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Delta Tau
ΔT
Founded	November 7, 1947 (1947-11-07) (76 years ago)
College	University of Southern California
Location	Los Angeles, CA
Homepage	Delta Tau Homepage
Media related to Delta Tau Chapter

University of Southern California, established in 1880, Los Angeles, California

Chapter Founded November 7, 1947

2,471 initiates (as of June 2013)

Some of Delta Tau’s Outstanding Alumnae: (If you have chapter alumna who have received recognition in any of these three categories, please list them with the date(s) of recognition.)

Fraternity Council Officers:

Gretchen Gattmann (Daley), Field Secretary 1971-1973; Leanne Burk (Parry) Field Secretary 1981-1983

Fraternity Loyalty Award Recipients:

Fraternity Alumnae Achievement Award Recipients:

The Early Years (From The History of Kappa Kappa Gamma 1870–1976)

Delta Tau was California’s first colonized chapter and the second Kappa chapter established in Los Angeles. The group most affected by the installation was the other chapter, Gamma Xi, University of California at Los Angeles. Friendship and enthusiasm were felt by all the Kappas who gathered in Los Angeles for the initiation of Delta Tau in November, 1947. Marian Howell Tompkins, Penn State, was installation marshal, and the presence of Fraternity President Ruth Kadel Seacrest, Nebraska, and Executive Secretary Clara O. Pierce, Ohio State, added to the excitement.

The University of Southern California campus had been recommended by the Colonization Committee at the 1946 Convention. Alumnae groups and Gamma Xi chapter were enlisted to carry out the project. It was directed by Winifred Martin Horell, UC Berkeley, who also had the assistance of associate members on the Trojan campus.

The Ebell Club on Wilshire Boulevard was the scene of the installation. However, the Fireside service was held at the new chapter house, an old dwelling renovated and redecorated in the manner of 1940. Actually, there was a fireplace in the living room so the service was an authentic “Fireside.”

The banquet was brilliant with luminaries as well as the less luminous: 250 Kappas who had read of the event in 175 neighborhood papers throughout Southern California were on hand to share in the scene. Helen Snyder Andres, Washington, toastmistress, presided over the program. Sister chapters sent telegrams of congratulations and welcome from all over the country. Dean of Women Helen Moreland, an Alpha Phi, spoke on the topic, “Fraternities—1947.” According to Lucy Guild Quirk, Toberman, UCLA, publicity director for the installation, “She outlined in forceful terms the role which fraternities must play in college life if they are to survive . . . She emphasized the responsibilities of fraternity members, and stressed the importance of good health habits such as plenty of sleep and nourishing food as well as good study conditions.” Delta Tau had become the 15th sorority on the Southern California campus. In 1973, 12 sororities were left and Delta Tau, although still the youngest, was one of the strongest.

Traditions and Honors

Tradition and memory are reflected in the chapter archives. The Delta Taudian, chapter newsletter, the collection of The Key and various scrapbooks demonstrate that Delta Tau is constantly changing and improving. There is a great flexibility which gives the chapter the chance to adjust to situations it encounters.

Delta Tau has had varied interests over the years. It became an integral part of “Fraternity-Sorority Row” immediately after being installed as a Kappa chapter. The fraternities along the Row have included Delta Tau in numerous “dream girl” contests. There are Kappa little sisters in both the Sigma Chi and Beta Theta Pi houses.

Highlights in sports have illuminated Delta Tau chapter, also. Nancy Chaffee (Kiner) was the national junior girls’ tennis champion in 1947. Marley Shriver (Tobian) was a member of the 1957 Olympic swim team. Presently, Kappa is represented by girls on the Southern California volley ball and tennis teams.

Other aspects of Delta Tau’s interests are its involvements in many university activities. Lucinda Brassell (Schag) was president of the YWCA on campus in 1953. She is known nationally for her work in this area. Delta Tau’s president Starla Coffee (Warburton) was also a Phi Beta Kappa in 1955. The chapter was host to Kappa Province Convention in 1963 where opera star Elfreda Tanner Jacobson, Utah, sang for the meeting.

A New Chapter House

Early in 1965 the chapter house was sold to Phi Gamma Delta and construction for a new house was immediately begun on a former Kappa Delta property. The Hoover House, a three-story apartment building, just off the Row, served for a year as temporary chapter house while the new house was being built.

With the new house came new scholastic excellence. Kappa ranker third on the Row in overall grade point average in 1961 and by 1973 was number one. In the same year the American Red Cross Blood Drive awarded a plaque to Delta Tau for the largest contribution of any fraternity or sorority.

The final pledge test at Delta Tau gives each new member the opportunity to write down what she hopes to achieve through her Kappa affiliation. These cards are never read but writing them gives each pledge a chance to organize in her own mind the direction she wishes to go in her years of college life.

