Tau Delta Phi

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Tau Delta Phi
ΤΔΦ
File:Tau Delta Phi coat of arms.png
FoundedJune 22, 1910; 113 years ago (June 22, 1910)
City College of New York
TypeSocial
AffiliationNIC
ScopeNational
Colors  Navy blue and   White
SymbolPyramid
FlowerWhite Chrysanthemum
PublicationThe Pyramid
Chapters5
Headquarters1050 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036
US
WebsiteOfficial website

Tau Delta Phi (ΤΔΦ), whose members are commonly known as Tau Delts, is a national social fraternity founded on June 22, 1910, in New York City. Since its inception, dozens of chapters have been founded and thousands of men initiated into its membership. Today, Tau Delta Phi fraternity operates five active chapters and colonies located primarily in the northeastern United States.

History

Founding

The predecessor to Tau Delta Phi was called Phi Sigma Beta, a high school fraternity founded on June 22, 1910.[1] First established as a local fraternity, Phi Sigma Beta started at the Community Center of the Greenwich section of New York as a fraternity for Jewish men who were otherwise barred from fraternity life at that time. The founders had attended DeWitt Clinton High School. The group maintained itself as a single unit until 1912, when it became necessary to split in into two divisions, eventually three. Matriculating to several colleges, Alex Siegel, Milt Goodfriend and Max Coyne entered the City College of New York, becoming the Alpha class, initiating themselves under the new name of Tau Delta Phi on July 16, 1914. That same year, Gus Schieb and Leo Epstein created the Beta class at the New York School of Dentistry. Maxime Klaye, Samuel Klaye, Ben Gray and Mac Goldman created the Gamma class at New York University's School of Commerce. These "classes" became the first chapters as the founders moved into the collegiate phase of their lives. [1][2]

Founders

  • Alexander B. Siegel
  • Milton J. Goodfriend
  • Maximilian A. Coyne
  • Gustave Schieb
  • Leo Epstein
  • Maxime Klaye
  • Samuel Klaye
  • Benjamin Gray
  • Maxwell S. Goldman[2]

Soon to follow were a string of new chapters formed, beginning with Delta chapter at Columbia University in 1916. While the initial focus was on the New York metropolitan area, by 1917 interest from men outside of the area sparked the move to become a national organization, with the establishment of Epsilon chapter at Boston University. The decade saw a steady increase in membership. The "Pyramid" grew and expansion took its course from a regional to a national level.[3][4]

By 1933 the fraternity had grown to nineteen chapters.[2]

In 1934, Tau Delta Phi absorbed several chapters from Omicron Alpha Tau, a smaller Jewish fraternity with similar ideals, also active primarily in the Northeast. These included chapters at Rutgers, NYU, and Cornell.[4][2]

Recent history

The fraternity notes several "firsts": While formed to provide a fraternal experience for Jewish men, Tau Delta Phi became the first NIC fraternity to integrate by welcoming all races, creeds, ethnicities, and religions (1945), and was the first to open membership to include transgender, gender fluid, and non-binary members (February 2021).

Ironically, the integration that Tau Delta Phi pioneered may have been a factor in chapter loss during the 1960's through 1990's. That period showed a marked contraction of chapters coinciding with the period's adoption of integration by virtually all, if not all, other national fraternities.[5][a]

Tau Delta Phi hired an executive director for the first time in decades, in 2012. Since that time staff and volunteers have spearheaded a number of expansion projects, aimed to rebuild the fraternity.[1]

Fraternity structure

The grand chapter of Tau Delta Phi Fraternity is the highest power. It convenes at every national convention and governs every aspect of the fraternity. It is composed of the executive council members, two delegates from each chartered chapter, the past living grand consuls, and one delegate from every alumni chapter in good standing.

The executive council is the board of directors of the fraternity. in between conventions, the Executive Council governs the fraternity. It is composed of all the grand officers and members of the board.

The Tau Delta Phi Management Company is a for-profit arm of the fraternity. It manages the finances of and provides support services to each House Corporation and issues a service contract for those services.

The Chapter House Corporation Each chapter should have a house corporation. House Corporations evaluate the property needs of each chapter and try to either rent, lease, or purchase a chapter house for each chapter. Each House Corporation has its own board of directors which are usually composed of fraters from their respective chapter.

