Kappa Delta Pi

A Short History of The Delta Chapter: 1916

Kappa Delta Pi, an International Honor Society in Education, was founded in 1912 at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. Chapters are located on 500 college and university campuses, including the fourth chapter at the University of Texas at Austin, which is enjoying a long and distinguished history.

On March 25, 1916, William S. Sutton, Dean of the College of Education at The University of Texas, penciled a note to Truman L. Kelly declaring an interest in Kappa Delta Pi.[1] Professor Kelly, then a UT professor of educational psychology, had been one of the founders of Alpha Chapter of the society while a graduate student at the University of Illinois, and Dean Sutton requested that they meet soon to discuss the establishment of a chapter at The University of Texas.[2] Apparently, Sutton and Kelly met, petitioned a charter, and Delta chapter quickly became the fourth chapter of the society on May 30, 1916.[3]

Dr. Kelly subsequently moved to Stanford University and later to Harvard University where he spent the majority of his career. His contribution to The University of Texas and to Kappa Delta Pi lives on through Delta chapter. All early Delta chapter counselors have not been identified although Professor Herschel T. Manuel served as Counselor for several years beginning in the mid-1920s. He attended at least one Kappa Delta Pi biennial convocation during this time.[4] Correspondence between Manuel and Dr. T. C. McCracken, Society president from 1924-48[5], indicates that Manuel played a role in the subsequent dissolution of Delta chapter.[6]

When the Depression brought hard times upon Delta chapter, Manuel wrote to Dr. McCracken, “At the present time the only question concerns the status of the local chapter. It is dead; how shall it be disposed of? The group has elected to dissolve the chapter rather than to bring discredit upon the institution and the fraternity by being nominally alive but actually dead.”[7] Manuel proceeded to suggest that the Society accept the surrender of the charter but to allow it to be reinstated at any time and to encourage Delta members to retain their national membership.[8] Society officers, however, decided to withdraw Delta chapter’s charter and voted to leave the charter in the care of Professor Manuel.[9]

One member of Delta chapter, Clara Parker, expressed hope that “there will again be a demand for a co-educational honor society in addition to the separate organizations which now seem to accord best with the students’ needs.”[10] Her hope was realized in 1963 when Dr. Franklin Parker worked to reinstate Delta chapter. The Society rechartered Delta chapter on May 16, 1963.[11] As a first-year Cultural Foundations of Education faculty member at The University of Texas, Parker received the Kappa Delta Pi Harold Benjamin Fellowship in International Education, spent a year in Africa, and subsequently wrote a book from that experience. Parker likely served as Counselor of Delta chapter for several years until he accepted a position at the University of Oklahoma.[12]

Delta’s first member to stand for Society officer was a former president of Delta chapter and a doctoral student in the area of Special Education. He ran for President-elect at the Boston Convocation (1968) but lost he election in no small measure because he was not well known by convocation participants. Since that time, representatives of Delta chapter have participated in every convocation held. Merrell Hansen, now a professor at Brigham Young University, served as chapter President and attended the 1970 Convocation in Denver. Two years later, Delta chapter officers Lewis Hodge, now at the University of Tennessee, and Gerald Ponder, now at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, attended the Phoenix Convocation. As a new faculty member at the University of Tennessee in 1971, Dr. Hodge established the Delta Delta chapter there and remains an active member today. Dr. Ponder, as a faculty member at the University of North Texas, served as counselor of the Alpha Pi chapter; after leaving that university, he helped to establish a chapter at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Ponder also edited the Kappa Delta Pi Record.[13] Other Delta members, including Marcella L. Kysilka at the University of Central Florida and George L. Mehaffy, also have established campus chapters and served as counselors.[14]

Dr. O. L. Davis, Jr. came to The University of Texas campus in 1966 and, over the years, made substantial contributions not only to Delta chapter, but also to the international society. He was initiated into the society by Alpha Iota chapter as an undergraduate student at North Texas State Teachers College, now the University of North Texas. In 1967, Dr. Davis, with Dr. Charles Dent, accepted positions as Associate Counselors. Both served on the faculty of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and Dent asked Davis if he would become Counselor in 1968; Davis accepted, and Dent remained Associate Counselor for two years. Dr. Davis has remained in this position as Counselor of Delta chapter since that time. At Davis’ request, Dr. Mary Black became a Society member and Delta chapter’s Associate Counselor in 1997. Since that time, Dr. Black has attended each of the Kappa Delta Pi biennial Convocations.[15] In 2001, Dr. Sherry Field, a former Delta chapter officer and former Counselor of chapters at the University of Colorado at Denver and The University of Georgia, became Associate Counselor of Delta chapter. Dr. Field also has chaired the Society of Publication Communications.[16]

