Theta’s History
The Theta Chapter of Sigma Chi was originally founded at Gettysburg College in March of 1863, just a few months prior to the Civil War battle that would etch the town’s name into American history. The chapter first occupied the building that is now Glatfelter Lodge before moving into the current chapter house at 240 Carlisle Street in 1922. The chapter house was given to the fraternity by a generous alumni and resident of Gettysburg, John B. McPherson, whose family has a long history in the town. The chapter operated until 2004 when the decision was made to close the chapter after many years of instability and poor performance.
Sigma Chi returned to Gettysburg in 2008 when an interest group founded by Aaron Lawson, and built out by a group of students on the ultimate Frisbee team. The interest group quickly evolved into a fully-fledged colony and the chapter was reinstalled in March of 2009. The chapter moved back into 240 Carlisle Street in 2010 and has continued to flourish since. In the last decade the chapter has grown to become one of the largest chapters on campus with high marks in member GPA, philanthropy money raised, and ratings under the College’s Greek Life evaluation system.
Mission Statement
While Sigma Chi’s core values are Friendship, Justice and Learning, our vision is to be the preeminent leadership and character development brotherhood benefitting our members throughout life.
Our mission is to develop values-based leaders committed to the betterment of character, campus and community. In the pursuit of these high ideals, the Sigma Chi Fraternity is able to offer tremendous value in augmenting the collegiate experience and supporting the lifelong journey of each of its members.
We hope to assist brothers in becoming men of character, caring husbands, compassionate fathers and community leaders.
Derby Days
The tradition of Sigma Chi’s Derby Days began in the spring of 1933 at the Alpha Beta chapter at the University of California-Berkeley in the form of the “Channingway Derby.” Located on Channing Way, the Berkeley Sigs sponsored an event composed of a series of humorous skits and performances. In the spring of 1935, after receiving reports of the Channingway Derby, Beta Sigma chapter members at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville made plans for a similar event. Instead of presenting skits, the event was planned around an all-day track and field competition between the pledge classes of the nine sororities at Tennessee.
More than 1,000 people were in attendance on the big day, Nov. 1, 1935, to witness the first Derby involving campus sororities. Also in attendance for the festivities that day were four Sigs from the Delta chapter at the University of Georgia. The brothers took the idea back to their campus and named their production “Sigma Chi Derby,” which seems to have stuck. During the 1960s, the derby began to take on the philanthropic approach for which it is now known on many campuses.
After the Cleo Wallace Center became Sigma Chi’s Fraternity-wide service project in 1967, many chapters began using the derby as a fundraising event for the center. Although some amount of charitable work had been done through Derby and similar events prior to that time, the Wallace Center project gave a much-needed boost to the concept of doing something for a group in need outside of campus.
Timeline Of Events
1832 Pennsylvania College is founded
1855 The Sigma Chi Fraternity is founded at Miami of Ohio
1863 On April 3rd, Mikesell, Bikle, Billheimer, and Ziegenfuss founded the Theta Chapter at Pennsylvania College. July 3-5, the Battle of Gettysburg
1864 Banquet commemorating the first anniversary of Theta Chapter is held at The Eagle Hotel
1866 The last of the Theta Chapter founders, Philip Biklé, graduates from Pennsylvania College
1874 The Theta Chapter absorbs the members of Beta Upsilon
1881 The Sigma Chi Magazine is founded at Gettysburg College in April
1884 Pennsylvania becomes the location first province of the Fraternity and Brother John J. McPherson became the first Grand Praetor
1891 Glatfelter Lodge is built by Brother's McPherson and Glatfelter to be used for Sigma Chi chapter meetings and other events.
1922 John McPherson donates the “Cornelia Wright-McPherson Memorial Chapter House” to the Theta chapter in honor of his wife.
1954 The Chapter house gains a new addition and has renovations completed to completely redesign the house
1981 The 100th anniversary of the Sigma Chi Magazine
2002 The Chapter House catches fire causing $150,000 worth of damage and repairs
2005 The members of the Theta Chapter resign their charter to the Sigma Chi Fraternity and Gettysburg College
2007 A group of individuals begin an interest group for the Sigma Chi Fraternity and become the Theta colony of Sigma Chi
2008 Theta Chapter regains it’s charter with 33 members
2010 The new chapter hosts its first Derby Days after refounding
2011 Theta Chapter wins it’s second Peterson Blue Award in a row
2012 Theta Chapter initiates it’s 100th member since the re-founding
2013 Theta Chapter’s 150th anniversary