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
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
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
| Number | Location | Dates[a] | Notes | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Phi Beta Sigma House 1907 Third St. NW, Washington, D.C. | December 28, 1916–December 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, 1920–December 28, 1920 | 1st joint Conclave/Boule with Zeta Phi Beta | [1][3][5][6] |
| 4th | Atlanta, GA | December 27, 1921–December 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, 1924–December 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, 1925–December 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, 1933–December 30, 1933 | [1][11][12] | |
| 15th | Washington, D.C. | December 27, 1934–December 30, 1934 | [1][13] | |
| 16th | Atlanta, GA | December 27, 1935–December 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 1936–December 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, 1938–December 30, 1938 | [1][18][19] | |
| 20th | Howard University, Washington, D.C. | December 26, 1939–December 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, 1945–December 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, 1947–December 30, 1947 | [1][25] | |
| 27th | Los Angeles, CA | August 9, 1948–August 14, 1948 | First Summer Conclave | [1][3] |
| 28th | Washington, D.C. (Hosted by Alpha Sigma) | December 27, 1949–December 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, 1952–December 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, 1954–December 30, 1954 | Hosted by Beta Sigma chapter. Theme is "Education - The Key to Freedom" | [1][33] |
| 34th | Louisville, KY | December 27, 1955–December 30, 1955 | [1][33][34] | |
| 35th | Miami, FL | 1956 | [1] | |
| 36th | Dallas, TX | December 27, 1957–December 30, 1957 | 3rd joint Conclave/Boule with Zeta Phi Beta | [1][5][35] |
| 37th | Chicago, IL | December 27, 1958–December 30, 1958 | [1][36] | |
| 38th | Washington, D.C. (Hosted by Alpha, Alpha Sigma, and Gamma Lambda) | December 26, 1959–December 30, 1959 | 45th anniversary | [1][37][38] |
| 39th | Hotel Park Sheraton, New York, NY (Hosted by Epsilon Sigma chapter) | December 27, 1960–December 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, 1964–December 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, 1969–August 16, 1969 | Theme: Brotherhood–A Universal Necessity | [1][45] |
| 47th | Winston-Salem, NC | 1970 | [1] | |
| 48th | Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Miami Beach, FL | August 15, 1972–August 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, 1975–August 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, 1979–December 30, 1979 | 65th Anniversary Conclave | [1][50][51][52][32] |
| 54th | Charleston, SC | July 25, 1981–July 31, 1981 | [53][32] | |
| 55th | Atlanta, GA | December 26, 1982–December 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, 1989–August 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, 1993–August 8, 1993 | [58][59] | |
| 62nd | Washington, D.C. | July 11, 1995–July 16, 1995 | [58][32] | |
| 63rd | Orlando, FL | June 30, 1997–July 6, 1997 | Theme: A Family Affair | [24][60][61][32] |
| 64th | Fairmont Hotel, Dallas, TX | July 6, 1999–July 11, 1999 | [62][63][32] | |
| 65th | Detroit, MI | July 9, 2001–July 15, 2001 | [53][32] | |
| 66th | Memphis Marriott Hotel, Memphis, TN | July 8, 2003–July 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, 2005–July 17, 2005 | [53][67] | |
| 68th | Westin Hotel, Charlotte, NC (Hosted by Beta Rho Sigma) | July 30, 2007–August 5, 2007 | [53][68][69][70] | |
| 69th | New Orleans, LA | July 6, 2009–July 12, 2009 | Theme: Celebrating the Dream | [71][72][73] |
| 70th | Sheraton Hotel, Atlanta, GA | July 20, 2011–July 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
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.