Delta Gamma History

  • How it began.

     

    Founders 

    Delta Gamma was founded by Anna Boyd Ellington, Eva Webb Dodd and Mary Comfort Leonard in 1873 in Oxford, Mississippi, at the Lewis School for Girls near the University of Mississippi. The Founders sought to maintain high ideals and standards and to encourage intellectual growth and service in order to exemplify college women at their best. The early growth for Delta Gamma was confined to women's colleges in the South.  

     

     

    Within a few years, Delta Gamma was established in the North and then later expanded to the East. In 1891, Delta Gamma was one of the seven charter members of the National Panhellenic Conference when the first inter-sorority meeting was held in Boston.

     

     

    Cream Rose

     

    As the population moved west, so did Delta Gamma. What began as a club in the South soon became an international fraternity in both scope and thinking as Delta Gamma established itself not only in the United States, but also in Canada. Through the years, goals and achievements have grown as Delta Gammas continue to live by the motto set forth by the Founders, "Do Good."

     

    Today Delta Gamma is an international women’s fraternity that continues to place a strong dedication on personal values and standards, academic excellence, leadership and service. Delta Gamma encourages each member to strive for excellence and offers the programming and support to help each member reach that commitment. Delta Gamma offers its members the experience of sharing the strong bonds of sisterhood for a lifetime.

     

    Delta Gammas membership has grown to more than 142,000 women worldwide with 146 collegiate chapters and more than 250 alumnae groups across the United States and Canada.
     
    Delta Gamma Firsts....
     
    Delta Gamma is one of the oldest women's fraternities. Members throughout the 133-year history have been trailblazers in establishing a tradition of excellence by being the:
     
    • first women’s fraternity to employ a full-time staff member to address the health and wellness needs of its members
    • first women’s fraternity to incorporate a foundation in 1951
    • first to build an international headquarters specifically for that purpose
    • first to have seminars and house corporations
    • first to have an archivist handling historical materials at the international headquarters
    • first to receive recognition from the American Academy of Opthalmology for Distinguished Public Service
    • first to establish challenge grants in values and ethics, through the Dorothy Garrett Martin Lectureship in Values and Ethics 
    • first women's fraternity to have an "in house" printing press
    • first Panhellenic group to have its flower registered with the American Rose Society
     
     
    Delta Gamma Symbols

     
     

    The original badge of our Founders was the letter "H". This symbolized Hope, which was our Founders' watchword.

    Only initiated members wear the official badge of the Fraternity. In 1877 the "H" badge changed to an anchor, which is the traditional symbol for hope.

    Women who are pledged to join, but who are not yet initiated wear the new member pin. The white shield has the Greek letters Pi Alpha inscribed on it. This shield is the suggested Fraternity badge and will be exchanged for the badge upon initiation.

    The Fraternity flower is the cream-colored rose.

    The Fraternity colors are bronze, pink and blue.

    The Fraternity seal is used by Fraternity officers for the official papers of the Fraternity.

    The crest of Delta Gamma has special meaning to its members. The colors of the crest are cream for the rose at the apex of the crest; gold for the three founders, five-pointed stars on the shield, the rope around the shield and outline of the scroll ribbon; burnt maize for the flanking ornaments of the rose and the Greek letters, Tau Delta Eta; blue for the lower two-thirds of the shield; green for the upper third and center section of the shield and the leaves of the rose; and the Greek letters Delta Gamma which appear on the center section.

     

     

     

     

     

    Disclaimer: The information provided on this Web site is intended for use by Delta Gamma members only. Delta Gamma Fraternity does not accept responsibility for misuse of this information by non-members and states that use of this information other than its intended purpose is strictly prohibited.