Scope National Symbol Pyramid | Colors Navy Blue, White Flower White Chrysanthemum | |
Founded 1910
City College of New York Type Social Fraternity, Secret | ||
Tau Delta Phi (ΤΔΦ) is a national social fraternity founded on June 22, 1910 in New York City. Its members are known as Tau Delts. Since its inception, dozens of chapters have been founded and thousands of men initiated into its membership. Today, Tau Delta Phi fraternity operates over seven active chapters and colonies located primarily in the northeastern United States and the southern United States.
Contents
Founding
Tau Delta Phi was founded on June 22, 1910. First known as a local fraternity, Phi Sigma Beta, they 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 Alpha class was initiated on July 16, 1914. 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 Gamma at New York University (School of Commerce). Soon to follow were a string of chapters and pledges. The 1910s saw a steady increase in membership. The Pyramid grew and expansion took its course from a local to a national level.
Founders
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 to 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.
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.
The National Office
In 2012, the Executive Council hired its first full-time professional Executive Director in three decades. In 2014, 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 maintained in New York City.
The National Office is host to the annual leadership conference, The Pyramid Leadership Institute.