"So, my friends, the Chi Phi Fraternity was founded on friendship and stands for liberty, truth, honesty and personal purity. During the middle of the 19th century, by a strange and wonderful coincidence, there were three brotherhoods in the United States bearing the name Chi Phi. Initially each was oblivious of the existence of the others, yet each stood for ideals of friendship of man with man. They are known to us as the Princeton Order of Chi Phi, founded at the College of New Jersey in 1824, the Southern Order founded in 1858 at the University of North Carolina and the Hobart Order founded in 1860 at Hobart College. In 1867, the Hobart and Princeton Orders combined and formed the Northern Order of Chi Phi. Then in 1874, the Northern Order combined with the Southern Order to form the Chi Phi Fraternity...." – Taken from the Chi Phi pledging ceremony
With this ceremony, a young man enters the transcendental realm of the Chi Phi Fraternity, an august organization which has been at the forefront of Greek letter fraternities throughout its 175 years. With Chi Phi's roll of distinguished alumni, its active presence at America's finest institutions and strong caliber of undergraduate members, the Fraternity has ample cause for celebration in this momentous year.
Dramatic testimony to the bonds of brotherhood is Chi Phi's emergence less than a decade after the Civil War as a firmly united Order of Southern and Northern chapters. Only one year later – in 1875 – the new united Order of Chi Phi expanded westward in a brilliant stroke, placing Lambda Chapter at the University of California, Berkeley. This move gave Chi Phi a coveted national recognition. Lambda was the forerunner of a selective expansion which established 18 chapters at many of the nation's most prestigious campuses between 1874 and 1924. These included Harvard University, Yale University, Vanderbilt University, Pennsylvania State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Illinois, Ohio State University, University of Wisconsin and Dartmouth College. More expansion on the West Coast occurred in the late ‘20s and early ‘30s.
Chi Phi's Centennial Celebration took place in 1924 during the administration of Grand Alpha Alexander H. Rudd, Omicron 1886. The banner year also marked the 70th anniversary of the founding of Chi Phi's oldest existing chapter at Franklin & Marshall College, as well as the 50th anniversary of the Union of Northern and Southern Orders. Held in conjunction with Congress, the Centennial drew the largest number of registrations in Chi Phi's history.
Delegates were present from all chapters and chapter alumni associations. The ceremonial banquet was held December 30, 1924, at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago and consisted of a nine-course dinner followed by four speakers and countless toasts. Invitations were extended to all Greek letter fraternities founded prior to 1854. In commemoration of its first 100 years, Chi Phi published a centennial memorial volume dedicated to the brothers who had given their lives in service to their country – the Civil War, the Spanish-American War and World War I. The hefty 1,400 page publication listed the history of each Order and each chapter with records of 8,918 members.
The compiler of Chi Phi's centennial memorial volume was Dr. Theodore Appel. A 1889 graduate of Franklin & Marshall, "Dr. Theodore" was Grand Alpha from 1912-23 and served as Grand Epsilon at the time of the Centennial. His interest in history and command of detail made him remarkably suited to the monumental task of organizing the first volume of The Chronicles of Chi Phi. Published in 1939, it is recognized as one of the most complete and authoritative fraternity histories ever written.
In 1930, the Fraternity created the position of executive secretary to oversee its growing operation. Before then, various members of the Grand Council had filled this role in the capacity of traveling secretary. The first executive secretary was former Grand Zeta and Grand Delta Philip George Schiesswohl, Sigma 1915. He served four years, followed in 1935 by Hugh M. Dorsey, Jr., Gamma 1933.
Dorsey stayed until 1943 when he resigned before taking office as Grand Alpha. A letter from Dorsey to the Fraternity illuminates the troubled times experienced by Chi Phi and virtually all fraternities during the war years. Recalling the "atmosphere of uncertainty and apprehension which existed in the early months of 1943," he wrote: "...On the eve of assuming the position of Grand Alpha, I tendered to the Council my resignation as executive secretary. In the emergency which then existed, it was impossible for the Council to appoint a permanent successor. In order to tide over the immediate vacancy, Judge Rosser had agreed to assume these duties without expense to the Fraternity until some satisfactory appointment to the position could be made."
Affectionately known as "The Judge," Luther Zeigler Rosser, Omega 1908, had been active in the Fraternity for ten years, serving as Grand Alpha, 1935-39. In addition to taking over as executive secretary, Rosser was appointed to the post of Grand Eta on Dorsey's Grand Council. Together, their cumulative experience provided the continuity and stability the Fraternity needed during the war years when chapters were closed or occupied by military personnel.
