NATIONAL HISTORY
University of Virginia (circa 1870) — Aerial view of The Lawn, grassy area that separates the East Range and West Range student living quarters.
March 1, 1868
Pi Kappa Alpha was founded by six outstanding young men in Room 47 of the West Range living quarters at the University of Virginia. Today, it is a popular destination for Pikes interested in exploring the fraternity's history.
The Founders:
Collectively, these six men are recognized as the Founders of Pi Kappa Alpha:
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Frederick Southgate Taylor
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Littleton Waller Tazewell (Bradford)
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Julian Edward Wood
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James Bejamin Sclater, Jr.
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Robertson Howard
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William Alexander
May 1, 1868 - First Initiate
Just two months after its founding, the fledgling fraternity initiated its first new brother, Augustus Washington Knox, an exceptional young gentleman who assisted with the Fraternity's first expansion effort when he transferred to Davidson College the following year, assisting with the early development of Pi Kappa Alpha's Beta chapter. Knox would go on to serve the people of Raleigh, North Carolina, as a physician for more than sixty years.
Eleven days after initiating Knox, Alpha welcomed another new member into the bonds of brotherhood, bringing the fraternity's membership to eight brothers by the end of the spring session.
1869
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During the year, Alpha doubled in size by adding four new members, while the Fraternity also doubled in size, from one to two chapters.
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March 1, 1869 - Expansion
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Exactly one year after the founding of Alpha Chapter, Pi Kappa Alpha launched its first expansion effort when Beta Chapter was chartered at Davidson College, just north of Charlotte, North Carolina.
In an interesting twist, one of Alpha’s four new members in Fall 1869, was Franklin McNeil of Beta chapter, making an initiate of the Fraternity’s second chapter the Fraternity’s first transfer.
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1870 -1872
The two years from 1870 to 1872 found Alpha established on the University campus as a mother chapter of a National Fraternity. During those two years a regular meeting place was obtained, the first convention was held, a formal chapter picture was made, and a program of expansion was outlined.
A Secret Society
The term “Secret Society” in this period applied to more than just the initiation ritual and chapter procedure, but also the members and their meeting place. With the latter point in mind, the first Pikes began searching for a secret location as soon as the numbers of their membership made meeting in a student dorm room impractical from the standpoint of secrecy. Various locations were considered, but none proved satisfactory until a brother thought of “The Castle.”
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“Castle Dango,” or “The Tin Castle,” as it was known by students of the time, was a large, red brick building at the top of a hill about a half mile from campus. ​
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1870s-1880s — Early Growth Period
Comprised of highly regarded men of character from prominent families, Alpha prospered during its early years. During its first 17 years, the chapter added many new members and attained a celebrated position within the University’s social circle. Additionally, Pi Kappa Alpha expanded to other college campuses, launching seven new chapters in its first decade. By the mid-1880s, a total of eleven charters had been issued across seven states, representing nearly 900 initiates.
Pi Kappa Alpha Charters Issued Prior to Hampden-Sydney Convention (1889)
1868 - Alpha......Univ. of Virginia
1869 - Beta......Davidson College
1871 - Gamma......William & Mary
1871 - Delta.......Birmingham Southern
1873 - Epsilon.......Virginia Polytechnic Inst,
1874 - Zeta.......Univ. of Tennessee
1878 - Eta......Tulane Univ.
1878 - Theta......SW Presbyterian Coll.
1885 - lota......Hampden-Sydney Coll.
1887 - Kappa......Transylvania College
1889 - Lambda......S. Carolina Military Acad.
Alpha Struggles With National Responsibilities
As the senior chapter, Alpha controlled the fraternity's reigns of governance, charged with overseeing the entire national organization. Its monarchal structure proved ineffective on a national scale, though. Proposals for changes in policy and operation had to be submitted to Alpha for consideration, and only Alpha could call conventions, limiting representation and efficiency.
While the fraternity’s original constitution called for annual conventions of the membership to openly discuss challenges and conduct pressing business, ever increasing internal struggles at Alpha resulted in its obligations to the national organization faltering. Over its initial 20 years, Alpha called for only three conventions, none of which had any legitimate impact on the fraternity’s long-term outlook:
• 1871 - Richmond, VA
• 1876 - Yellow Sulphur Springs, VA
• 1888 - Louisville, KY
As identified in the minutes of the respective gatherings, conventions at the time were essentially social occasions with very little business conducted.
