[01]History
Since 1907.
[Arms/1907]
1887
A normal school on Bidwell's orchard.
A state law of March 12, 1887 created a normal school for northern California, and Chico won it after John Bidwell gave eight acres of his cherry orchard. The cornerstone went down on July 4, 1888. Classes began in 1889 with 90 students and five teachers.
Laying the cornerstone of the Chico State Normal School, July 4, 1888.Meriam Library Special Collections, CSU Chico 1907
Four students start a fraternity for business.
Delta Sigma Pi was founded on November 7, 1907 at New York University's School of Commerce, Accounts and Finance, an evening school on Washington Square. Alexander Frank Makay, Alfred Moysello, Harold Valentine Jacobs and Henry Albert Tienken were freshmen who wanted a fraternity open to every business student.
The four founders, from NYU's 1910 Commerce Violet, as reprinted in The DELTASIG, November 1932.Delta Sigma Pi, The DELTASIG archives 1908
A name, then purple and gold.
The founders adopted the name Delta Sigma Pi on April 2, 1908 and chose purple and gold on April 29. The red rose became the fraternity's flower in 1921. It is the same rose you will find all over this site.
Washington Square, New York, about 1905. The School of Commerce met in an office building on the square.Detroit Publishing Co. Library of Congress 1927–35
Fire, a new building and a new name.
In August 1927 fire destroyed the original Normal Building. A new administration building rose on the same site in 1928 and 1929; it has been Kendall Hall since 1979. In 1935 the school became Chico State College.
The administration building, now Kendall Hall, about 1940.Meriam Library Special Collections, CSU Chico 1938
Business arrives at Chico State.
The college offered its first business courses in 1938, and a Department of Commerce soon followed. In the spring of 1951 it became the Division of Business.
A secretarial practice class in the commerce major, about 1940.Meriam Library Special Collections, CSU Chico 1958
A building for business.
In December 1958 the Division of Business moved into the new three-storey Business and Social Science Building. It is Glenn Hall today, and still home to the College of Business.
The Business and Social Science Building, now Glenn Hall, in the late 1950s.Meriam Library Special Collections, CSU Chico 1959
Alpha Beta Pi.
In the fall of 1958 two business students surveyed their classmates about starting a professional fraternity. By the spring of 1959 the local fraternity Alpha Beta Pi was organized and recognized. Its members guided Homecoming visitors, helped the Chico Chamber of Commerce with a business climate survey and brought speakers from business to campus.
Alpha Beta Pi's fall officers, the year before the charter. From The Record, 1960.The Record yearbook. Meriam Library Special Collections, CSU Chico 1960
The petition.
In 1960 Alpha Beta Pi petitioned Delta Sigma Pi's Grand Council for a charter. Letters of support came from College President Glenn Kendall, Division of Business chairman Albert Fries, the group's advisers and the associate dean of students. The petition was accepted that September.
President Glenn Kendall, as pictured in the chapter's 1960 petition.Delta Sigma Pi, chapter petitions archive Dec 3, 1960
Epsilon Theta is installed.
On Saturday, December 3, 1960, Alpha Beta Pi became the Epsilon Theta Chapter of Delta Sigma Pi. Twenty-five students and six faculty members were initiated in Bidwell Mansion, then a college building, by a team of national officers with delegations from Berkeley, Santa Clara, the University of San Francisco, San Francisco State and Nevada. Regional Director Burell Johnson presented the charter to chapter president Clay Wallen.
Chapter president Clay Wallen (left) accepts the charter from Regional Director Burell C. Johnson. From The DELTASIG, March 1961.Delta Sigma Pi, The DELTASIG archives 1962
Number one in the nation.
In 1962 Epsilon Theta tied for first place in Delta Sigma Pi's national Chapter Efficiency Contest with a perfect 100,000 points. It went on to post perfect scores in each of the five years through 1966.
The chapter's “No. 1 in Nation” display. From The Record, 1963.The Record yearbook. Meriam Library Special Collections, CSU Chico 1967
The Rose of Deltasig, and a career day.
The chapter's own 1966 Rose, a Chico State College student, was named Delta Sigma Pi's national Rose of Deltasig in 1967. That fall the chapter co-sponsored a campus Career Day with 32 business firms and brought a Young Presidents' Organization panel to campus. By 1969 it had a house of its own.
Candidates for the Rose of Delta Sigma Pi. From The Record, 1966.The Record yearbook. Meriam Library Special Collections, CSU Chico 1975
Women join the fraternity.
