Delta Theta Sigma

Delta Theta Sigma
Delta Theta Sigma
ΔΘΣ
Founded	1906; 115 years ago; Ohio State University
Type	Professional
Affiliation	Independent
Scope	Midwest
Motto	"Knowledge and Brotherhood in a Bond of Union"
Colors	Blue and Gold
Flower	White Carnation
Publication	The Shield
Chapters	7
Headquarters	301 Jefferson Ave., SW; Fertile, MN 56540; United States
Website	Delta Theta Sigma homepage

Delta Theta Sigma (ΔΘΣ) is a social professional agricultural fraternity. It was created in 1906 at The Ohio State University. There are currently seven active chapters of Delta Theta Sigma.

Purpose of Delta Theta Sigma[]

As stated in its constitution:

We, the members of Delta Theta Sigma Fraternity, in order to promote agriculture, to secure a higher degree of scholarship, to foster the spirit of brotherhood in our vocation, and to ensure social and cultural unity, do promote our organization to the fulfillment of these ideals.

Common Interests[]

The brotherhood of Delta Theta Sigma is composed of elite agriculture majors from all over the United States. The national Delta Theta Sigma network includes eight chapters through Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin–River Falls, Purdue University, Wilmington College of Ohio, and University of Minnesota-Crookston. Brothers share common interests in agriculture and outdoor recreation. A majority of the members have agricultural and/or rural backgrounds, which provide common bonds through experiences.

History of Delta Theta Sigma[]

In the spring of 1906, several men gathered together in a rooming house at 175 West 9th Avenue in Columbus, Ohio. The idea, conceived primarily by three men, Maxwell Corotius, Samuel N. Kerr, and Stanley B. Stowe, was the actual beginning of Delta Theta Sigma Fraternity at The Ohio State University. The fraternity was incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio on April 5, 1907 with 17 charter members.^[1]^[2]^[3]

The name, Delta Theta Sigma, and the fourfold purposes of the fraternity were drafted with the advice of Professor Smith of the Greek Language Department at Ohio State University.^[2]

The Delta Theta Sigma idea was contagious, not only at Ohio State University but also on many other agricultural college campuses throughout the Midwest. Within a few years chapters had been organized on ten other campuses. At a national convention in 1912, all of the chapters except the original chapter at Ohio State University voted to make Delta Theta Sigma an agricultural honorary fraternity. The local chapter at Ohio State University retained the original name, Delta Theta Sigma. The other ten chapters, therefore, assumed the name, Gamma Sigma Delta.^[1]^[2]

On November 26, 1927, representatives from Delta Theta Sigma at Ohio State University, Alpha Gamma Phi, a local at Pennsylvania State University, and a former FarmHouse chapter at the University of Wisconsin–Madison met in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in Room 211 of the William Penn Hotel. This meeting resulted in the formation of a new national agriculture fraternity, Delta Theta Sigma.^[2]

Within a two-year period from 1957-1958 all three chapters moved into new houses. Gamma chapter at Wisconsin expanded from one house into two houses located at 320 North Lathrop Street. Beta chapter at Pennsylvania was the victim of a costly fire during the winter of 1958. They were fortunate, however, and found an excellent house at 101 North Patterson Street, into which they moved during the spring of 1958. Alpha chapter at Ohio State outgrew the old house and moved into a new chapter home located at 80 East 13th Avenue in March 1958.^[2]

This same year, 1958, found the fraternity growing nationally, also. A fourth chapter, Delta, at the University of Minnesota, was organized and approved for membership in Delta Theta Sigma in May 1958. During the 1960-61 school year, Delta chapter rented their first and present chapter home located at 1485 North Cleveland Ave, St. Paul, MN. Then, in the fall of 1966 growth required they would rent the downstairs of the house next door at 1495 North Cleveland Avenue, in St. Paul.^[2]

In 1969, a fifth chapter, Epsilon, was chartered at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls. Albert Beaver, a Gamma chapter alumnus, was instrumental in organizing Epsilon, and in 1970, helped them to purchase the house in which they are presently located.^[2]

The Fraternity's sixth chapter, Zeta, was organized and chartered at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, in the spring of 1982. With the help of four alumni, Neils Neilson, Gamma; George Van Soyoc and Jim Vorst, Alpha; and Herb Olm, Delta, the thirteen charter members and one new member, were activated by National Delta Theta Sigma officers in May 1982. Zeta was very fortunate to be able to rent a house their first year and are presently located at 321 Vine Street.^[2]

In January 1983 agricultural students at Wilmington College of Ohio had a desire to belong to a national fraternity. Through the leadership of senior J. Timothy McCarty, thirty-six students were recruited and expressed desire to become founding fathers of Eta chapter. With the direction of National Officer Rick Harr, the Eta chapter was organized and chartered in the Spring of 1983. With the help of the National Executive Council, the purchase of a large house near campus was made, located at 780 Rombach Ave., Wilmington, OH, and was occupied in January 1984.^[2]

In 1997 Delta Theta Sigma colonized the University of Minnesota Crookston Chapter with much help from the Men of Delta chapter. Theta chapter was officially recognized as a chapter at the 1998 Conclave hosted by Delta chapter. At its beginning, Theta chapter was renting a house located at 101 North Nelson, Crookston, MN. They now reside in a house located at 204 Gorgas Ave., in Crookston. .^[2]

Notable alumni[]

Conrad Elvehjem, who discovered niacin, was a member of the University of Wisconsin–Madison chapter.
Harry Steele, who won a gold medal in Freestyle Wrestling for the United States in the 1924 Olympics in Paris, France, was a member of The Ohio State University chapter.
Russell Redding, who is the current Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, was a member of the Pennsylvania State University chapter.