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​Late-1880s — Contraction
By the mid-1880s, internal discord at Alpha began to erode active membership and limit recruitment efforts. Disorganization and poor communication weakened national leadership, causing waning interest among the expansion chapters. Over several years, many of the chapters failed.​​ By Spring 1888, only four of the original eleven chapters remained active: ​
• Alpha (Virginia)
• Theta (Southwestern Presbyterian College; now Rhodes University)
• Iota (Hampden-Sydney College)
• Lambda (South Carolina Military Academy; now The Citadel)
Fall 1889 - Saving the Fraternity
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Prior to the start of the Fall term, Theron Hall Rice (Theta) transferred from Southwestern Presbyterian College to the University of Virginia to pursue graduate studies. He was anxious to become involved with Alpha, but found it to be on the precipise of failure, with only a few active members, most of whom were pessimistic about the chapter's future beyond their own tenure on campus. Several of the remaining members were even pushing for the chapter to abandon its association with Pi Kappa Alpha and merge with an older, larger national fraternity. Coming from a chapter that was itself almost extinct, and aware that other chapters were struggling, Rice realized that the fraternity was in a desperate situation. Rather than giving in to his disappointment, he was inspired to act. The survival of the fraternity was at stake.
December 1889 --
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The Hampden-Sydney Convention
Assisted by J.T. McAllister (lota), another graduate studies transfer to UVa who shared a desire to save the fraternity, Rice wrote, published and distributed the "Pi Kappa Alpha Bulletin," in which he outlined the serious challenges facing the fraternity and, on behalf of Alpha, called for a convention during the 1889
Christmas break.
The chosen location for the convention was Hampden-Sydney College, McAllister's alma mater and home of the only Pike chapter that was still thriving. The objective was simple and clear: Save The Fraternity.
Cushing Hall, host site of the
Hampden-Sydney Convention.
The resulting Hampden-Sydney Convention was a pivotal moment in Pi Kappa Alpha's history. Decisions made there re-shaped the structure of the organization and ensured its survival.
Junior Founders
The Hampden-Sydney Convention included delegates representing the four remaining chapters, along with fourteen members of lota, which hosted the convention. The four delegates were the guiding force that led to the fraternity's emergence from the most difficult period in its history. Together, they became known as the Fraternity's Junior Founders:
A New Constitution
Since Alpha was barely functioning, the convention’s first priority was reorganizing its national governance. Representative delegates from three active chapters, plus a proxy acting on behalf of the fourth, created a committee to draft a new constitution that would vest supreme authority in a national board who were to be elected at the convention. As part of the new constitution, Rice presented a plan for creating a representative government in which each active chapter would elect one alumnus and one active member to create a Grand Council. Then, in turn, the Grand Council would elect two men to serve as the fraternity’s executive officers; the Councilor Priceps and the Grand Secretary and Treasurer. With the committee in agreement, the new constitution was presented to the membership and quickly adopted, clearing the path needed to rebuild the fraternity.
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Election of National Officers
With the fraternity's new structure set, members elected its first Grand Council and executive officers; Rice as Grand Priceps, and Smythe as Grand Secretary and Treasurer (later divided into separate offices, with Foster taking on the Grand Secretary role.) The Officers and Grand Council assumed responsibility for the organization’s management and oversight. Their guidance and collective wisdom enabled the fraternity to establish long-term plans, rules of order, and take the actions necessary to address specific issues and achieve certain goals.
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The Hampden-Sydney Convention marked the transition from a fragile organization struggling to survive to a sustainable, well-planned national fraternity with a vision for the future, set up for growth and prosperity. For his leadership in convening the convention that saved Pi Kappa Alpha, Theron Hall Rice is regarded as one of the most consequential figures in fraternity history. ​​
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The Death of Lambda chapter and the Rise of Robert Adger Smythe
During the Fall 1889 term, just a few weeks before the convention, Lambda received notice that the Administration at the South Carolina Military Academy (The Citadel) was issuing a ban on all secret fraternities at the University, which would go into effect at the end of the Winter 1890 term. Initiated members of fraternities were honor bound, under oath, to surrender their charters and abstain from operating as a fraternity in the future. As a result, while members of Lambda remained on campus, part of the student population for three more years, they held no chapter meetings and never sought to increase their membership through recruitment. Lambda became a "silent chapter." Ironically, though it was active for just a single year, Lambda produced one of the greatest assets in Pi Kappa Alpha history: Robert Adger Smythe.
