Phi had 58 active chapters on 54 campuses across over 20 states. That same year, both fraternities agreed to negotiations conducted at Ohio State University towards unifying their respective fraternities. Committees from both fraternities were created towards discussion on several issues regarding the merger, including the national name, coat of arms, constitution, leadership, and ritual among many others. In 1958, both Phi Kappa and Theta Kappa Phi simultaneously held their Biennial Conferences at Ohio State to begin final approval of the merger. On September 8, 1958, an agreement was reached, and both respective fraternities ratified the unification and authorized their respective national councils to begin implementation of the consolidation agreement. Over the following eight months, the new unified ritual was established as well as a new insignia for the united fraternity designed. Additionally, new procedures for the united fraternity was adopted, while the two fraternities alumni supervisory boards were consolidated. It was decided that the official charter day of Phi Kappa Theta would be celebrated at Ohio State University on April 29, 1959, coinciding with the seventieth anniversary of the founding of Phi Kappa. At the time of the merger of the two fraternities, it was the first of its kind in the history of the American fraternal system. Phi Kappa's last president, Pierre Lavedan, was selected to be Phi Kappa Theta's first president, while Theta Kappa Phi's last president, Frank Flick, was selected to be Phi Kappa Theta's first chairman of the board. At the four universities where both a Phi Kappa and Theta Kappa Phi chapter existed together, the two chapters merged as well, combining their chapter names into a single designation. On December 12, 1959, the Alpha Rho chapter at Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina, would become Phi Kappa Theta's first chartered chapter, post merger. Ideals Phi Kappa Theta is a national social fraternity founded on five ideals: Fraternal Engagement (duty to man), Intellectual (duty to self and parents), Social Impact (duty to society), Spiritual (duty towards God), and Leadership. Chapters and statistics As of 2020, Phi Kappa Theta lists 36 active chapters and 1 colony in the United States. Notable Phi Kaps Government: Business: Media: Sports: Academia: Religion: See also List of social fraternities and sororities References External links 1889 establishments in Rhode Island 1959 establishments in Ohio North American Interfraternity Conference Irish-American history Catholic fraternal orders Student organizations established in 1959 Fraternities and sororities