On November 7, 1975, Delta Sigma Pi's Board of Directors voted unanimously to open membership to women, and the 1977 Grand Chapter Congress ratified it. In 1982–83 Epsilon Theta counted 58 student and 17 faculty members, and its group photo in front of Kendall Hall included women.
Co-ed by 1983: the chapter in front of Kendall Hall. From The Record, 1983.The Record yearbook. Meriam Library Special Collections, CSU Chico 1988
Career fairs and Chili for Charity.
In 1987–88 the chapter, by then co-ed, initiated 20 members, ran two campus-wide career fairs and raised more than $4,000 for Rape Crisis Intervention with Chili for Charity.
Epsilon Theta in 1988. From The Record.The Record yearbook. Meriam Library Special Collections, CSU Chico 1989–93
Discount cards, and a fair every semester.
In the fall of 1989 brothers sold more than 2,000 Chico Discount Cards and gave a share of the profits to Project Child. By 1993 the chapter co-sponsored a career fair every semester, more than forty companies came to the latest one, and it brought in speakers and tours from Andersen Consulting and the Sierra Nevada brewery.
Selling the Chico Discount Card for Project Child, fall 1989.Delta Sigma Pi, The DELTASIG archives 1991–97
A page in every yearbook.
Chico State's yearbook, The Record, gave Delta Sigma Pi a page every year from 1991 until its last edition in 1997: the chapter in letters, the chapter in suits, and brothers competing in Challenge Night, the College of Business clubs' contest held each semester.
The chapter in business dress. From The Record, 1994.The Record yearbook. Meriam Library Special Collections, CSU Chico 1997
Nine hundred and one brothers.
By 1997 the chapter had initiated 901 brothers, and 17 members of the College of Business faculty were brothers themselves. It ran its career fairs in the Bell Memorial Union.
The chapter's Career Fair. From The Record, 1997.The Record yearbook. Meriam Library Special Collections, CSU Chico 2001–03
The national fundraising award.
At the 2001 Grand Chapter Congress in Buffalo, Epsilon Theta won Delta Sigma Pi's Highest Annual Fundraising award, with net profits of $29,025, due in large part, The DELTASIG said, to the Career Fair the chapter had sponsored for ten years: free to students, with recruiters paying to attend. In 2002 it won the national award for the most profitable single fundraiser. In 2003 five Chico brothers made the cover of The DELTASIG, dancing on stage at the Grand Chapter Congress in Palm Springs.
Chico brothers on stage at the 44th Grand Chapter Congress, Palm Springs, 2003.Delta Sigma Pi, The DELTASIG archives 2010
Fifty years.
More than 90 brothers, alumni and collegians, gathered in December 2010 for the chapter's 50th anniversary, with initiation numbers running from 12 to 1139. A charter member, the chapter president and the dean of the College of Business spoke, over a slide show of photos sent in by alumni.
The 50th anniversary, December 2010.Delta Sigma Pi, The DELTASIG archives 2012
Workday, and the Brotherhood Games.
In August 2012 fourteen brothers and the chapter advisor toured Workday's headquarters in Pleasanton, where Chico State alumni and interns presented. The same year the chapter took first place at the 25th Brotherhood Games in San Mateo.
First place at the Brotherhood Games, San Mateo, 2012.Delta Sigma Pi, The DELTASIG archives 2014–19
A Chapter of Excellence.
Delta Sigma Pi named Epsilon Theta a Chapter of Excellence in 2014, 2015 and 2017 and an Accredited Chapter in 2018 and 2019. Over the same years it won regional awards for professional activities, scholastic development, financial operations and alumni relations.
Roses and the flag at Kendall Hall, 2019. 2015
Biz Talks begins.
On April 30, 2015 the chapter and the College of Business hosted the first Biz Talks. It grew out of a chapter event that brought alumni back to speak, and its founders, Sean Woulfe and Kiaya Sabolovic, had each served as Epsilon Theta's president. By 2017 it was on its third event at Chico State.
Biz Talks, 2019. Today
Still recruiting, every semester.
Sixty-five years after the charter, Epsilon Theta rushes every semester, runs Biz Talks and a full professional calendar, serves Chico and keeps its alumni close. The rose and the purple and gold have not changed.
With the Western Province banner, fall 2025.
Old Time is still a-flying
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, / Old Time is still a-flying.” Robert Herrick wrote the line in 1648, and John William Waterhouse borrowed it for this painting in 1908.
Sixty-five years of Epsilon Theta are above. The next class rushes in Spring 2027.
[02]In the press
Making the papers.
