Founding

The Ohio Delta chapter of Phi Kappa Psi was originally founded in 1880 and was the second fraternity on campus (Phi Gamma Delta [FIJI] being the first fraternity at OSU in 1878). Since it’s original founding, Phi Kappa Psi holds the title for having the longest continuous charter at Ohio State.

OH Delta was originally colonized by the brothers from Ohio Alpha chapter (Ohio Wesleyan University). During the colonization, the colony applied for a charter on May 4, 1879 but came close to being denied its original charter because of the school being considered a “cow school” – this didn’t stop the colony when it was finally granted a charter on May 15, 1880.

OH Delta and OSU

Phi Psi and FIJI edited Ohio State’s first yearbook, called the Makio, which is still the school’s only annual yearbook in publication.

Greek Week was started by Brother George Packer in 1933

Houses on Campus

OH Delta’s first home at ISU was located on Neil Avenue, which the chapter rented in 1907. The chapter then decided to move to 13th and Indianola, until finally putting roots down at the current chapter house where OH Delta is still located today. The current chapter house was built by Alfred Linton (who ran for governor in Ohio but lost the election) and is an exact replica of South Carolina’s Governor’s Mansion. The chapter bought the property in 1908 for $42,000.

Famous OH Delta Brothers

James Thurber

  • Famous writer & humorist
  • Thurber Library
  • Thurber Theatre
  • Thurber House

Joseph V. Denney

  • Denney Hall (College of English & Communications)
  • Ohio Delta Chapter Advisor
  • Past Dean of Arts & Sciences College

Wendell Postle

  • Postle Hall (College of Dentistry)

*Names in red can direct you to another web page that goes further detail on their connection to Phi Kappa Psi. Check it out!

Elliot Nugent

  • Famous writer

Fred Machintanz

  • Famous painter

James Siebert

  • Siebert Hall

William Batten

  • Retired President of the NYSE
  • Past C.E.O. of J.C. Penney

The Arts

Fred Machetanz 1927 – Alaska Wilderness Artist
James Thurber 1918 – Pulitzer Prize-winning author and humorist

Government

Henry T. Bannon 1885 – U.S. Representative from Ohio (1905–1909)
Newton W. Gilbert 1882 – Governor-General of the Philippines (1907–1908); U.S. Representative from Indiana (1905–1906); Lieutenant Governor of Indiana (1901–1905)

Military

William Campbell Langfitt 1880 – Major General, US Army; chief of staff and chief engineer for the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I; namesake of the USS General W. C. Langfitt

PKP National Presidents

1898–1900 – George William Dun 1880 (Ohio Wesleyan 1879)
1910–1912 – George Smart 1883
1948–1950 – Howard Leeman Hamilton 1921
2004-2006 – James Robert Blazer II ’79
2012-2014 – James L. Miller ’85

PKP Vice Presidents

1946–48 – Howard L. Hamilton 1921
2004-2006 – James R. Blazer II ’79
2010-2012 – James L. Miller ’85

PKP Treasurers

1886–1894 – George W. Dun 1880
1976–1880; 2000-2002 – James R. Blazer II ’79
2008-2010 – James L. Miller ’85

PKP Secretaries

1890–1894 – George Smart 1883
2006-2008 – James L. Miller ’85

PKP Attorneys General

2004-2006 – James L. Miller ’85

Canonsburg Corporation 

2017-Present – James L. Miller ’85

Archons

1887–1889 – Arthur Hartwell 1883 (District III)
1891–1893 – Percy Martin 1888 (District III)
1897-1898 – Lee R. Stewart 1891 (District III)
1898–1899 – Lee R. Stewart 1891 (District III)
1907–1909 – Richard D. Logan 1903 (District IV)
1916–1917 – Donald Hamilton 1914 (District III)
1917–1919 – Donald Hamilton 1914 (District III)
1917–1919 – Gaylord T. Stowe 1914 (District III)
1919–1921 – Dan M. Hoyt 1916 (District III)
1919–21 – Herbert S. Duffy 1918 (District III)
1929–1931 – C. Randolph Darnell 1926 (District III)
1935–1937 – Norman M. Spain ’33 (District III)
1938–1941 – Harry T. Vallery ’37 (District III)
1963–1965 William B. Leahy ’62 (District III)
1965–1967 – Bruce R. Greenlee ’64 (District III)
1997–1999 – Gilbert A. Smith ’95 (District II)
2003-2005 – Bartholomew W. Connolly ’00 (District II)
2007-2009 – David C. Voll ’04 (District II) 

Permanent Fund Trustees

1970–1976 – Richard T. Baker ’36
1984–1995 – William M. Batten ’29
2013-20(?) – Richard D. Starr ’65

Endowment Fund Trustees

1918–1925 – George Smart 1883
2005-Present – Frederick A. Hegele ’63
2011-Present – W. Guy Spriggs ’71

PKP Award Winners

Eddie Knight Award of Merit 

1990 – Norman M. Spain ’33 
2016 – Richard D. Starr ’65 

Ladies Silver Bowl

1978 – Dana “Mom” Voght

Medal of Honor 

2014 – Richard D. Starr ’65