KDR National History
After 1946: Reactivation - Expansion - Innovation
The 1946 Convention in Columbus, Ohio, focused on reopening chapters. Fifteen chapters reopened that fall. Under the guidance of President John L. Blakeley, Eta '22, and National Executive Secretary Ferd B. Ensinger, Alpha '45, Phi Chapter was chartered at the University of Oklahoma in 1950, and a colony established at the University of Florida. Under Expansion Chairman Frederic T. Closs, Rho '51, KDR chartered chapters at Lycoming College and Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1953 and 1955 respectively.
The Korean Conflict interrupted academic work and caused members considerable anxiety. The uncertainty of possible military service divided their attention from studies and fraternities. At least three brothers lost their lives in action. The young chapter at the University of Oklahoma and the colony at the University of Florida closed as a result of a persistent drain of men from these institutions.
On February 10, 1954, the fraternity received its certificate of incorporation under the New York State Membership Corporation Law. The fraternity officially became The National Fraternity of Kappa Delta Rho, Inc. Orrin G. Judd, Delta '26, handled this difficult procedure.
The KDR Semicentennial Celebration was set for 1956. The Forty-fifth Annual Convention took place that year in Breadloaf, Vermont. On September 1, 1956, KDR unveiled a memorial plaque on Old Painter Hall. KDR Historian George E. Shaw, Alpha '10, also presented his completed History of Kappa Delta Rho.
More chapters were chartered under Expansion Chairman Closs. Chapters at Lock Haven State College and C.W. Post College began in 1958 and 1960, respectively. On November 12, 1960, we founded the Kappa Delta Rho Foundation for charitable, educational, and literary purposes in connection with the National Fraternity, its chapters, and its members. KDR installed Gamma Alpha Chapter at Bradley University with the assistance of Steven Schilson who transferred from the University of Illinois. In 1969, a local fraternity at Rhode Island College became Delta Alpha Chapter. Chapters also began at Lewis University and the University of Dayton in 1971.
By 1972, KDR felt the effects of the Vietnam Conflict. An anti-establishment sentiment jolted student activities on campuses nationwide. Some KDR chapters deteriorated and closed. Others had a difficult time pledging new members.
In 1980, the National Board of Directors established a new expansion policy, which set a new direction for the fraternity. A renewed interest in Greek life was growing on American college campuses. It was a welcomed change from the early 1970's. In 1981 the new expansion policy began to show success with chapters at Robert Morris College and Slippery Rock State College. The chapter roster expanded in 1982 to include six new chapters, the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Illinois State University, Gannon University, West Virginia University, Columbia University, and Temple University, and the reactivation of the C.W. Post College chapter. Rutgers University and the University of Toledo chapters joined KDR in 1984.
In 1985, the Delta Chapter at Colgate University reaffiliated with the National Fraternity. New chapters chartered that year were Bryant College, Hofstra University, and Radford University. The year 1986 brought into the fold new chapters at Parks College (now a part of St. Louis University), Behrend College of Penn State, the University of Delaware, and a reactivation of the Tau Chapter at Carnegie Mellon after 44 years. In 1987 and the years following, new chapters at Clarion University, University of Pittsburgh (Greensburg), Virginia Commonwealth University, Ball State University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, West Liberty State College, Old Dominion University, Tarleton State University, and West Chester University were added to the chapter rolls, as well as a reactivation at Lock Haven.
The late 1980's also signaled the end of an era as Robert D. Lynd, Iota '67, KDR president from 1974-1988, became a member of the National Interfraternity Conference Board of Directors and later its president in 1993. He was succeeded by president, James F. Edgeworth, Sr., Psi '56. The National Office moved to Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and the National Executive Secretary received the new title of Executive Director.
The 1980's were not solely a time of growth and expansion for the fraternity. The Greek System as a whole was plagued with numerous problems, chief among them being risk management and the poor image associated with it. In addition, all-male organizations were sometimes seen as archaic, unconstitutional, or unnecessary, particularly at colleges in New England. In 1983, Xi Chapter was closed when Colby College eliminated their entire Greek System.
In 1989, the administration at Middlebury College decided that all organizations on campus would be coeducational. Most fraternities at Middlebury were unwilling to accept this change and simply closed their doors. However, the brothers of Alpha Chapter decided that it was a better decision to accept women into their brotherhood than cease to exist. In the Spring of 1989, the chapter pledged Mimi Gottesfeld and Laura Rude. That fall, Laura Cohen, Sheila Kane and Christina Bethke joined the ranks of brothers. There were no provisions in the National Constitution allowing women into our organization, so the National Fraternity had to end affiliation with the chapter until a solution could be approved and implemented. The brothers at Middlebury continued on alone, still identified as KDR. The National Fraternity was unsure of the right step to take, as it did not want to lose its rich history at Middlebury and the strength of the chapter there. On the other hand, it did not want to lose its identity as a male fraternal organization. Throughout the 1990's, solutions were proposed and debated. In 1997 a solution was brought before the National Convention in Norfolk, Virginia. We would expand our organizational structure to include the Kappa Delta Rho Society, of which Alpha of Middlebury College was to be the first and at this time only permitted chapter. The KDR Society at Middlebury received its charter in October, 2000, thus restoring the ties that the National Fraternity had to its founding chapter.
The early 1990's also ushered in chapters at New York Institute of Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, Edinboro University, James Madison University, Syracuse University, Fordham University, University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh), William Paterson University, Richard Stockton College, Eastern Illinois University, University of North Carolina (Greensboro), East Tennessee State University, Clemson University, The College of William and Mary, and University of Charleston. In the late 1990's, KDR established new chapters at East Stroudsburg University and University of North Carolina (Asheville). The year 2000 saw the chartering of the Alpha Gamma chapter at University of Detroit Mercy.
(this information was obtained from www.kdr.com) KDR National Website