Sigma Phi
| The Sigma Phi Society |
|
ΣΦ
|
| Founded |
1827
Union College |
| Type |
Social, Secret Society |
| Scope |
United States |
| Motto |
Esto Perpetua |
| Chapters |
11 |
| Headquarters |
, USA |
The Sigma Phi Society was founded on 4 March 1827, on the campus of Union College as a part of the Union Triad in Schenectady, New York. It is the second oldest Greek fraternal organization in the United States, and the oldest in continuous existence.[1] The Sigma Phi Society was the first Greek organization to establish a chapter at another college, which occurred with the founding of the Beta of New York at Hamilton College in 1831, thus making it the first National Greek Organization. The practices and rituals of The Sigma Phi Society are still relatively unknown due to its establishment, and continued consideration, as a secret society.[2]
Notable alumni
- Thomas Fielder Bowie - One of the founding members of Sigma Phi and member of the thirty fourth and thirty fifth Congress of the United States.
- Sen. Elihu Root - U.S. Secretary of War and U.S. Secretary of State in the administration of Theodore Roosevelt. Root was a Nobel Peace Prize Winner, and U.S. Senator.[3]
- Earl Warren - Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Governor of California.
- James Schoolcraft Sherman - Vice President under William Howard Taft.
- Arthur C. Nielsen Jr., son of Arthur C. Nielsen creator of Nielsen ratings (both were Sigma Phi members).
- Henry Rathbone, major in the U.S. army during the Civil War and present in Lincoln's booth at Ford's Theatre; was stabbed tackling John Wilkes Booth.[4]
- Hon. Ken Dryden - NHL Hall of Fame Goaltender and Canadian Member of Parliament.
- Rep. Hastings Keith - United States Congressman from Massachusetts.
- Rep. John Cochrane - United States Congressman, Attorney General of New York, and Brigadier General in the Civil War.
- Philip Will, Jr, co-founder of architecture firm Perkins+Will and President of the American Institute of Architects.
- Ward Wettlaufer, amateur golfer.
- Daniel Butterfield, American Civil War hero, composer of Taps bugle call
- Jay Walker, founder of Priceline.com
- Larry Tanenbaum, Chairman of MLSE, owner of the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs
- John Bigelow, US diplomat to France under Lincoln, NY Secretary of State, published The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, helped found the New York Public Library
- Tully Banta-Cain, American Football linebacker for the New England Patriots
- Robert S. Harrison, Rhodes Scholar, retired partner at Goldman Sachs, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cornell University, CEO of the Clinton Global Initiative
- Seth Flowerman, Entrepreneur, CEO of Career Explorations
External links
References