KAPPA PSI
Pharmaceutical Fraternity, Inc
Leaders in Pharmacy, Excellence in Life
The History of Kappa Psi
May 30th, 1879
The Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity was founded at the New Haven Collegiate and Commercial Institute. It was initially called the “Society Kappa Psi.”
November 30th, 1879
On Thanksgiving day in 1879, the second Kappa Psi chapter was founded at the Cheshire Military Academy.
November 18th and 20th, 1898
The first two collegiate chapters were formed. The first chapter to be installed was the Delta Chapter at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine. The second chapter, the Gamma Chapter, was installed at Columbia University, College of Pharmacy.
March 31st, 1900
The third Collegiate Chapter to be installed was the Beta Chapter at the University College of Medicine at Richmond, Virginia
June 15th, 1903
On this date, the fraternity was incorporated to give it legal status. At this point, Kappa Psi became a national fraternity that existed as a joint medical and pharmaceutical fraternity.
1902
The first edition of The Agora was published.
1904
The first edition of The Mask was published.
1924
The organization was split into two different entities in 1924. By mutual agreement, the pharmacy group retained the name Kappa Psi Fraternity while the new medical fraternity became known as Theta Kappa Psi. The active chapters separated into 32 medical chapters, 27 pharmacy chapters, and 5 hybrid chapters.
1925
The corporate name was changed to Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity Inc.
1928
Kappa Psi was large, stable and prosperous claiming 35 active chapters. However, this changed after the 1928 Grand Council Convention when depression and war almost destroyed the Fraternity. There would only be one Grand Council Convention between 1928 and 1947, with that one meeting taking place three weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December of 1941. After the war, returning GIs filled many pharmacy schools to maximum capacity, resulting in a great period of growth for the Fraternity.
Mid 1960's
Kappa Psi had grown in size, now at 54 collegiate chapters and 21 graduate chapters.
Present
Today, Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity has over 90,000 members across 155 chapters. Increasing annual membership has not only made Kappa Psi the most popular pharmaceutical fraternity but also the largest. The values that Kappa Psi holds distinguishes a member of Kappa Psi and holds each member to the highest standard. As members of Kappa Psi, other individuals in the pharmacy profession expect only the best from us.
