| Delta Epsilon | |
| Letters: | Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΕ |
| Birthplace: | Roanoke College |
| Affiliation: | Independent |
| Status: | Defunct |
| Type: | Social |
| Scope: | Regional (Virginia) |
| Chapters: | 3 |
| City: | Salem |
| State: | Virginia |
| Country: | United States |
Delta Epsilon (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΔΕ) was an American regional college fraternity for men. It was founded in 1862 at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia.
Delta Epsilon was established in 1862 at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia. The founders intended to limit the fraternity entirely to Virginia colleges.[1] Two additional chapter were established, including one at Hampden–Sydney College. The first edition of Baird's Manual suggests that all three chapters "were weak", ostensibly due to their formation in the tumultuous days leading up to the Civil War.[2]
After establishing three chapters, Delta Epsilon became defunct. Alpha and one other chapter disbanded due to the Civil War. The chapter at Hampden–Sydney College survived the war but became the Zeta chapter of Beta Theta Pi in 1869. Baird's 2nd edition describes the Zeta chapter of Beta Theta Pi as having been "killed by the War" but notes that it was revived with the adoption of Delta Epsilon's sole remaining chapter in 1869.[3] [4] [5] [6]