Phi Delta Phi

Phi Delta Phi
ΦΔΦ
The Crest of Phi Delta Phi
Crest of Phi Delta Phi
FoundedDecember 13, 1869 (1869-12-13)
University of Michigan Law School
TypeHonor society (formerly professional fraternity until 2012)
AffiliationIndependent
Former affiliationPFA
StatusActive
ScopeInternational
Motto"Friends of Justice and Wisdom"
Member badge
Colors  Garnet and   Pearl Blue
SymbolOwl and Skull
FlowerJacqueminot rose
PublicationThe Brief
Chapters131
Members200,000+ lifetime
Headquarters1426 21st Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20036-5947
United States
Websitewww.phideltaphi.org

Phi Delta Phi (ΦΔΦ; commonly known as Phid or PDP) is a law-student honor society and professional fraternity founded in 1869 at the University of Michigan.

Phi Delta Phi is organized by two branches: legal honor societies and pre-law societies. The legal honor societies, called Inns, are located at law schools. The pre-law societies, called Halls, are for undergraduate membership at U.S. colleges and universities.

With a total membership of over 200,000 people, members of Phi Delta Phi include five U.S. presidents, two U.S. vice presidents, 14 Supreme Court justices, and numerous members of Congress, Cabinet members, and ambassadors.

History

Phi Delta Phi fraternity house built in 1917 located at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Phi Delta Phi was founded on December 13, 1869 at the University of Michigan Law School by John M. Howard, a first year law student. Howard was a graduate of Monmouth College and member of Phi Gamma Delta. His initial intent was to found a chapter of Phi Gamma Delta at Michigan, but he did not follow through with the plan because of the large number of chapters already in place on the campus. Howard instead turned his efforts toward founding a fraternity devoted purely to students of the legal profession.[1][2]

Phi Delta Phi Inns have occasionally leased or owned residential buildings or secured meeting spaces, often adjacent to law libraries. During World War II, when law school admissions enrollments virtually ceased, all of the Inns remained active on a restricted basis.

The first international unit of the fraternity was the Weldon Inn, chartered in 1925 at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. The first unit in Mexico, the Velasco Inn, was chartered in 1973 at the Escuela Libre de Derecho, in Mexico City.[1] The first unit in Germany, the Roman Herzog Inn, was chartered in 2006 at the Bucerius Law School, in Hamburg.

After 140 years of operation as a professional fraternity, the fraternity was designated as an honor society in 2012.[3] In the same year the fraternity began chartering Halls as undergraduate pre-law chapters.[4]

Symbols

Phi Delta Phi's motto is "Friends of Justice and Wisdom". Its colors are garnet and pearl blue. Its symbols are the owl and skull. Its flower is the Jacqueminot rose. Its publication is The Brief.

Chapters

Phi Delta Phi has 131 active chapters known as Inns. Each Inn is named for a noted jurist or member of the bar.[1][5] The honor society has numerous undergraduate chapters, called Halls.

Notable members

Over more than one and a half centuries, Phi Delta Phi members have contributed significantly to various areas, specifically the law and politics. Phi Delta Phi's affiliates include five U.S. presidents, two U.S. vice presidents, and fourteen Supreme Court justices.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Anson, Jack L.; Marchesani Jr., Robert F., eds. (1991). "Title Page". Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. pp. V-39–41. ISBN 978-0-9637159-0-6. OCLC 25278937.
  2. ↑ York, Kenneth H. (1952). "Legal Fraternities" (PDF). Michigan Law Review. 50 (7). The Michigan Law Review Association: 1047–56. doi:10.2307/1284939. JSTOR 1284939. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  3. ↑ Explained more fully in the Fraternity's historical record, accessed 24 oct 2021.
  4. ↑ The Three Major Legal Fraternities and Why You May Want to Join One
  5. ↑ Noted in the Fraternity's List of Chapters, accessed 24 Oct 2021.
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