DELTA PHI

'Delta Phi' ('ΔΦ') is a fraternity was founded in 1827 at Union College in Schenectady, New York. Founded as part of the Union Triad, along with the Kappa Alpha Society and Sigma Phi Society, Delta Phi was the third and last member of the Triad.

Contents

History

Delta Phi Today

Founders

Active Chapters

Notable Alumni

External links

History

Delta Phi and the other fraternities of the Union Triad were established during a time of strong anti-Masonic sentiment in America. This sentiment also spilled over to fraternities, many of which held ritual secrets. The wave of animosity directed toward such secret societies led Phi Beta Kappa, known as the Greek letter fraternity, to abandon secrecy and become an honor society.
In the early 1830's, Dr. Eliphalet Nott, president of Union College, called for the dissolution of all fraternities. His desire, however, was never granted. Years later, Kappa Alpha would eventually debadge.
In defense of the fraternities, John Jay Hyde, a member of Delta Phi, argued the benefits of the fraternity system so convincingly that Dr. Nott relented and permitted the organizations to remain in existence. In addition, Hyde designed the fraternity badge which is based on the Maltese Cross, a symbol also used by the Knights of Malta.
It is because of this shared symbol that Delta Phi is also known as "The St. Elmo Club," a name first used by the Omicron chapter at Yale University. The brothers there used the name the name of St. Elmo, the patron saint of mariners and the Knights of Malta. Some of Delta Phi's chapter houses are also known as "St. Elmo's Hall."

Delta Phi Today

Delta Phi remains a small fraternity, with only fourteen active chapters and few chapters with many members. It has resisted the urge to expand to create an "intimate, personal experience" [1] for its members. The chapters of Delta Phi are all located in close proximity with each other. Its current expansion policies are to reactivate its dormant chapters.

Founders

★ Benjamin Burroughs, Presbyterian Minister from Savannah, Georgia

★ William Hun Fondey, Attorney from Albany, New York

★ Samuel Lewis Lamberson, Presbyterian Minister from Jamaica, New York

★ Samuel C. Lawrison, United States Navy Surgeon from Pensacola, Florida

★ David Hervey Little, New York Supreme Court Justice from Rochester, New York

★ Thomas Clark McLaury, Clergyman from Lisbon, New York

★ John Mason, Clergyman from Jamaica, New York

★ Joseph Griffiths Masten, Mayor of Buffalo from Buffalo, New York

★ William Wilson, President of College of Cincinnati from Ireland

Active Chapters

★ Beta - Brown University - 1838

★ Gamma - New York University - 1841

★ Epsilon - Rutgers University - 1845

★ Eta - University of Pennsylvania - 1849

★ Lambda - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - 1864

★ Nu - Lehigh University - 1884

★ Xi - Johns Hopkins University - 1885

★ Pi - Cornell University - 1891

★ Rho - University of Virginia - 1908

★ Tau - University of Illinois - 1920-1990 (reactivated 1991)

★ Phi - Kenyon College - 1940

★ Chi - Hamilton College - 1950

★ Omega - University of Pittsburgh - 1968

★ Omega Alpha - College of William and Mary - 1987

Notable Alumni

★ John Jay Hyde - Α

★ George Low - Λ

★ Garret A. Hobart- E - Vice-President of the United States under McKinley

★ George C. Ludlow- E - Governor of New Jersey

★ Paolo Montalbán - E - Actor of stage and screen

★ Maj. Gen. George Henry Sharpe - E - Civil War spymaster

★ Howard Crosby - Γ - Famous Preacher and Chancellor of NYU

★ The Harper Brothers - Δ - Founders of Harper & Brothers publishing group

★ John Pierpont Morgan, Jr. - Ζ

★ John Jacob Astor IV - Ζ

★ James Roosevelt - Ζ

★ Halsey Minor - Ρ - Co-founder and former CEO, CNET Inc.

★ Marvin Bush - Ρ - George W. Bush's younger brother

★ Stanley Forman Reed - Ρ - Associate Justice of the Supreme Court

★ Charles Scribner - Θ - Founder of Charles Scribner's Sons publishing group

★ Russell Wayne Baker - Ξ - Pulitzer Prize winning writer and former host of PBS show Masterpiece Theatre.

External links

★ National Website

★ History of Epsilon (Daily Targum, 10/2005)