History of Delta Sigma Phi

As the door closed on the final moments of the nineteenth century, a handful of undergraduate men began meeting between classes at City College of New York. Some had known one another before they graduated from the New York public school system, and they had wanted to continue their friendships at City College. The obvious solution was to join a fraternity, but there was just one problem: This was no ordinary group of undergraduates. They were an affiliation of Jews and Christians; and, at the time, entry to all-Jewish and all-Christian fraternities was barred to individuals and groups that mixed religions.

Given that their close association challenged the conventional behavior of the day, perhaps it was only natural that the undergraduates took an even bolder step by founding their own Fraternity on December 10, 1899. Symbolized by the Greek letters Delta, Sigma, and Phi, the Fraternity was based on the principle of the universal brotherhood of man.

Delta Sigma Phi was incorporated in New York City on December 2, 1902. Five members of the City College chapter signed the incorporation papers, with the stated objectives of dissemination “the principles of friendship and brotherhood among college men, without respect to race or creed.” The early organizers also drafted Delta Sigma Phi’s laws, requiring open membership to all college men of quality. The purpose of the Fraternity, written the same year, was “to fulfill the desire of serious young college men for a fellowship and brotherhood, as near a practical working ideal as possible not fettered with too many traditional prejudices and artificial standards of membership, and accompanied by a clean, pure, and honorable chapter home life.”

History of Delta Sigma Phi at MSOE

Our Eta Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Phi was established at MSOE on January 22, 1987, when it brought to campus a truly unique fraternity experience.  We have already shown that Delta Sigs are capable of becoming St. Patrick. We strengthen our relationship in the MSOE, and Milwaukee, community through service and philanthropy events. Still, we are not content to rest upon these achievements. Instead, we eagerly look to the future for the addition of new brothers to add new depths and strengths to an already solid brotherhood.