Delt History

1776 Phi Beta Kappa, the first Greek letter society, is formed at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, in response to strict faculty members' attempts to rule all phases of students' lives. Nine men chronologically and geographically at the heart of impending revolution in the asyetunformed United States create for themselves an opportunity to secure freedom and the chance to govern their own affairs outside the classroom. Those nine students meet in the Raleigh Tavern on December 5 where they adopt a secret oath, a badge, a handshake, and mottoes in Greek and Latin. They devise an initiation ceremony and adopt a Greek letter name. The stage is now set for other Greek letter societies to follow suit.

You should recognize some of the same qualities in the story of Phi Beta Kappa's founding as those we at Delta Tau Delta embrace. The nine men who pledged their loyalty to each other in 1776 were also committed to excellence; they found strength in brotherhood, saw the importance of courage in the face of what they considered injustice. So you see, the quest for excellence extends deep into our roots, beyond even our own founding as a Fraternity, to the very beginning of the Greek system itself.

1825 Kappa Alpha Society is founded at Union College in New York. Two years later, Sigma Phi and Delta Phi are founded at Union; later, Psi Upsilon, Chi Psi, and Theta Delta Chi are also founded at Union, giving it the title "Mother of Fraternities."

Perhaps the main reason Union College was the birthplace of so many fraternities is that Eliphalet Nott, President of Union, was forwardthinking enough to actually encourage such organizations. He understood the value of fraternities to enhance young men's academic performances, provide them with a common goal, and support them with a system of values to achieve that goal. Nott's contribution to the Fraternity System is yet another example of excellence, foreshadowing the benefits of the values we embrace today.

1858 Delta Tau Delta is founded at Bethany College. Eight undergraduates, angered by a fixed vote for a prize in oratory to be given at the Neotrophian Literary Society the only real forum for students to practice and demonstrate skills in poetry, public speaking, and writing essays respond by forming a secret society. The purpose of the new society, known only by the Greek letters Delta Tau Delta, is to see that the Neotrophian is returned to popular control, and delivered from the hands of the group of students who seized it.

The Fraternity was founded to right an unjust situation; Delta Tau Delta was born of the knowledge that integrity is essential. Its eight founders' outraged that one group of students would and could choose in advance the candidate they favored, then join together to swing enough votes for that man to win, regardless of his actual performance in the contest, presented the first opportunity for Delts to realize the importance of accountability.

1859 Bethany Chapter grants charters to three chapters; West Liberty, West Virginia University, and Jefferson. To establish membership, the new chapters are given a Constitution and Ritual, membership badges, and are taught the Fraternity's mottoes and purposes all of which had been devised by the eight founders shortly after the group's initial formation.

Whether the founders realized it at the time or not, brotherhood truly did sustain the Fraternity. Had they not had the foresight to extend welcoming arms to other young men interested in becoming Delts, the organization would have dissolved.

1861 Jefferson Chapter assumes Fraternity control and Alpha designation. Henry Bell, a founder and alumnus, comes from his home in Kentucky to search for a way to preserve the Fraternity after the last remaining Bethany members leave for the armed forces. In Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, at Jefferson College, he find Rhodes Sutton and Samuel Brown and persuades them to come to Bethany to be initiated. The two men brave a snowstorm and nearly impassible mountain roads on horseback to be initiated at Bethany on February 22. Sutton and Brown return to Canonsburg the following morning and that day initiate two more men at Jefferson.

Henry Bell knew his responsibility to keep Delta Tau Delta alive and flourishing; he was accountable to his brothers and to future members of the Fraternity. A man of integrity, he knew to look for other men of integrity Rhodes Sutton and Samuel Brown to entrust with the future of the organization.

1866 First General Convention is held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with five chapters represented; Allegheny, Ohio University, Washington and Jefferson, Monmouth, and Pittsburgh.

Early leaders of the Fraternity showed foresight yet again; by creating a means of communication between the rapidly growing number of chapters, they prepared the organization for growth.

1869 Ohio Wesleyan chapter assumes control of the Fraternity and takes on the Alpha designation after Jefferson chapter is reduced to a point where it can no longer function as the governing chapter. William H. Kirk is instrumental in keeping the Fraternity alive.

