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Delta Beta Phi
ΔΒΦ
Founded1878; 146 years ago (1878)
Cornell University
TypeSocial
AffiliationIndependent
StatusDefunct
Defunct datec. 1930
ScopeNational
Colors  Garnet and   Black
Symbolcrossed keys, star
PublicationDelta Beta Phi Quarterly
Chapters6 (all dormant)
Later up to 25
Members500+ lifetime
NicknameDead Bits
Headquarters
United States

Delta Beta Phi (ΔΒΦ), also called Delta Beta Phi Society, was a small national men's fraternity founded at Cornell University in 1878.[1][2] The national disbanded in 1882 but was briefly restored through the 1920s.[3]

History

[edit]

Delta Beta Phi was formed in January 1878 at Cornell University.[4] Its four founders were J. D. Hamrick, I. W. Kelly, J. S. Monroe, and Willard Olney.[4] The Cornell chapter was cheekily nicknamed the "Dead Bits" on campus on account of the first two letters of its name.[5] It operated as a secret society and admitted Jewish members.[6][7][8]

The fraternity expanded to form six chapters in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, creating five in its first year. Two of its chapters, Psi and Delta, formed from pre-existing local societies. The fraternity was overseen by a Grand Chapter.[9]

A January 1881 fraternal publication notes the fraternity's failed attempt to form a coalition with Psi Upsilon.[10] Nonetheless, the national fraternity, strove to revive its fortunes, seeking to recruit men to revive a chapter at Columbia University in the spring of 1881, albeit unsuccessfully.[11]

In April 1881, the fraternity held its fourth annual convention in Philadelphia, hosted by the Sigma chapter at the University of Pennsylvania.[9][12][13] Representatives attended from City College of New York, Columbia College, Cornell University, Johns Hopkins University, Lafayette University, Lehigh University, Princeton University, University of Michigan, and University of Pennsylvania.[12][6] At that time, the fraternity had initiated about 500 members.[6] However, the convention revealed social and religious differences that set a path toward the fraternity's demise.[14]

In the fall of 1881, the fraternity eyed new chapters in the South, specifically at the University of Virginia.[15] Meanwhile, Alpha Delta Phi tried to poach the Johns Hopkins chapter by offering commodious new quarters; the Alpha Delta Phi magazine commented, "No doubt Delta Beta Phi will be minus a chapter soon."[16]

By the fifth annual convention in New York City in December 1881, only CCNY, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, Lafayette, and University of Pennsylvania participated.[17][18][19] That same month, the Cornell chapter disbanded with the University of Pennsylvania chapter seeking to gain recognition by Psi Upsilon and the Lehigh chapter turning to Alpha Delta Phi.[14][20] In addition, the Lafayette chapter "languidly expired" with its five remaining members joining Sigma Chi.[20] The CCNY chapter dispersed to Alpha Delta Phi and Theta Delta Chi in 1881.[21][22]

Thus, the national fraternity of Delta Beta Phi appears to have disbanded in 1882.[23][14] A fraternal publication indicated that by March 1882, half of its chapters joined Alpha Delta Phi and one formed a new chapter of Theta Delta Chi.[24] A 1905 history of Cornell gives the fraternity rather a short shrift, noting, "Delta Beta Phi ...originated here in 1878, spread to five other institutions, and after four years ceased to exist."[25]

However, the Psi chapter at Lafayette College continued until 1884.[22][26] The CCNY chapter appears to be responsible for refounding and expanding to the fraternity in the early 20th century.[4][3] During the 1920s, yearbooks from Columbia and NYU included Delta Beta Phi and claimed as many as 25 chapters.[22] In the 1920s, Delta Beta Phi promoted itself as a social and non-sectarian fraternity that admitted all who believed in God, including Catholics, Christians, and Jews.[3][27]

On December 27, 1927, the fraternity held its golden jubilee dinner at the Hotel McAlpin in New York City, with speaker Senator Gerald P. Nye.[28]

Phi Beta Phi escutcheon and entry from the University of Pennsylvania archives, 1879
Delta Beta Phi escutcheon and yearbook entry, University of Pennsylvania, 1879

Symbols and publications

[edit]

The official badge of the society was a diamond-shaped lozenge, displaying the letters Δ, Β and Φ, with these surmounting a pair of crossed keys.[22] A star was at each corner of the badge.

