The Badge
Created in 1905, the badge of Delta Sigma Phi is only worn by its
members. After slight modifications, today’s fraternity pin is a
gold and black diamond shaped pin decorated with a tiny reproduction
of the pledge emblem, the Sphinx, and the letters of Delta Sigma Phi.
It is worn over the heart on a shirt or sweater and beneath a coat,
but never on a coat lapel. It is properly positioned with the upper
apex slanting toward the left shoulder and the lower apex toward the
right hip. Badge guards are available indicating a member’s
chapter, executive office and/or leadership graduates.
The Jeweled badge can only be worn by alumni, wives, or
sweethearts, but never by an undergraduate. Wives, sweethearts, or the
uninitiated may never wear the standard fraternity badge.
The Pledge Pin
The pledge pin is circular with a white enameled background and a
gold border. An equilateral triangle in green is placed so that the
points touch the gold border and from the points to the center of the
triangle are three gold lines.
Although initiated brothers do not wear the actual pledge pin after
the initiation ceremony, the pledge emblem appears on the fraternity
badge to always remind brothers of their lifelong membership and
pledge toward the Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity.
The Coat of Arms
The present coat-of-arms is the second symbol adopted by the
Fraternity and was authorized at the 1921 Convention in Raleigh, North
Carolina. It was designed by Robert Ashley, Washington & Lee
‘07, who served the Fraternity as National President and Editor
of The Carnation.
The coat-of-arms consists of a shield bearing a field of green. The
upper portion of the shield is charged with three smaller shields
bearing, from left to right, a lute, a knot, and lamp. The lower
portion of the shield contains a pyramid. The central portion of the
shield bears a silver chevron with a small shield displaying a book
and the year "1899". On each side of the shield are
mantlings of purple. Beneath the shield is a streamer bearing the
words "Delta Sigma Phi" in Greek. At the crest of shield is
the Sphinx. Affixed to the breast of the Sphinx, and outstretched over
the shield, are scarabaeus wings.
Fraternity Colors
Nile Green, Carnation White, and White are the colors of Delta
Sigma Phi. These colors are depicted in most of our insignia, emblems,
and jewelry. The Fraternity’s colors were adopted in 1905.
The Fraternity Flag
The first official flag of Delta Sigma Phi was adopted in 1926. The
current form of the flag was adopted in 1950. It consists of a Nile
green field with white features depicting the pledge emblem in the
field and the Greek letters Delta Sigma Phi running diagonally, top to
bottom, on the outer half.
The White Carnation
The flower of the Fraternity is the white carnation. Like our
official colors, this flower has been used since 1905.
The Fraternity Seal
The seal of Delta Sigma Phi is one of the earliest emblems of the
Fraternity. It appeared on charters and official documents prior to
1912.
The great seal of the Fraternity is a circle bearing a triangle.
The triangle is divided into three smaller triangles in the same
manner as the pledge emblem. Each of the three smaller triangles
contains one of the emblems: the lamp, the lute, and the Gordian knot.
Around the edge of the circle are the words "inc’pt
Washington D.C. 1929." The circle bears the words "sigillum
fraternitatis" which means "seal of the Fraternity,"
and the Greek-letters Delta Sigma Phi.
The Gordian Knot
The Gordian Knot, the Fraternity’s pledge manual, was first
issued in October 1925. It was one of the first pledge manuals ever
issued by a fraternity and was originally based on a booklet first
produced by the Epsilon chapter at Penn State. The Gordian Knot is
currently in its eighth edition.
The Lute
There are many other publications available from the Fraternity
Headquarters. Some of the more important are The Pyramid which is the
Fraternity’s chapter development guide, The Recruitment
Chairman’s Guide, and The Chapter Financial Management Manual.
Contact the Fraternity Headquarters for a listing of additional
publications.
