PHI PSI 150 UPDATE FROM THE HISTORIAN

MARCH 6, 2012

(Note: This message contains a variety of Phi Psi history items on a wide range of subjects, most connected to dates in the last two weeks.) ****** Phi Kappa Psi co-founder William Henry Letterman graduated from the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia 156 years ago today (March 6, 1856). He later became a Union doctor under a civilian contract during the Civil War. His older brother, Jonathan, also was a doctor (and a member of Beta Theta Pi at Jefferson College) and gained fame during that war as the Medical Director of the Union's Army of the Potomac during some of its biggest battles. So what was the state of medicine like then? Here's an American History TV feature which aired this past weekend. It makes clearer the many challenges these two Lettermans and other doctors faced. http://bit.ly/wYPzC6 Learn more about Jonathan Letterman at http://t.co/OQ6aZRun The American History TV feature was one of two produced in a visit to Shrevesport, La., recently. The other was a visit to a local cemetery where victims of the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1873 claimed many lives. You can learn more about that incident at http://bit.ly/A1wxvG Seventeen years later, a Pennsylvania Alphan, Jesse Lazear, would give his life at age 34 in helping to prove that Yellow Fever was transmitted by mosquitoes. Here is his story as told in a Public Broadcasting Service profile: http://to.pbs.org/jnWkto And in another, and very recent, connection, a student's commitment to serving others leads this Indiana Epsilon Phi Psi to a wonderful fellowship: http://bit.ly/yTjAVk (Andy Denecke's efforts remind us of those of Brother Lazear.) A special note for Chapter Historians: Does your Chapter Web site show the illness leading to our 1852 founding being influenza? It wasn't. It was typhoid fever. Please revise. *** A "Band of Brothers" soldier, Lynn "Buck" Compton, Cal Epsilon (UCLA) 1940, has died. http://yhoo.it/ziXWew As a lawyer, Brother Compton led the three-man team that prosecuted Sirhan B. Sirhan for the slaying of Robert F. Kennedy. His career offers fascinating reading. http://lat.ms/xthLVS *** This is National Ritual Celebration Week. You can learn more about it at http://t.co/LvP3aqrw You can personally participate, no matter where you are, by watching this thought-provoking 3 minute 42 second video which explores the "secret thoughts" of a fraternity or sorority ritual. http://t.co/udjNvWl3 Please consider sharing it with other Brothers. Helping to mark Ritual Week, Delta Upsilon shares its Oath of Initiation via Twitter. http://bit.ly/yVlza5 Its Ritual history: http://t.co/4MNGYp5Z

****** OHIO MU NEWS Ohio Mu at the University of Dayton has been suspended by the school and Phi Kappa Psi for hazing. It is eligible for reinstatement in one year. Details are at http://bit.ly/x8miQp and http://bit.ly/zTOG2n ****** QUIZ QUESTION With Leap Day only recently behind us, a question: How many Phi Psi Chapters have been chartered on a Feb. 29? If one or more, name it/them. Answer below. RECENT PHI PSI NEWSMAKERS ANNIVERSARIES AND MILESTONES Woodrow Wilson, Virginia Alpha 1879, took the oath for the first of his two terms as U.S. President 99 years ago last Sunday (March 4, 1913). It was a "Jeff Duo" ticket as his Vice President was Thomas R. Marshall. a Phi Gamma Deltan from Wabash initiated in 1873. (The Jeff Duo tag refers to the two fraternities having been founded, four years apart, at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pa. (Phi Gamma Delta in 1848). Three years later almost to the day, on March 5, 1916, President Wilson invited another member of Phi Gamma Delta, Newton D. Baker, to be Secretary of War, doing so in a telegram to him. A faithful supporter of Wilson, Baker accepted, though reluctantly. Baker also had a role in major league baseball history while serving as War Secretary. The story is told at http://bit.ly/z7QCYZ How he resolved the matter is explained at http://t.co/LILYJBI0 Baker also wrote this text to offer his answer to the question, "What is a Fraternity." http://t.co/hxvbZgMN March 1 was the anniversary of another important day in Wilson's political career. He resigned as New Jersey Governor on that date in 1913. He had a good reason -- he was being sworn in shortly thereafter as U.S. President. By the way, President Wilson signed Senate Bill 390 Feb. 26, 1919, establishing Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. http://politi.co/yghj5a And finally, the Museum of Vision is recalling when Woodrow Wilson nearly went blind in his right eye in 1906: http://bit.ly/w7IWxa *** Herbert Henry Dow, Ohio Epsilon 1906 and founder of the Dow Chemical Company, was born Feb. 26,1866. http://bit.ly/x6n9nO *** The Wisconsin Alumni Association Facebook photos include those from a visit Feb. 19 by several Phi Psis to the Milwaukee grave of Gen. Billy Mitchell, DC Alpha 1896, who died Feb. 19, 1936. It's an annual Founders Day tradition that includes placing

