FOUNDING THE ACTIVE CHAPTER
Alpha-Alpha of Chi Phi, our local chapter, was formed in 1858 by six young men from Hertford County and survived intact through the War Between the States, but had to dissolve in 1868, and the records transferred to the University of Virginia. Thus, the beginning of our brotherhood at Chapel Hill was one of the headwaters of our Chi Phi fraternity* (See Appendix for details)
The second genesis of Chi Phi at North Carolina began in June 1922 when the following seven men: Gaskin Swindell Bruton, Ludlow Thomas Rogers, Joseph Maryon (Spike) Saunders, Charles Knox Massey, Clifford Alexander Peeler, Charlie Edward Spencer, and Victor Vernon Young; formed a ‘local’ group known as Gamma Phi with the objective of individuals attaining high scholarship, well rounded development, and wholesome social intercourse. Gamma Phi was recommended to the existing national Chi Phi Fraternity by the University of North Carolina and a new chapter was installed in October 1924. With the reestablishment of Chi Phi Fraternity at North Carolina the hyphenated chapter name “Alpha-Alpha.” Those chapters of Chi Phi with hyphenated names indicate that upon the reestablishment of the chapter, its original name had already been taken. The chapters’ original designation is then preceded by a hyphenated Alpha.
Alpha-Alpha has been an occupant of the white “Chapter House” located at 300 South Columbia Street since 1934 and that lovely, historic structure remains one of the gems of the ever expanding University campus.
SOUTHERN ORDER MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
The Alumni Chapter
Upon initiation into the Chi Phi Alpha-Alpha Chapter, a Brother automatically, upon graduation, becomes a member of the Southern Order Memorial Foundation (the association of the alumni dedicated to the preservation and advancement of the active Alpha-Alpha Chapter).
The Southern Order Memorial Foundation (SOMF) was incorporated September 21, 1934 by Ludlow T. Rogers, J. Maryon (Spike) Saunders, and John M. Foushee in order to establish continuity with the care of the Chapter House and is the owner of the House at 300 South Columbia Street. Thus, the Chapter House, owned by the SOMF alumni, is leased to the active Alpha-Alpha members attending the University of North Carolina. Every Alpha-Alpha initiated alumnus is encouraged to choose to contribute his skills, talents, and time in support and furtherance of the SOMF objectives.
SOMF is a not-for-profit corporation with two fundamental objectives expressed in the language of the Certificate of Incorporation:
To promote the making of gifts by deed, will, and otherwise for the cause of education at the University of North Carolina while providing for the permanency of the gifts and using such gifts for the establishment of scholarships, means, and assistance to Alpha-Alpha students.
To administer benevolent, charitable, and philanthropic trusts to establish and maintain buildings and equipment used for promoting educational development of Alpha-Alpha students.
With these objectives, the Directors and Officers of SOMF cared for the House over the years from 1934 through today raising funds among the Alpha-Alpha alumni for performing maintenance and improvements to the physical plant.
Chapter House History
The Property at 300 S Columbia Street was originally purchased July 15, 1929 by the Pi Kappa Phi Building Company; who built the existing building during 1929 - 1930 to be the local Pi Kappa Phi chapter house. The Pi Kappa Phi Building Company defaulted on the loan payments owed to the Mercantile-Commerce Bank of St Louis, MO and the property was sold at auction on October, 28 1933 for $30,000 to the Berry McAlester Corporation who also, on June 22, 1934, purchased the contents and furnishings.
Subsequently, the property was leased to the Alpha-Alpha Chapter during August 1934.
After being approached by the Berry McAlester Corporation, the SOMF officers Ludlow Rogers, (President), Spike Saunders (Treasurer), and John Foushee (Secretary), and Board entered into negotiations to purchase the property. Deciding to seize the opportunity, they resolved to purchase the property via a $29,000 note back to the Berry McAlester Corporation on June 20, 1935.
Also, on June 20, 1935, the contents and furnishings of the house were purchased by SOMF for $4,000 and financed by a note (payment free for the first 10 years and payable over 25 years) to Berry McAlester Corporation and guaranteed by the Chi Phi Educational Trust Fund.