These cards hold the true message of Kappa—the invisible bond that makes girls want to stay together and give of themselves to a chapter for four years. They are the years of transition from adolescence to maturity. For every member Kappa is something different and something very special. All agree that Kappa has made it possible for girls to get to know one another and become closest friends. Even more than that, Kappa has given the girls the opportunity to get to know themselves.

The previous information was excerpted from The History of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity, 1870-1976. The information that follows has been gleaned from available resources including Chapter History Reports, chapter meeting minutes, letters and comments from chapter members and alumnae, the Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity Archives, and The Key. Each chapter is expected to update its history record annually. Contact Fraternity Headquarters at kkghq@kkg.org with questions.

Highlights of the 1980s:

From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.:

In 1986, a newsletter was sent to all Delta Tau alumnae in an effort to reconnect with chapter graduates. This was successful and resulted in three new advisors for the chapter. During this school year, members of Delta Tau assisted with the installation of the Kappa chapter at UC San Diego.

Also during this time, the chapter successfully worked to improved chapter leadership, morale and efficiency. The motto for this effort was Keep Kappa Growing, and one measure of it’s success is evident in Delta Tau having it’s largest ever pledge class (to date) in 1986 (56 pledges).

In the late 80’s, the chapter worked hard to improve their knowledge and use of ritual. The chapter reports that the attitude of faulty and university administration towards Greeks was mixed during this time. Delta Tau worked to overcome this by inviting members of the University faculty and administration to their semester scholarship dinners.

Fraternity President Kay Smith Larson, Washington, was the guest speaker at Delta Tau’s Founders Day celebration in 1989. The Gamma Xi chapter from UCLA was also a part of the festivities. Housing: In the mid 80’s the house recreation room was redecorated and new carpets were installed in the house. Planning for updates to the study rooms began. An intercom system was also installed.

Philanthropy:

During the 1985-86 school year, the chapter participated in three philanthropy events centered around children and students. Two of the events were projects to help abused children and the third was the chapter’s annual Swim-With-Mike event to benefit handicapped students at USC.

Chapter Convention Awards: 1982 House Board Award Honorable Mention 1988 Fraternity Appreciation Honorable Mention 1988 House Board Award Honorable Mention

Highlights of the 1990s

From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.:

The chapter continued to work on strengthening their knowledge of Kappa ritual in the early 90’s and they were assisted in this by a visit from former Fraternity President, Marian Klingbell Williams, Missouri.

In the fall of 1991, the university put new guidelines in place that limited chapter exchanges to three a year, and also one four-way party with three other Greek groups per year. This ended many chapter traditions, but also started some new ones. Other changes in the early 90’s included smaller pledge classes of about 25-35, versus in the mid-50’s during the mid 1980’s.

Even so, Delta Tau’s presence and strength on campus and on the Greek Row continued to grow. A point of pride for the chapter, per the 1991 Delta Taudian, was the intense loyalty, contagious enthusiasm and deep respect that the chapter members had for one another and the Fraternity. During this time, the chaper strengthened their committee system and focused on scholarship.

In 1991, Fern Crane, a devoted housemother of 17 years to Delta Tau, passed away. Beginning with the Winter 1994-5 edition of the Delta Taudian, all sisters of Delta Tau (past and present) received each issue of the newsletter. The primary goal of this change was to bring alumnae into closer contact with the chapter. Additionally, the format of the newsletter was changed to include an Alumnae Keynotes section to report on the accomplishments, lifestyles, views and comments of Delta Tau alumna.

Delta Tau numbers declined somewhat in the mid-90’s, so to help with this, the chapter had its first ever Spring Rush in 1994. The chapter report for this year states that the decline in numbers was felt all along the Greek Row at USC.

Delta Tau’s focus on scholarship in the early 90’s paid off. In 1991, they were tied for 3rd for the highest GPA on the Row. In 1995 they were pleased to achieve the second highest GPA on the Greek Row. In 1997 and 1998, they had the highest GPA on the Greek Row at USC.

By the end of the 90’s, the pledge class size was back up in the mid-40’s. The chapter closed the decade with a goal to improve Fraternity knowledge and attendance at chapter events. Housing: In 1995, the chapter had 90 members, 60 of whom lived in the chapter house. By 1998, the chapter had 136 members, and 75 lived in the house. In the summer of 1998, the House Board remodeled the second and third floor bathrooms in the chapter house from floor to ceiling. In 1999, the chapter had 145 members, 84 of whom lived in the house.

Philanthropy: In the early 90’s, the chapter successfully challenged itself to increase chapter participation in philanthropy events to 65%. As a result, the chapter began to look forward to philanthropy events as a way to help the community and to bring the chapter closer together. During the early part of this decade, Delta Tau philanthropy activities included: making valentines for hospital patients, the annual Swim-With-Mike benefit, and blood drives. The chapter was also an active participant in the philanthropy events of other greek groups on campus. In addition, they raised money for the Sunshine mission, a center for battered women, throughout the 1990’s.

In 1997, Delta Tau began having an annual putt putt golf tournament, Kappa Kappa Greens, to raise money for Rose McGill Fund.

