Phi Gamma Delta

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- Phi Gamma Delta
Motto "Friendship, the sweetest influence."
Colors Royal Purple
Symbol Black Diamond with White Star
Flower Purple Clematis
Founded May 1, 1848 at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, PA
Type Social
Scope International
Headquarters 1201 Red Mile Rd
Lexington, KY, USA
Chapters 116, 5 colonies
Nicknames FIJI, Phi Gam
Homepage www.phigam.org

Phi Gamma Delta (commonly known as FIJI) is a collegiate social fraternity with chapters across the United States and Canada.

Phi Gamma Delta was founded on May 1, 1848, at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. The founders of the Fraternity, reverently referred to by brothers today as the Immortal Six, were John Templeton McCarty, Samuel Beatty Wilson, James Elliott Jr., Ellis Bailey Gregg, Daniel Webster Crofts, and Naaman Fletcher.

For over 158 years, the Phi Gams have lived by their values of Friendship, Knowledge, Service, Morality, and Excellence. The rewards of membership extend far beyond one's college years through continued commitment to the values, the brothers, and the Educational Foundation. This is why Fiji did not adopt the name "alumni." Rather, post collegiate members are known as "Graduate Brothers," implying that membership extends far beyond the undergraduate experience. The commitment exemplifies another motto by which Phi Gams live, "Not For College Days Alone."

The vast Graduate Brother involvement within the fraternity manifests itself in its educational fund. The Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation is the largest contributor of scholarships in the fraternal world. As part of its "Academic Achievement Award", those who earn a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in their pledging semester receive $250.00 from the foundation. Other fellowships and grants are awarded to Fiji brothers, with significant emphasis given to the financial need and merit of the individual brother.

There are 116 chapters (both collegiate and graduate chapters) and 5 colonies across the United States and Canada.

Contents

Phi Gamma Delta is one of the few Greek-letter organizations in North America to limit the written display of its Greek letters. In accordance with the fraternity's international bylaws, Fiji chapters and members only portray their letters in the following seven locations:

  • On a uniform diamond-shaped member badge
  • On the Fraternity's official seal
  • On the Fraternity's official flag
  • On a chapter house marker
  • On memorials to deceased brothers
  • On a brother's certificate of membership
  • On a brother's official college ring

The fraternity's letters are, thus, considered sacred and are never to be displayed on an object that can be easily destroyed. Whereas other fraternities often display their letters on clothing or other items, this tradition prevents Fijis from doing so. In place of the actual Greek letters, "Fiji," "Phi Gam," or the English spelling of "Phi Gamma Delta" are used in their place.

Fiji, a nickname started at New York University, was officially adopted by the national fraternity in 1894 in the belief that the term would be distinctive and appeal to the imagination. Prior to its formal appropriation by the organization at large, nicknames for members of the fraternity varied greatly; ranging from "Phi Gamm" (note the two m's) and "Delta" by brothers across the nation, "Fee Gee" in New York, and "Gammas" in the South. As of now though, "Fiji" and "Phi Gam" are considered the only appropriate nicknames for Phi Gamma Delta members on the international scale, though local nicknames related to a chapter's greek name or other colloquialisms do exist. [1]

The "Immortal Six" are the six men who founded the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. Each of them graduated from Jefferson College in 1848 except for Namaan Fletcher who graduated class of 1849.

John Templeton McCarty (1828- 1860)
John Templeton McCarty (1828- 1860)
Samuel Beatty Wilson (1824- 1889)
Samuel Beatty Wilson (1824- 1889)
James Elliott, Jr. (1824- 1883)
James Elliott, Jr. (1824- 1883)
Ellis Bailey Gregg (1827- 1854)
Ellis Bailey Gregg (1827- 1854)
Daniel Webster Crofts (1828- 1852)
Daniel Webster Crofts (1828- 1852)
Naaman Fletcher (1824- 1864)
Naaman Fletcher (1824- 1864)

The Recognition Symbol of Phi Gamma Delta The Mascot of Phi Gamma Delta, the Snowy White Owl "Gamma"

Phi Gamma Delta exists to promote lifelong friendships, to reaffirm high ethical standards and values, and to foster personal development in the pursuit of excellence.

Phi Gamma Delta is committed to provide opportunities to each brother to develop responsibility, leadership, scholarship and social skills in order to become a fully contributing member of society.

We are united by Friendship. It is the basis of our brotherhood. Because of it, we accomplish far more than we do as individuals. Friendship is the sweetest influence.

We promote the pursuit of Knowledge. It is the key to a fuller, richer life. We gain it through education, the harmonious development of the powers of the individual.

We encourage Service. We have the ability, the opportunity, and the duty to serve our fellow human beings. Our reward is the satisfaction that comes from serving.

We believe in Morality. As gentlemen of quality we must do what is right as individuals and as a group. Moral behavior is the basis of our society’s existence.

We strive for Excellence. It is attained only when we fulfill our total potential. Mankind benefits when each of us becomes all that we can be.

A brother of Phi Gamma Delta is said to have his life ordered by three priorities.

  • First, Scholarship.
  • Second, Fraternity.
  • Third, Self.

(By order of foundation)


  1. ^ Phi Gamma Delta: The Purple Pilgrim, pg. 119


North-American Interfraternity Conference
Acacia  • Alpha Chi Rho  • Alpha Delta Gamma  • Alpha Delta Phi  • Alpha Epsilon Pi  • Alpha Gamma Rho  • Alpha Gamma Sigma  • Alpha Kappa Lambda  • Alpha Phi Alpha  • Alpha Phi Delta  • Alpha Sigma Phi  • Alpha Tau Omega  • Beta Chi Theta  • Beta Sigma Psi  • Beta Theta Pi  • Chi Phi  • Chi Psi  • Delta Chi  • Delta Kappa Epsilon  • Delta Phi  • Delta Psi  • Delta Sigma Phi  • Delta Tau Delta  • Delta Upsilon  • FarmHouse  • Iota Phi Theta  • Kappa Alpha Order  • Kappa Alpha Psi  • Kappa Alpha Society  • Kappa Delta Phi  • Kappa Delta Rho  • Lambda Chi Alpha  • Lambda Phi Epsilon  • Lambda Sigma Upsilon  • Lambda Theta Phi  • Phi Gamma Delta  • Phi Iota Alpha  • Phi Kappa Psi  • Phi Kappa Sigma  • Phi Kappa Tau  • Phi Kappa Theta  • Phi Lambda Chi  • Phi Mu Delta  • Phi Sigma Kappa  • Phi Sigma Phi  • Pi Kappa Alpha  • Pi Kappa Phi  • Pi Lambda Phi  • Psi Upsilon  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon  • Sigma Alpha Mu  • Sigma Chi  • Sigma Lambda Beta  • Sigma Nu  • Sigma Phi Delta  • Sigma Phi Epsilon  • Sigma Phi Society  • Sigma Pi  • Sigma Tau Gamma  • Tau Delta Phi  • Tau Epsilon Phi  • Tau Kappa Epsilon  • Theta Chi  • Theta Delta Chi  • Theta Xi  • Triangle  • Zeta Beta Tau  • Zeta Psi
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