Delt History
In 1858, at the academically elite institution of Bethany College in what is now West Virginia, eight men differing in age, background, and interest shared a common experience.
A group of students believed to be part of the only fraternity on campus at that time had taken control of the Neotrophian Literary Society. The Neotrophian was the only social forum for Bethany students to pursue their own ideas and talents at an institution that was strict with traditional thought and philosophy. To control the Neotrophian was to control the student leadership of campus, and a corrupt cohort was bestowing the society’s highest honors only upon those associated with their group, regardless of the merit of any other students.
Old Main at Bethany College
After learning of a fixed vote for the society’s top award, eight students: Richard H. Alfred, Eugene Tarr, John C. Johnson, Alexander C. Earle, William R. Cunningham, John L.N. Hunt, Jacob S. Lowe and Henry K. Bell met in the Dowdell Boarding House to discuss the previous night’s injustice. That day they decided to take a stand against the corruption on their campus. They vowed that they would work to return the Neotrophian Society back to the rightful and fair control of the general student body. This was the beginning; this was the birth of the secret society known only by the Greek letters Delta Tau Delta.
Dowdell Boarding House
Bound by an Oath to each other and under a veil of secrecy they built their brotherhood. At the following year’s competition they fairly defeated the corrupt group in every contest, thus exposing, and removing them from power.
After the successful accomplishment of the their initial task, word of this new brotherhood spread and the Fraternity opened its arms to other men who shared and respected the principles of Truth, Courage, Faith, and Power. A century and a half later we are still here, still recounting the story of eight men of exceptional character, integrity, talent, and honor. And we will be here for many more years to come…
We are here for a reason.
We have a past to live up to, a present to preserve, and a future to work towards.
We are the Brotherhood of Delta Tau Delta…
