Phi Kappa (Catholic fraternity)
Phi Kappa was an American social fraternity founded on by a group of Catholic students at Brown University who were refused entrance to other fraternities because of their faith. On April 29, 1959, Phi Kappa merged with a similar fraternity Theta Kappa Phi to form Phi Kappa Theta.
History
Phi Kappa originated as a local club for Catholic students at Brown University called Phi Kappa Sigma, meaning "Fraternity of Catholic Students". Its founders were James E. Brennan, Thomas P Corcoran, Edward F. Cunningham, John J. Fitzgerald, James M. Gillrain, Dennis J. Holland, Joseph Mary Killelea, Edward S. Kiley, Joseph Kirwen, William H. Magill, Arthur F. McGinn, Edward DeV. O'Connor, and James E. Smith.From the beginning the organization emphasized loyalty to alma mater and remained a home for Catholic students who were otherwise unable to join other fraternities. Its name was changed to Phi Kappa in 1900 after the discovery of an older society with the same name. It was incorporated on in the State of Rhode Island. This date was celebrated by the fraternity as its Founders Day.
Expansion was sought out at large schools, and not specifically Catholic institutions. Its Beta chapter was placed at the University of Illinois in 1912 with the adoption of the local Loyola Club. This was soon followed by the Gamma chapter at Penn State in 1913. Many of its chapters came from the absorption of earlier local groups or Catholic clubs. Phi Kappa joined the North American Interfraternity Conference in 1916.
Phi Kappa went on to form 40 chapters before its merger with Theta Kappa Phi on, at which time the two Catholic-affinity fraternities formed Phi Kappa Theta. At the time of the merger it was found that, despite the size of both organizations, there were only five schools where both fraternities existed: Illinois, Penn State, Ohio State, Missouri and Wisconsin. Phi Kappa has 32 active chapters at the time of the merger.
Symbols
The badge of Phi Kappa badge was square, situated in a diamond fashion, with amethysts at each corner. The sides were finished with pearls. The Greek letter Κ, etched, was in the center, superimposed by the Greek letter Φ, in plain finish.Its colors were purple, white, and gold. The fraternity flower was the "Ophelia Rose". Its jewel was the amethyst. The fraternity's flag consisted of vertical stripes of purple, white, and gold, with the letter Φ on the purple stripe, the letter Κ was on the gold stripe, and a replica of the pledge pin on the white stripe. Its motto was "Loyalty to God and College."
The fraternity's original magazine was first published in 1916. It was called the Yippa-Yappa, after the nickname of the brotherhood during its early days at Brown. Later, it had a quarterly publication called The Temple. Its other publications included a songbook Manual for Chapter Fellows, a Pledge Manual, and a membership directory.