Rosser was the first to be tapped when Chi Phi created the position of national director in 1946. His most pressing order of business was to work with the Grand Council and other alumni leaders to rebuild a Fraternity crippled during the war years. A hallmark of Rosser's administration was the introduction of a model initiation at the Chi Phi Congress and the voluntary alumni dues program. During this time, Chi Phi set up a national office in Atlanta and took possession of Fraternity archives which had been in the custody of Dr. Theodore Appel's son, Dr. James Appel, in Lancaster, Pa.. Rosser stayed until February 1, 1960, when he became national director emeritus.
His successor was former Grand Alpha Carl J. Gladfelter, Alpha-Tau 1933, who resigned from the faculty of the University of Connecticut to take Chi Phi’s helm. During his watch, Gladfelter not only kept the Fraternity intact through the turbulent years of campus unrest in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, but overcame the moribund ‘50s when Chi Phi added only three chapters – Pi at Northwestern University, Zeta Delta at the University of Connecticut and Iota Delta at the University of Indiana Ð at a time when competing fraternities were amassing large chapter rolls. Gladfelter’s era forged a vigorous expansion campaign spanning the terms of five Grand Alphas. Beginning with Rho Iota Kappa at the University of Rhode Island in 1962, the Fraternity added 19 new chapters in 13 years. By 1977, Chi Phi listed 47 chapters in 26 states.
A milestone event in 1958 during the term of Grand Alpha Dr. O. B. Williams, Nu 1921, was the centennial anniversary of the founding of the Southern Order. This was officially celebrated at the 1958 Congress, which attracted 100 percent chapter representation to the campus of the University of North Carolina, site of the Order’s original Alpha chapter. Alpha had expired following the Civil War and was re-established as Alpha-Alpha in 1924, the United Order’s centennial year. The Alpha Delta chapter at Penn State was also established the same year, making 1924 the first time in Fraternity history when two chapters were installed within a 12-month period.
Dr. Williams died suddenly after Congress in 1959 and the Grand Council filled the vacant post by electing John Oliver, Eta 1917, who served from 1959-63. His administration was marked by a push toward the West aimed at expansion to the University of Oregon and the University of Arizona and the re-establishment of Alpha Theta Chi at Nebraska. Plans were also put in place for the University of California, Davis which would be chartered in 1969.
"Go West, Young Man!" continued to be the prevailing theme when Chi Phi elected C. Moreland "Morey" Thomas, Eta Delta 1934, as Grand Alpha for the term 1963-65. Thomas was the first Grand Alpha elected from a West Coast chapter and the first to reside in the West during office. Among his appointees to the Grand Council were Richard C. "Dick" Ham, Lambda 1933, and William R. "Bill" Kitchin, Alpha 1949. Both men would move into major leadership roles on the Grand Council and the Educational Trust. Ham would serve as Grand Alpha in 1972-75. Kitchin, who was also president of the Alpha Home Association for 30 years, continued to lend invaluable assistance to the Fraternity on many fronts well into the ‘90s.
Appointed as executive director of The Chi Phi Educational Trust by Grand Alpha Bates Block in 1980, Kitchen initiated and spearheaded a fund drive. During his 12-year tenure as executive director, he was instrumental in establishing over 30 Chi Phi alumni clubs in metropolitan areas. Stepping down in 1993, Kitchin received a well-deserved standing ovation at the 1993 College of Excellence in tribute to his 40 years of outstanding service to his beloved Fraternity.
The forerunner to the Educational Trust’s fund campaign in the 1980s took place during the administration of Joe Rice Dockery, Xi 1928, who was Grand Alpha from 1965-69. A Mississippian, Dockery was the fifth alumnus from Cornell to serve as Grand Alpha. He proposed the first joint Educational Trust-Grand Council fund drive with a goal of $500,000 when John Oliver was chairman of the Educational Trust. Oliver agreed to direct the campaign and former Trustee William C. "Billy" Wardlaw, Omega 1928, was one of the first alumni to support the drive with a substantial gift. This move also marked the first time that the Educational Trust assumed a portion of the national director’s salary. While the "For The Future" campaign fell short of its goal, it laid the groundwork for the Kitchin program in the ‘80s.