During World War II, the house was unoccupied since students were serving in the armed forces engaged in liberating Europe. It is reported that John and Olamae Foushee slept nights in the house, from time to time, to forestall the vandalism threat to an unoccupied property.
The house was briefly leased from November 1, 1945 through August 31, 1947 to the Delta Delta Delta Sorority of Chicago, IL. Then, after the lease, the House returned to be the home of the active Alpha-Alpha Chapter until today.
Through the years the debt obligations for the house were paid down but they were never paid off and retired.
Through the depression, war, and postwar years the alumni Brotherhood of SOMF applied their skills, financial resources, and hearts into fulfilling the original SOMF Charter objectives, while adapting to evolving economic, academic, and social environments. They met and conquered a variety of challenges along the way.
During 1958 the Alpha-Alpha Chapter celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the original Alpha Chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity.
House Renovation ~ Phase I
Over the period of 55 years that the House has served the active Chapter, the ravages of time, the advancement of technology, elevated housing expectations, and significant safety concerns triggered SOMF to launch a major campaign to perform extensive renovations and improvements to our historic Chapter House.
In the spring of 1987 Charlie S. Nelson (’42) was serving on the City of Chapel Hill Appearance Board and discovered that the Chi Phi house was listed among other fraternities to have the facilities inspected for building and appearance code compliance. In anticipation of the City’s inspection, Charlie’s examination of the house revealed significant structural deterioration. Subsequently, a structural engineer confirmed substantial water damage to the structural center core of the building – “a catastrophic collapse was eminent.” It also came to light that the Chapel Hill Fire Department was about to shut down the kitchen for violations.
Charlie quickly called a meeting of the SOMF members to deal with the problem which resulted in Charlie being appointed/elected SOMF President.
Accepting this responsibility, Charlie:
Acquired a $50,000 loan from Orange County S & L.
Secured backing from Chi Phi National organization in Atlanta.
Negotiated an agreement with and hired Yarnel & Hoffer as contractors to perform repairs.
Secured a Building Permit that stayed any code compliance inspections or enforcement.
During May 1987, SOMF authorized the renovations which were begun June 1, 1987. The man on the jobsite overseeing the work and directing the contractors was Charlie Nelson. The center structural core of the building was rebuilt from the ground to the third floor. Three floors of bathrooms were replaced. Doors & jambs, walls, windows, and floors were repaired or replaced and the center stairs were rebuilt. The kitchen was rebuilt to meet current ventilation and fire codes and new stainless steel work stations along the walls were installed. The dining room floor and ceiling were rebuilt.
In short, a major renovation occurred over the 3½ months school was out for the summer, completed just in time for the active brothers to move into the house for the first classes of the fall semester.
The costs of this phase of the renovations were approximately $120,000 which was financed through additional Orange County S & L debt instruments.
House Renovation ~ Phase II
The second phase of the renovation project took place while classes were out over the summer of 1988. The focus of this phase was major infrastructure repairs to the plumbing, drainage, electrical, and HVAC systems and replacement of deteriorating windows and roofing materials. Also, a computer room was added.
Again, under Charlie Nelson’s leadership a major renovation occurred over the 3½ months school was out for the summer and was completed just in time for the active brothers to move into the house for the first classes of the fall semester.
The costs of this phase of the renovations were approximately $346,000 bringing the total cost for both phases to $466,000.
House Renovation ~ Fund Raising Kickoff
Concurrently, SOMF Board members James M. Alexander (‘45) and John (Jack) W. Weil (‘58) were working to launch a major fund raising plan to pay off the remaining mortgage, fund the renovations and create an endowment for maintenance.
Jim Alexander states in his campaign kick-off letter dated January 1, 1988 to the Alpha-Alpha SOMF brotherhood:
“The past several decades have introduced turmoil into campus life. The excesses have put severe physical strains on the buildings that house the social fraternities. Fortunately, these excesses are now abating, but the degeneration remains.
