Phi Beta Sigma
A historically African American Greek-letter fraternity founded at Howard University in 1914 and organized around brotherhood, scholarship, and service.
Last updated October 19, 2026
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Overview
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. is a historically African American Greek-letter fraternity founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C., in 1914. Its founding members—A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I. Brown—sought to create an organization that combined fraternal brotherhood with intellectual development and practical service to surrounding communities. The fraternity’s governing ideals are commonly expressed as Brotherhood, Scholarship, and Service. From its beginning, Phi Beta Sigma distinguished itself through an inclusive conception of membership and community responsibility. Rather than treating the fraternity solely as an exclusive social organization, its founders envisioned a body that could work on college campuses while also addressing the educational, cultural, and economic needs of nearby communities. During its first years, members operated a Sunday school program, developed a public library and art gallery, and participated prominently in Howard University’s academic, civic, athletic, and student organizations. The organization expanded rapidly beyond Howard. Its Beta chapter at Wiley College in Texas, chartered in 1915, was the first chapter of an African American Greek-letter organization chartered south of Richmond, Virginia, according to the fraternity’s historical account. Additional early chapters were established at Morgan State College in Maryland and Kansas State University. A first national conclave followed in 1916, helping establish a publication and a more coordinated national structure. World War I disrupted the fraternity’s operations as many members entered military or war-related service. Chapters were depleted and the national office temporarily ceased functioning, but efforts led by national leaders and founder A. Langston Taylor helped rebuild the organization after the war. Phi Beta Sigma was incorporated in Washington, D.C., in 1920. The fraternity has also had a distinctive relationship with Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. The sorority was founded at Howard University in 1920 through the efforts of women students working with Phi Beta Sigma members. The two organizations maintain a constitutional bond, a relationship described as unique among historically African American Greek-letter organizations. Phi Beta Sigma members also contributed to wider Black intellectual and civic life. Alain LeRoy Locke, James Weldon Johnson, and A. Philip Randolph are among the notable members associated with the Harlem Renaissance and social-justice movements. Its national programs have included business education and economic advancement through Bigger and Better Business, social action, educational support, publications, and youth-oriented work. The fraternity joined the National Pan-Hellenic Council and has historically supported civic engagement and community uplift. It has also been associated with institutional innovations such as alumni chapters, youth mentoring clubs, a federal credit union, chapters in Africa, and a collegiate chapter outside the United States. Today, Phi Beta Sigma operates through more than 700 chapters in the United States and several international regions, with membership reported at more than 200,000 men. Its constitution permits academically eligible male students of any race, religion, or national origin to join through collegiate chapters, while professional men may join through alumni chapters subject to educational requirements. The fraternity remains active as a membership-based service and fraternal organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., and participates in the National Pan-Hellenic Council.
History
Phi Beta Sigma emerged from discussions among Howard University students who wanted to establish a new type of Greek-letter fraternity. A. Langston Taylor had considered founding a fraternity as early as 1910. In October 1913, he and Leonard F. Morse began developing the idea with Charles I. Brown. By November, the three men had formed a committee and selected nine additional associates who became the organization’s first charter members. The permanent organization was established on January 9, 1914, in the Bowen Room of the Twelfth Street YMCA in Washington, D.C. Howard University recognized the fraternity in April of that year. The young fraternity immediately connected fraternal activity with education and public service. It maintained a Sunday school, created a public library and art gallery, and encouraged members to take leadership roles in Howard’s debate, YMCA, political science, athletic, and editorial organizations. In 1915 it inducted several prominent African American scholars, and Herbert L. Stevens became its first graduate member. Expansion began with the chartering of Beta chapter at Wiley College in Texas in November 1915, followed by chapters at Morgan State College and Kansas State University. The first conclave, held in Washington in December 1916, brought together representatives of three chapters and authorized an official fraternity publication. The First World War placed severe pressure on Phi Beta Sigma. Many members entered military service or war work, leaving chapters depleted and the national office inactive. After the war, national leaders worked to reconnect members and restore the fraternity’s structure. By 1920 the organization had grown to ten active chapters. On January 31 of that year, it was incorporated in the District of Columbia as Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated. The postwar period also produced the fraternity’s enduring constitutional relationship with Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. Phi Beta Sigma members Charles R. Samuel Taylor and A. Langston Taylor assisted Howard students who organized Zeta Phi Beta, whose first official meeting took place on January 16, 1920. The organizations’ related names and formal bond expressed their intended relationship. Phi Beta Sigma subsequently encouraged its chapters to help establish Zeta chapters at colleges in different parts of the country. During the 1920s, the fraternity developed its communications and economic programs. Its official publication began as the Phi Beta Sigma Journal and was renamed The Crescent Magazine in 1924. The same decade saw the development of Bigger and Better Business, a program intended to promote business education and economic progress. Members participated in the Harlem Renaissance and other movements in African American intellectual and civic life; Alain LeRoy Locke became especially associated with the era’s cultural development, while James Weldon Johnson and A. Philip Randolph contributed to broader literary and labor activism. The Great Depression created financial difficulties for the fraternity and its members. Falling income, bank failures, and interruptions to college attendance affected chapters across the organization. Phi Beta Sigma responded by strengthening Bigger and Better Business, encouraging business courses, and supporting scholarships for financially challenged members. At the 1930 Tuskegee conclave, George Washington Carver addressed the fraternity. From the 1930s onward, social action became a formal national priority. A. Philip Randolph’s labor activism exemplified the public role associated with several members, and the fraternity’s social-action work continued through civic and community initiatives. Phi Beta Sigma affiliated with the National Pan-Hellenic Council in the 1930s and maintained relationships with other historically Black Greek-letter organizations. Its institutional development also included alumni chapters, youth mentoring, a federal credit union, international chapters, and collegiate activity outside the United States. The fraternity now describes itself as a global organization with more than 200,000 members and over 700 chapters in the United States, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. It remains headquartered in Washington, D.C., and continues to organize collegiate and alumni members around brotherhood, scholarship, service, social action, and community advancement.
