Hence, PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY.INC. was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C., January 9, 1914. The founders, Honorable A. Langston Taylor, Honorable Leonard F. Morse, and Honorable Charles I. Brown wanted to organize a Greek letter fraternity that would truly exemplify the ideals of brotherhood, scholarship, and service.
MHF A. Langston Taylor was elected President, MHF Charles I. Brown, the Vice President, and MHF Leonard F. Morse, Secy-Treasurer. The Board of Deans at Howard University recognized the new fraternity on April 15, 1914. The University Reporter, the student publication at Howard University, made public the organization of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, the following week. The first initiation was held May 4, 1914. On January 31, 1920, Phi Beta Sigma was incorporated in Washington, DC and became Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
MHF Abram L. Taylor was a tall, lanky lad from Memphis, TN; easy going but tireless. His eyes were set deep in a brown skin face that showed a squared chin and prominent ears. His speech was pleasant; his oratory stirring. One of the greatest names in Sigma, MHF Taylor was the spark that lighted the Sigma flame among the three. More than any other he is responsible for the growth of the Fraternity - especially in the earlier years. He has been National Pres., Secretary, Treas., Field Secy.,and President of the Distinguished Service Chapter. MHF Taylor was an Elk and a 33rd degree F&AM PHA. His triumphant life came to an end August 8, 1953.
MHF Charles I. Brown was physically a little smaller than average; his cheek bones were high, his "cowlicks" deep. Socially, he was known to be a "perfect gentleman." This is to say that he had that gracious courtesy that is commonly associated with the Eighteenth Century ideal type; never hurried, never flustered reticent and affable. He was the third member of the "Great Three" who founded Phi Beta Sigma. MHF Brown entered Howard University in 1907 graduating in 1914. After Graduating, he taught English for public schools in Topeka , KS. MHF Brown is noted for founding "Dangerous" Delta Chapter @ Kansas State University, the first chapter in Sigma History to be chartered on a racially mixed university campus.
MHF Leonard F. Morse was handsome, shy thin and dark. He was very much the New Englander-from New Bedford Massachusetts. He was the first elected Alpha Chapter President; holder of Sigma's Distinguished Service Key. MHF Brown was also the first male student at Howard University to earn two degrees in three years. He also earned (3) bachelor degrees, (1) Master Degree (2) Doctorate Degrees before his death. MHF Brown was the President of both Edward Waters College, and Dean of both Payne University and Bethel Colleges. He later became the Florida State Dir., and personally organized nine chapters with in that state.
The founders deeply wished to create an organization that viewed itself as "A part of" the general community rather than "apart from" the general community. They believed that each potential member should be judged on his own merits rather than his family background or affluence...without regard of race, nationaliy, color, skin tone or texture of hair. They wished and wanted their fraternity to exist as a part of an even greater brotherhood-sisterhood which would be devoted to the "inclusive we" rather than the "exclusive we".
From its inception, The founders also conceived Phi Beta Sigma as a mechanism to deliver services to the general community. Rather than gaining skills to be utilized exclusively for themselves and their immediate families, the founders of Phi Beta Sigma held the deep conviction that they should return their newly acquired skills to the communities from which they had come. This deep conviction was mirrored in the fraternity motto, "Culture For Service and Service For Humanity".
Today, nearly three-quarter of a century later, Phi Beta Sigma has blossomed int an international organization of leaders. No longer a single entiy, the fraternity hasnow established the Phi Beta Sigma Educational Foundation, Inc. (to provide housing assistance) and the Phi Beta Sigma Federal Credit Union (to build financial equity within our target communities).
As a social and service organization, Phi Beta Sigma has many programs. The three National Programs of Bigger and Better Business, Social Action, and Education, help focus the fraternity on delivering to the needs of today's and tommorrow's world. In order to implement these and other programs, Phi Beta Sigma works with organizations such as:
The National Pan Hellenic Council The NAACP The National Urban League March of Dimes The National African American Leadership Summit The National Headstart Association Birth Defects Foundation Children Defense Fund The National Boys Club Of America
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. is an organization that is concerned and involved in meeting the needs of the community.
Almost since the beginning, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., has
maintained a three-pronged action plan to carry out the Fraternity’s
motto, "Culture for Service and Service
for Humanity."
The components of our National Programs are:
Phi Beta Sigma attempts to be an advocacy group against domestic abuse and a conduit for those individuals needing assistance related to domestic abuse.
