Our History...The Founding
John T. McCarty transferred to Jefferson College, a school in Canonsburg, Pa., which had only one fraternity, in 1846. In his room at a boarding house, McCarty and five friends met on April 22, 1848 to flesh out the secret "association" they had informally discussed. When they met again on May 1, 1848, the "Immortal Six" signed the document and elected officers. The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta was born. By Jefferson College’s commencement on June 14, 1848, the Grand Chapter of "The Delta Association" had initiated 19 members plus the original six. That same month, the Beta Chapter was installed at nearby Washington College. Today, Phi Gamma Delta has grown to 142 Chapters and 13 Delta Colonies in the United States and Canada. Nearly 180,000 Brothers have been initiated since 1848, and approximately 9,000 undergraduate brothers now call themselves FIJIS. The Mu Iota Chapter In 1913, a group of men at the University of Idaho formed Alpha Kappa Epsilon (AKE), a men’s social club located on Jefferson Street in Moscow, Idaho. That group applied to become a Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta, and received a telegram on Dec 30, 1920 that it would receive its charter. The Mu Iota Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta had its installation ceremony on March 11, 1921. A month earlier, on Feb. 12, 1921, the Chapter purchased choice property on the corner of University Avenue and Elm Street and made plans to build a new Chapter House. The three-story Tudor-style House opened its doors in 1926. Mu Iota’s Chapter House, located at 600 University Avenue across the street from the University of Idaho’s scenic, tree-lined Hello Walk that connects Greek Row to the Administration Building, remains one of the most iconic buildings on campus at one of the choicest locations. Idaho’s Fiji legacy Mu Iota quickly developed an outstanding reputation on campus, and Fijis, as we are known, have a long and illustrious history at Idaho, with our members involved in every part of the University, including athletics, student government, music, theater and leadership. Through two World Wars and the Great Depression, the Mu Iota Chapter has not only survived but thrived and remains the second oldest continuously operating Phi Gamma Delta Chapter on the West Coast. The Chapter House was expanded in the mid-1960s with the addition of a new wing of rooms, bringing capacity to over 70. The original section of the Chapter House underwent a $1.5 million renovation in 2012 as a result of the generous donations of Mu Iota’s Graduate Brothers. Student rooms in the addition were renovated in 2014. New furnishings in the living room, library, dining and sleeping areas also have been added. Tradition and an active social calendar are a huge part of Phi Gamma Delta and Mu Iota, including the Fiji Islander and Purple Garter. The alumni tailgater at Vandal football games and the Norris Pig Dinner draws Graduate Brothers from around the country each year. Since 1921, 1,796 Brothers have been initiated by Mu Iota into Phi Gamma Delta, and we boast a network of nearly 1,000 Brothers that support the Chapter, living up to one of our Fraternity's enduring mottos - "Not for College Days Alone." Mu Iota excels in academics, intramurals and philanthropy, where it has led all other campus organizations for several years running. FIJIS have served as the University of Idaho’s Dean of Students, Dean of the College of Letters and Science, Vice Provost, founded the Chemistry Department and have been named first-team All-Americans in football. Mu Iota's Graduate Brothers are influential businessmen, investors, developers, politicians, attorneys, bankers, engineers and sports editors, who form a network willing to help undergraduates and graduates alike. With this rich tradition, Mu Iota of Phi Gamma Delta will continue to build and produce successful men of strong moral character and unquestioned academic excellence for many years to come. |
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Friendship |
Knowledge |
Service |
Morality |
Excellence |