Chi Psi
Chi Psi is a fraternity consisting of active chapters at 32 American colleges and universities. The mission of the Chi Psi Fraternity is to create and maintain an enduring society which encourages the sharing of traditions and values, respect for oneself and others, and responsibility to the university and community.
Chi Psi was founded on Thursday May 20, 1841, by 10 students at Union College in Schenectady, New York with the idea of emphasizing the fraternal and social principles of a brotherhood. It was the first Greek-letter organization to be founded on these grounds, rather than the literary characteristics of the seven then-existing societies. In 1846, Chi Psi was the first fraternity in the nation to establish a fraternity house. The first fraternity house was located at the University of Michigan. Thanks to the building's resemblance to a hunting lodge, Chi Psi now refers to all its houses as Lodges.
Chi Psi's official colors are Royal Purple and Gold. Chi Psi's national headquarters, the Central Office, is in Nashville, Tennessee.
History
Chi Psi was founded on Thursday May 20, 1841, by 10 students at Union College with the idea of emphasizing the fraternal and social principles of a brotherhood. The 10 founding members were: Philip Spencer, Robert Heyward McFaddin of Greensboro, Alabama, Jacob Henry Farrell, John Brush Jr., Samuel Titus Taber, James Lafayette Witherspoon, William Force Terhune, Alexander Peter Berthoud, James Chatham Duane, and Patrick Upshaw Major.Values and the Chi Psi Gentleman
Chi Psi is founded upon the fraternal aspects of brotherhood and embraces a number of values in its pursuit to establish this brotherhood. These values were first adopted at its founding in 1841, and later, a restatement of principles was given at the 122nd National Convention in 1963. Some of these values are as follows: Chi Psi is defined by the values which are collectively accepted by its members. The extent to which these values are practiced is the measure of our fraternity; Chi Psi is committed to the growth of the individual in a social environment which nurtures integrity, dignity, and maturity while enjoying shared experiences and college sociability; and Chi Psi recognizing that academic achievement is fundamental to the development of the individual, stands for intellectual growth and the attainment of human potential.Chi Psi also embraces the idea of being a true gentleman, by following the definition of a gentleman as put forward by John Walter Wayland's "The True Gentleman":
Program for Excellence
In pursuit of the values the fraternity put forth and in order to make up for a lack of leadership opportunities available on college campuses, the Chi Psi Educational Trust has funded the Program for Excellence. Consisting of numerous sessions and workshops the Program for Excellence focuses on instilling the members of Chi Psi with a respect for themselves, the people they are around, and their community.Purple & Gold
The Chi Psi newsletter, The Purple & Gold was first published in November 1883, and is currently received by all current brothers on a lifetime subscription.Chapters
Chi Psi has active chapters, which are known as Alphas, at 32 American colleges and universities.Active Alphas
Dormant Alphas
Leadership
The President of Chi Psi is known as the #7. The first #7 was elected in 1879, thirty-eight years after the founding of Chi Psi. The #7's are:| #7 | Alpha | Initiation Year | Term Start | Term End |
| Dr. Stephen H. Tyng, Jr. | Theta | 1858 | 1879 | 1882 |
| Elbridge Thomas Gerry | Zeta | 1857 | 1882 | 1914 |
| Edward C. Swift | Epsilon | 1878 | 1914 | 1919 |
| Albert S. Bard | Chi | 1888 | 1919 | 1921 |
| Vojta F. Mashek | Psi | 1889 | 1921 | 1923 |
| John Wendell Anderson | Epsilon | 1890 | 1923 | 1930 |
| Vojta F. Mashek | Psi | 1889 | 1930 | 1934 |
| Frank Matthiessen | Psi | 1895 | 1934 | 1936 |
| Vojta F. Mashek | Psi | 1889 | 1936 | 1940 |
| Charles E. Merrill | Chi | 1908 | 1940 | 1949 |
| Clifford H. Williams | Theta | 1902 | 1949 | 1952 |
| John P. Mentzer | Epsilon Delta | 1889 | 1952 | 1955 |
| Harold S. Falk | Iota | 1906 | 1955 | 1958 |
| Stanley J. Birge | Chi | 1908 | 1958 | 1961 |
| H. Seger Slifer | Epsilon | 1912 | 1961 | 1967 |
| Temple Hoyne Buell | Zeta Delta | 1916 | 1967 | 1973 |
| Nelson T. Levings | Omicron | 1926 | 1973 | 1977 |
| Oliver R. Rowe | Sigma | 1925 | 1977 | 1985 |
| Robert B. Plunkett | Iota Delta | 1933 | 1985 | 1988 |
| F. Van S. Parr | Alpha | 1929 | 1988 | 1990 |
| Carleton A. Holstrom | Iota | 1957 | 1990 | 1992 |
| Robert C. Preble, Jr. | Chi | 1944 | 1992 | 1995 |
| Dr. George W. Ray III | Alpha | 1954 | 1995 | 2001 |
| Malcolm D. Jeffrey | Theta | 1954 | 2001 | 2004 |
| Dr. Daniel B. Ahlberg | Nu | 1967 | 2005 | 2014 |
| Verne G. Istock | Epsilon | 1963 | 2014 | 2019 |
| W. S. "Bill" Hattendorf, Jr. | Alpha Delta | 1969 | 2019 | - |
The Executive Director of Chi Psi is known as the #23. The first #23 was appointed in 1921. The #23's are:
| #23 | Alpha | Initiation Year | Term Start | Term End |
| H. Seger Slifer | Epsilon | 1912 | 1921 | 1961 |
| William E. LeClere | Beta Delta | 1957 | 1961 | 1967 |
| James E. Bray | Epsilon Delta | 1963 | 1967 | 1970 |
| Richard D. Elliott | Beta | 1967 | 1970 | 1972 |
| T. Lee Pomeroy II | Xi | 1971 | 1972 | 1979 |
| William S. Hattendorf, Jr. | Alpha Delta | 1969 | 1978 | 1983 |
| Herbert P. Carroll | Epsilon | 1945 | 1983 | 1988 |
| Michael C. Illuzzi | Rho | 1977 | 1988 | 1994 |
| Philip L. Smith | Sigma | 1964 | 1994 | 1995 |
| Donald E. Kreger | Epsilon Delta | 1951 | 1996 | 1998 |
| Stephen Gardner | Nu | 1987 | 1998 | 2000 |
| Robert K. Windsor | Eta | 1955 | 2000 | 2002 |
| Samuel C. Bessey | Eta Delta | 1997 | 2002 | Present |