Delta Psi Delta is among the oldest local fraternities in the United States. It is the oldest local fraternity in the Pacific Northwest still in existence. Founded in 1904 on the campus of what was then still McMinnville College, the history of Delta Psi Delta is intimately connected with Linfield College, and many our fraternity’s traditions are also Linfield’s traditions.

"D.D., D.D., Riff, Raff, Rough, Always eat chicken, no matter how tough." 

We Deltas also had early traditions that were all our own – and none too civilized. Six charter members in 1904 soon became twelve (including at least one professor) and the new club took the name D.D. Fraternity – the "dirty dozen.” The object: good fellowship and fun. Wherever and whenever they met in the early days, the D.D.'s were known for their "chicken wow-wows,” the chickens (and an occasional turkey) sometimes having been procured by questionable means. There was even a standing committee on refreshments, responsible for "securing the necessary number of chickens.”

The D.D.'s were soon to grow in stature, in civilization, and in numbers and to become leaders in academics, athletics, and McMinnville College campus life.

In 1913 the D.D.'s became a Greek letter fraternity, adopting the name "Delta Psi Delta,” and from then on membership was limited to men taking college courses. Dedicated to brotherhood, we were then – and are now – dedicated first to the college. The Deltas proudly announced their new name to the campus community: "We foresee for our fraternity a future in which it shall still champion the best for Old Mac and shall be for "Old Mac First.'”  In the midst of World War I, after reading the letters of brothers fighting overseas, the Deltas resolved that "the spirit of Delta Psi Delta Fraternity is the true McMinnville College spirit.”

By 1922 Old Mac had become Linfield College. The wooden bench that the fraternity had placed beneath the Old Oak and had dutifully maintained with a coat of paint year upon year since April 1910 has, in time, been replaced with a bench made of concrete. Linfield College can thank Delta Psi Delta for the tradition that resulted in the Senior Bench.

The spirit and tradition of Delta Psi Delta was eloquently expressed by Rudy Lachenmeier, outgoing Delta president in 1943, in the midst of World War II:

"As Uncle Sam calls more and more men into the service, each Delta anxiously awaits his call. If these were normal times, I wouldn't say more than thanks for the privilege. But, they aren't normal times, and I feel that I should say a few words of farewell and prediction….Brothers, this fraternity is roaring ahead…. We are wonderfully talented as Delta Psi Deltas. We can outshine, outplay, outfight, outsmart any competition this campus has to offer. We may have lost a game this past week but if you'll read the paper you will find that we are respected for our fight and our guts. Remember this tonight and for the love of Mike don't learn it again by hard experience….We are all selected, selected for Delta Psi Delta because we looked like fellows who had guts to do a job well, mentally and physically. In the name of those who have gone before, reveal your talents, develop your talents, volunteer your talents and we will carry on – tops on the campus. You are going to enjoy the greatest pals, the most fun in your life – only back your fraternity with all you have in you."

"Now pledges, a word to you. Hell Week is only two weeks away. Every Delta went through it. It isn't punishment – it's greatest fun of this semester. So don't be foolish and worry. Study hard this next week. For your own good, cut out games, and light reading and hit the ball hard for just one week. After exams we'll have fun and you'll see that Delta Psi Delta stands for Fraternity, Friendship, and Fun.” 

The meeting was adjourned with the singing of the Fraternity Song.

Delta Psi Delta's membership dwindled during the war years, but, thanks to the spirit within the fraternity, it never lost an active membership. By 1960 the active membership had grown to more than 60. The size of the fraternity has fluctuated a great deal over the decades but its "mighty spirit” and "worthy name” have endured.

Life within the Deltas is a rich experience and the traditions grow with the years: pledge pins, paddles hand-crafted by pledges (begun in 1947), the leather hack paddle (Lee Keck's contribution in 1948), award-winning May Day Floats (as in 1963 when ingenious members recreated the design of a Portland Rose Festival float and won the contest with it), "functions,” the Inter-Fraternity Song Contest, Hell Week, swim-dances, the Lions Club Outlaw Basketball Tournament in Gooding, Idaho, keggers and beach parties, pledge skips, winning the Lever Trophy, poker tournaments, Delta serenades, "Delta Pepper,” waiting tables in Dillin Hall, the sleeping loft in the "old” house, the water balloon launcher on the deck of the "new” house, the building of the "new house,” keeping it in repair, saying goodbye to the "old house,” and the burning of the mortgage (2009).

Delta Psi Delta's traditions live on in the memories of its alums and in today's active membership.  To what end, some may ask. To this end, said one brother upon leaving a reflective fraternity meeting back in 1913 (when the fraternity was less than 10 years old): "As each man walked silently home his mind was crowded with thoughts. He was trying to find out why that evening had meant so much to him, why he loved so well to meet and talk with other fellows of his fraternity, why the fraternity had stood so long, even since the day when there was no fraternity in school at all… And just before he went to sleep he must have said, ‘It is good to live in the memory of the past, but God helping me, I'll make my future a more glorious past for someone else.'”