List of Phi Beta Sigma Conclaves

The list of Phi Beta Sigma(ΦΒΣ) Conclaves includes actual, proposed, and forthcoming international conventions of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.

The Conclave is the legislative power of Phi Beta Sigma. During a conclave year, delegates representing all of the active chapters from within the seven regions of the fraternity meet in the chosen city. The conclave-or fraternity convention- is currently held biannually and usually hosted by the Graduate chapter(s) of the chosen city. The host city is chosen through a selection process in which each of the eligible region nominates a city and a formal bid is submitted. As of 2009, Phi Beta Sigma has held over 95 conventions in various cities throughout the United States The fraternity held its first conclave in Washington, D.C., on December 20, 1916.

Conclave edit

The Conclave is the legislative power of Phi Beta Sigma. During a conclave year, delegates representing all of the active chapters from within the seven regions of the fraternity meet in the chosen city. The conclave-or fraternity convention- is currently held biannually and usually hosted by the Graduate chapter(s) of the chosen city. During the convention, members of the General Board – the administrative body of the fraternity-are elected and appointed. The general board may act in the interest of the fraternity when the conclave is not in session. In addition, seminars, social events, concerts, an international Miss Phi Beta Sigma Pageant, Stepshow, and oratorical contests are also held during the week-long conference. Throughout the years, notable individuals such as George Washington Carver, and Dr. Carter G. Woodson were speakers at past conclaves.

Host city selection process edit

 
The Myrtle Beach Convention Center served as the location of the Fraternity's 2021 Conclave

The conclave—or fraternity convention—is currently held biannually and usually hosted by the graduate chapter(s) of the chosen city. The host city is chosen through a selection process in which each eligible region nominates a city and a formal bid is submitted. The region in which the current conclave is being held is ineligible for submitting a bid for the succeeding conclave.