The extent of the deterioration of our house and others is significant. The news articles tell the story of the town’s reaction to the dangerous and unsightly condition of the houses. Notice Chi Phi is not mentioned in these articles. Thanks to Charlie Nelson AA42, (Captain USN Retired) who has returned to Chapel Hill in retirement, and others we were in the process of making emergency repairs to the house when the building inspection department commenced their inspections. To the contrary, we were exceptionally praised by the inspectors for recognizing a bad situation and commencing to make the most necessary repairs.
Our house, although in better shape than most, was in very dangerous condition. The baths, stacked three stories high, could have collapsed at any time on each other or someone; the supporting timbers had lost all structural integrity; the kitchen facilities would have been closed on the first health department inspection.
The rejuvenated Board of Directors at a meeting on October 11, 1987, authorized a fund campaign form Alpha-Alpha alumni and students to raise funds to:
Pay off debt outstanding, including the cost of the 1987 emergency repairs and replacements.
Finance major repairs and replacements to bring the house in compliance with building and safety codes and to enhance the living quality of the facilities to acceptable standards.
Establish an endowment to provide ongoing income to maintain the facilities.
With pleasure and excitement, the Directors named these efforts the J. Maryon Saunders – John M. Foushee Founders Fund Campaign of 1988.”
Thus, portions of the required funds for the renovation project were acquired through contributions from approximately 35 brothers, with the remainder funded with debt instruments.
Post Renovation SOMF
Thomas A. Allred (‘60) assumed the torch of leadership responsibility as SOMF president in 1993 and found himself facing the following problems:
There were only 21 active members whose spirit needed rekindling and leadership.
The house operating expenses exceeded revenue by $17,000 per year.
SOMF was approximately $600,000 in debt.
Tom enhanced the programs begun by his predecessor, Thad Throneburg, designed to rekindle respect for the house and the Chi Phi spirit by adding a coaching component and style from his athletic and sales background. Through his leadership the house began to gain pledges and membership grew.
Tom started recruiting additional peers, who were Actives in the House during the same time he was in the House, to join the Board of Directors and help with the financial challenges.
Growth combined with increased monthly house rent and paired expenses reduced the operating losses but the debt maintenance was an ever present burden sapping the operating budget.
For the next seven years there were many varied and creative fundraising campaigns intended to mitigate the financial shortfalls and significant focus was placed on restructuring both the debt and the operating budgets.
Debt Restructuring
As a result of the House renovations, operating losses, and continuous maintenance requirements, SOMF had been saddled with interest payments on approximately $600,000 that were interfering with the ability to meet the house maintenance goals consistent with the SOMF objectives.
In 1996, when Jim Brown (’62) joined the SOMF Board as treasurer, as mentioned above, the debt was in excess of $600,000 contained in 4 loan instruments held by several different lending institutions. Some of these loans were in arrears. Interest rates ranged from 9-12%. Financially, SOMF was nearing financial collapse. Of the five lending institutions Jim contacted and met, three were interested in consolidating the loan with a variety of terms and conditions. After negotiation meetings, the best offer came from Bank of America, including a 15 year term for a $612,000 first mortgage, competitive interest rate, no prepayment penalties, and the right to make a once a year principal payment, if cash was available, with no prepayment penalties.
Budget Reorganization
INCOME: For the three years previous to 1996 when Jim Brown assumed the Treasurer’s responsibilities, SOMF had an operating loss. This loss was due to the fact that the house was never 100% occupied maximizing rental income. Upper classmen wanted single rooms in the house or lived in apartments off campus. Recognizing this occupancy problem, Jim and the Board helped structure both the SOMF budget and the Chi Phi Active budget. Room rental in the house was changed establishing a competitive rental rate with other fraternity houses and University provided housing. Therefore, the Chi Phi Active operating budget was changed to pay SOMF $66,000 per annum for house rent, regardless of occupancy. In addition, approximately $15,000 was collected annually from the Active operating budget for minor repair and maintenance projects in the house.
Tom Allred and the SOMF Board of Directors worked diligently to convince the Actives that dues increases shared by all the actives were necessary for the survival of the Active Chapter.
EXPENSE: On the expense side during the 1996-1997 timeframe the SOMF budget contained:
Mortgage payments of about $36,000 per year after the debt restructuring mentioned above.