[The Orion]Oct 31, 2017
An Undie Run for those in need
“Fraternity hosts Undie Run fundraiser” by Natalie Hanson
The chapter's fun run on the Yolo fields collected clothing for students in need, homeless neighbors and wildfire victims, and its proceeds went to suicide-prevention groups.
PhilanthropyRead the article (opens in a new tab)[Chico State Today]May 15, 2017
A chapter president who does it all
“Passion Drives Propensity to Do It All”
Nick Howell, a double major, chapter president and winner of the university's top scholarship, credits Delta Sigma Pi with steering him toward project management and leadership.
RecognitionRead the article (opens in a new tab)[Chico State Today]Apr 13, 2017
Biz Talks brings alumni home
“Chico State's Biz Talks Connects Students With Industry Influencers”
Biz Talks, founded by two students who met through the chapter, brings alumni back to campus to speak, and won a $5,000 grant from the College of Business Accelerator Fund.
ProfessionalRead the article (opens in a new tab)[The Orion]May 6, 2015
The first Biz Talks
“Business fraternity hosts event to inspire careers, entrepreneurs” by Brianne Mcevoy
More than 300 students came to the first Biz Talks, an evening of short TED-style talks by Chico State alumni led by chapter president Sean Woulfe.
ProfessionalRead the article (opens in a new tab)[The Orion]Mar 1, 2006
A banquet, and the biggest career fair on campus
“Organization all business for image” by Mando Navarro
About 20 brothers hosted a networking banquet attended by Sierra Nevada Brewing's Ken Grossman, Mayor Scott Gruendl and President Paul Zingg, the same week they ran a career fair of more than 100 companies.
ProfessionalSee the page (opens in a new tab)[The Orion]May 11, 2005
Calling alumni for the college
“Students call out alumni” by Mando Navarro
The chapter was one of five business groups whose 118 volunteers phoned College of Business alumni and raised more than $30,000 for the college.
PhilanthropySee the page (opens in a new tab)[The Orion]May 9, 2001
A picnic for foster children
by Nick Allen
The chapter's 11th annual Children's Picnic, run with Butte College's Foster Kinship Education program, hosted 35 to 40 foster children at Durham Community Park, and brothers planted a tree.
[The Orion]Feb 24, 1999
A thousand students, 109 companies
“Career Fair geared toward business majors” by Shannon Darling
More than 1,000 students met 109 companies in Shurmer Gym at a career fair coordinated by chapter officer Julia Stephens.
ProfessionalSee the page (opens in a new tab)[The Orion]May 11, 1988
Chili for Charity
“Fraternity Cooks Chili For Charity” by Julia Seitz
The third annual cook-off drew 15 teams and about 350 tasters and raised $2,800 for the Chico Rape Crisis Center, after more than $4,000 the year before.
PhilanthropySee the page (opens in a new tab)[The Orion]Mar 25, 1987
A memorial beside Glenn Hall
“Tribute To A Friend”
Brothers replanted and re-landscaped the David Phelps Plaza next to Glenn Hall, in memory of a brother killed in a 1984 crash, and installed a plaque.
[Chico State Wildcat]Oct 4, 1973
From Chico to Grand President
Dr. Harold L. Cannon, who taught accounting at Chico from 1958 to 1964 and helped establish Epsilon Theta, was elected Grand President of Delta Sigma Pi at the Grand Chapter Congress in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
RecognitionSee the page (opens in a new tab)[Chico State Wildcat]Apr 17, 1970
A kick-the-can clean-up
“Kick-the-can clean-up”
The chapter sponsored a community-wide litter clean-up across Chico and Butte County, with trucks lent by the city, the county and a local distributor, and the cans were recycled.
[Chico State Wildcat]Nov 9, 1966
First in the nation, five years running
“Delta Sigma Pi Places First in National Contest for Five Years”
For the fifth year in a row the chapter won Delta Sigma Pi's national Efficiency Contest with the maximum 100,000 points, announced at a regional meeting in Sacramento.
RecognitionSee the page (opens in a new tab)[Chico State Wildcat]Nov 14, 1963
Books for the world
“Books to Asian Countries”
The pledge class collected used books on campus for the Asia Foundation to ship to 21 Asian countries with known book needs.
[Chico State Wildcat]Nov 15, 1962
Number one of 119 chapters
“Business Frat Cops Honors”
Two years after its charter, the chapter placed first among 119 chapters in the fraternity's 1961–62 Efficiency Contest, with the maximum score in all five categories.
RecognitionSee the page (opens in a new tab)
[Scans of the Wildcat and The Orion: Meriam Library Special Collections, CSU Chico]
What comes next