flowers on the grave. The flowers are in the colors -- lavender and pink -- that were the Phi Psi colors he would have known the longest. A lunch at a nearby restaurant follows these visits. *** An Illinois Alphan recently made the cover of a British magazine. Chances are you know him from his movies and TV work. Setting a style trend for other Phi Psis? http://pic.twitter.com/56nSixC1 *** Since my last post, we now have a photo of the first Brother of Phi Kappa Psi to be assigned badge number 3000. The recipient, Indiana Beta's Chris Weber (right), is shown with Chapter GP Dan Kelly after the Feb. 18 initiation. http://t.co/V5r0EUU9 ****** OTHER RECENT ANNIVERSARIES AND MILESTONES The first two members recruited by co-founders Letterman and Moroe following our 1852 founding took place Feb. 23, with the decision by Isaac Van Meter and James T. Metzger to join. John W. Parramore became the third initiate, and fifth member, of Phi Kappa Psi Feb. 25. *** The first issue of the "Phi Kappa Psi Quarterly," predecessor of The Shield, was published in February 1877. *** The Endowment Fund of Phi Kappa Psi issued its first undergraduate loan March 1, 1915. *** New Jersey Delta reported over the last weekend that with 63 active brothers New Jersey Delta now is the largest fraternity on campus. Its current pledge class consists of 21. *** Phi Kappa Psi chartered four chapters in three states on a March 2. The first was Virginia Beta at Washington & Lee University, now 157 years old, which became our third chapter in 1855 and the first of six charters in that same year. The Chapter was the first fraternity at then-Washington University. Check out more of its history at http://bit.ly/xAVubV Minnesota Alpha was chartered 129 years ago March 2 at Carleton College in Northfield. It was only active from 1883-1888 with a total of 44 initiates. Minnesota Alpha, lost due to faculty opposition, is a story of a deep passion for Phi Kappa Psi and shows the impact just one Brother -- in this case, from Wisconsin Gamma -- can have. You can read it at http://yhoo.it/wXYIGA

Minnesota Beta was born at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis 124 years ago on a March 2, in 1888 -- with its first six members initiated in a law office. Five early members of Minnesota Beta were transfers from Minnesota Alpha. It's on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/y4NRbt A short Chapter history is available on the Chapter's (somewhat outdated) Web site at http://www.mnphipsi.com/about-mn/ Illinois Epsilon now is 27 years old, having been founded at Illinois State University in Normal in 1985. Its early history: http://bit.ly/vZzt2s *** Illinois Eta was chartered Feb. 27, 1999, at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Its history: http://siuephipsi.com/about-us *** Rhode Island Alpha was chartered 110 years ago Feb. 28 (in 1902) at Brown University, Providence, R.I. The Chapter's Web site: http://brownphipsi.com/ *** Our Vanderbilt Colony, which celebrated its first Founders Day this year, shared 14 photos on Facebook from the event, in the album "Founders Day 2012" http://fb.me/1p9f3UI0C *** The first color Shield cover appeared this month in 1958 *** The Pennsylvania legislature on Feb. 26, 1869, required Washington & Jefferson College to abandon the pre-merger Jefferson College campus -- the site where Phi Kappa Psi and Phi Gamma Delta were founded. The Pennsylvania Borough of Canonsburg, home of Jefferson College, turned 210 years old Feb. 22, having been incorporated in 1802. Here's a short history of Canonsburg, known as "America's Small Town Music Capital" : http://bit.ly/y0V2HP ****** QUIZ ANSWER Alabama Alpha is Phi Kappa Psi's only chapter ever chartered on a Feb. 29; it was established at the University of Alabama in 1964. Badge #1 is worn proudly by our current National President, Tryon Hubbard. Speaking of Leap Years, did you know Phi Kappa Psi was founded in a Leap Year? Had we been founded 10 days later in 1852, this year would be our 38th -- not 160th -anniversary. Why 38 and not 40 if this is our 160th and Leap Years come every four years? 1852 doesn't count, of course (birth year) nor does 1900. Why not 1900? http://bit.ly/A8A39Y P.S. It was the only Leap Year skipped between 1852-2012. ****** QUICK NOTES

Phi Psi Headquarters has been offering for several months a monthly Webinar program to undergraduates and alumni. The most recent was Feb. 29 with Kevin Marks on alumni relations. You can view the recording and graphics at http://bit.ly/A9hDi8 Maintaining good relationships with alumni can play an important role in sharing moments in a Chapter's history, and alumni are a key audience for a Chapter historian to share history the Chapter is making and any history rediscovered. *** Did you know Phi Psi history is available on Twitter, with usually daily posts and sometimes exclusive content? We currently have 650 subscribers ("followers") in all, not counting those non-Twitter users who visit to check out the latest messages. If you're not on Twitter, see what they are finding at http://twitter.com/PhiPsiArchives *** Movies are something we can share across Phi Psi generations -- but do we? How many of these have you seen? http://bit.ly/zZUVt0 Sincerely, Mike McCoy...