Real estate taxes started at about $10,000 in 1997 and went to $16,000 by 2002 – not much could be done with the inevitable taxes.
Property and casualty insurance costs on the house were approximately $10,000 per year in 1996. So, Jim Brown and the Board shopped for a better policy with a variety of carriers and found a national firm that insured fraternity houses. The new policy reduced the premium to about $6,000 annually and substantially enhanced the insurance coverage with the lower premium.
The next operating expense paid by SOMF was repair and maintenance on major house projects, as necessary, such as painting the exterior of the house, paving the parking lot, taking down large trees, and so on.
If there was SOMF surplus cash at the end of the year, a payment was made to reduce the principal of the mortgage.
Because the cash flow was tightly projected and actively managed, a principal payment was made from operating surplus every year from 1997 – 2003. Additional principal repayment funds came from alumni donations and annual fund giving.
No further borrowing occurred during the 1996-2006 period and repayment stayed ahead of schedule.
Sprinkler System
As circumstances unfolded, there were events that exacerbated the financial difficulties such as the university mandated requirement to install a sprinkler system.
Around 6 a.m. on May 12, 1996, a fire broke out at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house after a night-long graduation party attended by 250 to 300 students and their parents. The fire killed five people and injured three. Investigators attributed the fire, which started in the basement, to the improper use or disposal of smoking materials, which most likely ignited combustible materials. The fraternity house had smoke alarms and fire extinguishers, but there was no automatic sprinkler protection. Less than a month later, fire again struck a Chapel Hill fraternity when an arsonist ignited a blaze at the Sigma Chi house. This time, however, there were no injuries or deaths.
As a result of these incidents, the University was forced to take action mandating that all fraternity and sorority houses were required to install sprinkler systems within a five year timeframe.
The SOMF Board responded to the challenge and solicited bids from three contractors which all came in around $50,000. However, next door the Phi Delta Theta’s were doing a major renovation on their house including the addition of a sprinkler system for which their contractor was bringing a new water line down Pharmacy Lane from McCauley St. Jim Brown talked with the contractor and an officer representing the alumni group of the Phi Delta Theta and secured approval to "T" off their water line. Thus, the contractor was engaged to bring the necessary water line in from Pharmacy Lane to the Chi Phi house at a significant savings from the original bids. With the water supply in place, SOMF contracted with the father of a Chi Phi active brother from Lenoir, NC to install a sprinkler system over the summer of 1998 reducing the cost to $35,000 to complete the project well below the original estimates.
Chi Phi was one of the first fraternities on campus to complete a sprinkler installation.
Again the financial needs were partially met through a variety of successful fund raising campaigns organized by SOMF brothers.
House Advisor Program
As originally designed, the House had accommodations for a “housemother.” Between late 1940’s and 1980’s a housemother was employed to plan menus, manage the kitchen, and oversee other domestic activities. As a side benefit, the housemother was a calming influence among the active brothers and instilled a respect for the property and its furnishings. This calming influence slowly declined during the late 1980’s and 1990’s evolving to a resentment of the adult presence in the house which forced the abandonment of the housemother program as traditionally constructed.
After much discussion with the active officers and personal observation over the years, Tom Allred, SOMF president, and the SOMF Board recognized the active brothers needed coaching, counseling, suggestive guidance, leadership, and sometimes adult supervision. In addition, the active brothers needed a better connection and rapport with the SOMF alumni to meet their needs. Therefore, Tom Allred was authorized to implement a nonresident House Advisor Program and hired John Eads as the house advisor.
Due to the tension among the Actives, John Eads original tasks were associated with house maintenance. However, due to John’s patient personality and vast experience working with young people as a U. S. Navy Sergeant Major attached to the Marine Corps, he was able to earn the respect and confidence of the active Brothers becoming an advisor whose counsel was sought and valued.
The measure of John’s success is twofold:
A clear and obvious partnership and trust between the Actives and SOMF has evolved forging a consistency of purpose.
