The Alpha Chi Sigma fraternity was organized at the University of Wisconsin–Madison by a group of undergraduates who were fellow students in chemistry at that time. Later documents set the date of founding as December 11, 1902. The original founders were Raymond Tracy Conger, Harold Everett Eggers, Joseph Gerard Holty, Alfred Emil Kundert, Joseph Howard Mathews, Edward Gustav Mattke, Bart Eldred M
cCormick, Frank Joseph Petura, and James Chisholm Silverthorn. Alpha Chi Sigma is one of a kind. Following the original concept for a fraternity as an academic organization, we are the only professional chemistry fraternity in the United States today. More than 100 years old and with more than 62,800 members, we bring together men and women pursuing a wide variety of chemistry-related careers. Our past is prestigious. Not only are many of our members world-class scientists and engineers, but we sponsor a variety of scholarships and awards. Notable ones are the ACS Award in Pure Chemistry and the AIChE Award in Chemical Engineering. With our involvement in chemistry and chemical engineering professional organizations, our members are a bridge between these various organizations. Collegiate members benefit from a localized group of fellow members to not only help with their studies but also with projects and activities that teach the roles of leadership and management. We also provide an opportunity to create lifelong friendships with others interested in chemistry. Sometimes it's just nice to walk into a room and be able to tell a chemistry joke and it be appreciated. As a professional member, further opportunities for meeting other members can help with prospective employment, hiring and relaxation. Our professional members appreciate meeting others involved in chemistry outside of their workplaces and often outside of their field of work.