The Tau Delta Phi Foundation is the nonprofit arm of the fraternity which seeks to support the educational mission of Tau Delta Phi and offer scholarships and grants to fraters of the fraternity.[4]

The executive council

The executive council of Tau Delta Phi is the supreme legislative authority between conventions. The board is composed of all the grand officers and the members of the board. The executive council is responsible for governing the fraternity and developing strategic plans to meet educational and brotherhood outcomes.[6][4]

The national office

In 2012, the executive council hired its first full-time professional executive director in three decades.[7] In 2014, the national office hired a graduate assistant and chapter consultant, who is able to visit chapters and colonies, and provide support for educational programs. The national office is host to the annual leadership conference, The Pyramid Leadership Institute.[8]

Chapters

These are the chapters of Tau Delta Phi. Active chapters noted in bold, inactive chapters noted in italics. [4]

Name Chartered Institution Location Status Notes Reference
Alpha June 22, 1910–19xx ? City University of New York[b] New York, NY Dormant [c]
Beta June 22, 1910–1927 New York College of Dentistry (NYU)[b] New York, NY Merged [c][d]
Gamma June 22, 1910–1970, 1983–1988, 1992–20xx ?, 201x ?–20xx ? New York University[b] New York, NY Dormant Absorbed ΟΑΤ [c][e]
Delta 1916–1931, 194x ?–1949, 1983–1985 Columbia University New York, NY Dormant
Epsilon 1917–1951 Boston University Boston, MA Dormant
Zeta 1918–1929 Harvard University Cambridge, MA Dormant
Eta 1919–1929, 194x ?–1991+ Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA Dormant [f]
Theta 1920–1933 Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, IL Dormant
Iota 1920–1970 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA Dormant
Kappa 1920–1928 University of Cincinnati Cincinnati OH Dormant
Lambda 1921–1935 University of Chicago Chicago, IL Dormant
Mu 1921–1923 Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN Dormant
Nu 1922–1935, 1947–1968 University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI Dormant
Xi 1923–1968 Northwestern University Evanston, IL Dormant
Omicron 1924–1931 Ohio State University Columbus, OH Dormant [g]
Pi 1924–1975 University of Illinois Champaign, IL Dormant
Rho 1926–1975 University of Texas Austin, TX Dormant
Sigma 1927–1933, 1948–1967 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Dormant
Tau 1927–1973 Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA Dormant [h]
Chi 1928–1969 University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Dormant
Phi 1928–1952 University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN Dormant [i]
Upsilon 1929–1942 University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND Dormant
Psi 1929–1974 Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA Dormant [j]
Omega 1928–1952 University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Dormant
Tau Alpha 1933–1972 Colby College[k] Waterville, ME Dormant [l][9]
Tau Beta 1934–1971 Cornell University Ithaca, NY Dormant From ΟΑΤ [m]
Tau Gamma 1934–1976, 1993–199x ? Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ Dormant From ΟΑΤ [n]
Gamma Upsilon 1938–1958, 1962–1969 New York University (Heights)[o] West Bronx, NY Dormant [o]
Tau Delta 1947–1968 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Dormant [p]
Tau Epsilon 1947–19xx ?, 19xx ? New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ Active [q]
Tau Zeta 1949–197x ? Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Dormant [r]
Tau Eta 1950–1968 Loyola University Chicago, IL Dormant
Tau Theta 1950–1959 Norwich University Northfield, VT Dormant [s]
Tau Iota 1951–1976, 2008–201x ? Rutgers University–Newark Newark, NJ Dormant [t]
Tau Kappa 1952–1973 Queens College, CUNY Queens, NY Dormant [u]
Tau Lambda 1952–1970 Alfred University Alfred, NY Dormant [v]
Tau Mu 1953–1971 University of Miami Coral Gables, FL Dormant [w]
Tau Nu 1952–1968 Hunter College, CUNY New York, NY Dormant [x]
Tau Xi 1956–1971 LIU Brooklyn Brooklyn, NY Dormant [y]
Tau Omicron 1956–1972 Temple University Philadelphia, PA Dormant [z]
Tau Pi 1957–1968 Roosevelt University Chicago, IL Dormant
Tau Rho 1957–1968 Brooklyn College, CUNY Brooklyn, NY Dormant [aa]
Tau Sigma 1962–1976 Pratt Institute Brooklyn, NY Dormant [ab]
Tau Tau 1965–1973, 2009–2011 Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA Dormant [ac]
Tau Upsilon 1966–1971 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Dormant [ad]
Tau Phi 1967–19xx ? Seton Hall University South Orange, NJ Dormant
Alpha Delta 1967–19xx ? Baruch College, CUNY New York, NY Dormant [ae]
Tau Chi 1968–1970 University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL Dormant
Tau Psi 1970–1971 LIU Post Brookville, NY Dormant [af]
Tau Omega 1969–1972 Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, TX Dormant [ag]
Delta Beta 1969–1973 University of Maryland College Park, MD Dormant [ah]
Delta Gamma 1969–19xx ? Widener University Chester, PA Dormant [ai]
Delta Delta 1969–200x ? NYU (Tandon Engineering) New York, NY Dormant
Delta Epsilon 1969–19xx ? William Paterson University Wayne, NJ Dormant [aj]
Delta Zeta 1976–200x ? SUNY, Farmingdale East Farmingdale, NY Dormant
Delta Eta 1975–200x ? Cooper Union New York, NY Dormant
Delta Theta 1992–200x ? SUNY, Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY Dormant [ak]
Delta Iota 1994 Ramapo College Mahwah, NJ Active [al]
Delta Kappa 1995–2018 Stockton University Galloway Township, NJ Dormant
Delta Lambda 1998–200x ? Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA Dormant [am]
Delta Mu 2002–200x ? Polytechnic University ? Lakeland, FL ? Dormant [an]
Delta Nu 2004–2015 Christopher Newport University Newport News, VA Dormant [ao]
Delta Xi 2008–201x ? Caldwell University Caldwell, NJ Dormant [ap]
Delta Omicron 2010–2012 George Mason University Fairfax County, VA Dormant [aq]
Delta Pi 2012–20xx ? Montclair State University Montclair, NJ Dormant [ar]
Delta Rho 2013 ? Kutztown University Kutztown, PA Active [as]
Delta Sigma 2014 Rowan University Glassboro, NJ Active [at]
Delta Tau 2014 Monmouth University West Long Branch, NJ Active [au]
Delta Upsilon 2015–20xx ? Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL Dormant [av]

