Theta Kappa Psi
| Theta Kappa Psi | |
|---|---|
| ΘΚΨ | |
| Founded | May 30, 1879 Russell Military Academy in New Haven, Connecticut |
| Type | Professional Medical |
| Publication | The Messenger |
| Headquarters |
East of 6th Galveston, Texas United States of America |
Theta Kappa Psi Medical Fraternity, Incorporated, (ΘΚΨ) was a defunct professional medical fraternity. Currently, the Beta Phi Chapter of Theta Kappa Psi in Galveston, Texas is restructuring the fraternity from its independent chapter.
The Society of Kappa Psi was founded on May 30, 1879 at the Russell Military Academy in New Haven, Connecticut. The original founder was F. Harvey Smith. The second chapter was established at the Cheshire Military Academy in Cheshire, Connecticut on November 30, 1879. A third chapter was established at Hillhouse Academy in New Haven, Connecticut on October 7, 1894. All three chapters had dissolved by the mid 1890s.
Kappa Psi Fraternity was reorganized on November 18, 1898 at the School of Medicine at the University of Maryland. The fraternity was organized by William C. Bennett, Perry L. Boyer, William F. Clark, James E. Cathill, Edwin J. Frosher, Thompson D. Gilbert, J. Dawson Reeder, Press W. Ethridge, and F. Harvey Smith. Several of the members involved in the reorganization had been involved with one of the prior three Kappa Psi chapters. The reorganized Kappa Psi was a joint medical-pharmaceutical fraternity, in which chapters would be chartered in both medical and pharmacy schools and colleges.
At the 1924 Grand Council Convention of Kappa Psi, the decision was made to separate the fraternity into two separate entities: one fraternity for medicine and one fraternity for pharmacy. The split was effective on January 15, 1925. The pharmacy fraternity retained the Greek name Kappa Psi, and the medical fraternity became Theta Kappa Psi.
With the reorganization of the medical fraternity from Kappa Psi in 1924, it was necessary to assume a new name, rewrite and adopt a new constitution, ritual, coat of arms,insignia, badge, and pledge button. The medical group assumed the name of Theta Kappa Psi Medical Fraternity, believing that the addition of the Greek letter Theta greatly enhanced its ritualistic significance. The new constitution bestowed the national president with the title of Grand Prytan, the national vice-president with the title of Grand Vice-Prytan, and the Grand Secretary and Treasurer with the title of Grand Recorder and Bursar. The name of the new medical fraternity journal was The Messenger. The badge and coat of arms were designed by Richard Bliss. The insignia and pledge button were designed by R.C. Williams. Theta Kappa Psi (old iteration) split off from Kappa Psi in 1924. Then in 1961, Theta Kappa Psi merged to become part of Phi Beta Pi Medical Fraternity.
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