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==History== ===Founders=== [[File:Sigma Pi Founders 1897.jpg|center]] * Rolin Rosco James (October 16, 1879 – February 4, 1953): Born in [[Lincolnville, Indiana]]. Graduated from [[Vincennes University]] in 1900; A. B., [[Earlham College]], 1902; Studied at [[Harvard Law School]]. He was a member of the [[Presbyterian Church]] and by profession, a consulting attorney.<ref name=IBelieve/> * William Raper Kennedy (November 22, 1877 – December 5, 1944): Born in [[Vincennes, Indiana]]. Graduated Vincennes University in 1897. Served in the [[Spanish–American War]] and re-enlisted in the infantry a month after being discharged. He was continuously in military service and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the infantry. He was a faculty member at [[Culver Military Academy]] from 1905 until retiring in 1944.<ref name=IBelieve /> * James Thompson Kingsbury (January 8, 1877 – October 1, 1950): Born in [[Lawrence County, Illinois]]. Descended from the [[Kingsbury family]] who settled in Massachusetts in 1615. Graduated Vincennes University in 1897; A. B. [[University of Illinois]] 1899, LL.B 1902. Practiced law in [[Bisbee, Arizona]]. He was a member of the Christian Church and of [[Masonic Lodges]] in [[Tombstone, Arizona]] and [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]].<ref name=IBelieve /> * George Martin Patterson (November 7, 1877 – April 7, 1960): Born in Palmyra, Township, [[Knox County, Indiana]]. His ancestors settled in [[Vincennes, Indiana|Vincennes]] before [[Indiana]] became a state and were prominent in the development of that part of the country. Served as the Deputy Recorder of [[Knox County, Indiana|Knox County]] and then followed in his father's footsteps of farming.<ref name=IBelieve /> ===Founding and early history (1897–1908)=== On January 26, 1897, Charlotte N. Mallote, a professor of Latin and French, spoke to a group of students during chapel hour at [[Vincennes University]] about [[Fraternities|College Fraternities]]. One month later, on February 26, 1897, a new literary society had its first meeting, founded by James, Kennedy, Patterson, and Kingsbury.<ref name="Bairds1990">{{cite book |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title= ''[[Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities]]''|publisher=Baird's Manual Foundation |chapter=III NIC Member Fraternities | editor1-last=Anson | editor1-first=Jack |editor2-last= Marchesani|editor2-first= Robert F. Jr.|pages=133–134 |edition=20th |date=1990 |isbn=0-9637159-0-9 }}. Baird's Manual is also available online here: [https://www.library.illinois.edu/slc/welcome/fraternity-sorority-almanac/ The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage].</ref> The first two initiates of the society were Samuel and Maurice Bayard, who joined before a name or [[constitution]] was established. The constitution, name, and first ritual were developed at the Bayards' home. The founders soon agreed upon a name, and the society was christened Tau Phi Delta ({{lang|grc|ΤΦΔ}}). By the end of its first year in 1898, Tau Phi Delta had 10 members, but the new Fraternity encountered membership struggles at the turn of the 20th century, with many of America's young men leaving to fight in the [[Spanish–American War]]. Personal endeavors were paused, while national efforts and resources focused on the war in the [[Caribbean]] and [[Pacific Oceans]]. Key members of Tau Phi Delta, William Raper Kennedy, Lee B. Purcell, and Maurice Bayard, all left to fight in the war, leaving James as the sole member by the [[Spanish–American War|end of the war]]. James restored the society by initiating five new members shortly after the turn of the 20th century.<ref name = "Bairds1990" /> These new members pressured James to change the name to Theta Gamma Psi ({{lang|grc|ΘΓΨ}}), but James successfully argued to keep the name Tau Phi Delta. In 1903–1904, the Fraternity had grown so large that it stopped meeting at Vincennes and began meeting at The Bayard Cottage, considered the fraternity's first chapter house. In 1907, Tau Phi Delta began meeting at the old colonial residence of Judge J.P.L Weems. It was in the [[Albert Parker Niblack|Niblack]]-Weems household that Tau Phi Delta was rechristened as Sigma Pi. The home would later host the first national congress.