Delta Sigma Chi is an American fraternal organization

Fraternity

A fraternity is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. An organization referred to as a fraternity may be a:*Secret society*Chivalric order*Benefit society*Friendly society*Social club*Trade union...

 for professionals in the area of Chiropractic

Chiropractic

Chiropractic is a health care profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on general health. It is generally categorized as complementary and alternative medicine...

.

History

In 1913, there were three chiropractic schools in Davenport, Iowa

Davenport, Iowa

Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...

: the Palmer School of Chiropractic, Universal College of Chiropractic and the Davenport College

Davenport College

Davenport College is one of the twelve residential colleges of Yale University. Its buildings were completed in 1933 mainly in the Georgian style but with a gothic façade. The college was named for John Davenport, who founded Yale's home city of New Haven, Connecticut...

 of Chiropractic. The U.C.C was located at 6th and Brady and the D.C.C stood on the site of the present day masonic temple

Masonic Temple

Masonic Temple is a term commonly used in Freemasonry with multiple but related meanings. It is used to describe an abstract spiritual goal, the conceptual ritualistic space formed when a Masonic Lodge meets, and the physical rooms and structures in which a Lodge meets...

. On July 4 of that year, a group of chiropractic students representing those schools held an independence Day

Independence Day (United States)

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...

 picnic at Credit Island

Credit Island

Credit Island is an island in the Mississippi River on the south west side of Davenport, Iowa within the Quad Cities area. Its name was derived by the use of the island as an early Indian trading post. Credit could be obtained on the promise of hides and skins to be delivered at a later time -...

. Within this large group, a smaller group of friends discussed the subject of a chiropractic Greek letter

Greek alphabet

The Greek alphabet is the script that has been used to write the Greek language since at least 730 BC . The alphabet in its classical and modern form consists of 24 letters ordered in sequence from alpha to omega...

 fraternity.

On July 13, 1913, the first meeting of the fledging organization took place, which is now the celebrated birth of the legacy of Delta Sigma Chi (ΔΣΧ). The founding fathers include Harold Hughes of Medicine Hat, Canada; J.D. Hills of Detroit, Michigan

Detroit, Michigan

Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...

; John Rardon of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...

; Harry Cummings of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...

 and S.E. Julander of Des Moines iowa. At that meeting they completed their plans for a Greek letter Professional Chiropractic Fraternity by electing temporary officers and appointed a committee to draft a constitution and bylaws. The official name selected: Delta Sigma Chi (DSC) stands for Doctors of Straight Chiropractic. It was decided to limit the charter membership to twelve men, however the membership was opened and extended to 20.

Notable brothers

On November 6, 1913, B.J. Palmer

B. J. Palmer

Bartlett Joshua Palmer born in What Cheer, Iowa, was a pioneer of chiropractic. B.J. was son of Daniel David Palmer , the founder of chiropractic.- Early life :...

 was initiated into the brotherhood of Delta Sigma Chi. Five years later Brother Palmer was unanimously elected the honorary president of the fraternity. Throughout the extensive history of the fraternity a majority of the men recognized by the profession as leaders include doctors: David Palmer

David Palmer

David Palmer may refer to:*David R. Palmer , American science fiction author*Dave Richard Palmer, retired US Army Lieutenant General and Superintendent of the United States Military Academy from 1986-1991-In Fiction:...

, Galen Price, J. Clay Thompson, H.M Himes, Clarence Gonstead, G.O. Schmiedel, Hender M.D., H. Ross Reaver (most jailed chiropractor), Reggie Gold, Fred Barge, Dr. Sayers, and almost every famous technique developer such as Major Dejarnet, Clarence Gonstead, and J. Clay Thompson. Other notable figures include current ICA president, Gary Walsemann and past presidents of Palmer College of Chiropractic like Dr. Donald P. Kern and Dr. McAndrews.

Lasting goals and purpose

Delta Sigma Chi is pledged to promote straight unadulterated chiropractic principles (as set forth by B.J. Palmer). In addition, the members promote good fellowship and brotherhood as well as brotherly feeling amongst chiropractors, schools and students.

Today, the fraternity has a membership of several thousand individuals all around the globe, who continue to guard the sacred trust of chiropractic. The fraternity has reprinted 9 of BJ Palmer's original books.

Fraternity mansion

The fraternity mansion

J. Monroe Parker-Ficke House

The J. Monroe Parker-Ficke House is an historic home located in the College Square Historic District in Davenport, Iowa, United States. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983...

has been recognized as the "most Victorian of all mansions in the Quad Cities". Construction began in 1881 and was finished three years later, complete with 38 rooms, countless closets and pantries, and call tubes for the servants. After completion, the final cost was $100,000, which is not a minuscule amount considering the evidence of a depression. The home was originally constructed for James Monroe Parker, a wealthy Davenport financier. Later, however, it was acquired by C. A. Ficke. Finally, in 1978, the fraternity purchased the home and it continues today as the home of the Alpha Chapter.

External links

• http://www.dscbooks.com, Delta Sigma Chi website for reprinted works