Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, Incorporated (ΚΨ) is the largest professional pharmaceutical fraternity in the world with more than 6,000 student members and more than 87,000 alumni members.[1] It was founded in 1879 at Russell Military Academy in New Haven, Connecticut as the Society of Kappa Psi.

Kappa Psi
ΚΨ
FoundedMay 30, 1879; 145 years ago (May 30, 1879)
Russell Military Academy
TypeProfessional
AffiliationPFA
Former AffiliationPIC
StatusActive
EmphasisPharmacy
ScopeNational (formerly International)
Colors  Scarlet and   Cadet gray
FlowerRed carnation
PublicationThe Mask
Chapters110 collegiate, 75 graduate
Headquarters2060 N. Collins Boulevard, Suite 128
Richardson, Texas 75080
United States
Websitekappa-psi.com

History

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The Society of Kappa Psi was founded on May 30, 1879, at the Russell Military Academy in New Haven, Connecticut as an academic society for college preparatory schools. The society's founder was Franklin Harvey Smith. An additional chapter was formed at the Cheshire Military Academy in Cheshire, Connecticut in 1879. While these two early units failed, another chapter formed at Hillhouse Academy of New Haven, Connecticut in 1894.[2] Hillhouse too, died as a chapter on 30 June 1895.[3]

However, the founders of these chapters, many having graduated and entered college, sought a collegiate level re-establishment of the order. Representatives, now alumni without an active chapter from these three early prep school chapters formed a grand chapter called Alpha chapter on December 10, 1895, deeming it an essential step for rebuilding the fraternity and for expansion nationally. These men, reforming the organization as Kappa Psi Fraternity chartered its first collegiate chapter, Delta, at the University of Maryland in the fall of 1898 when former members of the Hillhouse chapter entered that school in the study of medicine. Others, who had opted for the study of pharmacy, formed a Gamma chapter at the College of Pharmacy at Columbia University in that same year. A third group of advancing students formed the Beta chapter at the University College of Medicine in Richmond, Virginia, in 1900.[2] Its first national convention was held in New York City in 1900.

By 1902 the young organization had formed six chapters and already held four conventions. In 1903 the Society incorporated as a national fraternity, operating jointly as both a medical and pharmaceutical fraternity.[2] On November 17, 1917, the fraternity merged with Delta Omicron Alpha fraternity.[4] It merged with Phi Delta on January 26, 1918.[4]

By mutual agreement, in 1924, the fraternity split into Kappa Psi, which retained its pharmacy component, and Theta Kappa Psi, which became strictly a medical fraternity.[5] Theta Kappa Psi later struggled; it would go on to merge with Phi Beta Pi in 1961, but this union was again dissolved in 1992. A single chapter carries on the Theta Kappa Psi name today.

Kappa Psi Fraternity would later be incorporated under the name of Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity.[2] In 1977, Kappa Psi first welcomed women into the fraternity.[3]

Today there are 110 active collegiate chapters and 75 graduate chapters across the United States, Canada, and the Bahamas, and over 80,000 people have been initiated into the fraternity since its inception.[2] The Central Office of Kappa Psi is located in Richardson, Texas.[3]

Symbols

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Kappa Psi's colors are scarlet and cadet gray.[2] Its flower is the red carnation.[2] Its publication is The Mask.[2]

Activities

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Kappa Psi holds its international convention biennially.

Provinces

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Nationally, Kappa Psi is divided into provinces, which the majority meet biannually. Historically, the provinces had geographic names that have changed over the years. The provinces were reorganized and renamed numbers in June 2011.[6]

Province Established Original name Areas covered References
Province I March 6, 1914 North Atlantic Province Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont [6][a]
Province II June 3, 1917 Middle Atlantic Province Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia [6][b]
Province III June 3, 1917 Middle Atlantic Province Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. [6][c]
Province IV March 5, 1917 South Atlantic Province Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and the Bahamas [6][d]
Province V January 19, 1918 Delta Omicron Alpha Province Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Western New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin [6][e]
Province VII March 5, 1917 South Atlantic Province Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas [6][f]
Province VIII February 1, 1938 Provinces X and XI Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota [6][g]
Province IX November 27, 1920 Pacific Province Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah [6][h]
Province X February 6, 1929 Northwest Province Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming [6][i]
  1. ^ Includes most of the former Northeast Province.
  2. ^ Includes most of the former Northeast Province.
  3. ^ Includes part of the former Mountain East Province and the Southeast Province.
  4. ^ Includes part of the former Southeast Province.
  5. ^ Incorporates the former Great Lakes Province and the Middle America Province.
  6. ^ Incorporates part of what was previously the Gulf Coast Province and Southwest Province.
  7. ^ Includes the former Northern Plains Province.
  8. ^ Incorporates part of what used to be the Southwest Province and the Pacific West Province.
  9. ^ Includes part of the former Northwest Province.

Chapters

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As of October 8, 2022, Kappa Psi consists of 111 collegiate and 75 graduate chapters organized into 11 regional provinces.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "High honors for two Drake pharmacy fraternities". Drake University. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. V-24–25. ISBN 978-0-9637159-0-6.
  3. ^ a b c According to the history of Kappa Psi Society, from its website, accessed 27 Aug 2020.
  4. ^ a b Baird, William Raimond; Taylor, James Taylor, eds. (1923). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities; a Descriptive Analysis of the Fraternity System in the Colleges of the United States, with a Detailed Account of Each Fraternity (10th ed.). New York: James T. Brown, editor and publisher. pp. 515 – via Hathi Trust.
  5. ^ Garner, Dewey (1993). The History of Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Our History". Kappa Psi. Retrieved 2023-04-06.