The Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity was founded in 1845 at Yale University by Louis Manigault, Stephen Ormsby Rhea, and Horace Spangler Weiser. Initially formed as a secret sophomore society, Alpha Sigma is the 10th oldest Greek letter fraternity in the United States.
The fraternity began expanding in 1938 when Phi Pi Phi and Alpha Sigma Phi decided to merge under the Alpha Sigma Phi name. Chapters at Case Institute, Baldwin Wallace, Westminster, and Purdue University were added a year later in 1939. After 1944, Phi Pi Phi alumni were initiated under the name “Old Gal” separately from former active Alpha Sigma Phi members.
After World War II, Alpha Sigma Phi began expanding quickly. The fraternity merged with Alpha Kappa in 1946, which added chapters across the eastern side of the Mississippi River. Alpha Gamma Upsilon was the next to merge with Alpha Sigma Phi in 1966, which added chapters at Detroit Institute of Technology, Indiana Institute of Technology, and Eastern Michigan University.
With a loss of chapters and members from 1969 to 1976, there was a change that needed to be made. Alpha Sigma Phi launched a re-chartering movement in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, adding chapters that had not been active in 20 years, such as the Beta Zeta chapter in North Carolina and two new chapters in Virginia.
In 1984, the fraternity raised over $1 million in endowment funds through the Third Founding Campaign. This mission helped raise money for fraternal education programs and activities that could be held at different chapters throughout the country.
Today, Alpha Sigma Phi has around 170 active chapters and over 7,000 undergraduate students. Notable alumni from the fraternity include billionaire Warren Buffett, professional golfer Tom Watson, and former Governor of Ohio John Kasich.
Throughout the years, Alpha Sigma Phi has maintained its mission to Better the Man through the creation and perpetuation of brotherhood founded upon character values.