According to The Chi Phi Chronicles, Dockery’s "greatest sense of accomplishment resulted when the 1972 Congress agreed to organize and support the annual fundraising drive of the Muscular Dystrophy Association of America, Chi Phi’s first national service project." The Dockerys, whose grandchild had been struck with MD, provided an annual $1,000 incentive contribution from the outset until Dockery’s death in 1982.
William W. "Bill" Jeckell, Iota 1934, took over as Grand Alpha in 1969 and served until 1972. During his administration, chapter expansion slowed as energies were re-directed to strengthen weak chapters and revive dormant ones. During this time, Jeckell appointed the Chi Phi Sesquicentennial Committee. All involved in the planning and execution would later be praised for "providing the fraternity with an opportunity to celebrate its 150th year of existence in a tasteful, dignified and widely observed manner. The Council and the 150th Committee were determined that the program and events would reach all members and set the stage for another 150 years of service to the academic community and students yet unborn."
As pointed out in The Chi Phi Chronicles, the election of Dick Ham as Grand Alpha for the 1972-75 term represented the third alumnus of the Class of 1933 to hold this distinguished office, the other two being Hugh M. Dorsey, Jr., and Carl Gladfelter. The subsequent Class of 1934 graduated two more men who would become Grand Alphas, Pollard Turman, Gamma 1934, and William W. Jeckell. Only three institutions in Chi Phi history have provided sequential Grand Alphas: Hobart (3), Amherst (3) and Emory (2).
When Dick Ham took office as Grand Alpha in 1972, his career with Chi Phi was already distinguished. A native Californian, Ham served as Lambda’s Alpha in 1932 and was a longtime director of the Lambda Chapter Association. He began service on the Grand Council in 1953 and continued as Grand Gamma and Grand Delta from 1963-72, when he was elected Grand Alpha for 1972-75. Ham also received Chi Phi’s Distinguished Alumnus Award for outstanding service in 1963. Dick Ham was the presiding officer during Chi Phi’s illustrious Sesquicentennial Celebration.
Chi Phi’s 150th Anniversary took place in 1974 and involved chapters and alumni associations coast-to-coast. The year-long anniversary celebration was co-chaired by John Craft, Iota Delta 1961, and Dr. Darryl McCall, Jr., Theta Delta 1950. National ceremonies took place at the 1975 Congress held July 31-August 3, in Asheville, N.C., and included the acclaimed documentary produced by Robert Emerson, Rho Iota Kappa 1972, and narrated by CBS news commentator Walter Cronkite, Nu 1939. The Sesquicentennial also drew a record number of Grand Alphas: Carl Gladfelter, Hugh Dorsey and Pollard Turman traveled from Georgia; Morey Thomas and Dick Ham from California; and Bill Jeckell from Ohio. North Carolina resident Dr. Darryl McCall, a professor at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, would be installed as Grand Alpha at the 1975 Congress.
Brother Gladfelter retired as national director in 1975, but stayed involved as a consultant with the Educational Trust and editor of The Chi Phi Chronicles Volume II. In this capacity, he was ably assisted by the Cody brothers, Aldus M., Theta Delta 1936, and
Robert S. "Bob", Theta Delta 1940, who also began editing the Chi Phi Chakett in 1977. At the time of Bob Cody’s death in 1992, the Chi Phi Chakett reported that "...probably no other Chi Phi alumnus was as universally known by Florida undergraduate Chi Phis for over two generations." Bob Cody also served on the Grand Council as Grand Beta and Grand Zeta. He continued to edit the Chi Phi Chakett until the late ‘80s when he became editor emeritus and Keith Stockman, Upsilon 1982, took on this important responsibility with its extraordinary demand of time and expertise.
During Dr. Darryl McCall’s term, 1975-79, Gamma Zeta Chapter at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington was established in 1979. McCall was already known as the "father of Psi Delta’ in reference to his instrumental work at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.
Dr. McCall also activated the Chi Phi Building Fund and subsequently left a generous bequest in his will. He appointed the Fraternity’s third national director, Raymond J. Donohue, Omega 1961. During his four-year tenure, Donohue modernized the alumni dues program which resulted in a substantial increase in overall giving and focused on the restoration of chapter relations which had been strained during the Vietnam War. Donohue would return to service in the Fraternity as Grand Alpha in 1990-91 and Grand Delta 1992-99.
