THE HISTORY OF PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY INC.

Phi Beta Sigma was an idea sparked on October 8, 1913, in a local YMCA, when three visionaries embarked upon a quest that would grow to proportions that they probably never dreamed would occur. On January 9, 1914, the quest was ignited. These three black young men from Howard University in Washington D.C. brought to life a Greek- letter fraternity that would exemplify the high ideals of brotherhood, scholarship, and service. Our founders, the Honorable A. Langston Taylor, the Honorable Leonard F. Morse, and the Honorable Charles I. Brown forged International History when they created this prestigous organization. Today, more than three-quarters of a century later, Phi Beta Sigma has blossomed into an international organization of leaders, with more than 100,000 dedicated men united in more than 700 chapters across the United States, Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean. No longer a single entity, the fraternity has established numerous institutions, foundations, and organizations in order to faithfully perpetuate composite growth and progress as the "people's fraternity" dedicated to providing services to all humanity.

Founded upon the principles of Brotherhood, Service and Scholarship, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity has constantly remained a force of change in the African-American Community. Through it's three National Programs, Bigger and Better Business, Social Action, and Education, the Fraternity has demonstrated unparalleled excellence and leadership. Our National mentoring program, the Sigma Beta Club, one of the more notable accomplishments of the Fraternity, has helped to shape and mold young men and boys nationwide. Phi Beta Sigma's focus in past social issues included being instrumental in establishing National and State Anti-Lynching legislation in the 1930's and 40's, the elimination of racial discrimination and segregation in federal, state, municipal and county employment in the 50's and 60's along with the abolition of Jim Crow Laws. Brother A. Phillip Randolph was a key factor and the mind behind the march on Washington during the sixties civil right's movement, as was brother Huey P. Newton in awakening the minds of African-Americans to rise up out of the plight of mental slavery.

Though often imitated, we can never be properly duplicated.Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. still remains the first and only constitutionally bound brother-sister African-American Greek letter organization in existence. Others have come along and tried to imitate what Sigma and Zeta began, but they were not built from the same framework and thus, can never be called a true family.

The Three Undergrads...It is easier to start an organization with a multitude of members and Faculty members...Our founders have shown that even though they were small in numbers and percieved power they were able to transcend obstacles!!!

Our Mission

Our mission is to further promote the interests of our organization and our members An organization that strives for change both in it's members and in the community.
An international brotherhood of over 105,000 men worldwide ranging from the Caribbean, Germany and Africa to the Phillipines, Switzerland and back to our lovely United States.

Though often imitated, we can never be properly duplicated- Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. still remain the first and only constitutionally bound brother-sister African-American greek letter organization in existence. Others have come along and tried to imitate what Sigma and Zeta began, but they were not built from the same framework and thus, can never be called a true family.

In the year of 1995, Phi Beta Sigma in cooperation with our lovely sorors of Zeta, became the only African-American Fraternity and Sorority to not only SUPPORT the Million Man March in Washington, DC, but to SPONSOR it as well, with Phi Beta Sigma's headquarters at 145 Kennedy St. NW in Washington, DC serving as the National Headquarters for the event. Our distinguished Brother Benjamin Chavis was the coordinator behind the event. Our focus for the Year 2000-Issues Impacting the African-American Male.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity is one of nine (9) African-American Fraternities and sororities that comprise the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

National Programs

Almost since the beginning, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity has maintained a three-pronged action plan to carry out the Fraternity's motto, Culture for Service and Service for Humanity. The components of the plan are:

1.Bigger and Better Business- A program designed to promote minority owned business ventures.
2.Social Action- A vehicle for addressing the critical problems affecting the nations communities.
3.Education- An ongoing effort to support the academic endeavors of minority students at all levels.

Other Programs

1.Phi Beta Sigma National Federal Credit Union -- Located in Washington, D.C., and owned and operated by Sigma Men.
2.Sigma Beta Clubs -- A national program that provides role models, scholarships, and mentors for boys ages 6-19. Still in the growing stages there are over 25 Sigma Beta Clubs across the country.
3.Project S.A.T.A.P. (Sigmas Against Teenage Pregnancy) -- This program is a collaborative venture with the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation to address the alarming rise in teenage pregnancy.
4.Continuous networking events for members of the Fraternity.