Delphic Fraternity
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 and re-established in 1987. The fraternity can trace its origin back to the Delphic Society founded in 1850.
| The Delphic Fraternity, Inc. | |
|---|---|
| ΓΣΤ | |
| Founded | October 13, 1871 SUNY Geneseo |
| Type | Social |
| Emphasis | Multicultural |
| Motto | Friendship, Fellowship, and Fidelity |
| Colors | Red, White & Royal Blue |
| Symbol | Delphic 7 |
| Flower | White Rose & Dahlia |
| Jewel | Ruby |
| Mascot | Dragon |
| Chapters | 2 Undergraduate 3 Graduate 2 Alumni Chapters |
| Nickname | Delphics |
| Headquarters | New Paltz, New York, United States |
| Website | Official Delphic website |
History
The Delphic Society was founded on October 13, 1871, at the Geneseo State Normal School (SUNY Geneseo) in upstate New York.[1] It was a successor organization to the Delphic Society at Rochester, which had been active until at least December 1866.[2]
With affiliations at other schools, the college literary society at Geneseo became known as the Delphic Fraternity.[3]
Delphic eventually became a regional fraternity with chapters at Oneonta, Jamaica, Cortland, New Paltz, Plattsburgh, and Potsdam, New York, and Mansfield, Pennsylvania. The oldest chapter, at SUNY Cortland, traces its formation back to the Young Men's Debating Club in 1847.[4]
By the late 1930s, only the Zeta chapter at the State Teachers College at New Paltz (SUNY New Paltz) remained active. In the early 1950s the chapter became briefly associated with Sigma Tau Gamma, a larger national fraternity.[5]
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 at SUNY New Paltz.[5]
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.[6]
The Delphic Fraternity, Inc. has two active undergraduate chapters, three active graduate chapters, and two alumni chapters.[7]
Notable alumni
- Henry Albert Dickinson - New York State Assembly member[8]
References
- The Normalian (1915), SUNY Geneseo Yearbook, p. 57.
- The Delphic Fraternity History e-Book, April, 2017.https://delphicfraternity.net
- 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.
- Velez, P. (2004), The Delphic Fraternity, Inc. - A Historical Perspective
- About Delphic at UVA https://www.uvadelphic-gst.com/about
- The Delphic Fraternity History e-Book, April 2017. https://delphicfraternity.net
- Henry Albert Dickinson