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Phi Delta Theta (Syracuse University Chapter) Collection

An inventory of its collection at the Syracuse University Archives


Finding aid created by: Anna Smallwood
Date: 2016



Historical Note

Photograph of Phi Delta Theta brothers in front of their fraternity house

In May of 1881 a group of men from the Class of 1883 gathered themselves into a society. They were later joined by members of the Classes of 1881 and 1882. After holding meetings and gaining members from the Classes of 1884 and 1885, they called themselves Sigma Psi. At first, they wanted to keep their membership low, which prevented them from chartering with a fraternity wishing to establish a chapter at Syracuse University, but in the winter between 1886 and 1887 correspondence began between Sigma Psi and Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. The charter was granted to them on February 7, 1887 with 13 charter members.

Phi Delta Theta Fraternity at Syracuse University has occupied several different homes. In the year they were founded, the New York Epsilon Chapter of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity lived at 707 Irving Avenue. In 1909, their house was located on 1001 Walnut Avenue. By 1948, they secured 703 Walnut Avenue, a home that had served as a temporary home for Theodore Roosevelt. After a period of inactivity, the chapter was re-founded in the fall of 2011 and was officially initiated the fall of 2012. A year later, the New York Epsilon Chapter bought 210 Walnut Place from Pi Beta Phi, which is where they currently reside.


Scope and Content Note

The Phi Delta Theta (Syracuse University Chapter) Collection contains materials that span from 1894 to 1987 with the majority of the material in this collection dating from the 1970s to early 1980s. Included in the memorabilia are fraternity pins, a ribbon from the 1894 convention in Indianapolis, as well as a fraternal bracelet. Also included in the collection are programs from banquets held by the fraternity as well as newsletters produced by Phi Delta Theta.


Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.


Related Material

Additional materials on Phi Delta Theta can be found in the Clippings File and Photograph Collection in the Archives.


Selected Search Terms

Names

Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

Fraternities.
Greek letter societies.
Higher education.

Types of Material

Memorabilia.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Phi Delta Theta (Syracuse University Chapter) Collection,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Loren E. Dawley and George W. Sherwood donated collection materials to the Archives in 1986.

Processing Information

Materials were placed in acid-free folders.


Arrangement

Collection materials are arranged in alphabetical order.


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