Phi Kappa Psi records

Phi Kappa Psi was formed in 1865 by non-fraternity students and dissatisfied members of Beta Theta Pi and Phi Gamma Delta. Thirteen men were voted into membership by the Ohio Alpha Chapter. First known as "Phi Kaps" or Phi Kappas", these thirteen men were initiated into the National Chapter of Phi Kappa Psi on 24 January 1865. As with many fraternities, the first chapter room was a rented hall on the second floor of a downtown office building. The chapter rented houses at several locations before deciding shortly after the start of World War I to build on the site of the present location at 502 South College Avenue. The house was damaged by fire in 1916 and from 1916 until 1923, when the new house was completed, the Phi Psi's rented a house on East Anderson St. An addition, dedicated to the eleven Phi Kappa Psi members who were killed during World War II, was built in 1958.