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Pi Kappa Phi was founded in the fall of 1904, as three gentlemen who attended the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC vied to take leadership positions within the Chrestromathic Literary Society. At the time, there were three other fraternities on campus, and those three developed a slate of candidates for the positions. Simon Fogarty Jr., Andrew Alexander Kroeg Jr. and Lawrence Harry Mixson desired positions, but were not involved with a fraternity at the time. Several meetings at Mixson’s house, led to a following of 15 men and the creation of a group called "Nu Phi" or "non-fraternity." Nu Phi adopted the "outline of a hand" as its secret symbol. Meetings were advertised on classroom chalkboards by drawing a hand and putting the time and last name of the member hosing it inside the hand. As Nu Phi worked together en route to the elections "they realized they possessed the skills, desire and friendship needed to build something of lasting value. Nu Phi did not do well in the election, but Kroeg was determined to give his friends the opportunity to influence the campus, and decided to start his own full-fledged fraternity. On December 10, 1904, the seven loyal Nu Phi’s met at Fogarty’s home at 90 Broad Street in downtown Charleston met to found a real fraternity. All seven members, Fogarty, Mixson, Kroeg, A. Pelzer Wagener, Thomas F. Mosimann, Theodore Barnwell Kennedy, and James Fogarty, had grown up together in Charleston. Wagener was a superior scholar in Greek and Latin and recommended the letters, Pi Kappa Phi, and their secret meaning and Kroeg became the first archon. In 1906, Wagener and Mixson authored the ritual and Wagener’s brother Henry Patrick became the first Pi Kappa Phi member initiated under the ritual on March 24, 1906. In 1907, Kroeg "saw the need for the Fraternity to secure Articles of Incorporation to protect the fraternity’s name and existence," and Pi Kappa Phi was incorporated in the State of South Carolina on December 23, 1907. Omega's History
The great tradition that is Omega Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity began on November 24, 1922. Since that time, it has become one of the leading chapters and it has also risen to a position of distinction on campus. We have passed over 1,700 members through our doors; each of whom has contributed greatly to our rich history and heritage.
Alpha Gamma Beta, a Christian brotherhood, was a local fraternity initiated into Pi Kappa Phi on Novermber 24, 1922. The installation team was from Upsilon Chapter (University of Illinois) and included Supreme Secretary George Grant, Omicron (University of Alabama), and Supreme Alumni Secretary George D. Driver, Nu (University of Nebraska). Wade S. Bolt, Sigma (University of South Carolina), who spearheaded the nationalization of Alpha Gamma Beta, was also there. Thirty-seven men were initiated as charter members of Pi Kappa Phi's 24th chapter. Omega's first Archon was Milfred W. House (Ω15), and William R. Amick (whose initiation card appears in the picture) became Ω1.
The brotherhood lived in a few different houses from the beginning. Past addresses include 206 North 6th Street in Lafayette, 128 Wiggins Street, 40 North Salisbury, and 102 Russell Street. In 1929, our current house was built at 330 North Grant Street. We have remained there ever since then with two exceptions. During WWII the house was
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