Delta Epsilon () was an American regional college

fraternity A fraternity (; whence, "wikt:brotherhood, brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club (organization), club or fraternal order traditionally of men but also women associated together for various religious or secular ...

for men. It was founded in 1862 at

Roanoke College Roanoke College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Salem, Virginia. It has approximately 2,000 students who represent approximately 40 states and 30 countries. The college offers ...

Salem, Virginia Salem is an independent city in the U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,346. It is the county seat of Roanoke County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combine ...

History

Delta Epsilon was established in 1862 at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia.Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (October 20, 2024)
Deta Epsilon, Inactive Mens Organizations

Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities
'. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed December 28, 2024. The founders intended to expand the fraternity to all Virginia colleges. Two additional chapter were established, including one at

Hampden–Sydney College Hampden–Sydney College (H-SC) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts Men's colleges in the United States, college for men in Hampden Sydney, Virginia. Founded in 1775, it is the oldest privatel ...

. The first edition of ''

Baird's Manual ''Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities'' was a compendium of fraternities and sororities in the United States and Canada, published between 1879 and 1991. One modern writer notes, "''Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities'', ...

'' suggests that all three chapters "were weak", ostensibly due to their formation in the tumultuous days leading up to the

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

. After establishing three chapters, Delta Epsilon became defunct in 1868.Robson, John, ed. (1963). ''Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities'' (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. pp. 720. ''Alpha'' and one other chapter disbanded due to the Civil War. The chapter at Hampden–Sydney College survived the war but became the ''Zeta chapter'' of

Beta Theta Pi Beta Theta Pi (), commonly known as Beta, is a North American social Fraternities and sororities in North America, fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. One of North America's oldest fraternities, , it consist ...

in 1868. ''Baird's Manual 2nd edition'' describes the ''Zeta chapter'' of Beta Theta Pi as having been "killed by the War" but notes that it was revived with the adoption of Delta Epsilon's sole remaining chapter in 1869.

Chapters

References

{{reflist Defunct fraternities and sororities Fraternities and sororities in the United States 1862 establishments in Virginia Student organizations established in 1862