The continuity of the Fraternity was given precedence over a chapter's pride and control. Remaining members of the dwindling Jefferson chapter were men of integrity, accountable to one another and to the organization itself, and responded to the need for a betterequipped group to manage the Fraternity. They sought out a strong chapter and handed the reigns over.

1874 Four Divisions of the Fraternity are created, the first such step taken by any fraternity.

This structural decision showed still more evidence of the leadership abilities of the calibre of men who become involved in Delta Tau Delta.

1875 Allegheny chapter, the fourth and final chapter to hold Alpha designation, assumes control of the Fraternity after the Ohio Wesleyan chapter disappears. James S. Eaton, Alpha (Allegheny) 1875, a "hero" of the Fraternity, travels to Delaware, Ohio to collect what remains of the organization's records he can find. After discovering what little he can about the loss of the Ohio Wesleyan members, he brings the "Alpha" designation back with him to Allegheny. There, a wellmanaged group of undergraduates handle their own chapter affairs as well as the supervision of the whole Fraternity. Delta Tau Delta flourishes during Allegheny's era of control; a magazine is established; 15 chapters are founded, of which eight survive (several others are reestablished later).

1880 First alumni chapter is founded in Chicago, Illinois.

Delts set the example for the value, "lifelong learning and growth are vital."

1883 The Executive Council is established to govern the Fraternity, replacing government by the Alpha chapter. For the first time, administration of the Fraternity is passed from undergraduates to alumni volunteers. The Alpha Chapter, however, makes certain that the annual General Convention, to which all chapters send representatives, is still the policymaking body and that the Executive Council's role is to carry out the decisions made at the General Convention.

Our present manner of government remains remarkably similar to this early structure, so accurate were early members in determining the Fraternity's administrative needs. The Executive Council's name became the Arch Chapter, and the General Convention became the Karnea, but the relationship has remained the same. Undergraduate delegates control the Karnea; the Karnea determines all Fraternity policy; the Arch Chapter carries out orders given at Karnea.

1886 The Fraternity merges with the Rainbow Fraternity, an old and respected southern fraternity founded in 1848 at the University of Mississippi.

Reaching out once again to invite others to join, the men of Delta Tau Delta provided themselves additional strength as well. Responding to a weak geographical area, the south, our Delt forefathers took decisive action to fortify the organization.

1889 A new Fraternity Constitution establishes the position of chapter advisor and changes the name of the Executive Council to Arch Chapter.

Members in this era acknowledged the need for active alumni involvement in the lives of undergraduate Delts. Accountability, brotherhood, and lifelong learning and growth are all evidenced in this action.

1909 The National Interfraternity Council is formed by a group of men's fraternities (including Delta Tau Delta) recognizing the need to refocus competitive energies, which previously fueled bitter rivalries, into more mature, cooperative activities; James B. Curtis, a Delt, is one of the founders.

Throughout the NIC's history Delts have been active members. Alvan E. Duerr was the Council's first Scholarship Chairman; he then went on to be President of the NIC not once, but twice. A. Bruce Bielaski, Joel W. Reynolds, and Edwin L. Heminger are all Delts who served as Presidents of the Fraternity, then went on to become Presidents of the NIC. Delta Tau Delta is one of only two fraternities to have had five of its members serve as President of the Conference. The NIC's highest award, the Gold Medal, has been granted to five Delts: former Fraternity President Alvan E. Duerr; former President of Brown University, Henry M. Wriston; former Delt President and United States Supreme Court Justice, Tom C. Clark; former Delt President and founder of the Interfraternity Research and Advisory Council, Joel W. Reynolds; and former Delt President, chairman of the Delta Tau Delta Educational Foundation, and newspaper publisher, Edwin L. Heminger. These great men and their achievements provide a diverse array of role models. Each man recognized the importance of becoming involved with not only the Fraternity, but with the whole Greek system. Each lived the value, "strengthening community is essential to our vitality."

1913 Central Office established in New York City, later moves to Indianapolis, Indiana.

1921 Undergraduate Loan Fund established.

1922 First Field Secretary appointed, a pioneering step in the Fraternity world. (Field Secretaries now called Chapter Consultants).