<ref name=IBelieve /> [[File:Sigma Pi at WM.jpg|thumb|upright|Sigma Pi house at [[College of William & Mary|William & Mary]] est. 1931]] In 1904–05, Tau Phi Delta sought expansion to other universities. Though rejected, a local fraternity at [[Indiana University]] petitioned to become the second chapter, and Tau Phi Delta began talks with other local fraternities at nearby universities. These discussions ultimately ended without expansion. Additional chapters would eventually be added after Tau Phi Delta became Sigma Pi on February 11, 1907.<ref name = "Bairds1990" /><ref name=IBelieve /> In May 1908 the fraternity held its first National Convocation in Vincennes and charters were granted to groups at the [[University of Illinois]] (Phi chapter) and [[Ohio State University]] (Gamma chapter).<ref name = "Bairds1990" /> Francis L. Lisman was elected as the fraternity's first Grand Sage.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Shake|first=Curtis G.|date=July 1921|volume=8|number=2|magazine=The Emerald of Sigma Pi|title=The First Convocation|page=103|url=http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/archive/Emerald/1921/SP_EMERALD_VOL_8_NO_2_JULY_1921.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824010955/http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/archive/Emerald/1921/SP_EMERALD_VOL_8_NO_2_JULY_1921.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 24, 2017}}</ref> ===Patterson episode: how Sigma Pi got its name=== Robert George Patterson (no relation to the founder George M. Patterson) was inspired by [[William Jennings Bryan]]'s membership in the [[Sigma Pi literary society|Sigma Pi]] literary society at [[Illinois College]]. Unable to attend Illinois College, Patterson tried unsuccessfully to have the society expand to [[Ohio State University]] and contacted an unrelated fraternity at the [[University of Toronto]], also called [[Phi Kappa Pi|Sigma Pi]], about expansion. Failing at these, Patterson fabricated a history of Sigma Pi, claiming it was founded in 1752 at the [[College of William & Mary]] with members such as [[James Madison]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], and [[Robert E. Lee]]. He then contacted Tau Phi Delta, which accepted his fabricated history and consolidated under the Sigma Pi name.<ref name=IBelieve/> [[File:William Jennings Bryan.JPG|thumb|upright|William Jennings Bryan]] In 1909, Patterson's claims unraveled. The World Almanac listed Sigma Pi Fraternity, with its fabricated history and listing [[William Jennings Bryan]] as an alumnus. Bryan, a member of [[Delta Chi]] and the unrelated Sigma Pi literary society, informed the magazine of the error. Furthermore, [[William Raimond Baird]] rejected Sigma Pi Fraternity's request for inclusion in his directory. Baird wrote "all statements concerning the alleged origin of this society are inherently incredible." He suggested the story seemed to "be the product of a rather sophomoric imagination." Sigma Pi Fraternity, still unaware of Patterson's fabrications, appealed to Baird to reconsider. Baird refused and published an article criticizing Sigma Pi Fraternity. Patterson was expelled from Sigma Pi, and records bearing his name were deleted. The fraternity only later acknowledged this incident in its official history.<ref name=IBelieve/> Following Patterson's expulsion, Sigma Pi had five chapters: [[Vincennes University]], [[University of Illinois]], [[Ohio State University]], [[Temple University]], and the [[University of Pennsylvania]]. The fraternity redesigned its badge, coat of arms, and ritual.<ref name=IBelieve/> ===Early Growth: 1910 to World War II=== Sigma Pi continued to grow, co-founding the [[North American Interfraternity Conference]] (NIC) in 1910.<ref name = "Bairds1990" /> On July 15, 1911, Sigma Pi's official publication, ''The Emerald'', was first published.<ref name = "Bairds1990" /> It would not be regularly published until 1914.<ref name="IBelieve" /> The fraternity established its first chapter west of the [[Mississippi River]] in 1913 (Iota chapter at the [[University of California, Berkeley]]). World War I saw only Kappa chapter at [[Temple University]] close, though other chapters operated minimally. By 1918 there were 14 chapters. The fraternity published ''The Songs of Sigma Pi'' in 1920 and established its first chapter in the [[American south]] (Omicron chapter at [[Tulane University]]).<ref>{{cite magazine|date=April 1920|volume=7|number=1|magazine=The Emerald of Sigma Pi|title=Songs of Sigma Pi|page=66|url=http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/archive/Emerald/1920/SP_EMERALD_VOL_7_NO_1_APR_1920.