Adelphian Society

The roots of the Delphic Fraternity can be traced through a remarkable chain of literary and fraternal organizations stretching back nearly two centuries. 

Gamma Phi, the first college literary society at Colgate University, formed around 1833, was incorporated into the Adelphian Society. 

The Adelphian Society was founded on October 31, 1840, at the Hamilton Literary & Theological Institution, today Colgate University. Dedicated to the advancement of learning and friendship, the Adelphian Society sought to promote “progress in literary attainments and cultivation among all the members of an undecaying friendship." The organization quickly became one of the most influential student societies at Colgate, serving as a center for scholarship, oratory, and leadership.

The Adelphian Society's influence extended beyond Hamilton. In 1850, five members of the Adelphian Society at Colgate transferred to the newly created University of Rochester and founded the Delphic Society. 

The Adelphian Society at Colgate University eventually evolved into the Beta Theta Chapter of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. 

For more information on the Adelphian Society, visit its Wikipedia page.