During the month of February 1956, the students of Colby College witnessed the founding of a new brotherhood called Sigma Theta Psi. It was created for the purpose of helping each of its members to become better educated in a free social and academic atmosphere. The first few years were difficult, as would be true of any new group, but especially true with this one considering the long-established exclusiveness of Colby’s fraternity system. But within four years – the overturn of one class – Sigma Theta Psi had already gone a long way in achieving its goal.

Academically, it was first or second in each year. Socially, it brought to Colby a new kind of impetus and imagination. Sigma Theta Psi gatherings created much interest and the extracurricular academic endeavors of its members as a group, which were aided by the Administration and Faculty, obtained for the new fraternity a considerable reputation on the campus. For example, its fraternity educational awards, open to the whole student body, resulted in other fraternities making more or less similar awards.

These activities culminated on April 29, 1961, when Sigma Theta Psi became the Colby Chapter of Alpha Delta Phi. On that date the Bowdoin Chapter initiated 39 Colby undergraduates and 7 graduates, including Dr. Robert E. Strider, President of Colby College, at Brunswick, ME.

The Colby Chapter became inactive in 1968.