About Us

The history of Ohio Epsilon of Phi Kappa Psi extends back to the early years of what was then the Case School of Applied Science. Late in 1884, a group of Case students met in the reading room at Case for the purpose of organizing a local fraternity. At that time, there were no recognized fraternities on campus, and this newly established society existed in seclusion until after the establishment of Zeta Psi, the first fraternity to receive a charter from Case. In late 1885, the society applied for and received their local charter under the name Omega Psi.

Holdings to different ideals, Omega Psi and Zeta Psi became open rivals, and for ten years these competitors fought for that which each held as its own. Growth in the fraternity during these formative years was great, both in number and in stature. In 1893, the first movement towards petitioning a national fraternity was made by the Omega Psi chapter. J. Allan Smith, a member of Omega Psi, had met a group of Phi Psi brothers the summer before at Chatauqua, New York. One Evening in the winter of 1893, the brothers of Omega Psi met at Smith's house in Willoughby, Ohio. Smith's neighbor and friend, Brother William Clayton Wilson, then President of Phi Kappa Psi, was in attendance. According to Brother Wilson:

All sorts of questions were propounded and the subject considered ... It was not long before I was informed that the Chapter had acted favorably upon Phi Kappa Psi and was only waiting for a proper opportunity to present a petition.

Petitioning at this time was never completed, however, due to opposition by alumni of Omega Psi.

After this setback, interest lagged until the year 1901, when Omega Psi made a redoubled effort to secure a charter from Phi Kappa Psi. During that year and the first months of 1902, a great deal of effort was expended in the expectation of presenting a petition at the 1902 GAG, to be held in Pittsburgh. After months of work this petition was presented, only to be acted upon unfavorably by the Extension Committee. However, the local fraternity did not lose heart, and instead fought even harder to secure the coveted charter.

At this time another local fraternity at Case, Lambda Kappa, entered the picture. They also sought membership in Phi Kappa Psi and, accordingly, submitted their petition. By this time, Omega Psi was determined that it should receive the charter. Delegates from the chapter were sent to the District Convention at Springfield, Ohio, in an attempt to have the District Council of Phi Kappa Psi come into closer contact with Omega Psi. Due to the sincere feeling shown by the chapter, it was unanimously endorsed by the Cleveland Alumni Association. Lambda Kappa, seeing the sympathies of the National Fraternity gradually turning towards the Omega Psi chapter, petitioned Beta Theta Pi, a national fraternity, and was granted a charter in 1905. This chapter of Beta Theta Pi remains at CWRU today.

In 1904, at the Indianapolis GAC, a determined effort was made by Omega Psi to receive membership in Phi Kappa Psi. The Indianapolis convention, like that which preceded it, voted unfavorably on the petition. After two successive failures, the members of Omega Psi did not lose hope, but fought still harder. The two ensuing years were full of preparation for the 1906 GAC, to be held in Washington, DC.

From April 18 to April 20, 1906, the Twenty-Fourth Grand Arch Council met. At this time all but seven chapters approved the Omega Psi petition. After considering the petition for a period of thirty days, they too, ratified it, completing the required unanimous vote. On June 6, 1906, Omega Psi was installed as Ohio Epsilon of Phi Kappa Psi. Nineteen active members and forty-six alumni of Omega Psi were initiated at this time.

The installation ceremony itself took place on June 2, 1906. Four days later, the brothers of Omega Psi were initiated into Phi Kappa Psi at the Hollenden Hotel in downtown Cleveland. Initiate number one was Brother Everett Lowell Brown. James T. Pardee was number three, and Samuel W. Emerson was number forty-two. Until the year 1966, initiates were inscribed upon the rolls in the order of pledge rank. Beginning in 1966, the initiates listed their names alphabetically.

The early years of Ohio Epsilon were active years. Phi Psi was, athletically, the strongest fraternity on campus, and was also prominent in school activities. Much of the concern of the brothers, however, was directed towards housing.