The Wikipedia article for Omicron Alpha Tau lists a Marquette University chapter of that fraternity, noting it supposedly merged into Tau Delta Phi in 1934. But Baird's Archive has no listing of a Tau Delta Phi chapter at Marquette, in the ΤΔΦ article.

Notes

  1. ^ Many Jewish themed national fraternities and sororities formed in the first half of the 20th Century but consolidated or closed in the decades after WWII. Why? The Sanua reference, "Going Greek," provides an extensive discussion on this trend. In the modern era, some have maintained a Jewish identity, others note their Jewish heritage but do not specifically target Jewish students for recruitment. Others have adopted an even more general, interfaith or secular model. The Talk page for the List of Jewish Fraternities and Sororities has a further summary.
  2. ^ a b c This chapter began at DeWitt Clinton High School, a preparatory school. The founders entered college between 1910 or 1912? (Alpha) and 1914 (Beta and Gamma), taking the fraternity with them, changing its name to Tau Delta Phi, and establishing several chapters. Alpha, Beta, and Gamma chapters stem from this root, though their creation of the fraternity pre-dates their entering their respective colleges in some cases by several years.
  3. ^ a b c This chapter has its origin on June 22, 1910 as Phi Sigma Beta (local). The group renamed itself four years later as Tau Delta Phi at the time that the founders entered their respective colleges.
  4. ^ Baird's notes Beta chapter merged into Gamma chapter.
  5. ^ Gamma chapter absorbed NYU's Epsilon chapter of Omicron Alpha Tau at that organization's demise.
  6. ^ MIT yearbook records after 1991 were unavailable to confirm closure year.
  7. ^ Omicron chapter originated as Alpha Theta Omega (local) in 1923.
  8. ^ Tau chapter originated as Upsilon Kappa (local) in 1926.
  9. ^ Phi chapter originated as Beta Sigma Epsilon (local) in 1924.
  10. ^ Psi chapter originated as Gamma Nu (local) in 1921.
  11. ^ Social or general fraternities and sororities were abolished by Colby College in 1984.
  12. ^ Tau Alpha chapter originated as Gamma Phi Epsilon (local) in 1919. General fraternities and sororities are no longer permitted by Colby College.
  13. ^ Tau Beta chapter originated as the Alpha chapter of Omicron Alpha Tau, formed in the Spring of 1912.
  14. ^ Tau Gamma chapter came from the Eta chapter of Omicron Alpha Tau, formed in 1928. Previously, that chapter had its origin in the Evergreen Club (local) formed at Rutgers in 1925.
  15. ^ a b NYU's University Heights, Bronx campus was sold in 1973, with students consolidating to the main campus.
  16. ^ Tau Delta chapter originated as the Pyramid Club, formed earlier in 1947. The name, an obvious symbol of ΤΔΦ, suggests it was a planned colony.
  17. ^ Tau Epsilon chapter had its origin as a colony that began in 1946.
  18. ^ Tau Zeta chapter originated as a colony, formed in 1946.
  19. ^ Tau Theta chapter originated as Omega Iota (local), formed in 1947.
  20. ^ Tau Iota chapter originated as a colony, formed in 1949.
  21. ^ Tau Kappa chapter originated as Sigma Chi Beta (local), formed in 1949.
  22. ^ Tau Lambda chapter originated as Beta Sigma Psi (local), formed in 1947.
  23. ^ Tau Mu chapter originated as a colony, formed in 1952.
  24. ^ Tau Nu chapter originated as a colony, formed prior to 1952.
  25. ^ Tau Xi chapter originated as Alpha Mu Sigma (local) in 1928.
