Delta Chi was founded on October 13, 1890 at Cornell University. Delta Chi recognizes Albert Sullard Barnes, Myron McKee Crandall, John Milton Gorham, Peter Schermerhorn Johnson, Edward Richard O'Malley, Owen Lincoln Potter, Alphonse Derwin Stillman, Thomas A. J. Sullivan, Monroe Marsh Sweetland, Thomas David Watkins, and Frederick Moore Whitney as the eleven founding fathers of the fraternity.

Many fraternities at the time were limited to students of specific disciplines, and Delta Chi was no different. The fraternity was originally founded as a law fraternity, and did not go general membership until 30 years later in 1922. Seven years later in 1929, Delta Chi became the first national fraternity to abolish the concept of "hell week" or "I-week", a weeklong series of hazing rituals held before initiations.

Since then, Delta Chi has grown to approximately 120 colonies and chapters at colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. It has initiated over 86,000 brothers in the past 115 years and stands as one of the largest fraternities in existence.

A more detailed history of the Delta Chi Fraternity can be found on Delta Chi's International Headquarter's website.