The fraternity's crest was an etching that included an image of the badge at the top, displaying other symbolism of the fraternity within a Grecian motif.[22] The crest was in use by the Alpha chapter in the Cornell Cornellian yearbook for the several years it remained active.

The fraternity's colors were garnet and black.[22]

The fraternity began a publication, the Delta Beta Phi Quarterly in 1880 or 1881, but this only existed for a single issue.[22][29]

Chapters

[edit]

Following is a list of known chapters of Delta Beta Phi.[4][22][30]

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
Alpha January 1978 – 1880, xxxx ?–19xx ? Cornell University Ithaca, New York Inactive [31][a]
Beta 1878–1892 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Inactive [32][b][c]
Gamma 187x ? – 18xx ?, 1921–193x ? Columbia University New York City, New York Inactive
Delta 1878–1881, 1921–1931 City University of New York New York City, New York Inactive [33][d]
Epsilon 187x ? – 18xx ? Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts Inactive
18xx ? – 188x ? University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Inactive [12][6]
18xx ? – 188x ? Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey Inactive [14][12][6][e]
Iota 192x ? – 193x ? DePaul University Chicago, Illinois Inactive [34]
Kappa New York University New York City, New York Inactive
Mu Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio Inactive
Nu Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois Inactive
Omicron 192x ? – 19xx ? College of Dental and Oral Surgery of New York New York City, New York Inactive [35][f]
Pi 1881–188x ? Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland Inactive [36][11][6][12]
Rho University of Washington Seattle, Washington Inactive
Sigma June 1, 1879 – 1882 University of Pennsylvania Law School Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Withdrew [23][g][h][b]
Phi 1878–1882 Lehigh University Bethleham, Pennsylvania Inactive [2][37][i]
Chi 1923–1933 Crane College Chicago, Illinois Inactive [j]
Psi November 1878 – 1881, 1882–1884 Lafayette College Easton, Pennsylvania Inactive [38][2][26][39][20][k]
Psi 1881 ? – 188x ? University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Inactive [15]
Omega September 1926–19xx ? Stetson University DeLand, Florida Inactive [40][41][3][1]
1886– xxxx ? Kenyan College Gambier, Ohio Inactive [42][43]
xxxx ? – 191x ? Detroit Citywide Detroit, Michigan Inactive [44][45][31][l]
189x ? – xxxx ? Hillhouse High School New Haven, Connecticut Inactive [7][46][47][m]
1899 –xxxx ? Fair Haven Fair Haven, New Haven, Connecticut Inactive [48][m]
18xx ? – xxxx ? Yale University New Haven, Connecticut Inactive [7][49][m]
xxxx ? – 19xx ? Albany High School Albany, New York Inactive [50][51]
xxxx ? – 19xx ? Delta Phi Alumni Association Albany, New York Inactive [50]
  1. ^ Reported in the 1882/83 Cornellian yearbook to have ceased that year. None of the members appear to have joined a different society. The year prior, three graduated, leaving only two undergrad members. However, according to a newspaper article, the fraternity was active in 1917.
  2. ^ a b The first edition of Baird's (1879) notes a second ΔΒΦ chapter at UPenn, named Sigma, listing it as having formed in 1878, apparently at the law school. This Baird's record seems incomplete, and omits the Beta chapter. The relationship between the two UPenn chapters is unknown.
  3. ^ When this chapter went dormant in 1882, its members reestablished the dormant chapter of Delta Phi.
  4. ^ The chapter was formed by absorbing Alpha Omega (local). It became the Phi Deuteron charge (i.e. chapter) of Theta Delta Chi in 1881, but was revived in 1921 as Delta Beta Phi (local).
  5. ^ The Princeton chapter was sub rosa.
  6. ^ College merged into Columbia.
  7. ^ Baird's (1st edition), published in 1879, reported that this chapter was chartered in 1878.
  8. ^ The members of Sigma chapter were all Law School students. After withdrawing, the chapter revived the Eta chapter of Delta Phi fraternity in 1882.
  9. ^ Chapter was created by members of the defunct Society of Upsilon Beta, established in 1872.
  10. ^ Chapter was formed by absorbing Beta Tau (local), established in 1923.
  11. ^ Chapter was formed by absorbing Nu Phi Mu (local), established in 1877.
  12. ^ There was possibly a connection between this chapter and the Alpha chapter at Cornell University as Oliver B. Hughes was an active alumnus of the latter who had a residence in with Detroit.
