Type Social Scope National | Emphasis Multicultural Maxim Unity AmonGST All | |
Founded October 13, 1871; 145 years ago (1871-10-13)
SUNY Geneseo Motto Friendship, Fellowship, & Fidelity | ||
The Delphic Fraternity, Inc., also known as Delphic of Gamma Sigma Tau, is a historic multicultural fraternity that was 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. With affiliations at other schools, the college literary society became known as the Delphic Fraternity. 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.
By the late 1930s, only the Zeta chapter at the State Teachers College at New Paltz (today SUNY New Paltz) remained active. In the early 1950s the chapter became briefly associated with a larger national fraternity.
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. 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 via three active undergraduate chapters and two active graduate chapters.
Founders
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.
Mission
This organization pursues the sustained dignity, equality, and unity, amongst all races and creeds.
Philosophy
The fraternity is named for the ancient Greek city of Delphi, the site of the renowned Delphic Oracle of the god Apollo. Its temple was inscribed with the maxim "Gnothi Seauton" ("Know thyself.")
Chapters
Active undergraduate
Active graduate
Alumni
Inactive