About
Who We Are
Phi Kappa Tau (ΦΚΤ), commonly known as Phi Tau, is a social collegiate fraternity located in the United States. Our fraternity was founded in 1906 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. As of January 2020, we have 161 Chartered Chapters, 80 active chapters, 11 colonies and around 4,300 collegiate members.
The Phi Tau chapter at the University of Washington in Seattle is the 40th established chapter, and is referred to as the Alpha Pi chapter of Phi Kappa Tau. The current Alpha Pi chapter was most recently re-chartered on April, 2nd 2005.
Our Vision
The vision of Phi Kappa Tau is to be recognized as a leadership organization that binds men together and challenges them to improve their campuses and the world.
Our Mission
The mission of Phi Kappa Tau is to champion a lifelong commitment to brotherhood, learning, ethical leadership and exemplary character.
Our Creed
Phi Kappa Tau, by admitting me to membership, has conferred upon me a mark of distinction in which I take just pride. I believe in the spirit of brotherhood for which it stands. I shall strive to attain its ideals, and by so doing to bring to it honor and credit. I shall be loyal to my college and my chapter and shall keep strong my ties to them that I may ever retain the spirit of youth. I shall be a good and loyal citizen. I shall try always to discharge the obligation to others which arises from the fact that I am a fraternity man.
Roland Maxwell
November 19, 1950
Local History
Worthiness, trustfulness, and honor were the founding principles of Sigma Tau Epsilon, founded on the University of Washington campus in December 1926. Ray Miller was elected the first president and the fraternity colors were purple and white. Their symbol was a white dagger and a diamond-shaped badge also was adopted. By the end of January a simple ritual was written and their ideals were very similar to Phi Kappa Tau.
After approaching Phi Kappa Tau and expressing the desire to enter a national organization, Sigma Tau Epsilon's petition was approved and April 6, 1929, was the date set for the installation of Alpha Pi as the fraternity's 40th chapter. The ceremonies concluded with an installation ball at the Olympic Hotel.
The Chapter's first home sat in the living room of the Beta Theta Pi house. In 1940, the chapter purchased the former Pi Beta Phi Sorority house on Seventeenth Avenue and converted it into a fraternity home. The chapter operated during World War II through the 1942-43 school year, when an alumnus began to manage the house as a home for war workers in the area. Six men reopened the chapter in March 1946. After the war, the membership exploded, and the house proved too small. In 1954 the chapter was able to buy the former Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority house on 21st , which was in good condition and suited to the chapter's needs.
National History
Phi Kappa Tau was founded on March 17, 1906, in the Union Literary Society Hall of Miami University's Old Main Building in Oxford, Ohio. The four honored founders were:
Taylor Albert Borradaile
Clinton Dewitt Boyd
Dwight Ireneus Douglass
William Henry Shideler
The 21 men who attended the first meeting hoped to establish themselves on campus by unifying. They agreed on the name Non-Fraternity Association because according to Founder Shideler, “A political combination of fraternities had taken charge of essentially all activities within the reach of the student body.”
Three years later, on March 6, 1909, the organization on changed its name to Phrenocon, combining the proposed names, Friends, Non-Fraternity, and Comrades.
Phrenocon expanded in 1911 when a second chapter formed at Ohio University. Additional chapters were established at Ohio State University, Centre College, Mount Union College and the University of Illinois.
On March 9, 1916, the Miami chapter withdrew from the National Phrenocon in order to become a Greek-letter fraternity. They adopted the name Phi Kappa Tau, and the remaining five Phrenocon chapters agreed to the name change in December of that year. The Miami chapter was then invited to return to the national organization as the Alpha chapter of Phi Kappa Tau.