List of conclaves edit

Number Location Dates[a] Notes Refs
1st Phi Beta Sigma House 1907 Third St. NW, Washington, D.C. December 28, 1916December 29, 1916 200 members representing three collegiate chapters, Alpha, Beta and Gamma, were in attendance; an official publication for the fraternity was authorized and member W.F. Vincent as elected as the National Editor. [1][2][3][4]
2nd Washington, D.C. December 1919[b] Founder A Langston Taylor was given approval from the General Board to assist in the organization of what was to become the sister sorority to Phi Beta Sigma (Zeta Phi Beta). [1]
3rd Washington, D.C. December 26, 1920December 28, 1920 1st joint Conclave/Boule with Zeta Phi Beta [1][3][5][6]
4th Atlanta, GA December 27, 1921December 31, 1921 The first ever inter-fraternity conference between Phi Beta Sigma and Omega Psi Phi. [1][2][5]
5th Baltimore, MD December 1922 [1]
6th Nashville, TN December 1923 [1]
7th YMCA Building, Philadelphia, PA (Hosted by Epsilon chapter) December 26, 1924December 31, 1924 Introduction of the Bigger & Better Negro Business idea was made by way of an exhibit devoted to the topic. [1][2][7]
8th Richmond, VA (Hosted by Lambda chapter) December 27, 1925December 30, 1925 (or December 31, 1925) Bigger and Better Business was established as a national program. [1][2][8]
9th Greensboro, NC December 1926 [1]
10th St. Louis, MO (Hosted by Kappa Sigma chapter) December 1927 The Fraternity is divided into 4 Regions (Eastern, Northern, Southern & Western) with a director of each Region. These directors were known as the 4 Vice-Presidents; The post of Field Secretary & Assistant- Secretary-Treasurer were abolished. [1][2][9]
11th Louisville, KY December 1928 Branding the skin with a hot iron, as a part of the initiation process, is officially frowned upon. [1][2]
12th New York, NY (Hosted by Epsilon Sigma and Kappa Beta Sigma chapters) December 1929 Creation of the Distinguished Service Chapter. [1][2][10]
13th Tuskegee, AL December 1930 [1]
Nashville, TN 1931 Cancelled[b] [2]
14th Chicago, IL December 27, 1933December 30, 1933 [1][11][12]
15th Washington, D.C. December 27, 1934December 30, 1934 [1][13]
16th Atlanta, GA December 27, 1935December 30, 1935 Omega founders Edgar Amos Love and Oscar James Cooper brought greeting to the brothers in attendance of the conference on behalf of the members of Omega Psi Phi. [1][2][14][15]
17th New York, NY December 1936December 31, 1936 2nd joint Conclave/Boule with Zeta Phi Beta [1][5][16]
18th Detroit, MI approx. December 29, 1937 [1][17]
19th Winston-Salem, NC December 27, 1938December 30, 1938 [1][18][19]
20th Howard University, Washington, D.C. December 26, 1939December 30, 1939 Silver (25th) Anniversary Conclave [1][2][20][21]
21st Tuskegee, AL December 1940 [1]
22nd Academy of Music, Philadelphia, PA December 1941 The fraternity became a permanent member of the National Negro Business League. [1][2][22]
Richmond, VA December 1942 (Christmas holidays) Cancelled[c] [23]
23rd Chicago, IL 1944 First Spring Conclave; The fraternity voted to support of United Negro College Fund. [1][2]
24th St. Louis, MO December 27, 1945December 30, 1945 The fraternity became a permanent member of the National Negro Business League. Joint Conclave/Boule with Zeta Phi Beta[3](?) [1][2][24]
25th New Orleans, LA 1946 The fraternity became a permanent member of the National Negro Business League. [1][2]
26th Atlanta, GA December 27, 1947December 30, 1947 [1][25]
27th Los Angeles, CA August 9, 1948August 14, 1948 First Summer Conclave [1][3]
28th Washington, D.C. (Hosted by Alpha Sigma) December 27, 1949December 30, 1949 35th Anniversary Conclave [1][3][26][27]
29th New York, NY 1950 [1]
30th Birmingham, AL 1951 [1]
31st Slaughter's Hotel, Richmond, VA (Hosted by Lambda and Iota Sigma) December 27, 1952December 30, 1952 Theme: Full Democracy–Nothing Less Business meeting at George Carver Elementary [1][28][29][30][31][32]
32nd Detroit, MI December 1953 [1][29]
33rd Norfolk, VA December 27, 1954December 30, 1954 Hosted by Beta Sigma chapter. Theme is "Education - The Key to Freedom" [1][33]