  13. ^ a b c Because this chapter formed in the gap between the national fraternity's dormancy and resurgence, it is unclear how it relates to the other chapters. New Haven appears to have been the location of three chapters, Hillhouse High School, Fair Haven community, and Yale. Social activities were held in Warner Hall on the campus of Yale.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Tampans Found New Stetson Fraternity". The Tampa Tribune. Tampa, Florida. 1926-10-14. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  2. ^ a b c Jacobs, Albert Poole (1879). The Greek-letter Societies. Gulley Printing House. p. 40 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b c d "Stetson Granted New Frat Charter: Delta Beta Phi Install Chapter o University Campus at DeLand". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlanda, Florida. 1926-10-10. p. 32. Retrieved 2023-05-24 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (May 2, 2023) "Delta Beta Phi". Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed May 23, 2023.
  5. ^ Acacia Fraternity (1906). The Triad vols. 1-5. Acacia Fraternity. p. 63.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "The College Secret Society". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 1881-04-30. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  7. ^ a b c "Delta Beta Phi Dance". The Daily Morning Journal and Courier. New Haven, Connecticut. 1899-02-22. p. 7. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  8. ^ Engst, Elaine D. (2006). Jewish Life at Cornell 1865-2005 (PDF). Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Library. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-935995-06-0.
  9. ^ a b "Items of Interest". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1881-04-29. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-05-23 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Other Fraternities". The Scroll. 5 (4). Phi Delta Theta Fraternity: 80. January 1881 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ a b "Among the Greeks". The Scroll. Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. 5 (8): 176. April 1881 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ a b c d e "The Delta Beta Phi Fraternity". Evening Dispatch. York, Pennsylvania. 1881-04-29. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-23 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "College Men at Dinner, Banquet to the Visiting Delegates to the Delta Beta Phi Convention". The Philadelphia Times. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1881-04-30. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-05-24 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b c d "Among the Greeks". The Scroll. 6 (4). Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.: 95 January 1882 – via Google Books.
  15. ^ a b "Among the Greeks". The Scroll. Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. 6 (1): 23. October 1881 – via Google Books.
  16. ^ "Among the Greeks". The Scroll. Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. 6 (1): 24. October 1881 – via Google Books.
  17. ^ "City and Suburban News: New York". The New York Times. 1881-12-29. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-05-24 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Telegraphic Summary Etc". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. 1881-12-30. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-24 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Delta Beta Phi". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1881-12-30. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-24 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ a b c "Among the Greeks". The Scroll. Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. 6 (5): 199. February 1882 – via Google Books.
  21. ^ Millard Francis Troxell, ed. (1880). The Scroll. Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. p. 144.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h William Raimond Baird (1912). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. G. Banta Company. p. 628.
  23. ^ a b Benjamin Foster Carlson. "Early Fraternities: Delta Beta Phi". University of Pennsylvania Archives. University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  24. ^ "Among the Greeks". The Scroll. 6 (6): 144. March 1882 – via Google Books.