Chapters[]

This is the chapter list of Delta Theta Sigma. Active chapters in bold, inactive chapters in italics.^[4]

Chapter name	College / University	State	Installed Date and Range	Status	Reference
Alpha	Ohio State University	Ohio	1906	Active	^[4]
Unnamed ISU chapter	Iowa State University	Iowa	1907–1912	Inactive	^[4]
Unnamed U of MO chapter	University of Missouri	Missouri	1908–1912	Inactive	^[4]
Beta	Pennsylvania State University	Pennsylvania	1908–1912, re-established 1927	Active	^[4]^[5]
Unnamed Oregon State chapter	Oregon State University	Oregon	1908–1912	Inactive	^[4]
Unnamed Utah State chapter	Utah State University	Utah	1908–1912	Inactive	^[4]
Gamma	University of Wisconsin–Madison	Wisconsin	1927	Active	^[4]^[6]
Delta	University of Minnesota	Minnesota	1958	Active	^[4]
Epsilon	University of Wisconsin–River Falls	Wisconsin	1969	Active	^[4]
Zeta	Purdue University	Indiana	1982–2010	Inactive	^[4]
Eta	Wilmington College	Ohio	1983	Active	^[4]
Theta	University of Minnesota Crookston	Minnesota	1998	Active	^[4]

Chapter Websites[]

National Organization

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VI-119. ISBN 978-0963715906.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j "Delta Theta Sigma". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
^ "Gamma Sigma Delta". Archived from the original on June 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive)". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
^ This chapter's revival came with absorption of Alpha Gamma Phi (local, formed in 1922), in 1927
^ This chapter had originally formed as a chapter of FarmHouse fraternity in 1921.

[Baird's-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VI-119. ISBN 978-0963715906.

[DTS_Hist-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j "Delta Theta Sigma". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-23.

[GSD_Hist-3] "Gamma Sigma Delta". Archived from the original on June 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-23.

[Baird's_Manual_Online-4] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive)". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.

[5] This chapter's revival came with absorption of Alpha Gamma Phi (local, formed in 1922), in 1927

[6] This chapter had originally formed as a chapter of FarmHouse fraternity in 1921.

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hide v t Professional fraternities and sororities organizations and members
Currently active members of the Professional Fraternity Association	Alpha Zeta Alpha Kappa Psi Alpha Rho Chi Alpha Phi Omega Alpha Chi Sigma Alpha Omega Epsilon Delta Epsilon Mu Delta Theta Phi Delta Kappa Alpha Delta Omicron Delta Sigma Pi Delta Sigma Chi Epsilon Nu Tau Theta Tau Kappa Epsilon Kappa Epsilon Psi Kappa Eta Kappa Kappa Kappa Psi Kappa Lambda Chi Kappa Psi Lambda Kappa Sigma Mu Beta Phi Mu Phi Epsilon Pi Sigma Epsilon Rho Pi Phi Sigma Alpha Sigma Alpha Iota Tau Beta Sigma Phi Alpha Delta Phi Beta Phi Gamma Nu Phi Delta Epsilon Phi Delta Chi Phi Sigma Pi Phi Chi Theta
Former and formerly active members of the Professional Fraternity Association or its predecessors: Professional Panhellenic Association or Professional Interfraternity Conference	Alpha Delta Theta Alpha Delta Sigma Alpha Kappa Kappa Alpha Sigma Alpha Alpha Tau Delta Alpha Omega Beta Alpha Psi Gamma Eta Gamma Gamma Iota Sigma Delta Epsilon Iota Delta Sigma Delta Delta Psi Kappa Epsilon Eta Phi Zeta Phi Eta Theta Kappa Psi Theta Sigma Upsilon Theta Sigma Phi Iota Sigma Pi Kappa Alpha Pi Kappa Beta Pi Kappa Delta Epsilon Kappa Phi Kappa Nu Sigma Nu Xi Psi Phi Omicron Delta Kappa Omicron Nu Pi Lambda Theta Sigma Delta Chi Sigma Nu Phi Sigma Sigma Sigma Sigma Phi Delta (now social) Phi Beta Gamma Phi Beta Pi Phi Delta Delta Phi Delta Gamma Phi Delta Kappa Phi Delta Pi Phi Delta Phi (now honor society) Phi Epsilon Kappa Phi Lambda Kappa Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (now social) Phi Rho Sigma Phi Upsilon Omicron Phi Chi Chi Beta Phi Psi Omega Omega Tau Sigma Omega Upsilon Phi Pershing Rifles Scabbard and Blade Scarab
North American Interfraternity Conference	Alpha Gamma Rho Alpha Gamma Sigma
Active independent professional fraternities	Alpha Gamma Kappa Alpha Zeta Omega Alpha Eta Rho Alpha Iota Alpha Psi Gamma Epsilon Tau Delta Sigma Theta Delta Theta Sigma Delta Kappa Phi Delta Phi Epsilon Kappa Gamma Psi Kappa Pi Phi Sigma Gamma Chi Eta Phi
Inactive independent professional fraternities	Alpha Epsilon Iota Alpha Tau Sigma Pi Delta Nu