THE HISTORY OF PHI KAPPA PSIS CONSTITUTION DAY
By Phi Kappa Psi Historian Michael H. McCoy
September 17, 2015, is Phi Kappa Psi Constitution Day, first celebrated
in our Sesquicentennial year of 2002 as a way for all Brothers to recall and reflect
on the achievements of and the heritage left by the 1886 Grand Arch Council
which adopted our existing form of Fraternity government.
With that action, the Grand Arch Council:
-- insured a formal role for alumni in the conduct of our affairs;
-- provided a way to allow for undergraduate control of the Fraternity;
-- authorized the establishment of geographical districts, the position of
Archon, and alumni associations, and
-- set the foundation for our manageable growth from the 36 charters issued by that year to
today's count of 159.
By all measures, delegates from the then-26 active chapters at that Fourteenth Grand Arch
Council, meeting in Indianapolis, proved most productive in the short time they met. They
"builded better than they knew."
The effort to find a new structure to serve our needs, however, had begun about five years
earlier, and had been a topic of discussion at the two previous GACs. It took those several
years for the disenchantment with the Grand Chapter form of government to convince the
Brothers of the need to find a replacement. (Under the Grand Chapter form, one Chapter was
periodically chosen to serve a term as the governing authority, in addition to conducting the
affairs of its own Chapter.)
Each observance has focused on Sept. 17, honoring the birthday of Brother William Clayton
Wilson, Pennsylvania Beta 1875 at Allegheny College in Meadville. He was the principal
author of our Constitution in his role as chairman of the Committee on Constitutions. (It also just
happens to be U.S. Constitution Day each year.) This annual observance was adopted on Feb.
19, 2002, at the Phi Kappa Psi Sesquicentennial Executive Council meeting in Pittsburgh, Pa.
To help better understand how and why this new observance came about, Phi Kappa Psi
Historian Mike McCoy asked these questions in 2011 of our Fraternity's National President who
presided at the first two Constitution Days -- John V. Ciccarelli, California Theta '72.
Q: What are your memories of and role in the first Constitution Day?
A: Following the August 2002 Grand Arch Council and election as Fraternity SWGP, I
contacted the heirs of the William Clayton Wilson family who included the three granddaughters
and the 90-year old son and Phi Psi legacy William Clayton Wilson, Jr., Pennsylvania Beta
1934, who all resided in North Carolina.
On Sept. 15, 2002, District 4 Archon Keith Tingley, North Carolina Beta 1998; GP Mike Milote,
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North Carolina Beta 1999; and Chapter Consultant Robert Smith, North Carolina Beta 1996, all
joined with members of the Wilson Family for a Sunday afternoon brunch.
Copies of the Phi Kappa Psi Centennial History, Fraternity Manual, and a special Phi Kappa Psi
Constitution Day proclamation of the Executive Council were presented to the Wilson family
who were very honored to have their family descendant recognized for his contribution to our
Fraternity.
A day later I flew to Cleveland, Ohio, as a house guest of Asst. Deputy Attorney General (and
current SWVGP) Jim Miller, Ohio Delta 1985, who drove and escorted me on a beautiful Fall
drive to Meadville, Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania Beta chapter home at of William Clayton
Wilson at Allegheny College.
On the evening of Sept. 17, the Pennsylvania Beta Chapter hosted the inaugural Constitution
Day observance in a celebratory banquet at the Allegheny Country Club in honor of Brother
Wilson and of the newest Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity calendar holiday.
In attendance were: Pennsylvania Beta House Corporation President Dick Elder Pennsylvania
Beta 1986; Greek Advisor Keri Fadden and her husband Jim; and Dean of Students Brandon
Ward and the Fraternity's then Director of Member Services Jim Paponetti, Ohio Theta 1995,
(and current Executive Director of Alpha Sigma Tau ), along with Josh Beach of Pennsylvania
Xi (2000) and 40 members of Pennsylvania Beta including past Director of Phi Psi Publications
Brother R. J. Proie, Pennsylvania Beta 2000.
Q: Why is Phi Kappa Psi Constitution Day important?
A: The annual observance of the Phi Kappa Psi Constitution Day calendar holiday is important
for many good reasons.