Bates Block, Gamma 1940 and Eta 1942, assumed office as Grand Alpha in 1979. Often called "Mr. Chi Phi" for his extraordinary service to the Fraternity, Block was devoted to Chi Phi at the local and national levels from his earliest college days to the end of his life. His long list of achievements include offices in the Gamma and Eta Trust Associations and the Atlanta Chi Phi Alumni Club, service on the Grand Council as Grand Eta, appointment to the board of directors of the National Interfraternity Conference and service on The Chi Phi Educational Trust from 1983 until his death in 1990.
Block appointed Steven Schneiderwind, Alpha Theta Chi 1973, as national director in 1980, following the interim leadership of Randolph M. Loos, Theta Delta 1977, the youngest to ever serve as executive secretary. Schneiderwind remained until 1996, giving the Fraternity continuity and stability. Hallmarks of his administration, which supported six Grand Alphas, include the Fraternity’s Chapter Leadership Consultant (CLC) program, the College of Excellence and computerized management. During his administration, 28 chapters were chartered and Chi Phi ranked third nationally in chapter size growth. Schneiderwind created the position of Director of Chapter Services and developed the Fraternity’s House Corporation manual and held regional seminars in 1984-85. Schneiderwind also brought honor to Chi Phi with his election to the office of president of the national Fraternity Executives Association (FEA).
Shortly after Steve Schneiderwind came on board, Fred Kieser, Jr., Theta 1962, began the first of his two terms as Grand Alpha, 1983-87. As Bill Kitchin would later write in the Chi Phi Chakett, "Brother Kieser’s fraternity resume has seldom been equaled. His dedication and leadership were first recognized with his Theta chapter electing him as chapter Alpha. The Grand Council named him national area representative for Mu, Rho, Delta and Psi chapters. From 1972, he continued to be president of the Theta Alumni Association (receiving special recognition for the five-year renovation of the chapter houses and as reunion chairman). In 1978, Kieser became Grand Gamma, and after serving as Grand Alpha, moved over to the Educational Trust, becoming vice-chairman and then chairman." Notable accomplishments as Grand Alpha include Kieser’s leadership in re-establishing the Princeton and Hobart chapters (the latter with invaluable assistance from Keith Stockman), Delta Chapter at Rutgers and Nu Chapter at Texas.
When Richard S. Gilbert, Rho 1962, took office as Chi Phi’s 51st Grand Alpha for the term 1987-89, he had accumulated years of service at the local and national level. As president of the Rho Chapter Alumni Association, he led the chapter turnaround from poor performance to the top fraternity on the Lafayette campus. At the national level, Gilbert has been active as regional counselor, Grand Gamma, Grand Epsilon and Grand Zeta. He served on the Educational Trust from 1978-81 and again from 1991-93, becoming vice chairman of the Educational Trust in 1993. Following the retirement of Bill Kitchin as executive director, Gilbert accepted the vacant position at the request of the Educational Trust’s chairman, Jonathan W. B. Cosby, Lambda 1967, and remained four years. Among his many notable contributions during this period of service was the marketing of several donated real estate properties to the Educational Trust which in turn were converted to substantial assets in Chi Phi’s stock portfolio. Dick Gilbert was also successful in working out a number of mortgage loans to chapters which had been carried by the Educational Trust.
Called "the most active Grand Alpha-elect since the post was established," Clayton L. Scroggins, Alpha-Chi 1942, and former president of the Chi Phi Club of Cincinnati, officially visited more than 15 chapters, 12 alumni club meetings, half-a-dozen chapter alumni association meetings, three Grand Council meetings and various Educational Trust meetings – all before taking office as Grand Alpha. When Grand Alpha Gilbert was called away on pressing business, Scroggins stepped in by installing both the revived Delta Zeta at the University of South Florida and the new Mu Zeta at the University of Denver. Clayton Scroggins also assisted in establishing Chi Phi’s 50th chapter, Kappa Zeta, at Purdue University which was chartered during Dick Gilbert’s term as Grand Alpha. He would later write, "The breadth and depth of our brotherhood is much more meaningful to me after this past 12 months than I ever thought possible...."
Ray Donohue succeeded Scroggins as Grand Alpha 1990-91 and was followed by James C. Edgerton, Beta 1966. Edgerton’s six years of service, 1991-97, were equaled only by two other Grand Alphas, Dr. Theodore Appel, Zeta 1889, and Alfred H. Hutchinson, Xi 1909. The Edgerton administration is remembered for his efforts to forge a new partnership with the Educational Trust, which set the stage for Chi Phi’s current Heritage Campaign. It was also the Edgerton era which ushered in Chi Phi’s Risk Management Fund, a model for other fraternities. In keeping with the Chi Phi’s commitment to re-establish chapters which have expired or been suspended, Edgerton successfully brought about the recolonization of Theta and Gamma, both over 100 years old, as well as adding new chapters (Pi Zeta, Delta Sigma, Tau Zeta and Chi Zeta) and two colonies (the University of Texas, Dallas and the University of North Florida.)
