Phi Epsilon Pi
The Phi Epsilon Pi (ΦΕΠ) fraternity, active between 1904 and 1970 with a predominantly Jewish membership, was founded in New York City and eventually opened at least 48 chapters on college campuses across the United States and one in Canada.
Phi Epsilon Pi | |
---|---|
ΦΕΠ | |
Founded | November 23, 1904 City College of New York, New York, NY |
Type | Social |
Scope | International |
Founding
The Phi Epsilon Pi (PEP) fraternity was established on November 23, 1904 at the College of the City of New York (CCNY). Phi Epsilon Pi was incorporated in New York State on February 9, 1914 and became a member of the National Interfraternity Conference in 1921. The fraternity was founded on non-sectarian principles, but throughout the organization’s history, the membership was largely Jewish.[1]
The fraternity’s first chapters were founded at the College of the City of New York (Alpha, 1904), Columbia University (Beta, 1905), and Cornell University (Epsilon, 1911).
Expansion
In 1913, the fraternity started to expand outside of New York State. By 1933, PEP’s total membership stood at 3600. During World War II approximately 2000 fraternity members served in the military, and most chapters closed. After the war, the chapters were reactivated, and new chapters opened as well, including one at McGill University in Canada, making PEP an international fraternity. In 1954, the membership of the fraternity reached 11,132.[2]
Mergers
In 1932 Sigma Lambda Pi merged into Phi Epsilon Pi. Kappa Nu merged into Phi Epsilon Pi in 1961.[3][4]
In 1970, PEP was absorbed into the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity.
Chapters
Chapters of Phi Epsilon Phi:[5][6]
(Chapters beginning with Kappa prepended were absorbed in the merger with Kappa Nu)[4]
- Alpha - City College of New York - 1904
- Beta - Columbia University - 1905 (inactive 1928-1958)
- Kappa Alpha - University of Rochester - 1911
- Epsilon - Cornell University - 1911
- Zeta - University of Pittsburgh - 1913
- Eta - University of Pennsylvania - 1914
- Theta - Pennsylvania State University - 1914
- Iota - Dickinson College 1914
- Kappa - New York University (Washington Sq) - 1914 (inactive 1922-1949)
- Kappa Beta - New York University (Heights) - 1915
- Lambda - Rutgers University - 1915
- Mu - University of Georgia - 1915
- Nu - University of Virginia - 1915
- Kappa Delta - Union College - 1915 (inactive 1925)
- Xi - Georgia Institute of Technology - 1916
- Omicron - Tufts University - 1916
- Pi - University of Maine - 1916 (inactive 1925)
- Rho - Rhode Island State College - 1916 (inactive 1922)
- Sigma - Brown University - 1916 (inactive 1918)
- Tau - Auburn University - 1916 (inactive 1920)
- Upsilon - University of Connecticut - 1916 (inactive 1964)
- Phi - Carnegie Institute of Technology - 1916 (inactive 1922)
- Kappa Zeta - University of Buffalo - 1917
- Kappa Iota - Union College - 1917
- Chi - Syracuse University - 1917
- Gamma - Northwestern University - 1920
- Delta - Washington and Lee University - 1920
- Psi - University of Illinois -1920
- Omega - University of Cincinnati 1920 (inactive 1935)
- Alpha Alpha - Dartmouth College - 1920 (inactive 1922)
- Alpha Beta - University of Iowa - 1920
- Alpha Gamma - University of Michigan -1921 (inactive 1942-1957)
- Kappa Omicron - University of Chicago - 1921 (inactive 1934)
- Kappa Pi - University of Alabama - 1921
- Kappa Nu - University of California, Berkeley - 1921
- Kappa Sigma - Tulane University - 1922 (inactive 1956)
- Alpha Delta - University of Minnesota - 1923
- Alpha Epsilon - Johns Hopkins University - 1920
- Alpha Zeta - Harvard University - 1926 (inactive 1935)
- Alpha Eta - University of Wisconsin -1925 (inactive 1937-1966)
- Alpha Theta - University of South Carolina - 1928
- Alpha Iota - University of Miami - 1929
- Alpha Kappa - Western Reserve University - 1933 (inactive 1955-1966)
- Alpha Lambda - University of California - Los Angeles
- Alpha Mu - George Washington University
- Alpha Nu - Muhlenberg College
- Alpha Xi - Boston University
- Alpha Omicron - Ohio State University
- Alpha Pi - Louisiana State University
- Alpha Rho - Ohio University
- Alpha Sigma - University of Mississippi
- Alpha Tau - Queens College
- Alpha Upsilon - Memphis State College
- Alpha Phi - North Carolina State College
- Alpha Chi - University of Omaha
- Alpha Psi - McGill University
- Alpha Omega - ?
- Beta Alpha - University of Houston
- Beta Beta - American University
- Beta Gamma - Brooklyn College
- Beta Delta - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Beta Epsilon - University of Florida
- Beta Zeta - Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science
- Beta Eta - Indiana University
- Beta Theta - University of Maryland - College Park
- Beta Iota - Long Island University
- Beta Kappa - California State University - Long Beach
- Beta Lambda - Northern Illinois University
- Beta Mu - Long Island University-C.W. Post
- Beta Nu - Bryant University - May 16, 1968[7]
- Beta Xi - Baruch College
- Beta Omicron - Depaul University
- Beta Pi - Western New England College
- Beta Rho - ?
- Beta Sigma - Southampton College
- Beta Tau - Widener University
- Beta Upsilon - Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn
- Beta Phi - West Chester University
- Beta Chi - Hofstra University
- Beta Psi - Drake University
References
- “History and Purpose of Phi Epsilon Pi,” 1925-1941; Phi Epsilon Pi Fraternity Records; I-76; Box 1, Folder 5; American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY.
- “Pledge Manuals,” 1934-1955; Phi Epsilon Pi Fraternity Records; I-76; Box 47, Folder 5-6; American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY.
- "Zeta Beta Tau's Antecedent History of Phi Epsilon Pi". Retrieved January 28, 2013.
- Sanua, Marianne Rachel (2003), Going Greek: Jewish College Fraternities in the United States, 1895–1945, Wayne State University Press, ISBN 0-8143-2857-1
- Guide to the Phi Epsilon Pi Fraternity Records, 1912-1969; Phi Epsilon Pi Fraternity Records; I-76; American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY.
- Our antecedent groups - Phi Epsilon Pi
- 1969 Bryant Yearbook
Further reading
- Sanua, Marianne R. (Winter 2000). "Jewish College Fraternities in the United States 1895-1968: An Overview". Journal of American Ethnic History. 19 (2): 3–42. JSTOR 27502544.
External links
- Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity Website
- Phi Epsilon Pi Fraternity Gamma Chapter Records; 31/6/3; Northwestern University Archives, Evanston, IL.
- Phi Epsilon Pi Fraternity Records; I-76; American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY.