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The History of Gamma Theta
The Gamma Theta Chapter of Delta Tau Delta was
founded on the Baker University campus in 1903. The seed for the
chapter was planted in 1889 with the formation of the first
fraternity at Baker -- a "local" fraternity named Alpha Omega.
The men of Alpha Omega soon sought affiliation with a "reputable,
national fraternity." With a pledge to build its own fraternity
house, Alpha Omega's petition to become aligned with Delta Tau Delta
was granted. In August of 1903, two Alpha Omega men -- William C.
"Dad" Markham and Claire H. Harpster -- were initiated into Delta
Tau Delta at the fraternity's international convention (Karnea) in
Cleveland, Ohio. On November 24, 1903, Dad Markham and Claire
Harpster led the ceremony in Baldwin City to initiate into Delta Tau
Delta 13 Alpha Omega men & 22 alumnus members. They are the 13
"Charter" members of Gamma Theta Chapter of Delta Tau Delta. During
the next several years, nearly all of the remaining Alpha Omega
fraternity members were initiated into Delta Tau Delta.
The first "Delt House" (or "Shelter") was built by the alumni and
undergraduate men of Delta Tau Delta (Alpha Omega) in 1903. The
building, located on the southeast corner of Ninth and Indiana
streets (directly west of the Zeta Chi house), still stands today
and the Greek letters DTD can still be found in the sidewalk.
Soon having outgrown its first Shelter, the Delts, again with the
financial support of its alumni, purchased a house on the northwest
corner of Ninth and Grove in 1911. The "new" house was formerly home
to the Delta Delta Delta sorority which had moved to its new home
directly east of the current Zeta Tau Alpha house. The second Delt
Shelter with its famous turret served Gamma Theta for the next 49
years. The building remains today and is still thought of with fond
memories as "home" by many Gamma Theta alumni.
In November 1960, 57 years after being founded, Gamma Theta
chapter moved to its current Shelter. Built with funds contributed
by alumni, the structure was, and still is, the finest men's
fraternity house on the Baker campus.
Gamma Theta's history is filled with accomplishments as well as
times preferably forgotten. Throughout the years the men of Gamma
Theta have left their legacy at Baker and around the world. A quick
tour around Baker's campus will enable you to cross paths with the
memories of many great Delt brothers -- the Hartley Plaza, Fleming
Pavilion, Case Hall, Parmenter Hall, Rice Auditorium, the Quayle
Bible Collection, Hill String Quartet, the Irick Tennis Courts,
Metzger Track and so on. Four Gamma Theta Delts have served as
president of Baker University and many others have been and are
today on Baker's faculty. Nine Delts are honored in Baker's Athletic
Hall Of Fame.
One of the most significant events in Gamma
Theta's history occurred during World War II in the 1940s. All but
one Delt at Baker went off to war. Brother Jay Ellis, with
assistance from several alumni, kept the fraternity alive and the
Delt Shelter open by pledging 13 men in 1943. Brother Ellis and his
pledges were there when the men returned following the war.
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