34th Louisville, KY December 27, 1955December 30, 1955 [1][33][34]
35th Miami, FL 1956 [1]
36th Dallas, TX December 27, 1957December 30, 1957 3rd joint Conclave/Boule with Zeta Phi Beta [1][5][35]
37th Chicago, IL December 27, 1958December 30, 1958 [1][36]
38th Washington, D.C. (Hosted by Alpha, Alpha Sigma, and Gamma Lambda) December 26, 1959December 30, 1959 45th anniversary [1][37][38]
39th Hotel Park Sheraton, New York, NY (Hosted by Epsilon Sigma chapter) December 27, 1960December 30, 1960 Theme: Reassessing Our Role Of Leadership For Culture And Service [1][39][40]
40th Philadelphia, PA 1961 [1]
41st Pick Carter Hotel, Cleveland, OH 1962 [1][41]
42nd Nashville, TN 1963 [1]
43rd Sheraton Hotel or Statler Hilton(?), Washington, D.C. (Hosted by Alpha, Alpha Sigma, and Gamma Lambda) December 26, 1964December 30, 1964 50th Anniversary Conclave. Theme: "A Past to Cherish, A Future to Fulfill" [1][42][43][44]
44th Los Angeles, CA 1966 [1]
45th Richmond, VA 1967 [1]
46th Sheraton Belvedere Hotel, Baltimore, MD (Hosted by Zeta Sigma) August 12, 1969August 16, 1969 Theme: Brotherhood–A Universal Necessity [1][45]
47th Winston-Salem, NC 1970 [1]
48th Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Miami Beach, FL August 15, 1972August 19, 1972 [1][46][32]
49th Houston, TX 1973 [1]
50th Hilton Heritage, Detroit, MI (Hosted by Delta Rho, Gamma Iota, and Iota Beta Sigma) August 4, 1975August 9, 1975 [1][47][48]
51st Memphis, TN December 1976 [1][49]
52nd San Francisco, CA 1978 [1]
53rd Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. December 26, 1979December 30, 1979 65th Anniversary Conclave [1][50][51][52][32]
54th Charleston, SC July 25, 1981July 31, 1981 [53][32]
55th Atlanta, GA December 26, 1982December 31, 1982[54] [1]
56th New Orleans, LA 1984 [53]
57th Louisville, KY December 28, 1985 [1][55]
58th Kansas City, MO 1987 Theme: Sigma Men in Unity–Rekindling the Spirit of Service to Community [1][56]
59th Washington, D.C. August 8, 1989August 13, 1989 75th Anniversary Conclave [1][57][32]
60th Las Vegas, NV July 1991 4th joint Conclave/Boule with Zeta Phi Beta [5][58]
61st Raleigh, NC August 4, 1993August 8, 1993 [58][59]
62nd Washington, D.C. July 11, 1995July 16, 1995 [58][32]
63rd Orlando, FL June 30, 1997July 6, 1997 Theme: A Family Affair [24][60][61][32]
64th Fairmont Hotel, Dallas, TX July 6, 1999July 11, 1999 [62][63][32]
65th Detroit, MI July 9, 2001July 15, 2001 [53][32]
66th Memphis Marriott Hotel, Memphis, TN July 8, 2003July 13, 2003 Theme: Coming Home; Project S.W.W.A.C and Project S.A.A.T.P, and Project Vote approved as national programs by the general board. [20][53][64][65][66]
67th Sheraton Universal Hotel, Universal City, CA July 12, 2005July 17, 2005 [53][67]
68th Westin Hotel, Charlotte, NC (Hosted by Beta Rho Sigma) July 30, 2007August 5, 2007 [53][68][69][70]
69th New Orleans, LA July 6, 2009July 12, 2009 Theme: Celebrating the Dream [71][72][73]
70th Sheraton Hotel, Atlanta, GA July 20, 2011July 24, 2011 Theme: Living The Legacy: Marching Toward The Jubilee [74]
71st Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Philadelphia, PA July 9, 2013-July 14, 2013 Theme: POWER UP! Marching Towards the Jubilee [74]
Centennial Celebration Marriott Wardman Park, Washington, D.C. July 16, 2014-July 20, 2014 Theme: Celebrating One Century of Service [75]
72nd Little Rock Marriott, Little Rock, AR July 15, 2015-July 19, 2015 Theme: I am My Brother's Keeper [76]
73rd Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, Detroit, MI July 18, 2017-July 23, 2017 Theme: A Family Reunion [76]
74th Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, NV July 9, 2019-July 14, 2019 Theme: The Pride and The Power: Celebrating African-American Men [77]
75th Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Myrtle Beach, SC August 3, 2021-August 8, 2021 Theme: A Brotherhood of Conscious Men. One Conclave: Two Experiences. [78]
76th George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX July 11, 2023-July 16, 2023 Theme: Believe In Our Power, Leading The Movement. [79]

