# Kappa Psi

Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, Incorporated (ΚΨ) is the largest professional pharmaceutical fraternity in the world with more than 6,000 student members and more than 87,000 alumni members. It was founded in 1879 at Russell Military Academy in New Haven, Connecticut as the Society of Kappa Psi.

## History

The Society of Kappa Psi was founded on May 30, 1879, at the Russell Military Academy in New Haven, Connecticut as an academic society for college preparatory schools. The society's founder was Franklin Harvey Smith. An additional chapter was formed at the Cheshire Military Academy in Cheshire, Connecticut in 1879. While these two early units failed, another chapter formed at Hillhouse Academy of New Haven, Connecticut in 1894. Hillhouse too, died as a chapter on 30 June 1895.
However, the founders of these chapters, many having graduated and entered college, sought a collegiate level re-establishment of the order. Representatives, now alumni without an active chapter from these three early prep school chapters formed a grand chapter called Alpha chapter on December 10, 1895, deeming it an essential step for rebuilding the fraternity and for expansion nationally. These men, reforming the organization as Kappa Psi Fraternity chartered its first collegiate chapter, Delta, at the University of Maryland in the fall of 1898 when former members of the Hillhouse chapter entered that school in the study of medicine. Others, who had opted for the study of pharmacy, formed a Gamma chapter at the College of Pharmacy at Columbia University in that same year. A third group of advancing students formed the Beta chapter at the University College of Medicine in Richmond, Virginia, in 1900. Its first national convention was held in New York City in 1900.
By 1902 the young organization had formed six chapters and already held four conventions. In 1903 the Society incorporated as a national fraternity, operating jointly as both a medical and pharmaceutical fraternity. On November 17, 1917, the fraternity merged with Delta Omicron Alpha fraternity. It merged with Phi Delta on January 26, 1918.
By mutual agreement, in 1924, the fraternity split into Kappa Psi, which retained its pharmacy component, and Theta Kappa Psi, which became strictly a medical fraternity. Theta Kappa Psi later struggled; it would go on to merge with Phi Beta Pi in 1961, but this union was again dissolved in 1992. A single chapter carries on the Theta Kappa Psi name today.
Kappa Psi Fraternity would later be incorporated under the name of Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity. In 1977, Kappa Psi first welcomed women into the fraternity.
Today there are 105 active collegiate chapters and 73 graduate chapters across the United States, Canada, and the Bahamas, and over 80,000 people have been initiated into the fraternity since its inception. The Central Office of Kappa Psi is located in Richardson, Texas.

## Symbols

Kappa Psi's colors are scarlet and cadet gray. Its flower is the red carnation. Its publication is The Mask.

## Activities

Kappa Psi holds its international convention biennially.

## Provinces

Nationally, Kappa Psi is divided into provinces, which the majority meet biannually. Historically, the provinces had geographic names that have changed over the years. The provinces were reorganized and renamed numbers in June 2011.
| Province | Established | Original name | Areas covered |
| Province I | March 6, 1914 | North Atlantic Province | Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont |
| Province II | June 3, 1917 | Middle Atlantic Province | Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia |
| Province III | June 3, 1917 | Middle Atlantic Province | Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. |
| Province IV | March 5, 1917 | South Atlantic Province | Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and the Bahamas |
| Province V | January 19, 1918 | Delta Omicron Alpha Province | Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Western New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin |
| Province VII | March 5, 1917 | South Atlantic Province | Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas |
| Province VIII | February 1, 1938 | Provinces X and XI | Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota |
| Province IX | November 27, 1920 | Pacific Province | Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah |
| Province X | February 6, 1929 | Northwest Province | Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming |
* ↑ Includes most of the former Northeast Province.
* ↑ Includes most of the former Northeast Province.
* ↑ Includes part of the former Mountain East Province and the Southeast Province.
* ↑ Includes part of the former Southeast Province.
* ↑ Incorporates the former Great Lakes Province and the Middle America Province.
* ↑ Incorporates part of what was previously the Gulf Coast Province and Southwest Province.
* ↑ Includes the former Northern Plains Province.
* ↑ Incorporates part of what used to be the Southwest Province and the Pacific West Province.
* ↑ Includes part of the former Northwest Province.

## Chapters

As of January 1, 2025, Kappa Psi consists of 105 collegiate and 73 graduate chapters organized into 11 regional provinces.