Brunonian Chapter History
For a detailed history of Alpha Delta Phi, please select one of the articles below:
- Biography of Samuel Eells -- our fearless founder, who lived a short and painful life but made a name for himself in the process.
- History of the Fraternity System -- Unhappiness with student life not only created the Greek system, but radically changed it several times over.
- The Founding of Alpha Delta Phi -- Sammy's vision of "a society of a higher nature" and his successful attempts to spread the wealth.
- History of the Brunonian Chapter -- ADPhi transforms student life at Brown, again and again.
- History of Coeducation in Alpha Delta Phi -- In which the Brunonians fight for nearly 20 years, against bitter opposition, to have its women members accepted and recognized as brothers; and eventually help create the Alpha Delta Phi Society.
From 1836 until 1904, with a ten-year period of inactivity from 1841 to 1851, the Brunonian Chapter thrived without the benefit of residential quarters, with only a meeting room first at University Hall, then at Old Arnold Block on North Main Street, as its home. When Brother John D. Rockefeller, Jr., class of 1897, purchased and renovated the mansion at 54 College Street, now the Department of Philosophy, in 1904, Alpha Delta Phi at last became a residential society.
By balancing its strong literary tradition with the more traditional fraternal aim of providing a relaxing social atmosphere for its members, Alpha Delta Phi set a standard that has lasted to the present. In this vein, the move from 54 College Street to Wriston Quad in 1952 was merely a physical transformation and "was accompished without loss of fraternal spirit."
