About Phi Psi Fraternity
In the late 1800's, the European textile industry held a tremendous advantage over the American textile industry. One reason for this was the European textile schools, for which there was no American counterpart. In the early 1800's, a group of Philadelphia textile men came together to try to establish means for training young men for the benefit of the industry in this country. In 1884, the Philadelphia Textile School was conceived, founded, and financed by a group of young men working as the Philadelphia Association of Textile Manufacturers. The group was led by Dr. Theodore Search, of Erben Search and Company. This project was made known to the trustees of the Pennsylvania Museum of Art, who agreed to absorb the school as one of its departments. Classes were held in the industrial art school, located on Spring Garden Street.
The school's scope of training was greatly widened by the addition of chemistry and dyeing divisions in 1887. In a short time, the school had developed to such a point that one could gain a good textile education without leaving the United States. By the fall of 1892, enrollment had greatly increased and the facilities of the college were no longer adequate. In 1893, a gift, which provided sufficient funds for new facilities, was received from Mr. William Weightman, a drug manufacturer. A building was purchased and the school was moved to Broad and Pine Streets. By 1900, the school had again broadened its curriculum, making it one of the most complete and diversified textile schools of that time frame.
In 1902, a group of men came together to found the first textile fraternity, Delta Kappa Phi. Several students at the school felt the need for a similar organization, but with slightly different goals. Consequently, Phi Psi Fraternity was founded at the Philadelphia Textile School on March 18, 1903. The five men responsible for its start were:
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