DKE Chapter 4

Absolutely. I pulled Chapter 4, “A Brief History of Delta Kappa Epsilon,” from the manual. It runs from pages 37–70and covers DKE’s founding, expansion, major historical periods, and prominent Dekes.

ΔKE Chapter 4 Study Guide

A Brief History of Delta Kappa Epsilon

1. The Founding of ΔKE

Founded: June 22, 1844
Location: Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
Founding location: No. 12, Old South Hall
Founders: 15 men

DKE was created because of dissatisfaction with the two existing junior societies at Yale:

• Alpha Delta Phi

• Psi Upsilon

These societies primarily selected men based on scholarship and personal character and functioned largely as private debating/literary organizations.

In 1844, several qualified students were not selected by either organization. Fifteen men decided to establish their own society that would be:

• More fraternal

• Less restrictive

• Based on more than academic achievement

2. The Original DKE Ideal

DKE expanded its membership criteria beyond academics.

The ideal Deke was described as a combination of:

The gentleman + the scholar + the jolly good fellow

This became an important part of DKE's identity and remained a guiding ideal in the fraternity's history.

3. The 15 Founders

Know that DKE was founded by 15 men.

Founders

1. William Woodruff Atwater

2. William Boyd Jacobs

3. Edward Griffin Bartlett

4. Edward Van Schoonhoven Kinsley

5. Frederick Peter Bellinger, Jr.

6. Chester Newell Righter

7. Henry Case

8. Elisha Bacon Shapleigh

9. George Foote Chester

10. Thomas DuBois Sherwood

11. John Butler Conyngham

12. Albert Everett Stetson

13. Thomas Isaac Franklin

14. Orson William Stow

15. William Walter Horton

Important: You should especially recognize Edward G. Bartlett because the manual connects him with the description of the ideal Deke.

4. The Second Chapter

DKE was originally expected to remain a local Yale organization.

However, Elisha Shapleigh, one of the founders, wrote about DKE's creation to John Fogg, a friend in Maine.

Fogg became interested in DKE and encouraged students at Bowdoin College to establish a DKE chapter.

Key idea:

DKE quickly changed from being a Yale-only organization into an expanding fraternity.

5. Expansion of DKE

The fraternity continued expanding to colleges throughout the United States.

A major theme of Chapter 4 is that DKE developed from a small Yale society into an international fraternity.

You should understand the difference between:

1844 → DKE founded at Yale
Early years → Expansion to additional colleges
Later years → Growth across the United States and eventually Canada

6. Important Historical Development

As DKE expanded, individual chapters developed their own identities and traditions while remaining connected to the larger fraternity.

The chapter's growth included:

• New chapters

• Alumni networks

• International expansion

• Prominent members entering politics, business, military service, and other fields

The manual presents DKE's history as closely connected with the development of the United States and the accomplishments of its members.

7. DKE and U.S. Presidents

One of the most important facts in the chapter:

DKE has had five U.S. Presidents as members.

The manual identifies:

• Rutherford B. Hayes

• Theodore Roosevelt

• Franklin D. Roosevelt — the manual notes his connection is more complicated because he belonged to a local DKE organization at Harvard after its charter had been withdrawn.

• George H. W. Bush

• George W. Bush

The manual states that DKE has the most U.S. Presidents of any fraternity.

Important connection

George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush were both DKE members, making the Bush family particularly significant in DKE history.

8. George H. W. Bush

Know that:

• He was a Deke.

• He later became President of the United States.

• His vice president was Dan Quayle, who was also a Deke.

• This was the first time a U.S. President and Vice President had both been members of the same fraternity, according to the manual.

9. George W. Bush

George W. Bush became the fifth U.S. President associated with DKE.

The manual specifically mentions the 2000 presidential election and identifies Bush's election as an important part of DKE's history.

10. DKE's Expansion in the 21st Century

The chapter discusses significant expansion around the beginning of the 21st century.

Some of the chapters mentioned include:

• Ohio State

• Northwestern

• Indiana

• Maryville

• University of South Alabama

• Lake Forest

• Richmond

• West Point

• Stephen F. Austin

• Texas A&M

• University of Victoria

• St. Joseph's

• Auburn University

• Oklahoma State

• Manhattan College

• UNC Wilmington

• Gannon

• Hampden-Sydney

⭐ Auburn connection

The manual specifically lists:

Auburn University — Delta Alpha

as one of the chapters added during this period.

That's definitely worth remembering if you're studying this as an Auburn DKE.

11. Associate Chapters

The manual also describes the creation of Associate Chapters as part of DKE's expansion.

Examples mentioned include:

• University of Delaware

• University of Texas

• University of Tennessee

• Simon Fraser University

• Ithaca College

• University of Illinois

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

• Harvard

• University of Missouri

• North Carolina State

• Texas Tech

• Colorado

• Washington & Lee

• Western

These represent efforts to establish or revive DKE organizations at additional universities.

12. Big Themes of Chapter 4

If you don't want to memorize every single detail, focus on these five major themes:

① DKE was founded because students wanted something different

The founders wanted a fraternity that was more about fraternity and fellowship, rather than simply academic selection.

② DKE was founded at Yale

June 22, 1844 — Yale University

③ DKE expanded beyond Yale

The organization grew from a local Yale society into a fraternity with chapters across the U.S. and Canada.

④ DKE members have had significant public influence

The chapter emphasizes members who became prominent in government, business, military service, and other areas.

⑤ DKE continues to grow

The chapter concludes its historical discussion by highlighting continued expansion and the accomplishments of its members.

🧠 Memorization Sheet

If you're studying for a test, I'd memorize these first:

🎯 Potential Test Questions

Multiple Choice

1. When was Delta Kappa Epsilon founded?
A. 1825
B. 1832
C. 1844
D. 1865

2. Where was DKE founded?
A. Harvard
B. Princeton
C. Bowdoin
D. Yale

3. How many men founded DKE?
A. 10
B. 12
C. 15
D. 20

4. Which two organizations were already operating at Yale when DKE was founded?
A. Phi Beta Kappa and Kappa Alpha
B. Alpha Delta Phi and Psi Upsilon
C. Sigma Phi and Delta Phi
D. Kappa Alpha and Sigma Chi

5. What college received DKE's second chapter?
A. Harvard
B. Princeton
C. Bowdoin
D. Columbia

6. What is the ideal Deke described in the chapter?
A. Athlete, scholar, and leader
B. Leader, gentleman, and athlete
C. Gentleman, scholar, and jolly good fellow
D. Scholar, leader, and citizen

7. What is Auburn University's DKE chapter designation?
A. Alpha
B. Delta Alpha
C. Delta Tau
D. Alpha Delta

Answer key:
1-C, 2-D, 3-C, 4-B, 5-C, 6-C, 7-B

⭐ The "Know This Cold" Version

If you only have a few minutes before being quizzed, know:

DKE was founded at Yale on June 22, 1844, by 15 men who wanted a more fraternal organization than the existing Yale societies. The fraternity expanded beyond Yale, beginning with Bowdoin College, and eventually became an international organization. Its founding ideal emphasized the combination of the gentleman, the scholar, and the jolly good fellow. DKE's history highlights its expansion, prominent alumni, five U.S. Presidents, and continued chapter growth—including Auburn's Delta Alpha chapter.

If you're studying for a DKE new-member test, I can also turn Chapter 4 into a 20–30 question quiz that tests the specific names, dates, chapters, and historical events rather than just giving you a summary.