In July 1996, Chi Phi named Richard L. Hess, Jr., Phi Lambda Theta 1986, as its fifth national director. A former Grand Beta, Hess has been involved with the Fraternity since 1989 through the College of Excellence and Regional Leadership Conferences. Under the direction of Grand Alpha Jeffrey Charles Velis, Alpha-Tau 1986, Hess was responsible for selecting and purchasing the Fraternity’s national office building in suburban Atlanta. Since his arrival, Hess has emphasized electronic technology, including the creation of a Chi Phi web page, chapter fiscal responsibility and development of alumni services.
The business of the Chi Phi Fraternity is executed by the Grand Council, which has general care of the assets of the Fraternity and is responsible for the Fraternity's overall welfare. The Fraternity's president, the Grand Alpha, is elected every two years by the Congress, Chi Phi's supreme legislative and governing body which generally convenes every two years.
The Grand Alpha appoints all members of the Grand Council, who serve without compensation. The voting members of the Grand Council are the Grand Alpha, the Fraternity’s chief executive officer; the Grand Beta, chaplain; the Grand Gamma, secretary; the Grand Delta, treasurer; the Grand Epsilon, custodian of records; the Grand Zeta, historian; the Grand Eta, second officer in rank of the Grand Council and the Fraternity’s legal counsel; the Grand Theta and Grand Iota, both undergraduate members of the Grand Council; and Grand Alpha-elect.
The Grand Alpha may also appoint the following non-voting members of the Grand Council: Scholastic Counselor, Ritualistic Counselor and at-large members. The editor of the Chi Phi Chakett, the Fraternity's national publication, and the national director are also non-voting members of the Grand Council.
The Grand Eta is the second officer in rank of the Grand Council and Chi Phi’s legal representative. The Grand Theta and Grand Iota are undergraduate members of the Grand Council.
Each year, the Grand Council presents an array of awards to undergraduates and alumni: the Sparks Memorial Medal for academic excellence; the Distinguished Alumnus Service Awards; the Carl J. Gladfelter Leadership Award; the Chapter Scholastic Achievement Awards; the Philanthropic Achievement Award; the Outstanding Chapter Advisor Award; the Outstanding Alumni Newsletter Award; the William D. Parr Award to a chapter historian; the Chi Phi Chakett Awards; the Thomas A. Gehring Chapter Excellence Awards; the Walter L. Cronkite, Jr., Chi Phi Congressional Award to an alumnus for outstanding humanitarian work; and the E. Bates Block Campus Involvement Award.
The Chi Phi Educational Trust has been working in partnership with the Fraternity since 1930 with the intent of promoting the "intellectual, ethical and leadership development" of Chi Phi members. Credit for the creation of the perpetual Trust belongs to Grand Alpha Alfred H. Hutchinson, Xi 1909, who made it a priority of his administration, 1927-33. (The Hutchinson Keynote Address at the College of Excellence memorializes his vision and commitment.)
In 1972, the Chi Phi Educational Trust received a major bequest of nearly $1,000,000 from the estate of Herman O. Swanson, Alpha-Tau 1914. Although graduating with a degree in engineering, Swanson spent his life as a gentleman farmer in Virginia overseeing his 1,400 acre estate. A renaissance man, he was a highly regarded connoisseur of oriental rugs, ecologist, conservationist, expert shot and amateur photographer. Brother Swanson actually became a Chi Phi belatedly when his local chapter at the University of Michigan affiliated with Chi Phi in 1922. Swanson enjoyed the reunions each fall and once told a fellow alumnus, "They (alumni and chapter members) took me to their hearts and made me feel at home. If I had not known I was in Michigan, I would have thought I was back in Virginia, those boys were so warm and friendly." During one visit, Swanson became acquainted with their chapter advisor, Dr. Charles Smith, Alpha-Tau 1954. It was Smith who put Swanson in contact with Carl Gladfelter in 1968. Gladfelter later commented in The Chi Phi Chronicles, "Although Swanson appeared receptive to the idea, no one suspected the depth of feeling that he had for the Fraternity and values it stands for." The Fraternity memorialized Swanson's generous gift by establishing a library room in Alpha-Tau's chapter house in 1976.
