[1] Phi Kappa was founded on April 29, 1889, at Hope Hall of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

At the time of its founding, the fraternity was the tenth such Greek letter organization existing at Brown, but the first to accept Catholic students.

Its nine founders, present at the October 1 meeting, were: Gillrain was elected from the group as Phi Kappa Sigma's first president, while McGinn became the first secretary.

[3] On April 29, 1892, a meeting of Phi Kappa Sigma's graduate and collegiate members was called by M. Joseph Harson, a Providence merchant with an interest in the fraternity.

Ten years later on April 29, 1902, the fraternity, now known as Phi Kappa, would be incorporated under the laws of the State of Rhode Island.

Over another decade, Phi Kappa's Beta chapter would be founded through the incorporation of the Loyola Club of the University of Illinois on May 27, 1912.

The idea for the organization developed from a group of men who were a part of the university's Newman Club that were interested in establishing a social fraternity.

Following the conclusion of the war in November 1918 and the return of members back to school, Carr led efforts to restart the process of establishing a social fraternity at Lehigh.

Ultimately thirty men, including Concilio, Carr, and Bobbin, agreed to the establishment of the X Club, the original name of Theta Kappa Phi.

At the time of its adoption, the letters simply stood in place for ‘The Catholic Fraternity’ before they were given a secret meaning later on upon merger into Phi Kappa Theta in 1959.

Michael Andrew Chapman in writing Theta Kappa Phi's ritual, who was an Episcopal priest as well as a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Bard College.

By the time the merger came about in 1959, Theta Kappa Phi maintained 24 open and active chapters across the United States.

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.