At the request of the Active Brothers John Eads (’03) was initiated as an Alpha-Alpha Brother in December 2003. The Actives asked Tom Allred for assistance who then contacted Chi Phi National to seek approval to initiate John Eads. The first answer was not positive, but Tom persisted. Finally, National approved and the initiation for John Eads was conducted by the Actives. In Jim Brown’s words “It was spectacular - not a dry eye at the event, including John Eads.”
John was most deserving of this privilege and all the SOMF brothers are very proud to have him as a Brother. Subsequently, John Eads served as SOMF Treasurer.
Vision 2000 Fund Raising ~ Debt retirement
As described above, under Jim Brown’s leadership as Treasurer the debt instruments were reorganized and renegotiated to lower interest rates and longer amortizations reducing operating expense pressures; and the SOMF and Active operating budgets were analyzed, reorganized, tuned, and synchronized.
Concurrently, Bob Mauldin (’58) organized the Vision 2000 Capital Campaign and hired CRG Consulting to execute the campaign. The goal was to raise the funds to pay off the SOMF indebtedness leaving the House unencumbered. The original campaign resulted in about $375,000 in pledges.
With the continued need for debt reduction, additional “Wave” Campaigns aimed at alumni within a six to seven year window of brothers who were all peers living in the house together were conducted.
The first “Wave” campaign was reasonably successful raising approximately $60,000. However, the second campaign was not successful and the “Wave” program was not renewed for a third year.
In parallel with the specific targeted fund raising campaigns, the old standby “Annual Fund” solicitation annually raised approximately $ 5,000 per year.
The focus on fundraising along with bequests from the estates of the following brothers all contributed to paying off the SOMF debt:
Jim Alexander
Bobby Merritt
Cliff Peeler
In summary, the SOMF debt of about $600,000 encumbering the Chapter House was paid off through multiple fund raising efforts by less than 150 brothers.
The culmination of all of these dedicated fundraising efforts occurred on April 8, 2006 at the annual Awards Banquet when the paid-off mortgage papers were ceremoniously torn into pieces and chewed by the assembled SOMF Alumni and Actives – the sweet rewards for all the work.
The Alpha-Alpha Chi Phi Chapter House is owned by SOMF – the Alumni – with a free and clear title absent of any encumbrance for the first time since SOMF purchased the House June 20, 1935.
Awards Banquet
The concept of the Annual Awards Banquet was conceived and implemented by Bob Mauldin (’58) to recognize Active Brothers who during the year demonstrated and/or accomplished:
Leadership
Scholarship
Brotherhood & Community
The concept was to reinforce the character attributes the SOMF brothers wanted to be instilled into the younger generation of Active Brothers through the awards process.
The first implementation was on April 17, 2004 and has subsequently been held in combination with the Annual Golf Tournament among the Active and Alumni Brotherhood scheduled during the first two weekends of April.
The parents of the Active Brothers are always invited to attend and participate in the golf and banquet.
One measure of the Banquet’s success is that the preponderance of the planning, administration and hosting of the event has evolved to being enthusiastically performed by the Active chapter in partnership with the SOMF alumni. Meanwhile, the growing parental attendance is another measure of success.
Endowment Fund Created
On Sunday, April 5, 2008, at it semi-annual meeting, the Southern Order Memorial Foundation voted to create an Endowment Fund. The purpose of the Fund will be for the maintenance and preservation of the Chi Phi Fraternity house located at 300 South Columbia Street in Chapel Hill, NC. Another basic objective of establishing the endowment program is to reduce the necessity of conducting future large capital campaigns.
Funds are to be solicited from the approximately 1,000 Chi Phi Alumni. Emphasis will be placed on asking alumni to put the Alpha-Alpha chapter of Chi Phi in their wills or adding a codicil to current wills for funds to be directed to the Endowment Fund.
The Endowment Fund has been established by an initial $10,000 grant donated by Tom Allred (’60). The principal of the Endowment Fund will be held in perpetuity. Only the interest will be available for the maintenance of the Chi Phi house.
The Fund will be the “Chi Phi Alpha-Alpha Endowment Fund,” unless an individual or interested party commits a $100,000 contribution at which time the Fund could be named for that individual. If the Fund is named for the $100,000 contributor, a bronze plaque with the contributor’s name will be placed on the front of the house.