  26. ^ Tau Omicron chapter originated as Sigma Beta (local) in 1954.
  27. ^ Tau Rho chapter originated as Phi Beta Upsilon (local) in 1932.
  28. ^ Tau Sigma chapter originated as six decades-old Delta Gamma Theta (local), in 1898.
  29. ^ Tau Tau chapter originated as the Pyramid Club (local), in 1964. In 1973 the chapter withdrew, and joined rival Tau Epsilon Phi's Epsilon Phi chapter on the campus. After a period of dormancy, in 2007 Tau Tau chapter recolonized from the Phi Society (local), a group that itself had broken away from Phi Delta Theta, earning a ΤΔΦ charter in 2009. That group again failed, in 2011.
  30. ^ Tau Upsilon chapter originated as a colony in 1964.
  31. ^ Alpha Delta chapter originated as a colony in 1966.
  32. ^ Tau Psi chapter originated as a colony in 1968.
  33. ^ Tau Omega chapter originated as Alpha Beta Tau (local) in 1968.
  34. ^ Delta Beta chapter originated as Tau Kappa Gamma (local) in 1969.
  35. ^ Delta Gamma chapter originated as Gamma Phi Omega (local) prior to 1969.
  36. ^ Delta Epsilon chapter originated as Tau Omega (local) prior to 1969.
  37. ^ Delta Theta chapter originated as a colony in 1991.
  38. ^ Delta Iota chapter had its origin as Sigma Beta Tau (local), formed prior to 1994.
  39. ^ Delta Lambda chapter originated as a colony prior to 1998.
  40. ^ Unclear from the name as to which school this chapter was assigned to. The national website notes it as being a "combined" polytechnic chapter; if not Florida, perhaps this unit was meant for amalgamation of the NYC chapters.
  41. ^ Delta Nu chapter originated as a colony in 2003.
  42. ^ Delta Xi chapter originated as a colony in 2005.
  43. ^ Delta Omicron chapter had its origin as a colony, formed in 2009.
  44. ^ Delta Pi chapter had its origin as a colony, formed prior to 2012.
  45. ^ Delta Rho chapter had its origin as a colony, formed prior to 2012.
  46. ^ Delta Sigma chapter had its origin as a colony, formed prior to 2012.
  47. ^ Delta Tau chapter had its origin as a colony, formed prior to 2012.
  48. ^ Delta Upsilon chapter had its origin as a colony, formed prior to 2012.

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Tau Delta Phi Fraternity Quick Facts/History:, accessed 1 Aug 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (see both active NIC fraternities section and dormant fraternities section. Inclusion in both sections was apparently an editing error. (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. III-139-140 and VIII-24-25. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  3. ^ Noted in Tau Delta Phi Chapter list, accessed 31 Jul 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), document showing Tau Delta Phi chapters". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  5. ^ Sanua, Marianne R. (2003). Rischen, Moses; Sarna, Jonathan D. (eds.). Going Greek: Jewish College Fraternities in the United States 1895–1945. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University Press. p. 335. ISBN 0-8143-2857-1.
  6. ^ Tau Delta Phi Fraternity Executive Council and Staff: http://www.taudelt.net/#!ecandstaff/ci69
  7. ^ Tau Delta Phi Fraternity About Us: http://www.taudelt.net/#!ecandstaff/ci69
  8. ^ Tau Delta Phi Fraternity Member Resources: http://www.taudelt.net/#!resources/cwxp
  9. ^ The Colby chapter is discussed in an historical retrospective by the Maine Jewish History Project, accessed 1 Aug 2022.

External links

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