- 1936
Affiliation with the National Pan-Hellenic Council
[1]The fraternity’s General Board approved affiliation with the National Pan-Hellenic Council.
- 1934
Social Action established as a national program
[1]Phi Beta Sigma made social action a formal national program and appointed leadership for the initiative.
- 1925
Bigger and Better Business becomes a national program
[1]The fraternity formalized a national economic and business-education initiative.
- 1924
Official publication renamed The Crescent Magazine
[1]The fraternity’s journal adopted the name The Crescent Magazine, reflecting an important organizational symbol.
- 1920
Incorporation and Zeta Phi Beta relationship
[1]Phi Beta Sigma was incorporated in the District of Columbia, while Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was founded at Howard University with assistance from Sigma members.
- 1916
First national conclave
[1]The first conclave brought together representatives of early chapters and authorized an official fraternity publication.
- 1915
First expansion chapter chartered
[1]Beta chapter was chartered at Wiley College in Texas, beginning the fraternity’s expansion beyond Howard University.
- 1914
Fraternity established at Howard University
[1]Phi Beta Sigma was permanently organized on January 9 in Washington, D.C., and received official recognition from Howard University in April.
Products and positioning
An inclusive, service-oriented historically African American fraternity that combines collegiate and professional brotherhood with scholarship, civic engagement, economic development, and community programs.
Product categories. Membership and professional development · Community service and social-action programs · Scholarship and educational initiatives · Youth mentoring · Fraternal publications and events
Controversies
2020
Ralph Lauren responds to use of fraternity symbols on chinos
Ralph Lauren apologized and said it had stopped selling a pair of chinos after complaints about fraternity symbols appearing on the pants. The fraternity's legal representative said the organization was investigating and alleged that the symbols had been used without consent. The event concerned the use of fraternity symbols on the chinos and the company's response to the complaints.
2020
Ralph Lauren responds to use of fraternity lettering on pants
After Watch The Yard reported that pants bearing Phi Beta Sigma lettering were being sold on Ralph Lauren's France site, Ralph Lauren apologized and stated that the use of the symbols was an oversight. The company said it was removing the product from its sales channels and reviewing its protocols.
Marketing campaigns
- 1934Social Action
United States
A national civic-engagement and community-service initiative established to coordinate the fraternity’s public-interest work and involvement in social issues.
- 1925Bigger and Better Business
United States
A national program promoting business education, economic advancement, and support for members and communities. During the Great Depression, the program also supported scholarships and encouraged colleges to offer business courses.
Brand decisions
1934
Social Action made a national programStrategyBackground
Members were increasingly involved in civic, labor, and community issues during the Depression-era period.
Action taken
The fraternity created a formal national Social Action program and appointed Emmett May as its first director.
Aftermath
Social action became a continuing pillar of the fraternity’s national identity and programming.
1925
National adoption of Bigger and Better BusinessStrategyBackground
The fraternity sought to connect its principles of scholarship and service with economic opportunity and business education.
Action taken
Bigger and Better Business was established as a national program.
Aftermath
The program became part of the fraternity’s response to economic hardship, including support for scholarships and business instruction.
1920
Incorporation in the District of ColumbiaOtherBackground
After postwar expansion and organizational rebuilding, Phi Beta Sigma formalized its legal structure.
Action taken
The fraternity was incorporated on January 31, 1920, and adopted the name Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated.
Aftermath
Incorporation provided the organization with a formal national legal identity.
Recent events
Reported
Ralph Lauren responds to use of fraternity symbols on chinos[3]
After complaints about fraternity symbols appearing on chinos, Ralph Lauren apologized and said it had stopped selling the pants. The fraternity's legal representative said the organization was investigating and alleged that the symbols had been used without consent.
Reported
Ralph Lauren responds to use of fraternity lettering on pants[4]
After Watch The Yard reported pants bearing Phi Beta Sigma lettering were being sold on Ralph Lauren’s France site, Ralph Lauren apologized, said the use of the symbols was an oversight, and said it was removing the product from its sales channels and reviewing its protocols.
Sources4 sources
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