Phi Sigma Kappa - Alpha Epsilon

The History of Phi Sigma Epsilon

"That group of young men who founded the Phi Sigma Epsilon Fraternity were pioneers, living in advance of their college age."

Fred M. Thompson, Founder

In the beginning of the twentieth century, as colleges increased in number and enrollment, new fraternities were founded in the United States and Canada. It was the desire to be a member of such an organization that led Fred M. Thompson and Orin M. Rhine, then students at Kansas State Normal College in Emporia, Kansas, to begin the process which finally resulted in the birth of Phi Sigma Epsilon. In recalling those trying days, Brother Thompson said, "I do know it was a resolute band of young men who made history at the old school who were clamoring for social distinction of a sort that could come only through a secret society. We held many meetings, always with the same purpose in mind, that of organizing a fraternity. "In January of 1910, two members of the group, Fred Thompson and Victor Bottomly, presented their case for a fraternity to College President Joseph H. Hill. After giving respectful attention to the two men, President Hill thumbed his nose glasses and looked off into space. The substance of his response was: "You have my permission to organize a fraternity. I have supreme confidence in all of you and believe that the time has come for such societies to have a place (on our campus)."

According to some of the records maintained by Co-Founder Robert Marley, several unsuccessful attempts were made prior to this final realization of the organization, but when in the fall of 1909, the founders of Phi Sigma Epsilon were first called together, there was little doubt that a real fraternity with wholesome ideals and lofty purposes was assured. In one of those early meetings before receiving President Hill's permission, the real work of forming a temporary organization had already begun. Fred Thompson was chairman and Orin Rhine, secretary; and committees were developed on rituals and the constitution. Victor Bottomly and Robert Marley served on the committee writing the oath. At the time of President Hill's decision, a constitution was already in the making and Fred Thompson, as a committee of one, had submitted the Greek letters.

Then came the real birth of Phi Sigma Epsilon, for it was during a cold Kansas evening, on February 20, 1910, that the Constitution and Bylaws were adopted. This eventful meeting took place after dinner at the Ed Leisch home at 810 Constitution Street in Fred Thompson's room. In the words of Orin M. Rhine, "This was the first of the Fraternity. We had completed the Ritual that afternoon and the first Phi Sigma Epsilon man was Fred M. Thompson." He was followed by Raymond Victor Bottomly, Robert C. Marley, W. Roy "Drommie" Campbell, Orin M. Rhine, W. Ingram Forde, and Humphrey Jones. Phi Sigma Epsilon elected Fred Thompson its first President; Raymond Victor Bottomly, Vice President and Treasurer; Robert C. Marley, Secretary and Scribe; and W. Roy Campbell, Sergeant-At-Arms. Professor Buelich, head of the Music Department, was chosen as sponsor. That spring, Phi Sigma Epsilon sponsored its first fraternity dance in an upstairs hall at the northeast corner of Merchant and Sixth in Emporia. During that infant year, membership grew to a total of 13.

The early years of Phi Sigma Epsilon were stormy ones, for there was much opposition to secret societies, and the fraternity had to exist as an underground organization until 1912. Phi Sigma Epsilon was considered an outlaw organization and frowned upon by many of the college authorities and citizens. However, the fraternity's willingness to cooperate, and its program of scholastic and social improvements, soon won support and admiration. Finally, in 1913, Phi Sigma Epsilon was officially recognized on campus, and Prof. C. R. Phipps became the sponsor. It is noteworthy, however, that even then, feelings against the fraternity were so strong that Professor Phipps was dropped from the membership of the Y.M.C.A.

The early meetings of Phi Sigma Epsilon were held in various places-in Fred Thompson's room at 810 Constitution Street, in a doctor's office downtown, and in Professor Phipps' basement, where members had to cover the windows to keep "peepers" from disturbing proceedings. The Cross home at 6th and Union became the group's first real fraternity house in 1912, and remained so until 1917 when the membership was reduced by the enlistment of the men in the armed forces of the United States. Because of the membership decline, it was thought best to find a smaller house. For one year, the operations resumed with the purchase of the house at 1119 Merchant Street, which served as the fraternity home of Alpha Chapter until 1943.

In 1926-1927, Phi Sigma Epsilon formed a union with Sigma Delta Tau of Kirksville State Teachers College in Kirksville, Missouri, and Pi Sigma Epsilon of Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburg, Kansas. Phi Sigma Epsilon thus became a national fraternity, and a group of members, including Brother Fred Schwengel, authored the fraternity's new ritual. The fraternity expanded to many other campuses until every chapter ceased operations between 1941 and 1946 because of the lack of manpower caused by World War II. Under the leadership of National President Shannon Flowers, however, the fraternity was successfully revived after the war, and again entered a period of expansion, until, like other fraternities, Phi Sigma Epsilon suffered a decline during the 1970's.

In 1984, National President James Whitfield was approached by Grand President Anthony Fusaro of Phi Sigma Kappa with a suggestion that the two fraternities consider the possibility of a merger. The negotiations which followed resulted in the joining of the two fraternities at the 50th General Convention of Phi Sigma Kappa in Washington, D.C., on August 14, 1985.