The Endowment Fund will be administered by a professional foundation which has yet to be selected. That foundation will be responsible for the investing and accounting of the Fund. There will be a board of trustees selected by the Southern Order Memorial Foundation (Chi Phi alumni association) to oversee the distribution of the Fund.
Further information will be mailed to all Alpha-Alpha Alumni in the near future.
The above appeared in the Chi Phi Hotline. When more information is available this will be updated.
SOUTHERN ORDER MEMORIAL FOUNDATION ~ THE FUTURE
A brief examination of the historical challenges SOMF has faced in the past demonstrate the extent to which the contributions of the Alumni monies and talents have overcome a variety of problems resulting in an active chapter of distinction among the 21 fraternities on campus recognized for the quality of the men and ranked second academically in 2008.
SOMF enters the future with a strong active chapter, a balance sheet that is debt free, and operating expenses in balance with income.
SOMF Mission Statement
The SOMF has never deviated from the intentions of the original three charter members. However, the following Mission Statement tunes the original into current thinking.
“Southern Order Memorial Foundation’s mission is to provide a positive fraternity environment that promotes academic excellence, develops leadership skills, encourages community involvement, and advances constructive social interaction by providing a safe, well maintained, well equipped, and competitively priced housing environment for Alpha-Alpha initiates actively enrolled in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.”
This Mission Statement and the following plans need to be brought to the Board for tuning and approval at the November Board Meeting.
In fulfillment of this mission, the SOMF directors and officers formally meet twice a year at the November Homecoming and the April Awards Banquet.
Come join us – “once a brother always a brother.”
Investment In The Future
Today, there are over 1,000 alumni of Alpha-Alpha all over the United States with nearly half in North Carolina.
The rolls of Alpha-Alpha alumni include doctors, attorneys, CEOs of major corporations, state and federal elected representatives, Foreign Service officers, businessmen of a wide variety, and career military officers. Brothers of this proud house have served in student government, many university clubs and organizations, provided service to the community through fund-raising & special projects for charitable institutions, and represented the university in inter-collegiate athletics for over six decades.
At a time when some question whether there is a role for the fraternity in our higher education institutions, the men of Alpha-Alpha may take justifiable pride in the quality and quantity of the young men at 300 South Columbia. This house continues to produce men of character and courage who go on to success in their lives due to large measure to the atmosphere and support found in the chapter today. It is also the continuing commitment of alumni of SOMF that insures that current and future classes have the opportunity to enjoy the spirit of Chi Phi in the “Southern part of Heaven.”
Please consider joining us in passing on the peer infused spirit, values, and honor of the Alpha-Alpha Chi Phi brotherhood that have been honed over the past 150 years.
Continued Participate
As an alumnus, there are many ways to continue supporting the Alpha-Alpha chapter of Chi Phi:
Join the SOMF board of directors and participate in various projects of your expertise, such as mentoring actives, financial planning, marketing, etc.
Donate to the annual fund-raising campaign to help cover operating expenses for minor improvements and repairs to the fraternity house.
Contribute to the scholarship fund of SOMF to provide financial support for active brothers in their pursuit of educational excellence.
Provide, through your estate planning process, a contribution to the Endowment Fund. These funds will grow over time and provide a significant stream of income to support large fraternity house projects as they become necessary.
Staying active and supporting the Chi Phi Fraternity is an important way to pay back for the years each of us enjoyed our Chi Phi experiences. The actives today have demonstrated their ability and maturity to achieve good grades and take responsibility for the care and upkeep of our fraternity house -- they need and deserve our continued support in these endeavors.
We ask each alumnus to consider providing time and talent to work on the SOMF board or some of its projects, and to make generous contributions, as possible, to the various fund raising activities.
This is the way Chi Phi alumni can show appreciation for their active years in the fraternity and provide continuing support for our active brotherhood.
* APPENDIX: Chi Phi Founding Details
The Chi Phi Fraternity, as it exists today, is the outgrowth of three older organizations, each of which bore the name of Chi Phi. These organizations were the Chi Phi Society, founded at the College of New Jersey (Princeton); the Chi Phi Fraternity, established at the University of North Carolina; and the Secret Order of Chi Phi, founded at Hobart College.
