Collection inventory

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Delta Tau Delta (Syracuse University Chapter) Collection

An inventory of its collection at the Syracuse University Archives

Finding aid created by: Anna Smallwood
Date: 2016

Revision history:

Historical Note

Gamma Omicron Chapter of Delta Tau Delta was established at Syracuse University in 1910. As early as 1903, a group of students gathered and formed what they called Theta Chapter of Sinfonia, the musical fraternity. After several men left, and more non-musical students joined the group in 1905 and 1906, the group became more of social fraternity looking for a national identity. In 1909, the group petitioned Delta Tau Delta for a charter, a fraternity that better fit their new more diverse group.

There are several traditions that have been associated with Delta Tau Delta over the years. One of their early traditions of raising and lowering the University flag started in 1910. This tradition continued off and on between 1910 and the 1960s, and brothers found that it was difficult to continue the tradition as the flag was often times stolen. Another tradition began in the 1970s when a sophomore brother didn’t have enough money to treat his sweetheart on Valentine’s Day. The brothers decided they would give him a small amount of money for each girl he kissed on the Quad. During the height of the tradition, the fraternity would pick the must reluctant sophomore brother, and make him dress as cupid, with themed boxer shorts and a bow and arrow. His job was to try to give as many kisses on the Quad as possible. It later turned into a charity event that raised money for the American Heart Association. This tradition, now a part of Cupid Week, continues to be a major source of philanthropy for Delta Tau Delta.

The Gamma Omicron Chapter of Delta Tau Delta currently resides on 801 Walnut Avenue.

Scope and Content Note

The Delta Tau Delta (Syracuse University Chapter) Collection spans from 1907 to 1975 and includes scrapbooks, an alumni record and other materials related to the fraternity. Also included are letters pertaining to the fraternity's predecessor Sinfonia Fraternity as well as the petition to the national fraternity in 1909. Within the collection are programs from national gatherings called Karnea.

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

The scrapbook of Ray M. Clark was separated to form its own collection.

A photograph of the 1923 men's basketball team was also separated and placed in the Photograph Collection.

The Archives holds additional materials relating to Delta Tau Delta, its house and the Cupid Run in the Clippings File and Photograph Collection.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Delta Tau Delta Fraternity.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

Fraternities.
Greek letter societies.
Higher education.

Types of Material

Dance cards.
Memorabilia.
Photographs.
Scrapbooks.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

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

Acquisition Information

Delta Tau Delta donated the majority of materials in this collection to the Archives in 1982.

Processing Information

Materials were placed in archival folders. Plastic enclosures in scrapbook were removed for preservation.

Arrangement

Materials are arranged in alphabetical order.

Table of Contents

Collection

Inventory