The first house of Omega Psi had been located at 10022 Cedar Avenue. This house served until April of 1902 when the fraternity moved to a house at 139 Cornell. In September of 1906, the Ohio Epsilon Company was formed for the purpose of enlarging and bettering the Chapter. During the next few years, this company raised funds for the purpose of purchasing a new house and acquired a lot on the corner of Stearns and Fairchild. Brother Sam Emerson, Secretary of the company, played a significant role on the development of the new house. Milton J. Dyer, Ohio Epsilon '06, designer of the Pennsylvania Beta chapter house, designed the new house for Ohio Epsilon.

The new house at 2114 Stearns Road was occupied on December 11, 1911. It was unique in that it was the first house west of the Alleghenies built specifically for the use of the Fraternity.

By 1917, with the United States in World War I, the Ohio Epsilon's membership dwindled to almost nothing, with many of the brothers entering the armed services. The final blow fell when, in 1918, the War Department suspended all ritualistic and social activities of the Case fraternities. This condition existed until the fall of 1919 because it was thought that fraternity life would hinder the training of men in a military manner. From October until December of 1918, the Chapter house served as headquarters for the Student Army Training Corps.

The next few years saw the Chapter grow in size and in stature. Each year, six to twelve men were initiated, and Ohio Epsilon soon led the way in such sports as basketball and baseball, as well as having several journalistic leaders. By the time the stock market crashed, Ohio Epsilon was doing well for itself.

With the advent of the Depression, a new type of student entered into the Chapter. Due to the hard times, parents were willing to send their sons to college only if they had some assurance that their sons would graduate. This brought to Case a somewhat more scholarly and serious person who was willing to work hard and give this assurance to his parents. At this time, Ohio Epsilon gained an excellent scholastic standing in the Fraternity.

With the Second World War in progress, Ohio Epsilon was again thriving. Social and scholastic standings of the Chapter were high. By 1943, however, the situation had taken a turn for the worse. The war caused fraternal activities to slow to almost a standstill. The Chapter house became filled with non-fraternity men and was even used at one time as a recruiting center for a Naval Reserve program that had been instituted at Case.

The fortune of fraternal life began to improve by 1946, and chapter life returned to its normal course. After the war, Phi Kappa Psi, along with the other fraternities on campus, resumed its social and fraternal activities. Many men returned to Case under the GI Bill. At first, there was a large number of veterans, older and more settled. By 1948, however, the number of veterans had begun to dwindle.

At this time, it was found that the non-fraternity men had taken a considerable number of items during the war years. This left the house somewhat barren, so the Mother's Club very generously replaced many of the missing items.

In December of 1964, the chapter moved to 2265 Murray Hill Road. Although the house was not owned by the Fraternity but leased from Case, it was still larger and more accommodating for brothers.

The move to Murray Hill brought with it a new friend of Ohio Epsilon, Mrs. Edna Kolp. Mrs. Kolp served as housemother from 1964 until her retirement in May of 1972.

1972 was a year that saw many changes for Phi Psi. In February, after eight years of enduring Stouffers and SAGA, permission was finally received from the University to set up an independent commissary service. After weeks of negotiating contracts with the University, buying new equipment, etc., Phi Kappa Psi became the first fraternity in University housing to have its own food service. It was completely independent of the University food service or any other caterers. The Chapter's first chef was Art Schmidt, who had worked for Ohio Epsilon for 12 years during the Steams Road years. Although he was forced to leave after one semester because of poor health, Art was a valuable asset in setting up the kitchen and making it a success. Because of Art's health, Brother Andy Adams took it upon himself to find a new chef. The man he found in 1972, Otis T. Armstead, remained until 1983. He was quite a character and came back to cook for the Chapter in the spring of 1985 when it was in sudden need of a cook. Much is owed to Otis for all that he added to the Chapter.

In the spring of 1972, Ohio Epsilon was successful in persuading the University deans to allow fraternities to try a somewhat non-traditional approach to filling the position of housemother. In October of that year, the first house parents were installed. In fall of 1982, the house parents were suddenly removed and replaced by newly created Greek Life Staff. This evolved in more recent years into the position of Greek Life Coordinator, a position currently occupied by Wes Schaub, an alumnus of Ohio Eta, Toledo.