No one was more affected by the University’s anti-fraternity regulations than Smythe, a local resident of Charleston who was a member of Lambda’s first class of initiates. So attached was he to the chapter he helped start that he secured permission from his father to set up a room in their family’s home exclusively for chapter use, which it remained for the duration of the chapter’s brief lifespan. ​
Business matters kept him from physically participating in the Hampden-Sydney Convention, but Smythe remained unfettered. He submitted a letter of apology for his absence, described by Foster as “glowing with fervent devotion,” in which he proclaimed his desire to remain active in the fraternity and asking Rice to serve as his proxy for the convention. In the years that followed, Smythe proved his love for the fraternity many times over by devoting himself to the national organization, creating a legacy of unmatched influence and service as a loyal alumnus, National Officer, and esteemed ambassador for Pi Kappa Alpha to those outside the bonds of Pike brotherhood. Today, he is remembered at the fraternity’s annual convention during the presentation of its highest award for chapter excellence, which is named in his honor: The Robert Adger Smythe Award.
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At the time, Smythe was just 18 years old, a sophomore at The Citadel, where he was an initiate of Lambda chapter, which had been forced to resign its charter and cease operations just months earlier by the school's newly enacted anti-fraternity regulations. With the loss of his chapter, Smythe re-directed his fraternal ferver to the national organization.
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One of the four exceptionally mature young men who would become known as the Fraternity's "Junior Founders," Smythe was a strong supporter of the vision for the Fraternity's future that was proposed and adopted at the Hampden-Sydney Convention almost exactly one year earlier.
1890 - National Fraternity Magazine
Probably the most widely recognized of Smythe's many contributions to Pi Kappa Alpha was the creation of the fraternity's national magazine, which he began publishing in December 1890, as "The Pi Kappa Alpha Journal," which he changed to "The Shield and Diamond' with the publication's second issue in Spring 1891.
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As stated on its cover, the Pi Kappa Alpha Journal was "published in the interests of the Fraternity." Designed to serve as a mass communication tool for the national organization, it provided relevant information to the Fraternity's rapidly growing membership while also offering chapters a platform to share news, updates, and achievements of both undergraduate and alumni members.
Perhaps more than any other, Smythe recognized that establishing and maintaining regular communication with the entire Fraternity membership was essential to its stability and future growth, and a magazine was ​the most efficient mass communication tool of the time. ​​​​To illustrate his view of the magazine’s primary function, Smythe used that first edition to share the Minutes of the Hampden-Sydney Convention, including the revised Contstitution that was adopted at the convention. ​​​
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In the Managing Editor’s note to readers, Smythe made a commitment to publish the magazine six times per year and reduce the cost per issue for subscribers from 25 cents to 15 cents. In exchange, he asked every member — undergraduates and alumni alike — to help defray the cost of publication and distribution by subscribing, ensuring that they will all be well-informed with timely, Fraternity-related news. To expand the network of chapter communication, he also requested that the alumni advisor from each chapter submit a brief update on news from their chapter each month to share with the rest of the Fraternity via Chapter Notes in the magazine.. ​
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“Without a magazine we cannot expect to accomplish any thing.
And without support we cannot have a magazine. Not only do we want money,
but we want letters from our alumni to publish. Red hot. Fraternity letters.
Surely our alumni will do this.”
— Robert A. Smythe, Managing Editor
Pi Kappa Alpha Journal, Dec. 1890​
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1891 - Planning for the Future
With the fraternity stableized, revisions to its governance were proposed at the Danville (Virginia) Convention in 1891, all designed to further strengthen the organization. The entire Grand Council was re-elected by their respective chapters. In turn, the Council elected the next Grand Priceps and Grand Secretary, while retaining Smythe as Grand Treasurer. Some constitutional revisions and a set of By-Laws to govern the Grand Council were proposed and adopted by the Coucil. An audit of the fraternity’s financial books was reviewed and approved. And looking toward symbolic representation for the growing fraternity, the membership adopted an official fraternity yell, flower, and flag.
