History of the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta
Delta Deuteron Chapter

John M'Milan, founder of Jefferson College, was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1752. Dr. M'Milan began to work out his plans for founding a literary institution for the education of young men. His small log cabin with its wax-paper windows and crude log-benches was converted into the first "Latin School" west of the Alleghenies. This log cabin is now the shrine of Phi Gamma Delta.

With increased enrollment, the school needed bigger facilities. Colonel John Cannon donated a plot of land and some money. The aptly named Cannonsburg Academy was first occupied in 1791. The Academy became Jefferson College in 1802, and in 1869 merged with Washington College to become today's Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania.

Without question, the old Log Cabin was visited by our founders, for the names of McCarty and Fletcher are carved on its door.

Saturday, April 22, 1848, was the momentous date on which the "Immortal Six" gathered in McCarty's dormitory room at "Fort" Armstrong and established their society "founded upon the principle of Secrecy."

McCarty was the leader and the inspiration of the Fraternity during its infancy. It was in his room, "Delta Hall number one," that the first meetings were held. The constitution was ratified on may 1, 1848, by Wilson and Elliott.

Delta Deuteron History

The Delta Deuteron Chapter of the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta was founded on December 16, 1870 at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia. Nouston Hamilton of the Zeta Deuteron Chapter attended the Union Theological Seminary, then adjacent to Hampden-Sydney College. There he met G.L. Brown, another brother of the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. They began inquiries concerning the establishment of a chapter at Hampden-Sydney College.

According to the sketch included in The Phi Gamma Delta of 1880, "between the two, the mobil firs so characteristic of our Fraternity was kept burning and at last G.C. granted a charter and their worthy labors were crowned with success."

In its thirty-four years of existence on the Hampden-Sydney campus, Delta Deuteron always aimed for men of ability rather than numbers. As evidenced by their reports, they produced men who undertook leading positions in life. The chapter itself continuously reflected high principles, a genuine spirit, and love for the Fraternity.

However, by 1904 the minutes of the 56th Ekklesia stated that the chapter at Hampden-Sydney College was practically dead. The reason given was that there were no longer men at Hampden-Sydney College deserving of membership in the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta, and they merely allowed the Chapter to die. The Chapter's membership dwindled in conjunction with slowing growth at the college. Since then, the growth and excellence of Hampden-Sydney has more than warranted the reestablishment of the Delta Deuteron Chapter on her campus.

The presently re-chartered Delta Deuteron Chapter began as a local fraternity on Hampden-Sydney's campus called the "Kappa Gamma" Fraternity, which was established November 5, 1965. There were twelve members who attended the first meeting. By the time the charter was closed, four months later, there was a total of sixteen charter members.

On November 15, 1965, the Interfraternity Council officially approved the new fraternity with full administrative consent. The main aim of "Kappa Gamma" was to quickly affiliate with a good national fraternity. After meeting with the representatives from several other fraternities, the members decided that the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta was the best possible choice. On May 1, 1966, "Kappa Gamma" officially became the Delta Colony of the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta.

On September 22, 1967, initiation ceremonies took place at which the Delta Colony officially re-chartered as the Delta Deuteron Chapter of the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta.

Other nationally-affiliated social fraternities that at one point have established a chapter at Hampden-Sydney College include (in chronological order or establishment): ΒΘΠ (Ζ), ΦΚΨ (inactive), ΣΑΕ (Virginia Υ), ΧΦ (Ε, originally Ε of the Southern Order of ΧΨ), ΣΧ (ΣΣ), ΚΣ (Υ), ΠΚΑ (Ι), ΑΤΩ (inactive), ΦΘΨ (extinct), ΚΑ Order (ΑΤ), ΘΧ (Ν), ΛΧΑ (inactive, originally ΘΚΝ), and ΣΝ (ΗΠ). (Source: Brinkley, John Luster. On This Hill: A Narrative History of Hampden-Sydney College 1774-1994. Hampden-Sydney, Virginia: 1994.)