The list of Phi Beta Sigma(Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: 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.
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.
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.
| Number | Location | Dates | Notes | Refs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| st | Phi Beta Sigma House 1907 Third St. NW, Washington, D.C. | - | 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] | ||||||
| nd | Washington, D.C. | 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). | ||||||||
| rd | Washington, D.C. | - | 1st joint Conclave/Boule with Zeta Phi Beta | [4] [5] [6] | ||||||
| th | Atlanta, GA | - | The first ever inter-fraternity conference between Phi Beta Sigma and Omega Psi Phi. | |||||||
| th | Baltimore, MD | |||||||||
| th | Nashville, TN | |||||||||
| th | YMCA Building, Philadelphia, PA (Hosted by Epsilon chapter) | - | Introduction of the Bigger & Better Negro Business idea was made by way of an exhibit devoted to the topic. | [7] | ||||||
| th | Richmond, VA (Hosted by Lambda chapter) | - (or) | Bigger and Better Business was established as a national program. | [8] | ||||||
| th | Greensboro, NC | |||||||||
| th | St. Louis, MO (Hosted by Kappa Sigma chapter) | 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. | [9] | |||||||
| th | Louisville, KY | Branding the skin with a hot iron, as a part of the initiation process, is officially frowned upon. | ||||||||
| th | New York, NY (Hosted by Epsilon Sigma and Kappa Beta Sigma chapters) | Creation of the Distinguished Service Chapter. | [10] | |||||||
| th | Tuskegee, AL | |||||||||
| Nashville, TN | Cancelled | |||||||||
| th | Chicago, IL | - | [11] [12] | |||||||
| th | Washington, D.C. | - | [13] | |||||||
| th | Atlanta, GA | - | 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. | [14] [15] | ||||||
| th | New York, NY | - | 2nd joint Conclave/Boule with Zeta Phi Beta | [16] | ||||||
| th | Detroit, MI | approx. | [17] | |||||||
| th | Winston-Salem, NC | - | [18] [19] | |||||||
| th | Howard University, Washington, D.C. | - | Silver (25th) Anniversary Conclave | [20] | ||||||
| st | Tuskegee, AL | |||||||||
| nd | Academy of Music, Philadelphia, PA | The fraternity became a permanent member of the National Negro Business League. | [21] | |||||||
| Richmond, VA | (Christmas holidays) | Cancelled | [22] | |||||||
| rd | Chicago, IL | First Spring Conclave; The fraternity voted to support of United Negro College Fund. | ||||||||
| th | St. Louis, MO | - | The fraternity became a permanent member of the National Negro Business League. Joint Conclave/Boule with Zeta Phi Beta(?) | [23] | ||||||
| th | New Orleans, LA | The fraternity became a permanent member of the National Negro Business League. | ||||||||
| th | Atlanta, GA | - | [24] | |||||||
| th | Los Angeles, CA | - | First Summer Conclave | |||||||
| th | Washington, D.C. (Hosted by Alpha Sigma) | - | 35th Anniversary Conclave | [25] [26] | ||||||
| th | New York, NY | |||||||||
| th | Birmingham, AL | |||||||||
| st | Slaughter's Hotel, Richmond, VA (Hosted by Lambda and Iota Sigma) | - | Theme: Full Democracy - Nothing Less Business meeting at George Carver Elementary | [27] [28] [29] [30] | ||||||
| nd | Detroit, MI | |||||||||
| rd | Norfolk, VA | - | Hosted by Beta Sigma chapter. Theme is "Education - The Key to Freedom" | [31] | ||||||
| th | Louisville, KY | - | [32] | |||||||
| th | Miami, FL | |||||||||
| th | Dallas, TX | - | 3rd joint Conclave/Boule with Zeta Phi Beta | [33] | ||||||
