Delta Kappa Epsilon History
Who We Are
Delta Kappa Epsilon (ΔΚΕ), commonly known as DKE - or - Deke was founded at Yale College in 1844 by fifteen sophomores who were discontent with the existing fraternity order on campus.
The men established a fellowship where the candidate most favored was he who combined in the most equal proportions the Gentleman, the Scholar and the Jolly Good Fellow.
The Objects of DKE
The cultivation of general literature and social culture,
the advancement and encouragement of intellectual excellence,
the promotion of honorable friendship and useful citizenship,
the development of a spirit of tolerance and respect for the rights and views of others,
the maintenance of gentlemanly dignity, self-respect, and morality in all circumstances,
and the union of stout hearts and kindred interests to secure to merit its due reward.
The Impact of DKE
International Presence
Since our founding at Yale University in 1844, Delta Kappa Epsilon has been dedicated to expanding to prestigious universities across North America in order to spread the bonds of brotherhood to the best and brightest undergraduate students these institutions have to offer.
Within five years of the founding of Phi Chapter at Yale, chapters were installed at Bowdoin College, Princeton University, Colby College, Amherst College, Vanderbilt University and University of Alabama.
Currently, Deke is at 65 academic institutions, including 7 of the 10 top universities in America and the top 3 universities in Canada as ranked by both the World University Ranking and US News.
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Local History
Delta Kappa Epsilon was founded on June 22 1844 in Room 12, Old South Hall at Yale University. The Chi Chapter here at the University of Mississippi was the 8th chapter of ΔΚΕ to be chartered. Formed on April 14th 1850 when the University was only 2 years old, Delta Kappa Epsilon was the first greek letter organization formed in Mississippi and began the long standing tradition of Greek Life at Ole Miss. In 1861 when the University shut down due to the Civil War, Chi Chapter of ΔΚΕ sent more initiated brothers to combat than any college fraternity chapter in any American War. Among the most known brothers are William Benjmain Lowry who helped form and lead the Student-Soldier company the University Greys as Captain and became one of the youngest men in the Civil War to reach the rank of Major, Capt Richard Wilbourne who was a signal officer in Stonewall Jacksons riding party and briefly saved his life by putting an tourniquet on his arm, Edward Mayes who was a veteran of the Battle of Shiloh and went on to become the first Ole Miss Chancellor who had actually graduated from UM, John W Kyle who was a Mississippi state Senator and namesake of a State Park, Ole Miss Football alumni Buddy Harbin, and Henry Minor Fraser who founded the Ole Miss school of Pharmacy and is the namesake of Fraser Hall. ΔΚΕs first chapter house at UM was the famed ‘Dead House’ located across the street from Barnard Observatory. We moved into our property on Fraternity Row in the 1920s and first inhabited a small cottage like house. After the house fire in December 57, another house was constructed on the property which we have renovated and added onto multiple times throughout the years. Nationally, Dekes have gone onto great prominence such as Alan Bean who was the 4th Man on the Moon as a crewmember of Apollo 12 or Admiral Robert Peary who was the first Man to travel to the North Pole (both carried ΔKE flags with them on their journeys. More brothers from DKE have been in the Oval office than any other fraternity combined including brothers Rutherford B Hayes, Gerald Ford, George H W Bush, George W Bush, and Theodore Roosevelt. Brother Ron Desantis hopes to join them in 2024. Delta Kappa Epsilon, Chi Chapter is proud of both our extremely rich history nationally and here at the University of Mississippi!