Major programs supported by the Educational Trust include the annual College of Excellence (COE), Chi Phi’s pace-setting leadership training school for undergraduates. The COE is an outgrowth of the Krannert Leadership School which was established by the 1970 Congress. Herman C. Krannert, Sigma 1912, was known as a "man of action rather than a theoretician or academician." A successful businessman and generous philanthropist, Krannert endowed the Educational Trust with funds to seed the annual program, which consisted of a one-day seminar in advance of Congress.
In 1988, the leadership course changed dramatically, in large measure through the influence and encouragement of Grand Alpha Fred Kieser, Jr. Chi Phi's College of Excellence now consumes some four and one-half days with an outstanding faculty of Chi Phi alumni and guest lecturers. The Krannert name endures in COE's Krannert Keynote Address.
Among its most recent grants, the Educational Trust provided approximately $33,000 in scholarships and more than $125,000 to the Fraternity for educational and leadership programs. These include Regional Leadership Conferences, the Chapter Leadership Consultant program which sends consultants from the national office out to the "field" and the annual Sparks Memorial Award for academic excellence.
The idea and design of the Sparks Memorial Medal originated with Dr. Theodore Appel in 1925 in honor of Dr. Edwin Erle Sparks and his many contributions to the Fraternity. Dr. Sparks, Alpha-Chi 1879, is remembered as one of the Fraternity’s most selfless and
distinguished leaders. He was a Phi Beta Kappa, received his M.A. from Harvard, his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and his L.L.D. from Lehigh. In 1921, after becoming president emeritus of Pennsylvania State University, he volunteered to serve as chapter visitor and inspector without compensation. According to The Chi Phi Chronicles, "...He visited each chapter at least twice, edited the Chi Phi Chakett from 1922 and made it a real journal and through his personal contact with chapters and college authorities placed Chi Phi in a splendid position in the college world." Dr. Sparks lived to see his beloved Chi Phi take root on the Penn State campus in May 1924. He passed away only a few weeks later.
The affairs of the Educational Trust are overseen by volunteer trustees who serve staggered five-year terms. They are appointed by a seven-member Board of Governors. The Board of Governors is made up of the Grand Alpha and Grand Eta (who serve ex-officio) and five members-at-large elected by Congress, who also serve staggered terms. The Grand Eta of the Fraternity is counsel to the Educational Trust and an ex-officio member.
Trustees are responsible for the investment of Educational Trust assets and the oversight of their use. As a 501(c) 3 publicly-supported organization, The Chi Phi Educational Trust provides the most favorable tax treatment under the law. Gift methods are flexible to meet individual needs and include: outright gifts; revocable arrangement of a future gift; income-producing gift plans; charitable remainder trusts (CRTs); and the charitable gift annuity contract, which the Educational Trust can issue.
The Educational Trust plans even stronger involvement with the chapters through its new restricted fund program, giving alumni the opportunity to make a tax-deductible donation designated for their chapters. This will open funding for such benefits as sending additional chapter members to the COE, providing more academic scholarships or developing a chapter's physical plant with study resources such as computer laboratories and libraries. Regular alumni giving to the Educational Trust this year exceeded $40,000.
One of the Educational Trust’s most recent accomplishments is the purchase of Chi Phi’s first permanent home. Located in Lilburn, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta, the national office building fulfills a long-held dream of generations of Chi Phis. Looking ahead, the Educational Trust will launch the five year/five million dollar "Heritage Campaign" in partnership with the Fraternity. Both efforts represent a bold new level of cooperation between the Educational Trust and the Fraternity. Words penned on the occasion of Chi Phi's Centennial Celebration hold as true in the year of our 175th Anniversary as they did generations ago: "This year...finds us with a history of which we can all be proud. Mistakes there were and failures, also, but always overcome by a spirit of endeavor and progress. Our organization has changed to meet the changing times, but we have held true to our ideals and face the new era with confidence in a strong sense of loyalty to the general Fraternity, a full realization of our responsibilities and duties, and a faith in our ability to fulfill our destiny." -- Dr. Theodore Burton Appel, January 1924
Brief History, The Princeton Order, The Hobart Order, The Southern Order, The Union Of The Hobart And Princeton Orders, The Union Of The Northern And Southern Orders, Post Union,