It helps provide an important historical connection in recognition of the (now 127th) anniversary
of the adoption of the Phi Kappa Psi Constitution of 1886 that has served for over 12 decades
as our unique guiding form of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity governance.
The hallmark of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity Constitution is in the fact of both undergraduate and
alumni participation of our Executive Council and Grand Arch Council biennial form of
organization government.
It is important to note that at the time of 1886, the original form of fraternity organization
oversight was vested in the Grand Chapter' form of government by which one chapter was
responsible for overall decision making of the entire Fraternity.
The Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity had grown to the point in the near onset of the 20th century by
which the Grand Chapter model of government oversight became too unwieldy and responsive
to meet the needs of a growing national fraternity organization.
The contribution of author William Clayton Wilson was hailed in 1886 as a major milestone and
is recognized today by which the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity has grown and prospered. The Phi
Psi Constitution's undergraduate role of District Archon has helped to insure undergraduate
representation at the highest decision making level and enable the organization to build many
fraternal and society leaders, thus promoting the lifelong mission of Phi Kappa Psi.
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The Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity Constitution is not only a set of governance documents but should
serve as an important reminder of our responsibilities as undergraduates and alumni Brothers to
work together on all levels of our fraternity for the common good in perpetuating the highest
ideals of our Founders and of our collective purpose. The annual Sept. 17 observance of Phi
Kappa Psi Constitution Day is an important reminder of this inherent legacy.
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SUGGESTED WAYS TO OBSERVE THIS ANNIVERSARY
Here are some suggested activities you might consider for today or the days ahead, to mark this
observance. If you have others to suggest, please send them to [email protected]
or to Phi Psi historian Mike McCoy at [email protected]
-- If you have access to Volume 1 of The Centennial History of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity,
read the story of the Fourteenth Grand Arch Council on pages 315-319. If you are intrigued by
what you read, scan the pages before and after that account to learn more about the
preparations for, and the execution of, the 1886 decision.
-- Display the Phi Psi flag outside Chapter houses and homes on Sept. 17 or the entire week.
-- Wear your badge and encourage others to wear theirs, as a reminder to yourself of this 1886
achievement.
-- Chapters and any alumni groups might make note of this anniversary at their next meetings.
Some Chapters have special reasons to participate in this observance because of the roles they
had in the adoption of the Constitution and/or its implementation. A list of those Chapters with
information about their respective achievements appears below.
-- If you live in the Indianapolis area, you might recruit another Phi Psi or two or more and stop
for a few minutes at the site of the Bates House, the headquarters hotel for the 1886 GAC and
noted by a contemporary account in the May 1886 issue of The Shield as "a noble hostelry."
The site is now occupied by the Embassy Suites Hotel and Claypool retail mall at W.
Washington and N. Illinois Avenues, across the street from the location of the Hyatt Regency
hotel, the site of the 2009 GAC. (Business sessions of the 1886 GAC were held in the Elks Hall,
"directly opposite the hotel." Its exact location has yet to be confirmed.) Then share some Phi
Psi brotherhood at an establishment of your choice in the area.
PRESENT AT THE RE-CREATION
The following Chapters have additional reasons to commemorate the 1886 Grand Arch Council
and the adoption of the new form of government, replacing the Grand Chapter, for the reasons
noted.
Notes: 1. The title of SWGP mentioned below was only used in reference to the presiding officer
of the Grand Arch Council, not to the President of the Fraternity. 2. Archons initially and briefly
did not immediately serve on the first Executive Council. 3. Some Chapters on the list now are
inactive. All Chapters currently or formerly in those Districts may wish to recognize their historic
role in a way they deem appropriate, such as sharing their involvement at a Chapter meeting, a
Tri High,, etc.
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California Alpha: Charter member of District IV.
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District of Columbia Alpha:
Harry W. Smith, 1883, first elected District II Archon to serve on the Executive Council.
Charter member of District II.
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Illinois Alpha:
Gerhart (Gerry) C. Mars, 1881, elected SWGP of the 1886 GAC.
Charter member of District IV.
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Illinois Beta: Charter member of District IV.
