Editing Sigma Pi (section)

===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>