This tour of Delta Tau Delta International Headquarters
is extracted from the International web site, delt.org
Step 1 Welcome to the Delta Tau Delta International Headquarters. We are glad that you have decided to experience Delt History firsthand and see the day-to-day operations of the Fraternity’s Central Office and Educational Foundation. This building is “A Shrine of International Brotherhood.” This brochure will not only be a memento for you to take home, but also will act as a reference and road map on your self-guided tour. Dedicated May 31, 2003 the International Headquarters is not only the center of the Fraternity’s operations, but the archives and exhibits help preserve valuable information on the American College Fraternity movement. Open to the public daily, everyone is welcome to do research and learn more about this important facet of college life.
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Step 2 Founders Hall Currently you are standing in Founders Hall. Founders Hall is dedicated to the eight founding fathers of our Fraternity who are portrayed on the original oil paintings located on the South wall and lining the staircase. Each was hand painted from original photographs, some which are over 140 years old. Each portrait was given to the Headquarters from different alumni to honor the service of a former international president of the Fraternity.
Above the fire place you will find a vivid depiction of Old Main, which was the primary academic building on the campus of Bethany College. The Fraternity was founded at Bethany College in 1858. Old Main has an important place in Delt history because it hosted the infamous Neotrophian Literary Society meetings; the controversy from these meetings led to the founding of Delta Tau Delta. This rendering of Old Main was given to the fraternity by Duane Cummins, 16th President of Bethany College and member of the Theta Founding chapter.
Continue through the double doors to the Presidents’ Boardroom. ***
Step 3 Presidents Boardroom The Presidents Boardroom honors all former international presidents of Delta Tau Delta. In the display cases around the room, you will find various artifacts specific to our presidents. The tabletop cases contain actual possessions from presidents that have been returned to the Fraternity upon their death or have been given to the Headquarters for perpetual care. Lining the walls of the boardroom are photographs of every international president dating back to the first, Henry Theobald Bruck 1884-1885.
Within the Boardroom display cases you will find the Kadinkas, or Arch Chapter Jewel, of Edwin Holt Hughes, grandfather of David Hughes, and father of Fran Hughes. Their family is the only in the Fraternity world that has three consecutive generations to serve, not only on the Arch Chapter, but also as international president of the Fraternity.
Along the west wall, you will find a display dedicated to the Distinguished Service Chapter. Since 1930 the DSC is the highest award an alumnus can receive for service to Delta Tau Delta. Below the display you will find the Distinguished Service Chapter roster, which contains the citation of every individual who has received the award.
Continue through the double doors to the Courtyard. ***
Step 4 The Courtyard As you enter the Central Courtyard, you will notice the four columns surrounding the center black pavers representing the Badge of Honor. Each column represents one of the four fundamental principals of Delta Tau Delta: Truth, Courage, Faith, and Power. The Badge of Honor Shrine is shaped like the badge of the Fraternity and contains the names of influential Delts throughout our rich history.
The Recognition Wall is dedicated to specific women who have had exceptional involvement with the Fraternity over the years and who have provided for much of the hospitality associated with the Fraternity, as well as, to other women and staff members who have been instrumental in the day-to-day operation of the organization. Engraved on the wall are the names of those individuals who have given to the Headquarters Project and undergraduates who have donated over 100 dollars.
The personalized bricks are purchased through donations and arranged in chapter order. We plan to have every brick engraved to honor many good Delts. If you wish to make a donation and order a personalized brick, please ask a staff member for an order form.
Re-enter Founders Hall and turn right/South. The Chapter Consultant Suite The Chapter Consultant Suite is dedicated to Edwin L. Heminger. Brother Heminger served not only on the Field Staff, but also as president of the international fraternity, the North America Interfraternity Conference, and as chairman of the Educational Foundation. In this room you will find the cubicles of the current chapter consultants who travel from chapter to chapter approximately eight months out of the year. Lining the walls are consultant composite pictures that show the bios of those men who have traveled for the fraternity since the 1970’s. Adjacent to the Consultant Suite is the consultant training room. The highlight of the room is the beautiful stained glass window which honors all Delts who have served in the Military.
Directly outside of the Consultant Suite is the Field Staff Service Roster. Here you will find the names and dates of every Delt who has traveled for the Fraternity as a chapter consultant. Created in 1922 as the Field Secretary Program… there have been fewer than 200 men to serve Delta Tau Delta in this capacity.
*** Step 6 Museum mj
Once inside the museum you will find that the contents of the cases and the displays themselves are rich in history of Delta Tau Delta, the fraternity system, and Delta Tau Delta’s contributions to improving society. Beginning with the first display case on your left, you will find the personal possessions, letters, and manuscripts from the founders of the Fraternity. Highlighted in this first case is a picture of six of the founders taken at the 1907 Karnea, nearly 50 years after the founding of the Fraternity and the first time the men had been together since the late 1850’s.
As you continue to move clockwise around the room, you will see displays describing not only the specific founding of the Fraternity at Bethany College, but also the beginning of the Greek movement, and the important role that Delta Tau Delta has played and continues to play in promoting the Greek Idea.
