Samuel Brown Wylie Mitchell, along with six other "Founding Fathers," chartered the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity in 1850 at the University of Pennsylvania. Fifty-three years later, the Alpha Mu chapter at M.I.T. was founded on October 16th.
The current chapter house at 530 Beacon Street, built in 1908, was purchased by Alpha Mu in 1916, the same year M.I.T. moved its campus across the Charles River to Cambridge.
The Alpha Mu chapter witnessed some hard times in its early days. Only four men returned to represent Phi Kappa Sigma in the fall of 1904, but they immediately began an active campaign for new members. At this time, the chapter had little to attract the prospective candidate - no chapter house, no established reputation, nothing but the friendship of a few enthusiastic, hard-working men and the prestige of the International Fraternity; but these proved to be enough. By the following spring, the membership had increased to thirteen.
Until Christmas 1905 the chapter rented a room on Huntington Avenue for a meeting place. Proving inadequate for its growing needs, the chapter soon secured several rooms at 262 Newbury Street, in the heart of the fraternity district. Several men lived there during the spring term that year. This was the first important step toward establishing the reputation of Phi Kappa Sigma at M.I.T.
For more than fifty years, the active members of the Alpha Mu chapter of Phi Kappa Sigma have been advised and guided by their Alumni Association chaired by long-time President William Denhard '42 (to whom their dining room is now dedicated). Denhard recently stepped down and Keith Kallberg '68 was elected to fill his post. In past years, Alpha Mu brothers have benefited greatly from a strong connection to alumni. Many brothers attend alumni events such as Founder's Day to keep in touch and network with others already working at companies in which they are interested.
Keeping in touch with alumni allowed Alpha Mu to raise millions of dollars for the renovations to the chapter house in 1996. A fifth story including a skylight lounge and rooms with balconies was added to the historic Back Bay residence. An elevator was added to bring the old house up to par with new building codes. Revitalized and restored, Alpha Mu now boasts one of the most beautiful Boston residences of M.I.T.
More about the international fraternity can be found at the international website.