Delta Phi Upsilon was founded on January 8, 1923 at Broadoaks Kindergarten- Primary Training School in Pasadena, California, now known as the Broadoaks Children's School of Whittier College. The purpose of the founders was to honor outstanding college students and to create a group through which they might experience companionship and be further inspired to work with young children in preschool through the elementary grades.

In the years after the Grand Alpha Chapter was chartered in 1923, many other universities formed Delta Phi Upsilon Chapters. The organization has long been recognized as a premiere honor society in childhood education.