Within the cases in the middle of the room are displays of the different historical badges. Since badges in the early years of the Fraternity were so expensive, many Delts did not own them and those who had significant means would design their own badges. A few of these relics are present in this display.
On the north wall of the museum, you will find a display of arguably the most notable Delts in the history of the Fraternity. While many may not be household names, their accomplishments have significantly influenced the history of the Fraternity, our country, and in some cases the world. Included on this display are two United States vice presidents, two Supreme Court justices, two astronauts, and numerous leaders of industry.
As you begin to exit the museum, immediately in front of you, you will see a display showing the Fraternity’s magazine, the Rainbow, and various other Delt publications. Initially titled the Crescent, the magazine’s name was changed to the Rainbow to honor the merger of the Rainbow Fraternity with Delta Tau Delta in 1886. The Rainbow is the third oldest fraternity journal in continuous publication.
Exit the Museum and turn left. Continue down the hall into the Member Services Wing. ***
Step 7 Member Services As you approach the Member Services Wing, notice on the left an engraved display of the Mission and Values which speaks to the values of the Fraternity. Adopted in 1995, this concise public document is an expression of the Delt Creed and Ritual.
The Member Services Wing is where day to day business operations take place and also houses the offices of various directors, membership records, administrative staff, and the assistant executive vice president.
Return to Founders’ Hall and ascend the stairs. An elevator is available if needed. ***
Step 8 Foundation Reception The Foundation reception area is dedicated to Al Sheriff who was the Executive vice president of the Fraternity following Hugh Shields from 1965 to 1982. He served as the initial president of the Foundation until his death in 1986. Brother Sheriff’s portrait can be seen above the fireplace.
Next to the President’s office, you will find the chronology for the 12 different International Headquarters locations. Initially founded in 1913, the International Headquarters continues to serve its primary mission of providing the day to day services to our chapters as well as serving as a central repository for Fraternity records.
Turn to your left and enter Stephens Hall. ***
Step 9 Stephens Hall This wing of the building is dedicated to Norval Stephens, the fourth chairman of the Educational Foundation and a former international president of the Fraternity. During his term, the Foundation’s assets have tripled. While entering the Hall to your right you will see the pictures of the three former chairman of the Foundation, as well as pictures of a young Norval Stephens.
As you continue down the hall, you will see the Norm MacLeod Executive Conference Room. Brother MacLeod was the 14th president of the Fraternity and this room honors his years of service to the Fraternity and his chapter Gamma Sigma at the University of Pittsburgh. Also present in the conference room is the stained glass window dedicated to Arnold Berg, the 27th president of the Fraternity, for his lifetime of service.
The remaining offices are critical in the day to day operations of the Foundation, including gift administration, the annual fund director’s and director of development’s offices.
Return to the Foundation Reception Area and continue into Karnea Hall. ***
Step 10 Karnea Hall Dedicated to the Karnea, which is Greek for “Festival of Apollo,” this hallway displays the artifacts, portraits, and historical detail of the Fraternity’s biennial convention. As you move through the hallway you will see not only the different locations where the convention was held, but also the Delts and guests who attended the Karneas and shaped our great Fraternity.
Also in this wing of the International Headquarters you will see the executive vice president’s office, which is dedicated to Hugh Shields, former executive of the Fraternity from 1931 to 1965. Other than his service in the Air Force during WWII, the Fraternity was his only employer. Many of today’s practices of the Fraternity are a result of Hugh Shields’s influence. The remaining offices belong to the director of business affairs, the director of residential life, and the Fraternity’s accounting staff.
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Step 11 Call Center Launched in the winter of 2002, the call center was the first of its kind for any Greek organization. With the introduction of the call center, the Foundation’s Annual Delt Fund soared to record highs and continues to be a critical asset in the Foundation’s operations and success. The call center provides opportunities for Delts to reconnect and is valuable in the areas of alumni relations and chapter campaigns.
Continue straight ahead and enter the Leadership Training Center. ***
Step 12 Leadership Training Center The Leadership Training Center is dedicated to John Fisher, Ken Penfold, Gene Hibbs, and Bud Murphy, members of the field staff who traveled in the late 1930’s and who have had a dramatic influence on the Fraternity throughout their lives. Each of these men embodied what the Fraternity tries to teach: life long service, philanthropy, and loyalty. For that reason, the LTC is named in their honor. Displayed on the walls around the room you will find the stories and pictures of each of these men.
The Leadership Training Center gives the Fraternity and the Foundation a highly versatile meeting space with all of the technological needs of today’s business world. This room has a separate entrance, break room, access to the Courtyard for receptions and breaks, and restrooms. The room’s flexibility enables us to host many conferences, seminars, chapter retreats and even initiations. The Leadership Training Center and all of the headquarter’s conference space is available and open to the public. If you wish to arrange for a meeting, contact the Delta Tau Delta Education Foundation.
see also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_Tau_Delta
This tour of Delta Tau Delta International Headquarters
is extracted from their web site, delt.org by Jack Truher 2010
(for personal use only)
