Tau Sigma Delta
# Tau Sigma Delta

Tau Sigma Delta (ΤΣΔ) is a scholastic honor society that recognizes academic achievement among students in the field of Architecture and Allied Arts.

## History

Tau Sigma Delta was organized at the University of Michigan as an honorary fraternity in architecture and landscape design in May 1913, at the proposal and under the direction of the faculty members of the Departments of Architecture and Landscape Design at the University of Michigan. It was first known as Tau Delta Sigma and continued under that name until the fall of 1914 when it was decided to change the name to the present one there being Greek letter societies already bearing the first name. It was the intention of the founders that the organization should be a national society as opportunity for its extension to other schools and universities could be had.

As of 1920 according to the Constitution of Tau Sigma Delta, the purpose of the society is stated as follows: "It shall be the purpose of Tau Sigma Delta fraternity to unite in a firm bond of friendship, such students of architecture and the allied arts, whose marked scholastic ability, moral character and pleasing personality has shown them worthy of distinction, and to foster and promote high standards of study in the schools and colleges of architecture and the allied arts." The society is a purely honorary organization, and only a very limited number of new members are elected each year.

Each chapter has a definite plan of government and elects its members who are chosen only upon the approval of the faculty of the school at which the chapter is located.

A series of medals are available as awards for achievement, in bronze, silver and gold.

## Chapters

Chapters of Tau Sigma Delta include:

* Α, University of Michigan - June 5, 1913 (Time of inactivity started in 1997, unclear when ended)
* Β, University of Minnesota - May 11, 1917 (inactive 1935, reactivated by 1941)
* Χ, University of Illinois - approx May 25, 1918 (inactive 1918)
* Δ, Syracuse University - May 5, 1918 (inactive 1966)
* Ε, University of Pennsylvania - June 6, 1918 (inactive 1968)
* Ζ, University of Liverpool - March 1919 (or May 3, 1920)(Inactive 1930 or 1923)
* Γ, Carnegie Institute of Technology - June 2, 1919 (Inactive 1959)
* Η, University of California, Berkeley - May 13, 1920 (or May 12, 1920) (Inactive 1936)
* Θ, Ohio State University - June 8, 1922 (or June 7, 1922) (Inactive 1935)
* Ι, University of Washington, Seattle - May 1924 (or June 3, 1924)
* Κ, Iowa State University - June 4, 1930
* Μ, University of Texas, Austin - May 29, 1931 (or May 1, 1931) (Inactive 1968)
* Λ, University of Southern California - June 3, 1931 (Inactive approximately 1985)
* Ν, Virginia Tech - June 7, 1947
* ΗΑ, Tulane University - December 10, 1949 (Out of sequence chapter name requested by group to keep name of previous organization)
* Ο, Kansas State University - April 27, 1950 (or April 27, 1959)
* Π, University of Kansas - January 29, 1951
* Ρ, Georgia Tech - 1956 (or June 1, 1958)
* Σ, University of Notre Dame - May 10, 1961
* Τ, Rice University - April 13, 1961
* Υ, Texas Tech University - April 12, 1962
* Φ, Clemson University - 1963 (or May 5, 1965)
* Ψ, University of Nebraska - 1965 (or February 27, 1967)
* Ω, University of Florida - 1966 (or June 22, 1967)
* ΑΑ, Texas A&M University - May 4, 1970
* ΑΒ, Howard University - 1971 (or December 1, 1970)
* ΑΓ, Oklahoma State University - May 12, 1971 (Inactive 1978)
* ΑΔ, North Dakota State University- 1974 (or March 22, 1975)
* ΑΕ, Kent State University - 1974 (or March 3, 1967)
* ΑΧ, University of Kentucky - March 6, 1975
* ΑΖ, Louisiana State University - April 17, 1977
* ΑΗ, University of Arkansas - April 29, 1978
* ΑΘ, Auburn University - May 2, 1978
* ΑΙ-ΑΨ, ???
* ΑΛ, Louisiana Tech University - April 25, 1979
* ΑΩ, Mississippi State University - October 13, 1980
* ΒΑ, University of Tennessee - 1983
* ΒΒ, California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo) - May 27, 1981
* ΒΓ, University of Miami - 1981
* ΒΔ, University of Houston - 1988
* ΒΕ, University of Idaho - 1988
* ΒΖ-ΒΗ, ???
* ΒΘ, Montana State University - 1987
* ΒΙ, Miami University - 1987
* ΒΚ, University of North Carolina (Inactive)
* ΒΛ, University of Colorado Denver - 1988
* ΒΜ, Arizona State University - 1989
* ΒΝ-ΒΡ, ???
* ΒΣ, University of Detroit Mercy - 1988
* ΒΤ, Roger Williams University - 1990
* ΒΥ, Andrews University - 1990
* ΒΦ, The Catholic University of America -1990
* ΒΧ, Tuskegee University - 1990
* ΒΨ, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona - 1988
* ΒΏ, Southern University and A&M College (Baton Rouge) - 1990
* ΓΑ, University of Louisiana at Lafayette - 1990
* ΓΒ, Ball State University - 1991
* ΓΓ, Florida A&M University - 1993
* ΓΔ, Lawrence Technological University - 1991
* ΓΕ, Drury University - 1992
* ΓΖ, New York Institute of Technology - 1993
* ΓΗ, Savannah College of Art and Design (Both Savannah and Atlanta campuses) - 1993
* ΓΘ, North Carolina State University - 1993
* ΓΙ, Prairie View A&M University - 1994
* ΓΚ, Washington State University - 1994
* ΓΛ, University of New Mexico - 1994
* ΓΜ, University of Hawaii at Manoa - 2001
* ΣΞ, Florida International University - 2003
* ΔΛ, University of South Florida - 2003
* ΤΩ, University of Texas at San Antonio - 2003

As of 1920 the total membership of the society was 88.

## Notable and Honorary members

Notable and honorary members of Tau Sigma Delta include:

* Eliel Saarinen - Honorary -Alpha
* Ivan Meštrović - Honorary - Delta
* Donald Barthelme - Epsilon

## Symbols

The motto of the fraternity is "Technitai, Sophoi kai Dexioi". The system of colors is gold and white. The flower of the society is the red rose.

The pledge button consists of an outer scalloped band of gold within which is one concentric ring of gold and two concentric rings of white.

The badge of the fraternity is a gold key consisting of the crossed letters, Tau Sigma Delta, a suspension ring at the top and a pendant at the bottom. The crossed letters of the same arrangement as on the key is the crest of the fraternity. Honor stoles are available for graduation regalia.

The fraternity publishes a quarterly bulletin.

## Gold Medal Recipients

The Gold Medal is awarded by the Grand Chapter of the Society to a professional or professionals with a record of high distinction in design in the field of architecture, landscape architecture or the allied arts. The award is presented annually as a part of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) national meeting.