Notes edit

a. ^ Preferably does not include scheduled Pre-Conclave and Post-Conclave activities

b. ^ No conclaves were held in 1917 & 1918 due to World War I.

c. ^ No conclaves were held in 1931 & 1932 due to the Great Depression.

d. ^ No conclaves were held in 1942 & 1943 due to World War II.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be The Philosophy of Phi Beta Sigma, Page 26 of The Sigma Light (1990)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Phi Beta Sigma Timeline[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ a b c d e Spring 1949 Crescent Archived 2009-08-06 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Savage, William S., Our Cause Speeds On, p. 22.
  5. ^ a b c d e Black Greek Letter organizations in the 21st Century, p. 107
  6. ^ 2nd Annual Convention[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ 1924 Conclave Program
  8. ^ 1925 Conclave Program Announced Archived 2009-02-09 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ 1927 Crescents - Iota, Tau, Sigma, and Kappa Sigma Chapters[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ 15th Conclave, Dec 1929[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ Spring/Summer 2007 Crescent Magazine p. 43 Archived 2009-02-19 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ December 1933 Crescent
  13. ^ Mitchell to Resign 1934 Archived 2009-09-30 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Atlanta to be host to Sigmas
  15. ^ An Article from the Past
  16. ^ Zeta & Sigma Joint Boule/Conclave NY 1936[permanent dead link]
  17. ^ 1937 Conclave[permanent dead link]
  18. ^ The Afro American - Dec 17, 1938[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ Fall 1938 Crescent
  20. ^ a b Crescent Summer/Fall 2002, p 3 Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ Marking the 25th Anniversary
  22. ^ 1941 Conclave[permanent dead link]
  23. ^ The Afro American - Oct 10, 1942[permanent dead link]
  24. ^ a b KBS event history
  25. ^ The Afro American - Dec 27, 1947[permanent dead link]
  26. ^ 35th Anniversary Conclave Journal
  27. ^ Philosophy Of Alain Locke By Alain LeRoy Locke, Leonard Harris p.229
  28. ^ 1952 Conclave[permanent dead link]
  29. ^ a b More on the 1952 Conclave Archived 2009-02-09 at the Wayback Machine
  30. ^ 38th Annual Conclave Journal
  31. ^ Our Cause Vol 1, Issue 1[permanent dead link]
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity collection, 1917–2017 | Morse Department of Special Collections".
  33. ^ a b Conclave 1954 Norfolk Archived 2009-02-09 at the Wayback Machine
  34. ^ Two lives in uncertain times By Wilma Iggers p. 75
  35. ^ Baltimore Afro-American - Dec 10, 1957[permanent dead link]
  36. ^ The Afro American - Apr 5, 1958
  37. ^ Conclave 1959 - Dec. 27-30 - 45th Anniversary - Washington, DC[permanent dead link]
  38. ^ 45th Annual Conclave Cover
  39. ^ 1960 Conclave
  40. ^ Baltimore Afro-American - Dec 6, 1960[permanent dead link]
  41. ^ St. Petersburg Times - Jan 8, 1963
  42. ^ Baltimore Afro-American October 20, 1964[permanent dead link]
  43. ^ Baltimore Afro-American - Nov 24, 1964[permanent dead link]
  44. ^ 50th Anniversary Conclave Cover
  45. ^ Baltimore Afro-American - August 5, 1969[permanent dead link]
  46. ^ Jet Sep 7, 1972 p. 11
  47. ^ Baltimore Afro-American - May 24, 1975[permanent dead link]
  48. ^ The Tuskegee News - Jul 31, 1975[permanent dead link]
  49. ^ Winter 2005 Crescent p.37 Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine
  50. ^ Jet Feb 7, 1980 p. 44
  51. ^ Bro. Renaldo “Skeets” Nehemiah[permanent dead link]
  52. ^ 65th Annual Conclave Cover
  53. ^ a b c d e f James Floyd Hall of Fame
  54. ^ Crescent Spring 1982
  55. ^ Lexington Herald Leader, December 29th, 1985
  56. ^ Sigma History is Everywhere[permanent dead link]
  57. ^ Conclave Journals[permanent dead link]
  58. ^ a b c "Zeta Rho Sigma". Archived from the original on 2007-11-14. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
  59. ^ Crescent Winter 1992
  60. ^ Winston-Salem State Newspaper Archived 2008-06-16 at the Wayback Machine
  61. ^ 1995-1997 General Board Archived 2009-08-09 at the Wayback Machine
  62. ^ 1999 Sigma Conclave Archived 2006-04-27 at the Wayback Machine
  63. ^ PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY TO HOST NATIONAL MEETING Archived 2006-04-27 at the Wayback Machine
  64. ^ Ye Old Sigma Times, NY Edition March/June 2003
  65. ^ Ebony Jul 2003
  66. ^ Epsilon Epsilon Sigma Archived 2011-10-08 at the Wayback Machine
  67. ^ 2005 Regional Conference Minutes Archived 2011-07-27 at the Wayback Machine
  68. ^ DPS-KA conclave[permanent dead link]
  69. ^ Ebony Jul 2007 p. 49
  70. ^ Crescent Winter 2005, p 14 Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine
  71. ^ Phi Beta Sigma Natl' Website
  72. ^ Gulf Coast Sigma Registration Form
  73. ^ Anniversary Conclave 2009 Archived 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine
  74. ^ a b Thank You For Coming To The Conclave
  75. ^ "Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity". PBS100.org website. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  76. ^ a b "I Am My Brother's Keeper-Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity". phibetasigma1914.org. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  77. ^ "Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity". phibetasigma1914.org website. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  78. ^ "Conclave 2021". www.phibetasigmaconclave.com. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc Conclave 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  79. ^ "Conclave 2022". members.phibetasigma1914.org/iMIS15/Conclave. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc Conclave 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.