Chapter House, May 1946


Reopening Banquet, February 1946

History of Idaho Chapter Delta Chi

By Richard H. Holm Jr.
Edited by Peter D. Stegner

The Idaho Chapter of Delta Chi originally started as a local University of Idaho fraternity chapter, called Kappa Delta and being founded on October 29, 1922. Plans for the house were soon started and construction was started in April 1923 and continued through the fall. The completed Kappa Delta house was built on the same lot that Delta Chi stands on today.

The members of Kappa Delta decided that they wanted national fraternity status, and thus petitioned the national headquarters of Delta Chi in Iowa City , Iowa. The members of Kappa Delta chose Delta Chi because they shared similar beliefs and values. The introduction to the original petition reads:

We, the members of Kappa Delta, having as our purpose the promotion of scholarship, morality, and fellowship, realize the similarity in ideals and feeling that this purpose may be extended by affiliation with a national fraternity of high standing, do hereby respectfully petition the National Fraternity of Delta Chi for a Charter (5).

The approval came through and the Kappa Delta chapter house was removed and the new Delta Chi chapter house was started shortly after November 5, 1924, the official day the Idaho Chapter of Delta Chi received its charter and became the eighth national fraternity on the University of Idaho Campus. The house was finished roughly four years later in the midst of the Great Depression, a year that would prove to be an important year not only for the Idaho Chapter, but also for the national fraternity itself as Delta Chi became the first national fraternity to abolish hell week.

Relatively new and modern for the times, the Delta Chi house was well finished on the inside with modern equipment and fine furniture. To top off all the new luxuries, in 1931 the house received a brand new Baby Grand Piano. The piano has been a cherished possession ever since, even when it boasted the bilious orange paint during the late 1960's. Throughout the rest of the 30's, the Idaho chapter of Delta Chi would stay strong and endure the tough economic times of the nation.

As the dawn of WWII struck the world, Americans from coast to coast were impacted in a profound way. The men of Delta Chi were also greatly affected as many began to enlist and ship off to the war front. For those that stayed, times became tough as they were forced to work harder than ever before to keep Delta Chi going with the number of students attending the University dropping to all time lows. During this period the Idaho Chapter held the Northwest Conclave in April of 1942 and the house itself even helped out in the war effort. In May of 1942 the "Delta Chi Quarterly" reported, "because of the central location of the house on the University of Idaho's campus, it had been chosen as a black out head quarters for the campus and the surrounding area. The recreation room will be used for this purpose" (153).

Those who stayed seemed to make the best of things as their brothers were enduring the hardships of war over seas. The Idaho Chapter managed to rush a total of twenty-two new pledges, and eleven Delta Chis got married between the years of 1942 and 1943. In September of 1943, the "Delta Chi Quarterly" announced the most disheartening news to the members and alumni yet to come: The Idaho Chapter was being forced to close in June of 1943, because all of the present members and pledges had joined up or been called to active duty. Little did they know that several of their brothers would never come back to join them at the house again.

Despite the fraternity being closed during the war, the Idaho Chapter reopened in February of 1946 with the Chapter's membership well over 40 people. Sometime after the war a plaque was placed in the members den commemorating those Delta Chis who lost their lives fighting for their country.

The year 1947 would become another milestone year for Delta Chi as the last surviving founder, Peter Schermerhorn Johnson passed away. The Idaho Chapter house also experienced its first and only fire in the fall of 1947. In addition to the fire, the Idaho Chapter experienced another first in the year of 1946. Because there were so many members and pledges living in the house the first bunk beds were used in the sleeping dormitory. The postwar years passed and so did those who would experience the wonderful bonds and ties to Delta Chi. As the years became numbered the house itself was looking a little tired. In 1966 the house under went an in-depth remodel that fixed the kitchen, bathrooms, all of the study rooms and an expansion of the basement. During the 90's many improvements would be made to the house such as the new volleyball court, expansion of the kitchen, and new bathrooms. Most recently about half of the study rooms have been remodeled.

Reopening of Chapter House, May 1946

Homecoming 1939