1924 Delta Tau Delta creates the office of Supervisor of Scholarship, becoming the first fraternity to place on its governing board an officer concerned solely with fostering high scholarship.

Immediately preceding World War I chapter scholarship declined to such a low point that a direct line could be drawn between fraternity membership and low grades. Several programs were instituted to remedy this situation, including a system of reporting on academic achievement; the Fraternity also set an academic standard for initiation. The office of Supervisor of Scholarship, added to the Arch Chapter, is now called the Director of Academic Affairs. In order that a man can institute programs and hold office long enough to see them implemented, this office has no term limit

1926 The Loyalty Fund, the Fraternity's endowment fund is established by undergraduates who realize that the Fraternity is operating entirely on current receipts and has not built up any major funds.

This important step resulted in financial stability for the Fraternity and its chapters. From this point on, all Delts, starting in the month they are initiated, pay into the Loyalty Fund. When a Delt undergraduate's payments reach $35, he is a Life Member. Over four million dollars has been paid into the Loyalty Fund, enabling the Fraternity to keep undergraduate dues fairly low. Loyalty Fund monies cannot be spent, only invested. Many of these investments are mortgages on chapter houses; these investments enable the Fraternity to lend money to chapters to help them build chapter houses. Interest earned on these loans and on other investments are paid into the General Fund to help pay the Fraternity's operating expenses.

1929 The Distinguished Service Chapter formed to honor Delt alumni who render outstanding service to the Fraternity. The Delt Creed, written by Stuart MacLean, Sewanee 1897, officially adopted.

1934 The first edition of the Chapter Management Guide (now called the Chapter Leadership Guide) and The Good Delt: His Book, the Fraternity's first pledge manual, are published.

1941 Delta Tau Delta Educational Fund is established.

1956 Centennial Development Fund established to take care of new chapters, formed during postwar expansion, which had limited funds, no alumni, and faced great difficulty in obtaining adequate housing.

This fund was originally supported by alumni gifts, but undergraduates, sharing the spirit of brotherhood, voted to have part of their dues go toward this fund as well. After 30 years, the Centennial Development Fund continues to fulfill its purpose; a number of chapters today are in houses that would not exist were it not for this fund.

1958 Delta Tau Delta celebrates its first 100 years at the Centennial Karnea in Pittsburgh.

1966 First Hugh Shields Award for Chapter Excellence announced.

Hugh Shields, Beta Alpha (Indiana) worked as an assistant at the Central Office immediately after graduating; his duties were primarily in the financial area. Then, as Comptroller during the Depression years, he did all negotiating for the Fraternity. He recruited hundreds of alumni to give of their time and talents to solve an array of problems in chapters across the country. He developed and wrote much of the first Manual of Organization and Administration, an invaluable reference for chapter officers and committee chairman under the Shields' committee system. He introduced the concept of a Fraternity architect to approve all plans for new house construction. During Shields' reign Delta Tau Delta was lauded in other fraternities' publications as the bestmanaged fraternity of all. Shields upheld and exemplified every single value; his commitment to excellence was constantly focused by his questioning himself before every action with, "Is [this action] the best way to help this chapter?"

1967 The President's Council, forerunner of the present Undergraduate Council, created by Fraternity President and Supreme Court Justice Tom C. Clark.

Delts of all ages recognized in one another the value of integrity; the Undergraduate Council was and is a large part of the Fraternity's government.

1974 Delta Tau Delta honored by The Newcomen Society in North America, the first fraternity so recognized.

The Fraternity's commitment to excellence was recognized even by those outside its membership. Others have always benefitted from our efforts to strengthen communities.

1977 The Fraternity restores the Bethany Founding House, birthplace of Delta Tau Delta.

The restoration project, first a dream of Delts at Bethany, was started at the 1970 Karnea in Toronto when Theta chapter delegates proposed the project. An initial gift of $1,000 on the floor of the convention by a young Theta chapter Delt, Barry Gardner, matched immediately by a gift from former President G. Herbert McCracken, Pittsburgh '21, prompted an Arch Chapter study of possibilities. This story demonstrates how brotherhood sustains us: a group of Delts had a common goal; they presented their idea to other brothers who responded with enthusiasm. Brotherhood creates a community of individuals with common concerns, and goals are contagious.

