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Delta Upsilon (Syracuse University Chapter) Collection

An inventory of its collection at Syracuse University


Finding aid created by: DTF
Date: 04 Aug 2023



Biographical History

The Syracuse chapter of Delta Upsilon was formed in 1873 and was the second fraternity established at Syracuse University.

Delta Upsilon was first formed at Williams College in 1834 as a non-hazing, non-secret fraternity. The founders at Williams College originally named the fraternity Social Society as a response to fraternities that operated secretly and, they believed, nefariously. The fraternity welcomed "all good men and true," and encouraged open and intellectual discussions about social topics. In 1864, the fraternity changed its name to Delta Upsilon at the Anti-Secret Confederation convention.

Syracuse University students formed the Syracuse chapter on November 14, 1873, in the Hall of Languages. In 1888, the chapter acquired 426 Ostrom Avenue, a house that they occupied for the next 84 years. In 1918, the chapter started their own newsletter, The Bazoo, which reported fraternity events and alumni news. The first issue was dedicated to the 37 chapter "brothers" who served in World War I.

In 1952, alumni of the Syracuse chapter formed the Dikaia Foundation, a non-profit that assisted and contributed to the education and general well-being of members of the Syracuse chapter. The chapter became inactive and lost its charter in 1971, and the chapter house at Ostrom Avenue was closed. In 1976, the fraternity was reinstituted and moved into their new residence at 711 Comstock by the end of the decade. In 1996, the Delta Upsilon chapter was suspended for allegations of hazing and intoxication. In 2018, the chapter was reestablished.

There have been nearly 1,000 members who joined the Syracuse chapter of Delta Upsilon since its founding, including author Stephen Crane '94, Syracuse University Alma Mater author Junius Stevens '95, New York Times war correspondent Drew Middleton '35, and Syracuse University basketball coach Jim Boeheim '66.


Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Delta Upsilon (Syracuse University Chapter) Collection consists of alumni files, chapter files, Dikaia Foundation records, memorabilia, photographs, printed material, and scrapbooks.

Alumni files contains documentation of individuals affiliated with Delta Upsilon. These files may include clippings, enrollment and initiation records, and Alumni News submissions. There are over 700 alumni represented in the files. Original folder titles were retained.

Chapter files consists of administrative files created and maintained by the chapter. Files include alumni lists and directories; attendance record books; board of trustees minutes (the chapter had its own board of trustees until 1952); chapter house materials (including a mortgage and deed from 1875 and 1904); financial ledgers and account books; military correspondence from alumni during World War II; and pledge manuals. Please note that disciplinary records have been restricted in accordance with the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

The Dikaia Foundation records are records created by the chapter's non-profit alumni organization. Records include certificates of incorporation, directors lists, financial material, meeting minutes, membership directories, and scholarship information. Please note that some financial records are currently restricted due to sensitive account information.

Memorabilia includes artwork, awards, guest books, plaques, and a stained-glass window. There is artwork of the chapter house from approximately the 1880s as well as from 1978. Awards are in the form of trophies or certificates and were provided for participation in University and fraternity events or activities. Plaques commemorate honor roll students and Delta Upsilon World War II veterans. The stained-glass window is circular-shaped and features the Delta Upsilon gold badge symbol. Miscellaneous items, including a license plate frame, a flag from the Leadership Institute, and a poster mockup for fall rush round out the series.

Photographs are of alumni, classes, community service projects, events, and reunions. Photographs of alumni include Stephen Crane, William Peck Gere, and P.H. Lynch. A photograph of Delta Upsilon members during the 1889 academic year is the earliest photograph of the collection. The series also contains a photograph album. The album has been disassembled for preservation purposes but the photographs remain in original order.

Printed materials comprise bound volumes, clippings, an early printing of the Delta Upsilon constitution, invitations, and programs. The series includes issues of The Bazoo, the Syracuse chapter's newsletter, from its first issue in 1917 until 2007. Bound volumes include directories, catalogues, convention records, histories of the chapter, songs, and books by alumni. Invitations and programs are for annual conventions and banquets; the earliest invitation and program is from 1876.

Scrapbooks document fraternity events and activities and were most likely created by fraternity members. Most scrapbooks were created to document an academic year; the exception are two scrapbooks that contain minutes and agendas of fraternity meetings. The earliest scrapbook was compiled during the 1936-1937 school year.

Please note that this collection contains material, particularly in the Photographs and Scrapbooks series, that some researchers may find objectionable due to racist content. This material is preserved and retained with the collection for its historic and research value.


Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advance notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Please note some materials in this collection are restricted in accordance with the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Due to its size and fragility, the stained-glass window is restricted.

Please note that some financial records are currently restricted due to sensitive account information.

Use Restrictions:

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


Related Material

The University Archives holds clipping files about Delta Upsilon as well as images of the fraternity in the Syracuse University Photograph Collection. The University Archives also holds the Junius Woods Stevens Papers.


Selected Search Terms

Names

Boeheim, Jim.
Crane, Stephen, 1871-1900.
Middleton, Drew, 1913-1990.
Moffett, Toby, 1944-
Stevens, Junius W. (Junius Woods), 1873-1947.
Vosburgh, Frederick G., 1904-2005.
Delta Upsilon Fraternity.

Subjects

Education, Higher.
Greek letter societies.
Student activities.
Syracuse University -- Alumni and alumnae.

Types of Material

Alumni directories.
Catalogs (documents)
Clippings (information artifacts)
Commemorative plaques.
Correspondence.
Financial records.
Flags.
Invitations.
Negatives (photographs)
Newsletters.
Photographs.
Programs (documents)
Scrapbooks.
Stained-glass windows.
Trophies (objects)

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

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

Acquisition Information

Multiple gifts to the University Archives between the years 1989 and 2016. Majority of collection were gifts from C. Bruce Laidlaw in 2012 and Ray Borg in 2015.


Arrangement of the Collection

The collection is arranged alphabetically by name, title, or type of material within each series. Alumni files are arranged alphabetically by last name.


Table of Contents

Alumni files

Chapter files

Dikaia Foundation records

Memorabilia

Photographs

Printed material

Scrapbooks


Inventory