Dr. O. L. Davis, Jr. was the second Society President from Texas. Dr. A. Keith Turkett, Davis’ undergraduate friend at North Texas State College, served as Society President from 1974-76. Several years later and during his tenure as President-elect (1978-80), Dr. Davis and Society President Richard Judd worked to establish the Kappa Delta Pi Educational Foundation. Although resistance came from those wary of fresh proposals for the Society, both the Educational Foundation and Distinguished Dissertation Award became realities. Davis and Dent had prevailed. Numerous Delta chapter members have received Educational Foundation scholarships and have earned the Distinguished Dissertation Award. In fact, Dr. George L. Mehaffy received the first such award at the 1978 Convocation in Nashville. Other Delta chapter recipients include J. Dan Marshall now at Pennsylvania State University, Cleta Galvez Hjornavik, and Chara Bohan, currently an adjunct faculty member in social studies education at UTAustin.[17] The Society’s prestigious Laureate Chapter, limited to sixty living educators throughout the world, selected Dr. Davis to become a Laureate in 1994.

Dr. Marcella L. Kysilka and Dr. Mehaffy, both Delta chapter initiates, have continued their participation in Kappa Delta Pi activities and governance. Kysilka was instrumental in the establishment of a chapter at the University of Central Florida, and Mehaffy led the development of a new chapter at Eastern New Mexico University as well as the rechartering of a chapter at San Diego State University. As a former chair of the society’s Budget Committee, Dr. Kysilka was elected and served as President of the society from 1986 to 1988. Several years later, she accepted the position of academic editor of The Educational Forum and served in that position until 2000.[18] Dr. George Mehaffy also served as President of the society from 1992-1994 and is presently an executive officer of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.[19]

Over the years, Delta chapter has experienced seasons of high and moderate activity. While some years primarily have witnessed initiations, others have been filled with additional programs including guest lecturers and speakers sponsored by Delta chapter and held open to the college. For example, Delta chapter has held “Evenings of Conversation,” informal meetings where students and others met in faculty member’s homes for conversations with nationally prominent visitors to campus as well as local educators. Delta once held a series of lectures open to the college on topics ranging from religion to textbook critiques; in addition to students and faculty, Texas Education Agency staff members and Austin area school administrators could be found in attendance.[20]

Delta chapter’s refrain from involvement in other types of activities favored by chapters elsewhere is due mainly to the perception by this chapter’s counselors and members of the nature of The University of Texas at Austin as an urban, commuter campus. On the other hand, Delta chapter has sent a delegate and members to biennial convocations since 1970. Delta chapter continues to recognize and emphasize dimensions of academic excellence on the part of those who seek to make education their career.[21]

Kappa Delta Pi became an international society in 1979 with the establishment of the chapter at the University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Two former Delta chapter members, Dr. Kathy Dueck (Skau) and Dr. Gary J. deLeeuw, served as the Calgary chapter’s counselors for several years, and Delta chapter’s counselor, Dr. Davis, was the installing officer of this first Kappa Delta Pi chapter outside the United States. Subsequently, chapters have been established at the University of Hull (UK) and in Australia.[22]

Prepared by Charlotte Anderson, Chapter Historian, August 2001.

[1] Papers of William S. Sutton. The Center for American History. The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. O. L. Davis, Jr., September 4, 2001.

[2] Papers of William S. Sutton, UT Austin.

[3] Delta Chapter History. Kappa Delta Pi Initiation Program, 2000, p.6.

[4] Interview with Dr. O. L. Davis, Jr. regarding the history of the Delta Chapter. July 17, 2001.

[5] Alfred Lawrence, Kappa Delta Pi , 1911-1936. (New York: Hall-Quest, 1938): p. 261.

[6] Society Headquarters Correspondence between Herschel T. Manuel and T. C. McCracken on April 30, 1926. Interview with Holly Richards, Kappa Delta Pi headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana, September 7,2001.

[7] Society Headquarters Correspondence between T. C. McCracken and Herschel Manuel, April 30, 1926.

[8] Society Headquarters Correspondence, McCracken and Manuel, April 30, 1926.

[9] Society Headquarters Correspondence, McCracken and Parker, May 14, 1926.

[10] Society Headquarters Correspondence, McCracken and Parker, May 14, 1926.

[11] Delta Chapter History. Kappa Delta Pi Initiation Program, 2000, p.6.

[12] Interview with Dr. Davis, 7/17/01. Information concerning names of early Delta Presidents, Counselors, and Initiates may be located at a later date through information from Society Headquarters.

[13] Interview with Dr. O. L. Davis, Jr., July 17,2001.

[14] Further details about this information on Delta members has not yet been discovered at Society Headquarters.

[15] Interview with Dr. O. L. Davis, Jr., July 17,2001.

[16] Interview with Dr. O. L. Davis, Jr., July 17,2001.

[17] Interview with Dr. Davis, July 17,2001.

[18] Interview with Dr. Davis, July 17,2001.

[19] Delta Chapter History, Kappa Delta Pi Initiation Program, 2000, p.6.

[20] Interview with Dr. Davis, July 17,2001.

[21] Interview with Dr. Davis, July 17,2001.

[22] Interview with Dr. Davis, July 17,2001.