About delta tau delta
"Delta Tau Delta is an undergraduate Fraternity. It was founded by undergraduates, developed by undergraduates, operated and controlled by undergraduates from the beginning, and it still is."
The History of Delta Tau Delta is in many ways the history of Greek letter societies in North America. Our past is proud and colorful, a legacy that calls present day Delts to emulate the leadership for which our Fraternity is known.
It was the Spring of 1858, on the campus of Bethany College located in what is now West Virginia, when eight undergraduate men gathered and formed the ideals of Delta Tau Delta. At this time, college life was not filled with the means of social opportunity that exist today. Universities across the country combined produced a mere 5,000 graduates a year, and most of their time was spent in study or recitation.
To provide their students with such a social outlet, Bethany College created the Neotropian Literary Society, which was the first fully student-run organization to show up on early college campuses. It was a distinct honor to receive an award from such an institution. In 1858, the Neotropian Society met to discuss who would win the year's top awards. However, a particular group of men within the society had previously decided collectively who they felt should win. With the discovery that these men had tarnished the voting, a group of eight men were very displeased and decided that they too must form their own secret group. Their primary purpose was to counteract the predetermined decision of who should win the society's awards, and return the system to one of impartial favor and based solely on merit. In early 1859, these men made their presence known on campus, and shortly thereafter, returned the Neotrophian into an unbiased organization.
This is how Delta Tau Delta came into existence. The founders, ranging in age from 17 to 26, wrote a Constitution, devised a Ritual, designed a membership badge, and established the mottoes and purposes of their club, all based on truth and moral good. Little did they know that their principles and ideals were so strong that they would not only stand the test of time, but continue to stand strong to this day.
Adapted from The Good Delt, published by the Fraternity in 1993, which is originally based on Sing to the Royal Purple, a comprehensive history of the Fraternity, written by Robert L. Hartford, Ohio '26 and published in 1978.
The History of Delta Tau Delta is in many ways the history of Greek letter societies in North America. Our past is proud and colorful, a legacy that calls present day Delts to emulate the leadership for which our Fraternity is known.
It was the Spring of 1858, on the campus of Bethany College located in what is now West Virginia, when eight undergraduate men gathered and formed the ideals of Delta Tau Delta. At this time, college life was not filled with the means of social opportunity that exist today. Universities across the country combined produced a mere 5,000 graduates a year, and most of their time was spent in study or recitation.
To provide their students with such a social outlet, Bethany College created the Neotropian Literary Society, which was the first fully student-run organization to show up on early college campuses. It was a distinct honor to receive an award from such an institution. In 1858, the Neotropian Society met to discuss who would win the year's top awards. However, a particular group of men within the society had previously decided collectively who they felt should win. With the discovery that these men had tarnished the voting, a group of eight men were very displeased and decided that they too must form their own secret group. Their primary purpose was to counteract the predetermined decision of who should win the society's awards, and return the system to one of impartial favor and based solely on merit. In early 1859, these men made their presence known on campus, and shortly thereafter, returned the Neotrophian into an unbiased organization.
This is how Delta Tau Delta came into existence. The founders, ranging in age from 17 to 26, wrote a Constitution, devised a Ritual, designed a membership badge, and established the mottoes and purposes of their club, all based on truth and moral good. Little did they know that their principles and ideals were so strong that they would not only stand the test of time, but continue to stand strong to this day.
Adapted from The Good Delt, published by the Fraternity in 1993, which is originally based on Sing to the Royal Purple, a comprehensive history of the Fraternity, written by Robert L. Hartford, Ohio '26 and published in 1978.