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826031725/http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/archive/Emerald/1920/SP_EMERALD_VOL_7_NO_1_APR_1920.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 26, 2017}}</ref> The Sigma Pi Foundation, an endowment fund, was established in 1922 and formally chartered in [[Indiana]] in 1923.<ref name = "Bairds1990" /><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Palmer|first=Cyrus E.|date=January 1922|volume=8|number=4|magazine=The Emerald of Sigma Pi|title=A Permanent Endowment Fund For Sigma Pi|pages=219–221|url=http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/archive/Emerald/1922/SP_EMERALD_VOL_8_NO_4_JAN_1922.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820190745/http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/archive/Emerald/1922/SP_EMERALD_VOL_8_NO_4_JAN_1922.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 20, 2016}}</ref> Sigma Pi doubled its chapters between 1920 and 1927 and established a national office on May 16, 1927. It first operated out of Roselle, NJ, then Elizabeth, NJ.<ref name = offices>{{cite magazine|date=April 1929|volume=16|number=1|magazine=The Emerald of Sigma Pi|title=The New Quarters of the Executive Office|pages=8–10|url=http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/archive/Emerald/1929/SP_EMERALD_VOL_16_NO_1_APR_1929.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826031642/http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/archive/Emerald/1929/SP_EMERALD_VOL_16_NO_1_APR_1929.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 26, 2017}}</ref> The fraternity published its first pledge manual in 1931.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=November 1931|volume=18|number=3|magazine=The Emerald of Sigma Pi|title=The Pledge Manual|page=165|url=http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/archive/Emerald/1931/SP_EMERALD_VOL_18_NO_3_NOV_1931.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826071210/http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/archive/Emerald/1931/SP_EMERALD_VOL_18_NO_3_NOV_1931.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 26, 2017}}</ref> The ''Keryx'' newsletter also began publication in 1931. In 1937, the [[Mississippi State University]] chapter (Alpha-Lambda) became the first new chapter formed from a colony rather than consolidation.<ref name = Emerald1987>{{cite magazine|date=Winter 1987|volume=18|number=3|magazine=The Emerald of Sigma Pi|title=Ninety Years of Sigma Pi|pages=2–13|url=http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/archive/Emerald/1987/SP_EMERALD_VOL_74_NO_4_WINTER_1987|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826030500/http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/archive/Emerald/1987/SP_EMERALD_VOL_74_NO_4_WINTER_1987|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 26, 2017}}</ref> James Hauser became the first field representative that same year.<ref name=IBelieve /> By May 1940, Sigma Pi had 34 active and 2 inactive chapters and had begun using the ''I Believe'' pledge manual. [[World War II]] drastically reduced the fraternity to 11 active chapters by war's end.<ref name=IBelieve /> ===Post War era: 1945 to 1980=== [[File:Schirra entering MA-8 capsule.jpg|thumb|Brother [[Wally Schirra]] entering capsule [[Mercury-Atlas 8|Sigma 7]] (1962)]] Following [[World War II]], Sigma Pi benefited from increased college enrollments under the [[GI Bill]]. By 1950, it had 53 chapters (7 inactive), growing to 63 chapters by 1960. The Byron R. Lewis Educational Foundation, started in 1945 and incorporated in 1952, provided scholarships to members.<ref name = Emerald1987/><ref name = "Bairds1990" /> Beta-Kappa chapter at [[Arizona State University]], chartered in 1951, was unique for having founder James Thompson Kingsbury assist in its founding. During the 1960s the fraternity added 39 chapters, reaching a total of 109. In 1961, [[Vincennes University]] donated the [[Shadowwood]] estate to the fraternity for use as its national headquarters.<ref name = offices/><ref name = "Bairds1990" /> The national office moved into Shadowwood in 1963 after renovations.<ref name=IBelieve /> In 1964, four chapters of the [[Delta Kappa]] fraternity joined Sigma Pi after being impacted by a 1953 [[New York State Board of Regents]] edict prohibiting national fraternities at state-funded universities.