Delphic Fraternity
| The Delphic Fraternity, Inc. - Gamma Sigma Tau | |
|---|---|
| ΓΣΤ | |
| The Coat of Arms of Delphic of Gamma Sigma Tau Fraternity | |
| Founded | October 13, 1871 SUNY Geneseo |
| Type | Social |
| Emphasis | Multicultural |
| Scope | National |
| Motto | Friendship, Fellowship, & Fidelity |
| Maxim | Unity AmonGST All |
| Colors | Red Royal Blue |
| Symbol | Delphic 7 |
| Flower | White Rose and Dahlia |
| Jewel | Ruby |
| Mascot | Dragon |
| Publication | The Delphic Oracle |
| Philanthropy | American Foundation for Suicide Prevention |
| Chapters | 14 (3 active undergraduate, 2 active graduate, and 9 inactive) |
| Nickname | Delphics, GSTs, DGST |
| Headquarters | New Paltz, NY |
| Homepage | Official Delphic website |
The Delphic Fraternity, Inc., also known as Delphic of Gamma Sigma Tau, is a historic multicultural fraternity originally founded in New York State in 1871.
Contents
History
The Delphic Society was founded on October 13, 1871, at the Geneseo State Normal School (today SUNY Geneseo) in upstate New York.[1] With affiliations at other schools, the college literary society became known as The Delphic Fraternity.[2] Delphic eventually became a regional fraternity with chapters at Oneonta, Jamaica, Cortland, New Paltz, Plattsburgh, and Potsdam, New York, and Mansfield, Pennsylvania. Each chapter had its own rich history, with the oldest at SUNY Cortland tracing its formation back to the Young Men's Debating Club in 1847.[3]
By the late 1930s, only the Zeta chapter at the State Teachers College at New Paltz (today SUNY New Paltz) remained officially active. In the early 1950s the chapter became briefly associated with a larger national fraternity.[4]
In 1962, the organization became a legal not-for-profit membership entity by incorporating in the state of New York as the Delphic Fraternity of New Paltz, Inc. On March 11, 1987, the fraternity was re-established as Delphic of Gamma Sigma Tau.[4] In 2003, the Theta chapter at Binghamton University was founded, becoming the first Delphic chapter established in the 21st century. In 2009, the first Delphic chapter outside of the northeast region was chartered at the University of Virginia. The Kappa Chapter of Delphic is also the first multicultural fraternity established at UVA.
Today the autonomous organization is incorporated as The Delphic Fraternity, Inc. and does business as Delphic of Gamma Sigma Tau Fraternity[5] via three active undergraduate chapters and two active graduate chapters.
Diversity
The organization has incorporated multicultural themes into its membership process and actively recruits members of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Since the 1960s, Delphic brothers have been of African, Asian, Caribbean, Eurasian, European, Latino, and Middle Eastern descent.[6]
Mission
This organization honorably pursues the sustained dignity, equality, and unity, amonGST all races and creeds.[7]
Philosophy
The fraternity is named for the ancient Greek city of Delphi, the site of the renowned Delphic Oracle of the god Apollo.[8] Its temple was inscribed with the maxim "Gnothi Seauton" ("Know thyself.")
Chapters
Active undergraduate
- Kappa - University of Virginia
- Associate Chapters - SUNY Delhi and Lincoln University
Active graduate
- Tau Alpha - New York City
- Tau Beta - Washington, D.C.
Inactive
- Alpha - SUNY Geneseo
- Beta - SUNY Oneonta
- Gamma - Jamaica (NY) Normal School
- Delta - Mansfield University
- Epsilon - SUNY Cortland
- Zeta - SUNY New Paltz
- Eta - SUNY Plattsburgh
- Baconian - SUNY Potsdam
- Theta - Binghamton University
Notable alumni
- John Beach Abbott - New York attorney, Livingston County Court Judge, and one of the founding fathers of the Delphic Fraternity
- Heinz Ahlmeyer, Jr. - a collegiate sports award, a US Post Office, and a college scholarship are named after this Marine, who was killed during the Vietnam War
- William George Butler - musician, composer, and one of the founders of the Delta chapter of the Delphic Fraternity at Mansfield, Pennsylvania[9]
- Rowland L. Davis - New York State Supreme Court Justice
- Henry Albert Dickinson - New York State Assembly member[10]
- Dr. John H. Doane - a building at Mansfield University is named after this physician and his family[11]
- Arthur J. Gmeiner - businessman, artist, and philanthropist[12]
- Alfred Harcourt - publisher
- R. Paul Higgins - Higgins Hall on the campus of SUNY Cortland is named after this New York physician
- Clayton R. Lusk - New York State Senator
- Charles T. Saxton - Lieutenant Governor of New York
- David Eugene Smith - mathematician, educator, and editor
- George Strait - a planetarium at Mansfield University is named after this popular professor[13]
- Harold G. Strait - a highway is named after this prominent resident of Mansfield, Pennsylvania
See also
References
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- Description of Cortland by James M. Milne.
External links
- Delphic of Gamma Sigma Tau Fraternity
- Delphic Fraternity History homepage
- Delphic of Gamma Sigma Tau Fraternity Facebook page
- Delphic Fraternity Twitter page
- Delphic Fraternity Google+ page
- Delphic of Gamma Sigma Tau Fraternity MySpace page
- ↑ The Normalian (1915), SUNY Geneseo Yearbook, p. 57.
- ↑ Grimm, R. (1963), A Brief History of Fraternities and Sororities at the State University College at Oneonta, New York.
- ↑ Bessie L. Park (1960), Cortland - Our Alma Mater: A History of Cortland Normal School and State University of New York Teachers College at Cortland.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Velez, P. (2004), The Delphic Fraternity, Inc. - A Historical Perspective
- ↑ Division of Corporations, NYS Department of State
- ↑ Fraternity History Homepage
- ↑ Official Fraternity website
- ↑ Fraternity information packet
- ↑ William George Butler
- ↑ Henry Albert Dickinson
- ↑ Dr. John H. Doane
- ↑ Arthur J. Gmeiner
- ↑ George Strait
