PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY, INC.
NATIONAL HISTORY
The idea behind a fourth Black fraternity came during the fall of 1913. Three outstanding young men, with the idea of creating yet another fraternity on the campus of Howard University, forged plans to bring Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity to reality. While still in his native Tennessee, the Most Honorable A. Langston Taylor first came up with the idea of creating a different kind of fraternity. One that was inclusive, rather than exclusive; one that didn't discriminate based on complexion of skin or texture of hair; and a fraternity that lived up to the motto "Culture for service and service for humanity".
After confiding in his friend and former roommate, the Most Honorable Leonard F. Morse on his idea of a new kind of fraternity, the two sought out the support of their friend and final member of the founding three the Most Honorable Charles I. Brown. While the three sped on their way towards founding a fraternity, nine other brothers from the Howard campus were selected for membership. Finally on the night of January 9, 1914 Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity was no longer just a dream, it was officially a national fraternity. The next set of business for the charter members was to get recognition on campus for the new fraternity, a task that took until April when the Board of Deans officially granted them recognition. Soon after publishing the announcement for the newest fraternity's recognition, Sigma was overwhelmed with requests from Howard University men to pledge. Despite the flood of applicants, only 14 outstanding men were accepted into the realm of Sigma.
The men of Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma quickly established themselves as leaders on campus, Bro. A.M. Walker became assistant editor of the Howard Journal , while the Most Honorable Bro. A. Langston Taylor earned the position of Circulation Manager. Meanwhile during the summer of 1914 the Honorable I. L. Scruggs located a fraternity house for the men of Alpha Chapter to reside in.
From its inception, the founders also conceived Phi Beta Sigma as a mechanism to deliver services to the general community. Rather than gaining skills to be utilized exclusively for themselves and their immediate families, the founders of Phi Beta Sigma held the deep conviction that they should return their newly acquired skills to the communities from which they had come. This deep conviction was mirrored in the fraternity motto, "Culture For Service and Service For Humanity".
Today, nearly three-quarter of a century later, Phi Beta Sigma has blossomed into an international organization of leaders. No longer a single entity, the fraternity has now established the Phi Beta Sigma Educational Foundation, Inc. (to provide housing assistance) and the Phi Beta Sigma Federal Credit Union (to build financial equity within our target communities). As a social and service organization, Phi Beta Sigma has many programs. The three National Programs of Bigger and Better Business, Social Action, and Education, help focus the fraternity on delivering to the needs of today's and tomorrow's world. In order to implement these and other programs, Phi Beta Sigma works with organizations such as: The National Pan Hellenic Council The NAACP The National Urban League March Of Dimes The National African American Leadership Summit The National Head Start Association Birth Defects Foundation Children Defense Fund The National Boys Club Of America
Since 1914 Phi Beta Sigma has produced great men and great leaders; as the men who are responsible for taking this fraternity into the next century we dedicate ourselves to upholding the level of excellence and leadership that has been passed on to us... Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. is an organization that is concerned and involved in meeting the needs of the community