| th | Chicago, IL | - | [34] | - | th | Washington, D.C. (Hosted by Alpha, Alpha Sigma, and Gamma Lambda) | - | 45th anniversary | [35] [36] | |
| th | Hotel Park Sheraton, New York, NY (Hosted by Epsilon Sigma chapter) | - | Theme: Reassessing Our Role Of Leadership For Culture And Service | [37] [38] | ||||||
| th | Philadelphia, PA | |||||||||
| st | Pick Carter Hotel, Cleveland, OH | [39] | ||||||||
| nd | Nashville, TN | |||||||||
| rd | Sheraton Hotel or Statler Hilton(?), Washington, D.C. (Hosted by Alpha, Alpha Sigma, and Gamma Lambda) | - | 50th Anniversary Conclave. Theme: "A Past to Cherish, A Future to Fulfill" | [40] [41] [42] | ||||||
| th | Los Angeles, CA | |||||||||
| th | Richmond, VA | |||||||||
| th | Sheraton Belvedere Hotel, Baltimore, MD (Hosted by Zeta Sigma) | - | Theme: Brotherhood - A Universal Necessity | [43] | ||||||
| th | Winston-Salem, NC | |||||||||
| th | Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Miami Beach, FL | - | [44] | |||||||
| th | Houston, TX | |||||||||
| th | Hilton Heritage, Detroit, MI (Hosted by Delta Rho, Gamma Iota, and Iota Beta Sigma) | - | [45] [46] | |||||||
| st | Memphis, TN | [47] | ||||||||
| nd | San Francisco, CA | |||||||||
| rd | Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. | - | 65th Anniversary Conclave | [48] [49] [50] | ||||||
| th | Charleston, SC | - | [51] | |||||||
| th | Atlanta, GA | - [52] | ||||||||
| th | New Orleans, LA | |||||||||
| th | Louisville, KY | - - | [53] | |||||||
| th | Kansas City, MO | Theme: Sigma Men in Unity - Rekindling the Spirit of Service to Community | [54] | |||||||
| th | Washington, D.C. | - | 75th Anniversary Conclave | [55] | ||||||
| th | Las Vegas, NV | 4th joint Conclave/Boule with Zeta Phi Beta | [56] | |||||||
| st | Raleigh, NC | - | [57] | |||||||
| nd | Washington, D.C. | - | ||||||||
| rd | Orlando, FL | - | Theme: A Family Affair | [58] [59] | ||||||
| th | Fairmont Hotel, Dallas, TX | - | [60] [61] | |||||||
| th | Detroit, MI | - | [62] | |||||||
| th | Memphis Marriott Hotel, Memphis, TN | - | 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. | [63] [64] [65] [66] | ||||||
| th | Sheraton Universal Hotel, Universal City, CA | - | [67] | |||||||
| th | Westin Hotel, Charlotte, NC (Hosted by Beta Rho Sigma) | - | [68] [69] [70] | |||||||
| th | New Orleans, LA | - | Theme: Celebrating the Dream | [71] [72] [73] | ||||||
| th | Sheraton Hotel, Atlanta, GA | - | Theme: Living The Legacy: Marching Toward The Jubilee | [74] | ||||||
| st | Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Philadelphia, PA | - | Theme: POWER UP! Marching Towards the Jubilee | |||||||
| Centennial Celebration | Marriott Wardman Park, Washington, D.C. | - | Theme: Celebrating One Century of Service | [75] | ||||||
| 72nd | Little Rock Marriott, Little Rock, AR | - | Theme: I am My Brother's Keeper | [76] | ||||||
| 73rd | Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, Detroit, MI | - | Theme: A Family Reunion | |||||||
| 74th | Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, NV | - | Theme: The Pride and The Power: Celebrating African-American Men | [77] | ||||||
| 75th | Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Myrtle Beach, SC | - | Theme: A Brotherhood of Conscious Men. One Conclave: Two Experiences. | [78] | ||||||
| 76th | George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX | - | Theme: Believe In Our Power, Leading The Movement. | [79] |
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.