Phi Gamma Delta was founded on May 1, 1848, at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. The founders of the Fraternity, known as the Immortal Six, were John Templeton McCarty, Samuel Beatty Wilson, James Elliott, Ellis Bailey Gregg, Daniel Webster Crofts, and Naaman Fletcher.

These six men had long enjoyed a close friendship and the events of this night were the culmination of many earnest discussions inspired and led by John Templeton McCarty. It was in his room, "Delta Hall Number One," that the first meetings were held; he presided at the May 1 meeting when the Constitution was adopted, his name heads the list of signatures, and he apparently designed the diamond-shaped badge of our Fraternity. McCarty was the moving spirit of the "Delta Association," which became Phi Gamma Delta.

The second meeting referred to in the minutes was held on May 1, 1848, which is the date adopted and celebrated as the anniversary of our founding. At that time, the Constitution drafted by Samuel Beatty Wilson and James Elliott Jr. was ratified and steps were taken to investigate the feasibility of establishing "foreign chapters."

The modern era of Fiji history began in 1926 with the hiring of Cecil J. "Scoop" Wilkinson as the Fraternity's Executive Secretary. William S. Zerman Sr. took over the post in 1959 and served through 1986. It was highlighted by the International Headquarters move from DC to Lexington, KY. William A. Martin took over control in 1986 and still serves today, with Bob Baney taking the reigns from 1999 through 2003. Phi Gamma Delta now moves forward fundamentally fit, with the most dominant, top-tier chapters among all NIC fraternities and an ever-increasing commitment to the values of friendship, knowledge, service, morality, and excellence at the chapter level.

To a PhiGam,
“A Fraternity is an association of men, selected in their college days by democratic processes, because of their adherence to common ideals and aspirations. Out of their association arises a personal relation which makes them unselfishly seek to advance one another in the arts of life and to add, to the formal instruction of the college curriculum, the culture and character which men acquire by contact with great personalities, or when admitted to partnership in great traditions.

A Fraternity, too, is of such character that after men have left college they delight to renew their own youth by continued association with it and to bring their richest experiences back to the younger generation in part payment of the debt which they feel themselves owe to the fraternity for what it gave them in their formative years.” -Newton D. Baker