Psi Upsilon Fraternity collection

Psi Upsilon was one of the University's oldest fraternities. Its earliest incarnation was an Innominata Society organized in 1853 with a goal of eventual admission to Psi Upsilon. This was achieved in 1858 with the help of Psi Upsilon alumni (from other schools) living in Rochester.

In 1888 and again in 1908, the UR chapter of Psi Upsilon hosted the national Psi Upsilon convention which helped publicize the University in college circles across the country. They erected their own house on the Prince Street campus in 1893 with the help of J. Foster Warner, then an up-and-coming local architect. Along with several other fraternities, Psi Upsilon received a new house in 1930 on the "Fraternity Quad" of the River Campus.

Psi Upsilon commemorated its 100th anniversary in 1958 with the presentation of a "Psi U Centennial Flagpole" to be erected on the Fraternity Quad across from Todd Union. Protests from other brotherhoods resulted in a compromise that dedicated the flagpole to all fraternities.