Gamma Delta Psi

ΓΔΨ, or Gamma Delta Psi, is a High School Fraternity founded at Hill House High School in New Haven, Connecticut. It was formed on April 13, 1879, by founders Walter Rawling Dann, Arthur Henry Jackson, Wylie Brantly Jones, and Alexander Jay Wurts.

General information

• Gamma Delta Psi Colors: Garnet and Silver
• Flower: Red Carnation
• Yearbook: The Garnet and Silver
• Newspaper: The Grip

Prominent members

• Theodore Roosevelt
• Howard Taft
• General Douglas MacArthur
• Bernard Stroh
• Charles Seymour, past president of Yale University
• Judge John Gilson, State Controller of Civilian Defense for the State of Connecticut and *Professor Wurts, a world renowned scientist - first Professor at Carnegie Tech. and associate of George Westinghouse and Andrew Carnegie.

90th convention

At the 90th Convention of Fraternities in America in September of 1971, Gamma Delta Psi was recognized as the eighth oldest high school fraternity in the nation.

History

Gamma Delta Psi Fraternity was founded April 13, 1879 at Hill House High School in New Haven, Connecticut, by Walter Rawlings Dann #1c, Arthur Henry Jackson #2c, Wylie Brantly Jones #3c, and Alexander Jay Wurts #4c.

Bro. Wurts, the originator of the fraternity was born, the fourth of five sons, in a little mining town of Carbondale, Penna. in 1862. Shortly after his birth he was obliged to move to Europe with his family and live in Nice, France during which time he became quite proficient in French. On arriving back in the United States several years later, he was educated at Yale University and Stephens Institute from which he was awarded his Ph.D. and M.E. degrees respectively. He studied electrical engineering in Berlin, Germany and obtained a position with the electrical research laboratories of the Westinghouse Electrical and Manufacturing Company in 1887. He worked with George Westinghouse on the development of the Nernst Lamp. For this notable achievement, Bro. "Wurts was awarded the John Scott Medal and also for his inventions in lightning arrestors and non-arcing metals. Through his association with Mr. Westinghouse, he became acquainted with Andrew Carnegie and was ap¬pointed the first faculty member at the Carnegie Institute of Technology as head of the Electrical Engineering Department. That same year he was awarded the Gold Medal from St. Louis' World Fair for his scientific development of the Nernst Lamp. He became head of the Student Welfare Committee at "Tech" and established a bursary fund also. In January, 1932 after two weeks illness due to typhoid fever he died at his home in Pittsburgh, Penna.

Bro. Dann #1c was born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1861. He graduated from Hill House High School and entered Yale University later. Presently he went to New York City where he was employed by the Compagnue Haitienne, a large dye and chemical concern. He managed the firm's logwood plantation at Port De Paix, Haiti until his death in 1910. To all who knew him he was a man of sterling uprightness, simple in tastes, but high in ideals. He was ever a good fellow and with his death, Gamma Delta Psi suffered a great loss.

Number 2c was Arthur H. Jackson, born in 1863 at New Haven, Connecticut. He entered Yale University but left shortly afterward in 1881 to take a position with O. B. North and Company in New Haven, a saddlery and carriage hardware firm. Five years later he joined the staff of F S. Bradley and Company and was soon a member of the newly organized Buckingham, Clark and Jackson Company. He left them and travelled with Decature and Hopkins Symphony Orchestra in which Bro. Wurts and himself played a coronet and was conductor of New Haven Orchestral Club for twelve years. Bro. Jackson was also quite active in the choir of St. Paul's Church in New Haven and was fifty-year member of the masons.

Last, but not least, Bro. Jones #3c was born in 1862 at Hartford, Connecticut. Some years later his family moved to New Haven where Bro. Jones received his education. Graduating from Hill House High School in 1881 and Yale in 1883. He obtained a position as stenographer with the Wells-Richardson Company, a large [...] manufacturing concern. He resigned in 1900 and went to work for Wyckoff, Seaman and Benedict, distributors of the Remington Typewriter. He was with them for a few years and then designed to organize his own business under the name of Wylie B, Jones Advertising Agency. He later had branches in London, Paris and Sydney, Australia. He died at his home in February, 1919, after a short illness. Bro. Jones was well known in the advertising world and was considered one of the foremost advertising authorities. He was active in the launching of several World War I campaigns and his generosity to public charities was recognized by all.

According to our records Omega Eta Tau Fraternity is the oldest high school fraternity in the country having been organized in 1859. Alpha Zeta was founded in 1869, the same by Sigma Psi and Pi Phi. In 1879, Gamma Delta Psi was founded; therefore standing eight in the list of the oldest high school fraternities in the country to-day. By this time I am sure that I have destroyed all illusions that Gamma Delta Psi was the first high school fraternity to be founded in New England and can be classed among the "Fathers" of Secondary School Fraternities.

The growth of Gamma Delta Psi through¬out the eastern New England States was slow but sure. Presently the idea of fraternity spread and many more Chapters were added to the Roll; but into every life a little rain must fall and such was the case in the life our now rapidly growing fraternity. Thirty-nine chapters had been chartered from 1879 to 1925, almost one a year, but due to the anti-fraternity legislation laws and the Great World War, Gamma Delta Psi was forced to stop her expansion program and one by one the present Chapters slipped into obscurity, These early years were the test and proof of our Fraternity; for they showed that the principles on which the Fraternity was founded were fundamentally sound and good. In 1950 there was a revival of the ambitious aim to make Gamma Delta Psi a Grand National Fraternity. The total membership is well over 40,000 with over 80 chartered Chapters.

College level

There were attempts to bring Gamma Delta Psi to the college level in 1950 at the University of Detroit by William Fermoile and in 1953 at the University of Buffalo by James Fermoile. University of Detroit was known as Alpha Tau Chapter while University of Buffalo was Alpha Upsilon Chapter. Both died quickly, by 1955.

Later in 1969 Gamma Delta Psi was once again brought to the college level as Gamma Psi. They borrowed many of their traditions and practices from Gamma Delta Psi. There first chapter was established by Ron Adams at John Tyler Community College in Chester, Virginia. They were officially recognized on January 9, 1971. Other Gamma Delta Psi's followed soon thereafter and started chapters at Richard Bland College, University of Windsor, Canada and University of Western Ontario. Since then a total of 7 chapters have been started, with Eta Chapter at Longwood University still in operation.

Grand Brother

The Order of the Grand Crescent is the highest fraternal honor in Gamma Delta Psi. This honor may be presented to any member of the Fraternity who, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees, has given outstanding and meritorious service to Gamma Delta Psi. The awarding of the honor is neither restricted to once a year nor must it is presented each year. The recipients of this honor are inducted into The Order of the Grand Crescent at a special ceremony performed during a testimonial stag held in honor of the recipients. From that time forth the Brother is to be known as Grand Brother. Only two individuals, Grand Brother #1 James Fermoile and Grand Brother #2 E. J. Stewart, have received this honor to date.