraduate experience. The commitment exemplifies another motto by which Phi Gams live, "Not For College Days Alone", and an organization of fathers and sons within Phi Gamma Delta known as "Sires and Sons".
Mission statement
"Phi Gamma Delta exists to promote lifelong friendships, to reaffirm high ethical standards and values, and to foster personal development in the pursuit of excellence. Phi Gamma Delta is committed to provide opportunities to each brother to develop responsibility, leadership, scholarship and social skills in order to become a fully contributing member of society."
The values
We are united by
Friendship. It is the basis of our brotherhood. Because of it, we accomplish far more than we do as individuals. Friendship is the sweetest influence.
We promote the pursuit of
Knowledge. It is the key to a fuller, richer life. We gain it through education, the harmonious development of the powers of the individual.
We encourage
Service. We have the ability, the opportunity, and the duty to serve our fellow human beings. Our reward is the satisfaction that comes from serving.
We believe in
Morality. As gentlemen of quality we must do what is right as individuals and as a group. Moral behavior is the basis of our society’s existence.
We strive for
Excellence. It is attained only when we fulfill our total potential. Mankind benefits when each of us becomes all that we can be.
Priorities of a Phi Gamma Delta
A brother of Phi Gamma Delta has his life ordered by three priorities:
- First, Scholarship.
- Second, Fraternity.
- Third, Self.
Use of Greek letters and origins of the 'Fiji' nickname
Phi Gamma Delta limits the written display of its Greek letters. In accordance with the fraternity's international bylaws, Fiji chapters and members only portray their letters in the following seven locations:
- On a uniform diamond-shaped member badge
- On the Fraternity's official seal
- On the Fraternity's official flag
- On a chapter house marker
- On memorials to deceased brothers
- On a brother's certificate of membership
- On a brother's official college ring
The fraternity's letters are considered sacred and are never to be displayed on an object that can be easily destroyed. Whereas other fraternities often display their letters on clothing or other items, this tradition prevents Fijis from doing so. In place of the actual Greek letters, "Fiji," "Phi Gam," or the English spelling of "Phi Gamma Delta" are used in their place.
The nickname 'Fiji'
Fiji, a nickname started at New York University, was officially adopted by the national fraternity in 1894 in the belief that the term would be distinctive and appeal to the imagination. Prior to its formal appropriation by the organization at large, nicknames for members of the fraternity varied greatly; ranging from "Phi Gamm" and "Delta" by brothers across the nation, "Fee Gee" in New York, and "Gammas" in the South. As of now though, "Fiji" and "Phi Gam" are considered the only appropriate nicknames for Phi Gamma Delta members on the international scale, though local nicknames related to a chapter's Greek name or other colloquialisms do exist.
How Phi Gamma Delta is organized
The fraternity is composed of chapters of two types. Most chapters serve primarily undergraduate students and are established at a single college or university . There are also chapters to serve members of the fraternity who have graduated from college and are established to serve a city or larger region. The chapters are governed by the fraternity's international headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky.
Honors and awards within Phi Gamma Delta
Phi Gamma Delta recognizes the many accomplishments of its various chapters and individual undergraduate and graduate Brothers in many ways. The Honors and awards within Phi Gamma Delta list describes each of them.
Pig Dinner
Norris Pig Dinner is an annual alumni dinner held by some Phi Gamma Delta chapters. The dinner is named for author
Frank NorrisBenjamin Franklin Norris, Jr. was an American novelist, during the Progressive Era, writing predominantly in the naturalist genre. His notable works include McTeague , The Octopus: A California Story , and The Pit .-Life:Frank Norris was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1870...
, a member of the Fiji chapter at the
University of California, BerkeleyThe University of California, Berkeley is a public research university located in Berkeley, California, United States. The oldest of the ten major campuses affiliated with the University of California, Berkeley offers some 300 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a wide range of disciplines...
where the first Pig Dinner was held in 1893. Pig Dinner is sanctioned by the International Fraternity and it serves to welcome graduate brothers back to their undergraduate chapters.
It is the longest continually running, chapter-based, annual Graduate event in the Greek world.
The International Fraternity stores a list of annual Pig Dinners
http://www.phigam.org/form_pigDinner.aspx?pageID=179
Fiji Islander
Affectionately built upon the "Fiji" nickname, many chapters holds an annual "Fiji Islander" party. These are typically large festivities with tropical themes; although, they can vary widely from chapter to chapter with some being large parties where alcohol is sold, others being alcohol free, and some Fiji Island events are charity projects rather than parties.
Sweetwater
After graduating from Jefferson College in June 1848 and studying law in Indiana, John T. McCarty headed west along the
California TrailThe California Trail was a major overland emigrant trail of about across the western half of the North American continent from Missouri River towns to what is now the state of California. It was used primarily from 1841 to 1869...
during the
Gold RushA gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers into the area of a dramatic discovery of commercial quantities of gold.Gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States....
. He left in the spring of 1849 and along the trail, near the
continental divideA continental divide is a drainage divide on a continent such that the drainage basin on one side of the divide feeds into one ocean or sea, and the basin on the other side either feeds into a different ocean or sea, or else is endorheic, not connected to the open sea...
in what is today
WyomingWyoming is a state in the Western United States. The majority of the state is dominated by the mountain ranges and rangelands of the Rocky Mountain West, while the easternmost section of the state includes part of a high elevation prairie region known as the High Plains. While the tenth largest...
, one of the most amazing incidents in Phi Gamma Delta's early history occurred. McCarty met Bolivar G. Krepps (Jefferson College, 1849), a member of Phi Gamma Delta whom McCarty had never previously met. The two had attended Jefferson College but Krepps was initiated into Phi Gamma Delta after McCarty had graduated. Yet, on July 7, 1849 here they stood, on the banks of the
Sweetwater RiverThe Sweetwater River is a tributary of the North Platte River, approximately 150 mi long, in the U.S. state of Wyoming. It rises in southwestern Fremont County, at the continental divide near South Pass, on the southern end of the Wind River Range...
, by complete coincidence. Both had decided to go West independently to seek their fortunes and, at a time when the total number of Phi Gamma Delta initiates was 25, two of them were shaking hands and drinking a toast to the "Delta Association", as it was known then, and to all Brothers who should live after them.
Founding of Kappa Alpha Theta
Fijis at the Lambda chapter at Indiana Asbury University (now known as
DePauw UniversityDePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University...
) played an important role in the founding of
Kappa Alpha ThetaKappa Alpha Theta , also known as Kathys, is an international women's fraternity founded on January 27, 1870 at DePauw University, formerly Indiana Asbury. Kappa Alpha Theta was the first Greek-letter women's college fraternity...
women's fraternity. Bettie Locke, the sister of George W. Locke (DePauw, 1871), was one of the first women enrolled at DePauw. Bettie had many Fiji friends and one of them asked her to wear his badge. She contended that she would do so only if she knew the secrets behind the letters. The Fijis, after considerable debate, declined to initiate her. So, upon suggestion of her father, Dr. John Wesley Locke, a
Beta Theta PiBeta Theta Pi is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi...
, she formed Kappa Alpha Theta with Alice Allen, Bettie Tipton and Hannah Fitch; four of just a handful of women enrolled at DePauw at the time. Kappa Alpha Theta made its debut on January 27, 1870, making it the first Greek-letter fraternity established for women. The Fijis, in a spirit of friendship and appreciation, later presented Bettie Locke with an engraved silver cake basket.
External links