Founded Feb 20, 1931 as the 131st Chapter of SAE
The chapter was formerly Psi Delta Sigma, a local fraternity. In the fall of 1926, several students formed a Club, but the actual founding of the local society was not until 1927 with 10 charter members and two faculty. The group has the support of several SAE alumni on the faculty/staff of Duke University. It had always been the intent of Psi Delta Sigma to petition and join a National Fraternity.
The following members of this local fraternity formally petitioned SAE on October 17, 1930 for a charter: John Layton Tucker, William R Gordon, Allen O Gamble, O C Blackmon, Jr, Millard W Warren, Sidney K Watts, Jr., Rawlins Coffman, Conrad Crouch, Royden E Daniels, William Allen Day, Irvin Hall Elmore, John J Gamble, Allen R Lewis, John F Long, James L Judd, Joseph J Matthews, A Benjamin Narbeth, Samuel F Nicks, Jr, Ralph O Starnes, James P Taylor, Robert B Walker, and John J Zimmerman. Psi Delta Sigma was one of 6 local societies that were petitioning for national fraternities.
Rush "season" consisted of the first two weeks of the academic year, then preceding "pledge day", a 24 hour period when no active member could talk to a freshman rushee about the fraternity. All the fraternities were located in dormitories, with the West Campus designating a single dormitory "group" just for the chapters. The dormitories facing "Fraternity Court" were divided into independent sections used as fraternity houses. The sections were 3 or 4 stories high and were provided with large chapter rooms accommodations for 18 to 30 men. The benefits of this arrangement included centralization, contact with the main student body, and nearness to classrooms and library. There were an average of 23 active members per fraternity, with 25% of the men students were Greeks. 6 of the 18 fraternities were considered "local".
In April 25, 1930, the Province Gamma convention held in Columbia, SC approved the Psi Delta Sigma petition. Joel R Abney was Province Archon and C B Barksdale was Province-Recorder/Treasurer. The chapters in the province at that time included Washington City Rho (George Washington University); NC Xi (UNC); Virginia Omicron (Univ of Virginia); NC Theta (Davidson); SC Gamma (Wofford); SC Delta (USC); Virginia Kappa (William & Mary); and Virginia Sigma (Washington & Lee). Endorsements and support came from Dr. W H Wannamaker, Dean of the University and advisor to the Pan Hellenic Council; Dr. Clement Vollmer, Professor of German History (SAE); Dr. E W Nelson, Professor of History (SAE); Dr. Harvie Branscombe, Professor or Religion (SAE); Adlai C Holler, Mass Gamma, who resided on campus; O C Godfrey, Secretary to the Pan Hellenic Council (this council was the forerunner of IFC); Carey E. House, Tenn Kappa, an SAE student that entered Duke in 1930; and Joe Savage, President of the Student Body.
