Delta Tau Delta
Gamma Mu Chapter
History
National History

To understand the history of Delta Tau Delta you must also understand the founding of greek letter societies. There are many similarities in the founding of the greek system in 1776 and the founding of Delta Tau Delta in 1858.

1858 Delta Tau Delta is founded at Bethany College in Bethany, Virginia (now West Virginia). Eight undergraduates, angered by a fixed vote for a prize in oratory to be given at the Neotrophian Literary Society – a forum for students to practice and demonstrate skills in poetry, public speaking and writing essays – respond by forming a secret society. The society is to see that the Neotrophian is returned to popular control.

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.

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 finds 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.

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

1869 Ohio Wesleyan chapter assumes control of the Fraternity and takes on the Alpha designation after Jefferson chapter is closed. William H. Kirk is instrumental in keeping the Fraternity alive.

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

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. Delta Tau Delta flourishes during Allegheny's era of control; a magazine (The Crescent) is established; 15 chapters are founded, of which eight survive (several others are reestablished later).

1880 First alumni chapter is founded in Chicago, Illinois.

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 – later known as Karnea.

1886 The Fraternity merges with the Rainbow Fraternity, a Southern fraternity founded in 1848 at the University of Mississippi.

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

1908: Gamma Mu Chapter of Delta Tau Delta is established at the University of Washington. The shelter was built 8 years later in 1916.

1909 The National Interfraternity Council is formed by a group of men’s fraternities, including Delta Tau Delta. James B. Curtis, a Delt, is one of the founders.

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

1921 Undergraduate Loan Fund established.

1922 First Field Secretary – later chapter consultants – is appointed. Delta Tau Delta was the first to create such a position in the fraternity world.

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.

1926 The Loyalty Fund, the Fraternity's endowment fund is established by undergraduates.

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.

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

1966 First Hugh Shields Award for Chapter Excellence announced.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. The Delta Tau Delta Educational Foundation announces the completion of a $6 million 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.

H I S T O R Y

The Founders of Delta Tau Delta

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, 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, was a “townie” whose home was only a short 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 local 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 Taua 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.