1980 The 75th Karnea, meeting in Pittsburgh, makes the pilgrimage to Bethany for the formal dedication of the Founders' House.

Both the refurbished Founders' House and the pilgrimage were the product of hundreds of lives committed to excellence. Both efforts were in tribute, also, to those lives of excellence. These events serve as shining examples of Delta Tau Delta's strong foundation in truth, courage, faith, and power, its pride in the past, and its confidence in the future.

1981 Educational Foundation of Delta Tau Delta established as a nonprofit organization to promote educational and charitable activities.

The Foundation has been an excellent means through which to strengthen the communities in which we live our lives committed to excellence.

1986 Delta Tau Delta launches a comprehensive program for alcohol abuse prevention called "Delts Talking About Alcohol".

Another step toward excellence along the path of the Fraternity. The program represents not only brotherhood by taking an active role in helping future members prevent problems but also integrity and accountability.

1990 The Fraternity adopts the Chapter Responsibility Guidelines to assist chapters with liability and risk management issues. The Fraternity begins Delt Insurance and Risk Management Program to give chapters uniform quality and advice on insurance coverage and risk management.

1992 The first Delt Leadership Academy is held in Chicago, Illinois. The Delta Tau Delta Educational Foundation announces the completion of a six million dollar capital campaign. Delt 2000 program launched.

1993 The Chapter Leadership Guide is developed, replacing the Chapter Management Guide. Delta Tau Delta Housing Association is established.

1995 Delta Tau Delta establishes Web site and Internet presence.

Cameo on Founders

Alexander C. Earle the youngest of the group of eight founders, went on to become a Captain in the Second South Carolina Volunteers, where he commanded his own company. For many years his whereabouts were unknown and he was believed dead, but he was finally located living in Arkansas. Earles' spirit of courage is one we emulate today. He also set an excellent example for us through his commitment to lifelong learning and growth by attending three Karneas.

Richard H. Alfred, at 26 the oldest of the group, became a minister and a physician. His involvement with Delta Tau Delta stemmed from a sense of moral duty to the truth, and his activities later in life continued this commitment.

William R. Cunningham, 25, was only a freshman at the time Delta Tau Delta was formed. Because he was older and had become a Mason, however, he exerted much influence in the group. Cunningham, the picture of integrity, was probably responsible for much of the early language in both the Constitution and Ritual. He served as President of the Karnea in 1883. He was also a minister and held public office in the state of Washington.

John L.N. Hunt was the scholar of the group. Yet another testament to the value of lifelong learning and growth, after graduating from Bethany, Hunt went on to become the valedictorian of his class at New York University's School of Law. He then served for several years as New York's Commissioner of Education.

Jacob Lowe hosted the first meetings of the group in his quarters in a rooming house which has now become an international shrine for the Fraternity. Lowe, who became a professor and later a college president, helped facilitate the initial bonds of brotherhood which still sustain us.

Eugene Tarr, a "local boy" whose home was only six miles from Bethany, stayed in West Virginia after college. A strong proponent of strengthening his community, Tarr became a noted speaker, lawyer, and editor of the newspaper.

John C. Johnson was also a native West Virginian (although at that time the area was still a part of Virginia). He became a lawyer and politician, a career which clearly displayed power. He was the political advisor to John W. Davis, the Democratic nominee for President in 1924. One of Johnson's favorite pastimes was conducting tours of Bethany and pointing out the room where Delta Tau Delta was founded. He outlived the other founders by eight years.

Henry K. Bell, a Kentuckian, lived only six years after graduation. His contribution to the Fraternity was immense; without him, there would be no Delta Tau Delta today. Bell responded to a call for help from the last remaining members of the Bethany chapter who were leaving to join the armed forces. It was Bell's faith, integrity,and understanding of the importance of maintaining brotherhoodand a strong community that lead him to two Jefferson College students. Bell initiated Rhodes Standbury Sutton and Samuel S.Brown during a raging snowstorm on February 22, 1861. Upon thecollapse of the Bethany chapter following its' members departure,the new Jefferson chapter took over management of the Fraternity.