Delta
Gamma History:
Delta
Gamma was founded in 1873 in Oxford, Mississippi, at the Lewis School
for Girls near the University of Mississippi. 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.
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."
Delta Gamma
Timeline:
1873 Anna
Boyd, Mary Comfort and Eva Webb founded the Delta Gamma Club at Lewis
School in Oxford, Mississippi, and chose the letter "H" as their
emblem.
1874
First initiation conducted, Anna Boyd delivers "First Initiation
Address."
1877
Anchor badge replaced original "H" pin.
1878 George
Banta, Phi Delta Theta, accorded membership in order to carry out expansion
in the North. First northern chapter, Phi Alpha-Franklin College, established
by George Banta in Indiana.
1881 First
Convention held in Oxford, Mississippi.
1883 2nd
Convention, held in Akron, Ohio, voted the ANCHORA into existence and
added the color bronze to pink and blue.
1884 First
ANCHORA published.
1885
Cream Rose designated as the Fraternity flower at Convention in Madison,
Wisconsin. Convention determined Fraternity would continue to be used
in reference to Delta Gamma rather than the newer term, sorority.
1887 March
15 designated as Reunion Day (now Founders Day) at the 5th Convention,
Evanston, IL.
1888 Chapter
at Adelbert College was granted first Alumnae charter as coeducation on
that campus was abolished.
1891 First
intersorority meeting held.
1895 Fraternity
government by a Grand Chapter ended: a Council established to govern between
Conventions.
1896 Zeta-Albion,
opened a chapter lodge, the first building constructed and owned by a
Delta Gamma Chapter.
1902 National
Panhellenic Conference established by a meeting of seven women’s
groups in Chicago. Alpha Phi, Gamma Phi Beta, Delta Delta Delta, Delta
Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Pi Beta Phi were all
in attendance.
1905 14th
Convention, Evanston, IL adopted uniform anchor badge and pledge pin.
Mary Comfort
Leonard and Eva Webb Dodd are present at a Convention for the first time
along with George Banta.
1909
Design for Fraternity Crest created by Leota Woy, Phi-Colorado, a commercial
artist. For the first time, Mary Comfort Leonard, Eva Webb Dodd, and George
Banta attended Delta Gamma Convention.
1911
First Delta Gamma philanthropy established, the Scholarship Loan program.
Plans made for a cookbook to raise funds.
1913 18th
Convention opened and installed Alpha Gamma-Toronto, the first Canadian
chapter.
1917 During
World War I, Delta Gamma funded an orphanage in Belgium and a opened the
Delta Gamma House for Children in Holland. Province government established.
First Province Secretaries appointed.
1924 Scholarship
Endowment in honor of the Fraternity's 50th birthday totaled $57,000.
First fellowships established.
1930 Candlelighting
Service presented for first time at Convention in Asheville, NC.
1936
Aid to the Blind adopted as Fraternity-wide philanthropy.
1936
Martha Scott was enjoying stardom in long run on Broadway of “Our
Town.”
1938 "Delta
Gamma Dream Girl" introduced in the ANCHORA by Alpha Kappa-Washburn.
Los Angeles Blind Children’s Center opened. Memorial House, to honor
the Founders, opened at University of Mississippi after being funded through
Fraternity donations.
1941 Founders
Portraits by Helen Humphreys Lawrence, Lambda – Minnesota unveiled
at Memorial House.
1942 Central
Office established in Columbus, Ohio, by Roberta Abernethy, Executive
Secretary. The song "Hannah" appears for the first time in the
Delta Gamma Songbook.
1945 First
Field Secretaries (CDCs) began travel assignments. International Education
Project started with six chapters hosting foreign exchange students.
1947 First
Province Alumnae Chairmen appointed (PACs).
1950 First
presentation of 50-year member certificates.
1951 The Delta
Gamma Fraternity and the Delta Gamma Foundation were incorporated in Ohio.
Learning Center for Visually Impaired Children is established by St. Louis
Alumnae.
1952 First
Order of the Delta Gamma Rose conferred.
1962 Dedication
of Delta Gamma Executive Offices at 3250 Riverside Drive, Columbus, Ohio.
1963 First
Collegiate Presidents Leadership School held in Columbus, Ohio. Shield
and Cable Alumnae Awards conferred for the first time.
1964 Freedoms
Foundation awarded the George Washington Medal to Delta Gamma alumnae
of Oak Park-River Forest (Illinois) for their textured flag for the blind.
1965 Delta
Gamma Archives at Executive Offices dedicated. Collegiate Chapter Officers
Manual and Alumnae Officer Manual appeared.
1966 First
Delta Gamma Anchor Splash™ sponsored by Beta Tau-University of Miami
(Florida).
1968 Patricia
Reilly Hitt, AN – USC, Asst. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare.
1972 Fraternity
Centennial celebrated in Los Angeles, California.
1973 Centennial
Pilgrimage, Oxford, Mississippi. International Education project discontinued.
1975 Anchor
on loan from the US Navy installed on the Executive Offices lawn.
1976 The
registered tea rose named "Delta Gamma" debuted at Alpha Upsilon-Southern
Methodist's 50th Anniversary.
1978 First
Advisors Seminar held in Columbus, Ohio. Loyalty Fund established.
1981 Delta
Gamma receives the Distinguished Public Service Award from the American
Academy of Ophthalmology.
1982 Anchor
Pre-School for Blind Children established by Denver alumnae.
1984 Cable
Connection launched to assist women seeking career guidance.
1985 Fraternity
merchandise program, Anchor Trader, opened for business. Anchor Award
and Oxford Award established.
1987 Delta
Gamma introduces Well Aware program for women’s health and wellness
education.
1989 Delta
Gamma Fraternity Housing Corporation incorporated. First Alumnae Officer
Seminar held, funded by a bequest from Jane Cowell Sheaffer, AXAlpha Chi-Penn
State.
1990
Foundation received ART OF THE EYE, an Exhibition on Vision, as a gift
from the Gund Foundation.
1991 New
Foundation Center addition to Executive Offices dedicated. (Dedicated
as the Dorothy Garrett Martin Center the following year). First TEAM Leadership
training with Phi Kappa Tau held. First Delta Gamma Lectureship in Values
and Ethics established at University of Akron.
1996 Collegiate
chapters reorganized internally to the Chapter Management Team concept.
American Foundation for the Blind presented first Helen Keller Philanthropic
Service Achievement Award to the Foundation.
1997 Watchwords,
a Total Member Education program, debuted. Delta Gamma Foundation develops
ART OF THE EYE II. Delta Gamma established an official Web site. Kosciusko,
Mississippi, Memorial Room to the Founders completed.
1998 Delta
Gamma celebrates its 125th Anniversary.
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