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Collection Number: 40352-z

Collection Title: Xi Chapter of the Fraternity of Delta Psi of the University of North Carolina Records, circa 1862-1869, 1927

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Size 2 items
Abstract The Fraternity of Delta Psi, commonly known as Saint Anthony Hall, established its Xi Chapter at the University of North Carolina in November 1854, making it the second Greek-letter society at the university. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, two-thirds of the 90 Xi Chapter members entered the Confederate army, effectively making the chapter inactive. By 1867, the chapter had ceased to exist. It was not until 1926 that the Fraternity of Delta Psi was officially re-established at the University of North Carolina, aided by the lobbying efforts of University of Pennsylvania Delta Chapter member Grahame Wood. Records consist of an autograph album, circa 1862-1869, and a letter, dated 9 November 1927, from William Curtis Prout to Grahame Wood. The album had belonged to Prout, a member of the Class of 1865 at the University of North Carolina and a member of the original Xi Chapter of the Fraternity of Delta Psi. Prout gave the album, along with the explanatory letter, to Wood following the Xi Chapter's 1926 re-establishment at the university. The first 25 pages of the album are signed by Xi Chapter members. The remaining pages contain autographs of men from other campus fraternities. Most entries include the student's name, hometown, date of birth, class, and anticipated profession; his Dialectic Society or Philanthropic Society affiliation; a quote in English, Greek, or Latin; and the name of his sweetheart.
Creator Fraternity of Delta Psi. Xi Chapter (University of North Carolina)
Curatorial Unit University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. University Archives.
Language English
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Restrictions to Access
This collection contains additional materials that are not available for immediate or same day access. Please contact Research and Instructional Service staff at wilsonlibrary@unc.edu to discuss options for consulting these materials.
Restrictions to Use
No usage restrictions.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Xi Chapter of the Fraternity of Delta Psi of the University of North Carolina Records #40352-z, University Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Acquisitions Information
Received from Michael George Williams of the Saint Anthony Association of North Carolina in August 2012 (Records transfer 20120830.1)
Sensitive Materials Statement
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.
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Processed by: Sara Mannheimer, September 2012

Encoded by: Sara Mannheimer, September 2012

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The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

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Although secret societies were forbidden by the University of North Carolina Board of Trustees in 1842, fraternities nevertheless began to form on campus in the 1850s. The Fraternity of Delta Psi, commonly known as Saint Anthony Hall (after its patron saint), established its Xi Chapter at the University of North Carolina in November 1854, making it the second Greek-letter society at the university.

Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, two-thirds of the 90 Xi Chapter members entered the Confederate army, effectively making the chapter inactive. By 1867, the chapter had ceased to exist. It was not until 1926 that the Fraternity of Delta Psi was officially re-established at the University of North Carolina, aided by the lobbying efforts of University of Pennsylvania Delta Chapter member Grahame Wood.

The fraternity was located at the corner of West Cameron Avenue and Pittsboro Street from 1927 until 1960-1961, when the Carolina Inn expressed interest in the site for use as a parking lot. At that time, the fraternity relocated to 207 Pittsboro Street, where it remained as of 2012.

Delta Psi traditionally has focused on literature and the arts, hosting lectures, poetry readings, and other related events. It was the first national fraternity to open its membership to women, beginning at Yale University in the late 1960s. The Xi Chapter at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill became co-educational in 1971. It was also the first Greek organization at UNC-Chapel Hill to admit an African American member, in 1967.

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Records consist of an autograph album, circa 1862-1869, and a letter, dated 9 November 1927, from William Curtis Prout to Grahame Wood. The album had belonged to Prout, a member of the Class of 1865 at the University of North Carolina and a member of the original Xi Chapter of the Fraternity of Delta Psi. Prout gave the album, along with the explanatory letter, to Wood following the Xi Chapter's 1926 re-establishment at the university. Wood added a few annotations to the album.

The first 25 pages of the album are signed by Xi Chapter members. The remaining pages contain autographs of men from other campus fraternities, including Delta Kappa Epsilon, Zeta Psi, Iota Zeta Theta, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Delta Phi, Phi Gamma Delta, Phi Kappa Alpha, and Chi Phi. Most entries include the student's name, hometown, date of birth, class, and anticipated profession; his Dialectic Society or Philanthropic Society affiliation; a quote in English, Greek, or Latin; and the name of his sweetheart.

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Contents list

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Xi Chapter of the Fraternity of Delta Psi of the University of North Carolina Records, circa 1862-1869, 1927.

2 items.

Folder 1

Autograph album, circa 1862-1869

Most of the entries in the album probably were made during 1862-1865, when Prout was a student at the University of North Carolina. However, at least one entry includes an annotation indicating that it was made in 1869.

Folder 2

Letter, William C. Prout to Grahame Wood, 9 November 1927

The letter includes information about a few of the students whose names are recorded in the album.

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