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The Modern Ritual
Authored by Smythe, the modern initiation ritual of Pi Kappa Alpha was approved for use in all chapters during the 1891 Danville Convention.​​
1894
The 1894 Nashville Convention brought the decision to revert to the fraternity's original Coat of Arms used by Alpha during the parent chapter days. Designs for official stationery and regalia, and a resolution of respect for deceased brothers were approved. It was at this convention that Smythe read to the membership an important report he had compiled on the state of the Fraternity. Titled "Our Past, Its Failures; Our Future, What Is Essential to Success," his report sparked an enthusiastic discussion among the members that led to a number of proposals for improvement of the national Fraternity and strengthening of individual chapters on their respective campuses.
1893
At the 1893 Richmond Convention, the constitution was further revised to incorporate the addition of a Grand High Councilor and a Grand Chaplain.
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Standardized designs for the member's badge and pledge "button" were proposed and approved.
1890s - 1910s - Renewed Expansion
Pi Kappa Alpha opened 25 new chapters over the twenty years following the Hampden-Sydney Convention, during which it held regular conventions designed to educate and inform the membership as much as engender a spirit of camaraderie. Organizational structure and operations were revised as needed to improve effectiveness and promote better communication with the chapters, along with the creation of an alumni chapter network, establishing a national magazine, standardizing the initiation ritual, and adopting an official Coat of Arms.
Reaching Maturity
In the five years since the Hampden-Sydney Convention, Pi Kappa Alpha had completely reorganized the national Fraternity structure, revitalizing existing chapters and expanding to include new chapters, all of which were managed by a sustained, stable board of chapter representatives and national officers. The practice of holding annual conventions was now established, focused on encouraging the exchange of ideas with the growing network of chapters and inspiring the shared pursuit of mutually beneficial natoinal goals. Pi Kappa Alpha was quickly transforming into a well-run, mature organization that could genuinely benefit its members, not just on their respective campuses, but also long after their college years. Pike brotherhood was becoming A Lifetime Experience.
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With the Fraternity’s rapid growth, the corresponding increase in the size of the Grand Council of Delegates rendered national governance increasingly inefficient. To address the issue, significant reforms to the Fraternity’s leadership structure were adopted at the 1897 Nashville Convention, beginning with the abolition of the Grand Council and its authority transferred to the Grand Officers, who were thereafter elected directly by the membership at national conventions. Existing titles were also revised: the Grand High Councilor became the Supreme Councilor, and the executive board of officers was redesignated as the Supreme Council.
Among other motions that were adopted in subsequent conventions:
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Change the dates for annual conventions from holiday weeks or summer breaks to dates within the school year as a means of increasing member attendance.
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Require each chapter to elect a historian, charged with collecting relevant information and writing about each member, both active and alumni, and sharing news about the chapter's members, business activities and achievements via at least two articles per year submitted to The Shield & Diamond magazine.
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Create the national position of Grand Histographer to collect and preserve all information of interest concerning the chapters and their alumni, to be made available for publication by the Fraternity.
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Add four editors to assist the Managing Editor with the publication of The Shield & Diamond.
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Require new initiates to be students enrolled at the institution with which the chapter was affiliated.
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Setting a fixed initiation fee of five dollars.
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Establish a secret sign of recognition and secret grip.
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Secure a jewelry provider that could manufacture Fraternity-related pieces at a cost that would be affordable by all members.
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Expand the Fraternity to states in the North, West and Southwest.
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Reimburse national officers -- whose attendance was required -- for costs related to convention attendance.
Attendees at the 1902 Nashville Convention were treated to a special keynote address by Littleton Waller Tazewell (Alpha), who spoke about his experiences as one of the Fraternity’s six founding members, and the pride he felt seeing the organization thrive and continuing to expand 34 years later.
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World Wars
College enrollment declined during each of the global conflicts as young men joined the armed services by the hundreds of thousands, a challenging side effect of the wars that seriously impacted membership of all fraternities.
​ • World War I (1915-1919): One in six undergraduate Pikes saw military service.
• World War II (1941-1945): Nearly half of the Fraternity’s 33,000 undergraduate members served.
Strong post-war rebounds followed both conflicts, but wartime losses suffered among the brotherhood made an indelible mark on the Fraternity, leading to the decision to permanently honor those members who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation.
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1948 — PIKE Foundation
The PIKE Memorial Foundation was established, with the title later shortened to The PIKE Foundation.
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1988 — Pi Kappa Alpha Memorial Headquarters
The National Memorial Headquarters was dedicated in Memphis, Tennessee.
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Pi Kappa Alpha Memorial Headquarters
8347 West Range Cove
Memphis, Tennessee 38125
(901) 748-1868