Chapter Convention Awards: 1990 Greatest Improvement Award Honorable Mention 1990 Panhellenic Award Honorable Mention 1992 House Board Award 1996 House Board Award Honorable Mention

Highlights of 2000-2010

From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.:

Members gathered with families for barbeques before football games in the Fall. Activities with Fathers included a trip to Catalina Island, and horse races at Santa Anita racetrack. Activities with Mothers included tea, shopping on Rodeo Drive, and a luncheon in Pasadena. Delta Tau hosted a Panhellenic movie screening on the lawn and participated in a yearly Panhellenic activity, Songfest.

Some of the immediate responses to the tragedies of September 11, 2001 were the cancellation or postponement of any meetings or activities. The university made classes optional for that particular week. Since the chapter is so close to downtown Los Angeles, people were concerned about the possibility of terrorist acts occurring there. People packed bags in case there was a need to evacuate and officers remained in contact with the local policemen and firemen.

Everybody remained in the Kappa house and remained glued to the news. A speaker who handles tramautic situations came and talked with the chapter on how to deal with some of the emotions the members were having. They had a fireside instead of a regular chapter meeting so that they could support each other. The university had a memorial service on campus, which many members attended.

The 2008 chapter history reported that the challenge that was most detrimental to Greek life for that year was the increase of Internet blogging sites that depict fraternities and sororities in a negative light at USC and elsewhere. The creators of such websites criticized particular sororities and sorority members, and they allowed anyone to comment anonymously, resulting in hateful and harmful sentiments.

Philanthropy:

Delta Tau supported many organizations, including the Red Cross, the Rose McGill Fund, Troy Camp, and the Ashlyn Dyer Foundation (supporting Traumatic Brain Injury research.) Following Hurricane Katrina, books were collected and sent to New Orleans, and sisters were welcomed from Tulane and other schools that were shut down for the semester.

Chapter Convention Awards:

2000 Greatest Improvement Award 2002 Greatest Scholarship Improvement Award (15 or more Panhellenic groups) 2008 Risk Management Award

Highlights of 2013

2013 has been an amazing year for the Delta Tau chapter, filled with exciting events, proud accomplishments, and growing sisterhood bonds. After being selected as one of only six chapters to participate in GIRLS Academy, we were finally able to realize all of our hard work, pioneered by senior Krysta Levy, as it culminated in a philanthropy event that far exceeded any expectations. By working with the girls of 32nd Street School and spending time with them, the women of Delta Tau were able to make a profound impact on their lives, and they did just the same for us. GIRLS Academy has been a fantastic experience for Delta Tau to grow as a sisterhood and philanthropic organization, all while giving back to the girls in our community.

In addition to GIRLS Academy, Delta Tau also hosted “Kappa Krepes,” a crepe truck that helps us to raise money for Reading is Fundamental (RIF), and worked with the Kappa Alumnae Association of Pasadena and the Boys and Girls Club of Pasadena to put on yet another successful RIF event.

Delta Tau is already looking forward to hosting our first annual “Kappa Kapture the Flag” philanthropy event in the spring! Our chapter also participated in many fraternity philanthropies including Sigma Chi’s Derby Days, ATO’s Laser Tag, and Kappa Sigma’s Bootkamp just to name a few. After completing a very successful recruitment, Delta Tau was thrilled to initiate a pledge class of 71 wonderful members this fall.

We have all been packing our calendars with our favorite events including Kappa Kabana and Sapphire Ball, amazing sisterhood events such as the Hollywood hike and even going to Disneyland together, and of course, we’ve all had a blast watching the USC Trojan Football team. Our chapter’s success is not just felt from within, but rather we received several awards at the 2013 Kappa Province Meeting.

This year, Allison Gersten, MJ Massar, Arianna Pane, and Christina Nelson attended to accept awards for our philanthropy, highest GPA in our province, and our awesome house board director Kathy Creagan. The Delta Tau chapter had a fantastic 2013, and we are all looking forward to making 2014 just as successful.

In 2013, Ainsley Carry replaced Michael Jackson as Vice Provost for Student Affairs. Carry has made a strong effort to form a relationship with the Greek community in hopes of improving Greek-University relations. Delta Tau, along with the other chapters at USC have been continuing to make positive contributions to the University and demonstrate that the Greek community is one of its many assets. We hope to continue to make strides towards a better relationship with the University in 2014.

Highlights of 2020s:

From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.: Housing: Philanthropy: Chapter Convention Awards:

Note to Chapter Registrar: Please refer to your chapter archives including chapter meeting minutes and back issues of The Key to fill in any gaps in the above historical highlights. If your chapter archives are not complete, please research your university library, campus newspaper and yearbook archives for newsworthy information about your chapter. Please double check your work for accuracy. Contact chapter Advisory or House Board members, local Alumnae Association members, or your Province Director of Chapters for assistance.

Your efforts will ensure a complete and accurate history of your chapter for future generations to enjoy!