Sigma Nu Phi

Sigma Nu Phi (ΣΝΦ), also known as Adelphia Sigma Nu Phi, was a professional law fraternity and a member of the Professional Fraternity Association.

Adelphia Sigma Nu Phi was founded in 1903 by students and faculty of National University School of Law in Washington, D.C. Its founders wanted to create a Greek letter law fraternity for men that would be a modern version of the English Order of the Coif. The fraternity was incorporated in the District of Columbia on February 12, 1903. Its founders and incoporators were :

Eugene Carusi was dean of the School of Law and Charles Carusi and Richard Shipp were faculty members.

The purpose of Sigma Nu Phi was to improve legal education, promote professional ethics and culture, and establish a bond of brotherhood. The fraternity selected a seal, insignia, and design for a ring in February 1903, entering these with the Librarian of Congress. Its membership was limited to students, alumni, and faculty of law schools. The fraternity's member types or degrees were apprentice, sergeant, and magistrate. Members of other fraternities were not eligible to join Sigma Nu Phi.

Soon after it was chartered, the fraternity had applications for chapters at Columbian University, Georgetown University, Indianapolis College of Law, Tulane University, the University of Kansas, and the University of Pennsylvania. It had six chapters by the end of January 1904. In May 1906, the Alpha chapter moved into its chapter house on 1016 Thirteenth Street Northwest.

Sometime after 1911, the Alpha chapter declined and went inactive. It was revived in February 1915 with the aid of faculty who were fraternity members. New members were initiated into the Alpha chapter in March. Members and alumni celebrated the chapter's revival at a function held in April 1915.

In December 1915, the Alpha chapter began discussing acquiring a new chapter house. Plans were also underway to establish chapters at Georgetown University Law School and George Washington University Law School; the former had a chapter previously that went dormant. The Washington, D.C. Alumni chapter held a joint organizational meeting on March 20, 1916.

Sigma Nu Phi was one of the chartering fraternities of the Professional Interfraternity Conference in 1928 and its president Major Jarvis Butler served as its first president.