KDR National History
The Depression and World War II Years
The Depression of 1929 was the beginning of rough times for everyone nationwide. College enrollment decreased steadily. Many chapters faced the prospect of closing their doors for lack of men. The enthusiastic support of alumni helped all but two chapters to continue. Omicron Chapter at Butler University was in existence for only nine years. Since it had few alumni, it became inactive in 1937. Likewise, Tau Chapter at Carnegie Tech was unable to continue due to lack of insurance. It was active from 1930 to 1939. At the 1932 Convention at Lafayette College, KDR revised the Constitution and general structure of the organization for subsequent incorporation.
The years between 1936 and 1945 were not conducive to fraternity expansion. In 1939, however, KDR installed Upsilon Chapter at Fresno State College. The depression put a great deal of stress on the budgets of all chapters. Just as KDR was entering a period of consolidation, news came of the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Undergraduates and alumni responded to the war summons. Most chapter houses were used by the military to house soldiers in training for the duration of World War II. Fifteen chapters became inactive, but Delta, Theta, Kappa, Nu, and Pi chapters were able to remain active during this time. Active status for these chapters, however, often meant only one or two men living in the house, attempting to rush, and perhaps initiating one or two more members. The National Executive Secretary, E. Mayer Maloney, Nu '36, and a majority of the National Directors entered the Armed Forces. KDR authorized Alternate Directors to carry on the work and keep the Fraternity intact in the absence of the Directors. The prospects seemed bleak. In 1942, KDR and Tau Kappa Epsilon, both in difficult situations, considered merging to become Tau Kappa Delta. The TKE Board and Convention approved the merger, as did the KDR board, but the KDR Convention rejected the proposal and kept KDR as an independent fraternity.
The Quill and Scroll continued publication during the war. The attempt to send copies to brothers in the Armed Forces overseas failed in most cases. Then KDR sent the magazine to the brothers' homes. Parents sent the magazines to their sons, and the effort succeeded. Soon the Quill and Scroll had letters from the war fronts. Brothers in the Armed Forces particularly cherished KDR at this time of their lives. The magazine provided addresses of brothers overseas that resulted in reunions on the battlefields between brothers and chapters. Seventy KDR men lost their lives in the war. The Quill and Scroll published a memorial issue to those men in June 1946. An excerpt from the issue stated,
style="margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; font-style: italic">Honor Super Omnia was their motto; they knew it well in their undergraduate days; they carried it to the enemy and taught him the meaning of it. They also taught us the meaning of the phrase that sometimes becomes trite with the passing of time.
(this information was obtained from www.kdr.com) KDR National Website