History

Delta Gamma was founded in 1873 in Oxford, Mississippi, at the Lewis School for Girls by three young women who were unable to go home for the Christmas break. Together, Anna Boyd, Mary Comfort and Eva Webb created a club of "mutual helpfulness."

They chose the Greek letters Delta and Gamma because of their desire to "Do Good." It remains Delta Gamma's motto today and a driving force in all we do. Delta Gamma is a sisterhood built on a commitment to making the world better through not only service, but also a deep appreciation for each individual.

What started with three women in Oxford, Mississippi, has since grown into an international Fraternity with 150 collegiate chapters and more than 215 alumnae groups. Delta Gamma's sisterhood continues to inspire women through the values that were built into our very first Constitution. Article II, written by our Founders in 1873, states:

"The objects of this Fraternity shall be to foster high ideals of friendship among women, to promote their educational and cultural interests, to create in them a true sense of social responsibility and to develop in them the best qualities of character."

While the Constitution spells out the values of a Delta Gamma woman in Article II, you can't tell the story of Delta Gamma without speaking of hope. The original pin of the Fraternity was the letter "H," which the Founders meant to stand for hope. A few years before she died, Founder Mary Comfort Leonard described the first pin:

"We went to a local jeweler and had our pin made-the letter 'H,' which stood for hope, for we hoped great results and have not been disappointed…" - The Shield

Delta Gamma Fraternity does not discriminate in its membership selection on the basis of race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, color, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, physical disability or other characteristics protected by state, provincial or federal law. Membership is open to all individuals who identify as women. Those selected for membership in Delta Gamma must have good scholarship, be of good character and standing, have an interest in activities that will enhance the academic atmosphere at the college or university, and have a sincere desire to contribute to the work of Delta Gamma. 

All efforts are in place to guarantee those selected for membership in Delta Gamma have good scholarship, are of good character and standing, have an interest in activities which will enhance the academic atmosphere at the college, university or community, and have a sincere desire to contribute to the work of Delta Gamma. The Executive Offices will continue to work with the individual chapters to ensure that all policies and procedures are followed at all times. 

For a complete list of our policies, please visit our library.

 

Our Chapter History

March 14th, 1914: Seven DG's met to form a St. Louis Alumnae Association. At the second meeting, two weeks later, they named it "Mu Beta" (for two chapters represented by the alums). Alpha Epsilon was petitioning at Washington University at the time and Mu Beta was "exceedingly happy…to be close to an active chapter."

November, 1914: Fraternity women of St. Louis met and decided to form a local Panhellenic Association…to meet at least once a year.

April 15th, 1915: "Although our meetings so far have been purely social, we hope to devote some of our time to some charity work."

June, 1915: "…are to become an alumnae chapter and will have a delegate at Convention."

Fall 1915: Mu Beta held a tea for AE members and prospective pledges. Mu Beta is very interested in expansion all over the country.

January, 1916: After searching for a common interest to unite the members in creating a worthy cause, it was decided to work with the needlework guild to sew clothes for babies. In order to keep in closer contact with AE, it was decided to invite two AE members to each meeting and to send two alums to their meetings once a month.

February, 1916: To help the scholarship fund, tardy arrivals to alum meetings meant placing "a piece of silver" in a small bank provided.

June, 1917: Both Mu Beta and Alpha Epsilon showed interest in having some regular joint meetings in order to get better acquainted as well as to become more united in working for the good of DG locally and nationally.

1938: The alums part in Aid to the Blind and Sight Conservation began with making Braille books and transportation of blind people when they needed help.

1942: Raised $150 annually to be given to the Department of Ophthalmology at Washington University Medical School to be used in conserving or restoring eyesight of under-privileged children.

1924-1945: (except during the war years) Supper was served at meetings. Beginning in 1933, meetings consisted of a 5:30 open board discussion, supper at 6:30, business session at 7:30, and usually a program at 8:00 or 8:30. In 1945, 35 to 60 attended the regular meetings, but over 300 alums lived in St. Louis …about 125 were active. The policy of older alums holding office infrequently in order to promote young members involvement immediately after leaving school helped avoid the break-up of the alum chapter into age groups.

1951: St. Louis County Delta Gamma Alumnae became a chapter. Set the goal of getting into the DG Pre-school Visually Handicapped Foundation under way by June 1952. Christmas cards were sold and the first Shining Light Christmas Tree Lot netted $5400.