Throughout the 1870s and 1880s, many of today's national and international sororities and women's fraternities were founded at schools throughout the United States.
History of Delta Gamma
Delta Gamma Fraternity was founded in 1873 by three young women at the Lewis School for Girls. The institution was located in close proximity to the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi, and did not have any known sororities or women's fraternities at the time.
Not much is revealed about Delta Gamma's early years. However, Delta Gamma has had many firsts throughout its history.
The organization was one of the first sororities or women's fraternities to employ a full-time staff member to address the health and wellness needs of individual members, first to have an archivist to perserve fraternity history, and the first sorority to earn a distinguished service award from the American Academy of Opthalmology.
In addition, Delta Gamma became one of the founding organizations of the National Panhellenic Conference in 1902. Joining Delta Gamma in creating the organization were Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Alpha Phi, Gamma Phi Beta, and Delta Delta Delta.
Delta Gamma was also the first sorority or women's fraternity to offer challenge grants in the areas of values and ethics through the Dorothy Garrett Martin Lectureship in Values and Ethics.
Delta Gamma Today
Today, Delta Gamma has 146 active collegiate chapters and 232 active alumnae groups across the United States. The organization also calculates about 14,500 collegiate members and over 127,000 living alumnae.
Delta Gamma's philanthropic cause is blindness awareness and prevention, and has several trademarked events that chapters throughout the organization sponsor every year to raise funds and awareness for the cause.
Delta Gamma adopted this philanthropic cause in 1936 when Ruth Billow, a member of the organization, approached the national convention about making a difference in the lives of those with little or no vision. Billow had been blinded in a childhood accident and her wish, according to Delta Gamma's website, was for society to recognize what people with visual impairments had to offer to society.
Delta Gamma can be recognized throughout the sorority and fraternity world through various insignia adopted throughout the organization's history.
- Colors: bronze, blue, and pink
- Symbol: anchor
- Flower: cream-colored rose
- Motto: "Do Good"
- Philanthropy: blindness awareness and prevention
Delta Gamma, founded in 1873 by three young women who had a vision of a national organization for women, continues to grow and thrive today. Just like the early days of the organization, Delta Gamma continues to provide friendship and support for its members throughout college and into adult life.
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