National History

Beginnings

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 Christmas Eve, 1824, a small group of faculty and students led by Robert Baird, then a tutor in the college and later a prominent Presbyterian clergyman, founded a secret fraternity called Chi Phi, dedicated to its members' spiritual life and personal holiness. The Society had exclusive membership requirements and very strict codes of behavior; students had to testify to a personal experience of conversion and be unanimously elected. In February, 1825, the Society merged with the Philadelphian Society, which remained active through 1930.

The Princeton Order

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. With these as his guide, he united with Charles Smith Degraw and Gustavus W. Mayer in reorganizing the old society at Princeton along "modern lines". While the Chi Phi Fraternity of today was actually founded in 1854, members place great emphasis on the 1824 date because of many aspects that were carried over from the original records discovered in 1854, such as the old motto and a great part of the ritual. The names of the founders of the original society of 1824 were not even known to the 1854 founders; however, they were later discovered in 1914 by Professor V.L. Collins.

In the fall of 1854, Mayer organized a second chapter of the Chi Phi Society at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Joseph Henry Dubbs, later a distinguished professor of history at his alma mater, was the first initiate. 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 Lancaster chapter alone to represent the society.

Chi Phi Today

Today, Chi Phi has over 43,000 living alumni members from over 90 active and inactive Chapters and Colonies in 23 states and commonwealths. It exists to provide men with a place of belonging and membership, and to form a framework for growth and personal development throughout their collegiate years and beyond. Please refer to Wikipedia for an abridged history and a listing of prominent Chi Phi members.

Local History/ About Us

Eta Theta Chapter of Chi Phi at the University of Maryland

In 2005 a group of men known as the "13 apostles" saw their hard work and dedication come to fruition, as the Eta Theta Chapter of Chi Phi was officially given its charter, certifying it a full fledged Greek fraternity. Since then, while we may have grown as a fraternity, our thoughts and ideals remain the same as the day we were established. Although we are relatively new on campus, our influence can be seen in many different areas of University life including, charity, sports, academics, and relations with other university clubs/groups. Along with having the longest history of any other Fraternity on campus we are also some of the most talented & clever students at Maryland, with degrees ranging from Vocal music performance to Engineering. We’ve also had members start their own organizations on campus in the last few years.