The first of these older organizations, the Chi Phi Society, which is known in the history of the Fraternity as the Princeton Order of Chi Phi, was established at the College of New Jersey, later Princeton University, on December 24, 1824, by Robert Baird, then a tutor in the college and later a prominent Presbyterian clergyman. This society ceased to be active in 1825.
Thirty years later, in the winter of 1853-54, John MacLean, Jr. found among the papers of his uncle, John MacLean, president of Princeton University, the old constitution, minute book, and ritual of the Chi Phi Society of 1824; and with these as his guide, he united with Charles Smith Degraw and Gustavus W. Mayer in reorganizing the old society at Princeton. The old motto and a great part of the ritual were retained. In the fall of 1854, Mayer organized a second chapter of the Chi Phi Society at Franklin & Marshall College. The opposition of the Princeton faculty and the prohibitory pledge required of freshmen by the institution caused the death of the reorganized Princeton chapter in 1859. Its records were destroyed by the last active members, leaving the Franklin & Marshall Chapter alone to represent the society.
The second of these older organizations, called the Chi Phi Fraternity, and now known in our history as the Southern Order of Chi Phi, was founded at the University of North Carolina on August 21, 1858, by Thomas Capehart, Augustus Flythe, John C Tucker, William H. Green, Fletcher T. Seymour, and James J. Cherry. All students at the University, they organized this club to perpetuate their friendship and named it Chi Phi Fraternity. They wished to expand, so chapters were rapidly organized at Centenary, Davidson, Virginia, Nashville, and Cumberland. However, the American Civil War (1861-65) meant the end of all but the present chapter. Soon after the war, new chapters sprang up at Hampden-Sydney, Georgia, Edinburgh (Scotland), Mercer, Emory, Oglethorpe, Trinity, Kentucky Military Institute, and St. John’s. The extinct chapters at Virginia and Davidson were reorganized. Following the war, however, the University of North Carolina itself was closed, necessitating the transfer of the “Alpha” chapter title to the Virginia chapter. While this Chi Phi organization had a constitution and held conventions, the primary authority rested with the “Alpha” chapter.
The third older organization, the Secret Order of Chi Phi, which is now known in the history of the Fraternity as the Hobart Order of Chi Phi, was formed at Hobart College on November 14, 1860, by Amos Brunson and Alexander J. Beach, who were both students at the college. Because they were dissatisfied with the fraternities existing at Hobart, they associated themselves with others to found the Upsilon Chapter of the Secret Order of Chi Phi. From Hobart, charters were soon issued to new chapters at Kenyon, Princeton, and Rutgers.
Five years later, the Secret Order of Chi Phi at Hobart learned of the existence of the Chi Phi Society at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania and on May 29, 1867, the two societies formally united. The Northern Order of the Chi Phi Fraternity was thus formed.
In early winter of 1865-66, the Hobart alumni in New York learned of the existence of the Chi Phi Fraternity in the South through John R.D. Shepard, a member of the Alpha Chapter at North Carolina. Negotiations for union were initiated, but languished for six to seven years. Negotiations were renewed and the union was finally accomplished during a meeting in Washington, D.C. on March 27, 1874. The new organization took the name Chi Phi Fraternity from the Southern Order, while the fabric of organization and ritual were taken from the Northern Order.
Thus, in 1874 the kernel of that original Carolina chapter combined with fraternities of the same name, which had started in Princeton in 1824 at Hobart College in 1860, to form the Chi Phi fraternity, which is the national organization of today.
Chi Phi, like other fraternities, had lost heavily in both chapters and membership during the Civil War. This was especially true of the Southern Order where entire chapters had volunteered for service and where the effects of the war ha largely destroyed southern institutions of higher learning. The period following the war, Reconstruction, was largely defined by regional differences even thought the union of the Northern and Southern Orders of Chi Phi occurred in 1874 – a unification that illustrated the strength of the common ideals that drew the two orders into union. Chi Phi Fraternity was among the first to forget sectionalism and to extend the hand of brotherhood after the war.
R. H. Birkenstock - 9/14/08
