Gamma Xi History

The Gamma Xi chapter of Delta Tau Delta was established in 1909, and has been continuously active for over 100 years.

The Birth of our Cincinnati Chapter

Our history begins in 1900 with a group called the S.S.S. bunch. The S.S.S. bunch was greatly involved with university activities, and soon emerged as a powerful student organization. The group gathered every noon in old McMicken Hall in the bumming room to eat lunch and indulge in fellowship. In 1904 the group members graduated and the S.S.S. bunch dissolved that summer.

The spirit of the group refused to die. Late in 1904, some of the graduates and younger members of the former S.S.S. bunch began to meet regularly. It was not until December 1, 1905 that the remnants of the S.S.S. bunch were reorganized into a new group called the AMA. In reality, the new club was a local Greek-latter fraternity with the name Alpha Mu Alpha. Their motto became “Aei Mhaen Aeian” meaning “Always Nothing Too Much” or “Moderation in Everything.” Within a short period of time, the AMA found itself a peer of the other fraternities at UC.

The desire to form an alliance with a strong national fraternity led the AMA to unanimously choose Delta Tau Delta as its future representation. With the support and assistance of the local Delt alumni chapter, the AMA’s petition for charter was prepared in time for the Chicago Karnea of 1907. Much to the dismay of the AMA, the Arch Chapter was not interested in expansion and rejected the petition. Clarence Pumphry, a Delt alumnus from Buchtel College (later Akron), was leading the cause of the AMA. Twice in 1908 Pumphry went to Arch Chapter meetings “preaching a crusade of Deltism into barbarian Cincinnati” in effort to convince them of AMA’s worthiness. The Arch Chapter, however, maintained that UC, still a municipal university, was not of high enough standing to receive a Delt chapter.

The AMA and Dad Pumphry, as we know him, planned to take the 1909 Pittsburgh Karnea by storm. Dozens of letters and statements obtained from university officials, influential Delts, and civic leaders throughout the country attested to the standing of the university and the quality of the AMA. The petition, hand printed in Old English lettering, was carried to Pittsburgh by Dad to set up as part of a display featuring the AMA. With a suitcase full of whiskey, Dad herded the Delts in attendance up to see the display and to meet some of the members of the AMA.

At the final banquet of Karnea, it looked as if all were lost again until toastmasters “Sunny” Jim Wakefield said, “It is fitting at this point—where the waters of the Monongahela join those of the Allegheny—and start their wedding journey to Cincinnati—where unto us a new child has been given.” Thus a charter was extended to the AMA. The installation ceremony took place in Cincinnati at the Odd Fellows Temple on October 30, 1909 at 5:00 P.M. Among the speakers was Brandt C. Downey, president of Northern Division; Colonel James B. Curtis, president of the Arch Chapter; Charles W. Dabney, president of UC; and of course, Dad Clarence Pumphry. This year we celebrate 101 continuous years as a Delt Chapter.

Major Crises

World War I
Early in it’s history, the Chapter experienced a sharp decrease in membership forcing the Chapter to nearly close. By July 1, 1917, the Chapter’s Shelter was vacated, the Chapter Hall dismantled, and the furniture put in storage. By September the chapter began using a hotel room in downtown Cincinnati.

At the first meeting of the 1917-18 school year there were only five actives. At the beginning of the 1918-19 year, again remained only five Delts. However, with the purchase of a house at 3330 Jefferson Ave., and the end of the war places the organization at a comfortable 17 men at the beginning of the 1919-20 academic year.

World War II
During the Second World War, the Chapter was again challenged by a sharp decrease in membership and a housing compromise. We again survived without a pause in record of our continuous existence. During this time most fraternity houses were used as Army quarters for training units.

The Delts were able to negotiate with Acacia Fraternity to use their house for the 1943-44 school year while the Army used our Shelter (as a side note: our wood floors were ruined by the Army during training and had to be tore up.) By The end of 1943-44 only 13 active members remained. The determined chapter bounced back and pledged 17 men that fall. Once the war ended, it took less than two years before the chapter had over 100 members.

The Shelter Fire of 1961
The 1961 fire occurred on Tuesday, November 28, 1961, at about 11:00 p.m. It was officially determined that the fire began in a room at the end of the third floor when a jar of rubber cement was ignited by a desk lamp. Fortunately, all the brothers exited safely, but the third floor was mostly gutted and some brothers lost all or most of their possessions totaling about $30,000 in damage.

The fire was a terrible event, but the Chapter never reacted negatively. Morale was down only briefly, then the brothers banded together and began the work of cleaning up and rebuilding. The House Corporation showed its dedication to the chapter and rebuilding was underway through Christmas break. The House Corporation took care of most of the expenses not covered by insurance and the Shelter was occupied by the beginning of Winter quarter.

The New Generation of Gamma Xi

In April 2005 a group of alumni came together and formed what is known as Gamma Xi 21. The purpose of this Legacy campaign was to raise money for the Gamma Xi Chapter of Delta Tau Delta. Part of the money raised would go to the first new Delt Shelter in 70 years. The other part of the funds raised would be used to bring new opportunities for the growth of future fraternity men in areas such as leadership development, scholarship, and learning. They would spend the next 6 months of the campaign raising money for their goal of $1.3 million.

At the end of the campaign and the dedication of the new shelter on October 15th, 2006 they had raised over $1.5 million! This record breaking event marked national history for most money raised by a chapter. The hard work and generous donations given by many men and women set a new precedent for the future of our fraternity.

For more information, please visit our National website.