Collection: Phi Sigma Pi

Phi Sigma Pi Professional Honorary Fraternity was founded on February 14th, 1916 by three faculty members of the Missouri State Teachers College at Warrensburg, Missouri, which later became Central Missouri State University. The three founders, College President Eldo L. Hendriks, Dean Claude A. Phillips and Professor C. H. McClure sought to help a group of students with high academic standards create a national fraternal organization. Phi Sigma Pi was created to combine and fill the gaps between high academic, leadership and social organizations.

Phi Sigma Pi became a national fraternity on May 2nd, 1921 when the Gamma Chapter at Bradley Polytechnic Institue was founded. Strong leadership from early National Officers like Rolla Wood and Walter P. Percival enabled the fraternity to grow east across the nation and add another 13 cahpters despite the effects of WWI. In 1942, WWII caused the 15 active Phi Sigma Pi chapters to shut down unitl 1946, when all but one were reactivated. But between 1950 and 1955, Phi Sigma Pi struggled due to a loss of national leadership and financial resources.