Introduction

Delta Gamma is a college sorority 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 southern United States. Within a few years, Delta Gamma was established in the northern USA and then later expanded to the east with the help of George Banta , a member of Phi Delta Theta. 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, Massachusetts. 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.”

Famous Delta Gamma Firsts

• First fraternity to establish an independent philanthropic foundation in Ohio in 1951 (Service for Sight)
• The first and only panhellenic group to have its flower registered with the American Rose Society - "Delta Gamma"
• One of the seven original women's groups that began the National Panhellenic Conference

Noteworthy Delta Gammas

• Julia Louis-Dreyfus (actress)
• Patricia Heaton (actress)
• Christine Lahti (actress)
• Joan Lunden (former host of "Good Morning America")
• Eva Marie Saint (actress)
• Julia Sweeney (actress and comedian from "Saturday Night Live")
• Judge Sarah Tilghman Hughes (1st female federal judge; swore in President Lyndon B. Johnson on the day of President John F. Kennedy's assassination)

Fun Facts

• The original Delta Gamma badge was the letter "H". This symbolized hope.
• The current symbol of Delta Gamma is the anchor, the traditional symbol of hope.
• The fraternity flower is the cream-colored rose. The fraternity colors are bronze, pink, and blue.
• Initiation fees pay for a member's lifetime subscription to the Delta Gamma publication "Anchora "

External links

• Official web site
• Delta Gamma merchandise