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Indiana Alpha: Charter member of District III.
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Indiana Beta:
Lawrence Van Buskirk, 1882, first elected District III Archon to serve on the Executive Council
Wilson J. McCormick, 1881, one of four undergraduate members of the first Executive Council.
Elected at the 1886 GAC.
Charter member of District III.
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Indiana Gamma: Charter member of District III.
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Iowa Alpha: Charter member of District IV.
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Iowa Delta: Charter member of District IV.
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Kansas Alpha: Charter member of District IV.
Publisher of The Shield, edited by Edward C. Little, 1878, on behalf of the Fraternity, including
the May 1886 issue which contains the only known contemporaneous account of the
proceedings of the 1886 GAC.
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Maryland Alpha: Charter member of District II.
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Michigan Alpha:
Fred B. Hollenbeck, 1882, one of four undergraduate members of the first Executive Council.
Elected at the 1886 GAC.
Charter member of District IV.
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Minnesota Alpha: Charter member of District IV.
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Mississippi Alpha: Charter member of District II.
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New York Alpha: Charter member of District I.
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New York Beta: Charter member of District I.
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New York Delta: Charter member of District I.
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Ohio Alpha:
Joseph B. Foraker, 1866, first President of Phi Kappa Psi. Elected at the 1886 GAC.
Frank S. Monnett, 1875, and Charles L. Van Cleve, 1877, appointed to the Committee on
Constitution at the 1885 GAC at Columbus, to report to the 1886 GAC.
Charter member of District III.
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Ohio Beta: Charter member of District II. (Also see Pennsylvania Epsilon entry for Edgar Fahs
Smith)
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Ohio Delta:
George W. Dun, 1880 and a Ohio Delta Charter member, first Treasurer of Phi Kappa Psi.
Elected at the 1886 GAC. Appointed to the Committee on Constitution at the 1885 GAC at
Columbus, to report to the 1886 GAC.
Charter member of District III.
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Ohio Gamma:
Charter member of District III.
Daniel C. List, 1876, appointed to the Committee on Constitution at the 1885 GAC at Columbus,
to report to the 1886 GAC.
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Pennsylvania Alpha: Charter member of District .I
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Pennsylvania Beta:
William C. Wilson, 1875, first Secretary of Phi Kappa Psi. Elected at the 1886 GAC. Also
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served as the chairman of the Committee on the Constitution which designed the new form of
government and recognized as the principal author of the Constitution.
F. H. Shaw, one of four undergraduate members of the first Executive Council. Elected at the
1886 GAC.
Charter member of District 1.
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Pennsylvania Epsilon:
Edgar Fahs Smith, 1873, one of two almnus members of the first Executive Council. Elected at
the 1886 GAC. (Also founder of Pennsylvania Iota in 1877 and of The Shield, and professor of
chemistry at Wittenberg College [Ohio Beta].)
George D. Gotwald, 1880, one of two alumnus members of the first Executive council. Elected
at the 1886 GAC.
Charter member of District I.
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Pennsylvania Eta: Charter member of District I.
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Pennsylvania Gamma: Charter member of District I.
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Pennsylvania Iota:
William C. Posey, first elected District I Archon to serve on the Executive Council.
Edgar Fahs Smith, Pennsylvania Epsilon 1873, founder and first initiate of Pennsylvania Iota in
1877.
Charter member of District I.
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Pennsylvania Theta: Charter member of District I.
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Pennsylvania Zeta: Charter member of District I.
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South Carolina Alpha: Charter member of District II.
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Virginia Alpha:
James Ingle, 1884, one of four undergraduate members of the first Executive Council. Elected
at the 1886 GAC.
Charter member of District II.
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Virginia Beta: Charter member of District II.
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Virginia Gamma: Charter member of District II.
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Wisconsin Alpha:
Lynn S. Pease, 1891*, first elected District IV Archon to serve on the Executive Council.
(* This is the initiation year shown in the Grand Catalogue. The strange dating remains a
mystery.)
Charter member of District III.
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Wisconsin Gamma: Charter member of District IV.
Please report errors, if any, to
[email protected]September 17, 2015