5. PROJECT S.A.S (Sigmas Assisting Seniors) Sigmas Assisting Seniors (S.A.S.) is to develop positive relationships with our elders. At least once a tear every chapter, both collegiate and alumni, is asked to adopt a senior citizen center in their immediate area. Once adopting a cent er the brothers, along with the administrative staff of the senior center, will share their gift of love by developing a one-day project for them to conduct with the seniors. Involvement May include educational activities, field trips, participation in th e center activities etc. S.A.S attempts to enhance the dignity and independence of seniors. 6. Project S.E.R (Sigmas Emergency Response) In a humanitarian way Phi Beta Sigma attempts to participate in activities that require action and to respond to circumstances that necessitate assistance. A major focus of this project is to respond in times where disaster relief is neede d as a result of major storms, fires, accidents and disaster. Projects S.E.R. attempts to assist with restoring basic living requirements, dignity and self-reliance. Providing food, clothing, and financial contributions is a goal of this project. This pro ject is also intended to see men of Sigma participate in major activities such as Sigmas outstanding involvement in the 1995 Million Man March. 7. Phi Beta Sigma - "A Fraternity that Reads" Phi Beta Sigma - A Fraternity that Reads is an annual project that all collegiate and alumni chapters are encouraged to participate in. Each year chapters are to communicate with their local public libraries. In cooperation with library, m embers will read previously approved stories and books to the children. Local day-care centers, elementary schools, churches, Head Start agencies and, of course, Sigma Beta Clubs are considered as places where children may be obtained from.Phi Beta Sigma - A Fraternity that Reads attempts to convey to children the impotence of reading while at the same time create some additional positive black role models for our children.
8. Phi Beta Sigma's National Marrow Donor Program is intended for both members of Sigma along with all African Americans. Each member is encouraged to be listed as volunteer marrow donor on the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry so that they can be contacted if ever matched wit h a patient in need. Additionally, every chapter within Sigma is encouraged to annually participate with the American Red Cross in their drives to increase the number of African-American volunteer marrow donor registrants. In January of each year, chapters are asked to call the NMDP at 1-800-MARROW-2 to obtain the telephone number and mailing address for their specific donor center. Sigmas attempts to address the need for more African American volunteers by setting a positi ve example themselves. 9. Sigma I.D. Day April 15th if every year is Sigma I.D. Day. All brothers, officers and chapters are expected to exert special efforts at wearing and displaying Phi beta Sigma paraphernalia. Special programs and projects are encoura ged to be facilitated on this day. It is hoped that on this day, every year, inactive brothers may be stimulated to get reactivated and non-Greek lettered men may be energized to ascertain information from brothers being "Proud To Wear & Display The Blue & White." 10. Phi Beta Sigma - "Buying Black and Giving Back" All brothers and chapters are strongly encouraged to physically assist and financially support minority business both in and surrounding their various neighborhoods. In an effort to significantly enhance this effort all Sigmas' in business are expected to have their business listed in the Phi Beta Sigma "Blue Pages" Business Directory. Furthermore, brothers are asked to exert special energies at supporting minority business, and pub licize such, on their chapter meeting day. January 16, 1920 as the result of encouragement given to the five founders by Most Honorable Brothers: Charles and Abram Langston Taylor, members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was founded on the campus of Howard University. These Sigma Brothers felt the campus would benefit by the development of such an organization as sisters to the fraternity. Though often imitated, we can never be properly duplicated Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. still remain the first and only constitutionally bound Brother & Sister Greek-letter organization in existence. Others have come along and tried to imitate what Sigma and Zeta began, but they were not built from the same framework and thus, can never be called a true family. Our National mentoring program, the Sigma Beta Club, one of the more notable accomplishments of the Fraternity, has helped to shape and mold young men and boys nationwide. Phi Beta Sigma's focus in past social issues included being instrumental in establishing National and State Anti-Lynching legislation in the 1930's and 40's, the elimination of racial discrimination and segration in federal, state, municipal and county e mployment. In the 50's and 60's along with the abolition of Jim Crow Laws. Brother A. Phillip Randolph was a key factor and the mind behind the march on Washington during the sixties civil right's movement, as was brother Huey P. Newton in awakening the minds of Afr ican-Americans to rise up out of the plight of mental slavery. In the year of 1995, Phi Beta Sigma in cooperation with our lovely sorors of Zeta, became the only African-American Fraternity and Sorority (Greek-lettered or not) to not only SUPPORT the Million Man March in Washington, DC, but to SP ONSOR it as well, with Phi Beta Sigma's International Headquarters at 145 Kennedy St. NW in Washington, DC serving as the National Headquarters for the event. Our distinguished Bro.Chavis Muhammad (formerly known as Benjamin Chavis) was the coordinator behind the event. The main goal of the brotherhood of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., is "To be the Leading Proactive Community Service Organization in the world." There is a great deal of work needed to restore faith and hope to many ailing communities across the nation. Phi Beta Sigma will play a part i n the healing process. SIGMAS have the talent, energy, and desire to make a difference when others neglect their responsiblities.
