Phi Kappa Sigma Male College

Phi Kappa Sigma is the only fraternity in whose honor a college was founded and named. On the seventh day of February, 1859, the Phi Kappa Sigma Male College, located at Monticello, Arkansas, opened its doors for students. On the twenty-first of February, in the same year, the Legislature of Arkansas chartered this institution, making it the first institution of higher learning in Arkansas.

This is a bare statement of what is a very important fact to Phi Kaps. The Phi Kappa Sigma College was the only institution of its sort ever known to exist. At this particular period in the history of the United States, many colleges were being established in the South. The spread of education through the southwest was in the ascendant, and the founding of this institution was one of the many steps of progress that were being taken at that time.

James William Barrow graduated in 1856, with first honors and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Centenary College, in Jackson, Louisiana. He was a member of the Theta Chapter of Phi Kappa Sigma. Shortly after graduation he conceived a plan for founding a college to bear the name of our Fraternity. L.S. Boyd, the author of an article in Banta's Greek Exchange, concerning this college, expresses the opinion that Brother Barrow's purpose in founding of the college was to extend the bounds of the Fraternity. It is much more probable, however, that his true purpose was to extend the influence and prestige of Phi Kappa Sigma. However, as far as it has been determined, Brother Barrow made no attempt to institute a chapter of the Fraternity at this college nor to initiate any of its students into membership in the Fraternity. He was thoroughly conversant with our principles and policies, and realized that the institution of his founding must acquire considerable age and standing before it would be available as a location for a chapter of Phi Kappa Sigma.

The college began operation under auspicious circumstances, but seemed likely to grow into a large and successful institution. It was not long, however, until the Civil War broke out. Brother Barrow was firmly convinced that the Union should be preserved and favored the waging of the war by the South under the United States flag "for the rights of the Constitution." But when his state seceded, he turned the college building, a large two-story frame structure, over to the Confederates to be used as a store-house, and did all in his power for the cause of the South.

Hence, the Phi Kappa Sigma Male College was short-lived. After Union troops occupied that section of the country, they took over the building and used it as a hospital until 1864, when they evacuated and burned it. Thus died the practical expression of a noble inspiration. Up until that time the college was the only institution giving work more advanced than that of high school grade in Arkansas.

Hardly any records of the College are obtainable. No bulletins or courses of study remain to give us a definite knowledge concerning the work and degrees presented. There is, however, a copy of the opening announcement in the Archives of the Fraternity. In addition, there exist the minutes of the Philomathean Literary Society, which was in existence at the college from 1859 through 1860. These minutes disclose very definitely that there was no attempt to establish a chapter of the Fraternity at the College, and further that the personnel of the student body was of exceptionally high character and industry.

After the war, conditions in the South were such as to make the re-establishment of the college impossible because of the lack of money and available students. Brother Barrow moved to Texas and settled in Collin County. He practiced law for a time and later taught school in Port Oak, Texas. In an obituary published by the Times Star of Terrell, Texas, immediately after Brother Barrow's death in November, 1895, it was said that "he was the best educated man in North Texas and he probably did more for Terrell than any one man at that time, by his pen."

It is a mark of considerable distinction for this fraternity to number among its alumni many men of the caliber of Brother James William Barrow. It is a matter of some pride that Phi Kappa Sigma is the only fraternity to have a college founded and named in its honor. Certainly the future of America, and of the world, rests in education. From our brief experience with life we may faithfully assert that an institution of learning founded upon and embodying the ideals and principles of Phi Kappa Sigma has struck the keynote essential to the successful propagation of learning among the youth of the country. The Phi Kappa Sigma Male College did not live for long, nor did it fulfill the purpose and dreams of its founder, but it did express the loyalty and love of a member of our brotherhood for our great institution and his earnest desire to perpetuate our ideals. The significance of this short milestone in the progress of education is not large, but its value as an indication of the vital and undying idealism embodied in the ritual of Phi Kappa Sigma is beyond accounting.