  25. ^ "Cornell Student Activities: Fraternities". The Cornell Magazine. 8: 14. October 1895. hdl:2027/coo.31924100246895 – via Hathi Trust.
  26. ^ a b "Fraternity Chapter Histories at Lafayette 1853 – Today · Greek Life · Lafayette College". greeklife.lafayette.edu. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  27. ^ "Rabbi Answers Guthrie". The New York Times. December 28, 1923. p. 3. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  28. ^ "Calls Prosperity a Myth; Nye Tells Delta Beta Phi Only a Very Few Share in It". The New York Times. 1927-12-28. p. 15. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  29. ^ Millard Francis Troxell, ed. (1880). The Scroll. Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. p. 47.
  30. ^ William Raimond Baird (1898). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities 5th edition. New York: William Raimond Baird, p. 388. via Hathi Trust.
  31. ^ a b "Gives Trix, Pet Dog, to Cornell 'Frat' Brothers". The Daily Record. Long Branch, New Jersey. 1917-11-16. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  32. ^ "Fraternities at Pennsylvania". The Red and Blue of the University of Pennsylvania. 8 (5): 2–3. February 1901. hdl:2027/penn.ark:/81431/p3rx93k88 – via Hathi Trust.
  33. ^ Baird, Wm Raimond (1879). American college fraternities (1st ed.). Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. p. 189. hdl:2027/njp.32101067000214. Retrieved May 25, 2023 – via Hathi Trust.
  34. ^ "Delta Beta Phi". The De Paulia. Chicago, Illinois. December 19, 1929. Retrieved May 24, 2023 – via Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University Library.
  35. ^ Senior Class, ed. (1922). The Codos : year book of the College of Dental and Oral Surgery of New York. New York. pp. 49, 127, and 130. hdl:2027/nnc2.ark:/13960/t1sf3vc41.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  36. ^ "Fraternity Notes". Phi Gamma Delta. 3 (9): 148. June 1881 – via Google Books.
  37. ^ The Epitome. Vol. 13. Lehigh University. 1888. p. 164. hdl:2027/nyp.33433074821210. Retrieved May 25, 2023 – via Hathi Trust.
  38. ^ Baird, Wm Raimond (1879). American college fraternities (1st ed.). Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. p. 141. Retrieved May 25, 2023 – via Hathi Trust.
  39. ^ "From the Province Presidents". The Scroll. 5 (8). Phi Delta Theta Fraternity: 160. April 1881 – via Google Books.
  40. ^ The Forty-Fifth Year Catalogue of John B. Stetson University DeLand, Florida
  41. ^ "State". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. 1926-10-10. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-24 – via Newspapers.com. Stetson given charter of Delta Beta Phi.
  42. ^ The Reveille 1886/1887. Columbia, Ohio: Kenyon College. 1887. p. 7. hdl:2027/nyp.33433074821020.
  43. ^ The Reveille. Cleveland: Junior Class of Kenyon College. 1895. p.63. via Hathi Trust.
  44. ^ "The Detroit Chapter of Delta Beta Phi". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. 1913-11-01. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-05-24 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ "Football Briefs". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. 1904-10-30. p. 14. Retrieved 2023-05-24 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ "Delta Beta Phi". The Daily Morning Journal and Courier. New Haven, Connecticut. 1900-02-22. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-05-24 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ "Bele Mention". The Daily Morning Journal and Courier. 1900-04-16. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  48. ^ "Latest Fair Haven News". The Daily Morning Journal and Courier. New Haven, Connecticut. 1899-03-08. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-05-24 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ "Annual Banquet of Yale Alumni". The Scranton Tribune. Scranton, Pennsylvania. 1900-03-15. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-05-24. Three times three for Homer Green" was given with a will and then all joined in singing "Delta Beta Phi
  50. ^ a b "Fraternity Alumni to Have Luncheon Series". The Argus. Albany, New York. September 17, 1920. p. 13. Retrieved May 24, 2023 – via NYS Historic Newspapers.
  51. ^ "Delta Beta Phi Dance". The Argus. Albany, New York: 5. May 29, 1918 – via NYS Historic Newspapers4.
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