<ref name="Baird's_18th">{{cite book |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title= ''Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities''|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=35wQcgAACAAJ |location= Menasha, Wisconsin|publisher=Banta Publishing Company | editor-last=Robson | editor-first=John |pages=769–770 |edition=18th |date=1968 }}</ref> William J. Cutbirth became the first Sigma Pi to be president of the [[North American Interfraternity Conference]], serving from 1974 to 1976.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=April 1929|volume=64|number=3|magazine=The Emerald of Sigma Pi|title=Three New Founders Awards Recipients|pages=5|url=http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/archive/Emerald/1976/SP_EMERALD_VOL_64_NO_3_FALL_1976.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826031728/http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/archive/Emerald/1976/SP_EMERALD_VOL_64_NO_3_FALL_1976.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 26, 2017}}</ref> ===International era, 1980 to the present=== The fraternity chartered 42 new chapters in the 1980s. Sigma Pi became an international organization in 1984 with the chartering of Zeta-Iota chapter at [[Western Ontario University|Western Ontario]] in [[Canada]].<ref name = "Bairds1990" /> The fraternity subsequently changed its name to Sigma Pi Fraternity International. In 1988, the fraternity received the [[Rose Hill Farmstead]] from the family of founder George Martin Patterson and sold the property to the Sigma Pi Educational Foundation in 1992.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=Winter 2000|volume=86|number=1|magazine=The Emerald of Sigma Pi|title=Sigma Pi and Historic Preservation|pages=7–10|url=http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/archive/Emerald/2000/SP_Emerald_VOL_86_NO_1_WINTER_2000.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815024407/http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/archive/Emerald/2000/SP_Emerald_VOL_86_NO_1_WINTER_2000.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 15, 2017}}</ref> The fraternity moved its international offices to [[Brentwood, TN]] in 2003, selling the Shadowwood Estate in 2005. The offices again moved in 2007.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Dibble|first=Adam|date=Summer 2007|volume=92|number=2|magazine=The Emerald of Sigma Pi|title=Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening of International Headquarters|pages=2|url=http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/Archive/Emerald/2007/SP_EMERALD_VOL_92_NO_2_SUMMER_2007.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826031024/http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/Archive/Emerald/2007/SP_EMERALD_VOL_92_NO_2_SUMMER_2007.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 26, 2017}}</ref> In 2013, the fraternity purchased the [[Mitchell House (Lebanon, Tennessee)|Mitchell House]] in [[Lebanon, Tennessee]] for its headquarters, holding the grand opening in 2014.<ref name = offices/><ref>{{cite news |last=Felkins |first=Jared |date=November 8, 2013 |title=Cracker Barrel sells Mitchell House to fraternity |url=http://www.lebanondemocrat.com/Business/2013/11/07/Cracker-Barrel-sells-Mitchell-House-to-fraternity |newspaper=Lebanon Democrat |location=Lebanon, Tennessee |access-date=August 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807235239/http://www.lebanondemocrat.com/Business/2013/11/07/Cracker-Barrel-sells-Mitchell-House-to-fraternity |archive-date=August 7, 2017 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Sigma Pi buys Mitchell House|url=http://wilsonpost.com/sigma-pi-buys-mitchell-house-cms-82541|newspaper=The Wilson Post|location=Lebanon, Tennessee |date=November 6, 2013 |access-date=August 7, 2017}}</ref> The Executive Office later moved to Nashville. ===Alpha chapter at Vincennes University: preserving Sigma Pi's history=== [[File:Sigma Pi Clock Tower.JPG|thumb|upright|Sigma Pi Centennial Clock Tower at Alpha chapter ([[Vincennes University]])]] The Alpha chapter at Vincennes University closed in 1910 and was reactivated in 1965 with special dispensation from the NIC, which then prohibited chapters at two-year [[junior college]]s.<ref name = "Bairds1990" /> The success of the Alpha chapter led the NIC to allow chapters at all junior colleges in 1970. A [[clock tower]] at [[Vincennes University]] commemorates the foundation of Sigma Pi. The Alpha chapter remains active.<ref name=IBelieve/>
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