Delta Gamma
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Delta Gamma (ΔΓ) Fraternity is one of the oldest and largest women's fraternities in the United States, based in Columbus, Ohio.
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[edit] Delta Gamma History
Delta Gamma (ΔΓ) is a college fraternity, although more often referred to as a sorority, founded on December 25, 1873, in Oxford, Mississippi, at the Lewis School for Girls near the University of Mississippi.
The badge of Delta Gamma is a golden anchor. It has a small rope wrapping around the top of the anchor and the Greek letters Tau Delta Eta (ΤΔΗ). The anchor is the traditional symbol of hope. It also represents "holding fast."
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 United States and then later expanded to the east with the help of George Banta, a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Because of the assistance provided by George Banta, Delta Gamma retains close ties with Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
In 1891, Delta Gamma was one of seven charter members of the National Panhellenic Conference when the first inter-sorority meeting was held in Boston, Massachusetts. This organization is the governing body of sororities in America with 26 members.
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.” During World War I, Delta Gamma established and funded an orphanage in Belgium and opened the Delta Gamma House for Children in Holland.
[edit] Delta Gamma Mission Statement
Delta Gamma offers to women of all ages a rich heritage based on principles of personal integrity, personal responsibility and intellectual honesty. Its primary purpose is to foster high ideals of friendship, promote educational and cultural interests, create a true sense of social responsibility, and develop the finest qualities of character.
[edit] Famous Delta Gamma firsts
- First fraternity to establish an independent philanthropic foundation in Ohio in 1951 (Service for Sight)
- The first sorority to have its own in-house printing press.
- 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
[edit] Notable Delta Gammas
For a full list of notable Delta Gamma alumnae please visit here. [1]
- Edith Abbott (first woman to become dean of a graduate school -- The University of Chicago)
- Grace Abbott (social worker)
- Jill Arrington (sports report for ESPN)
- Carol Bellamy (CEO and President of World Learning)
- Sabrina Bryan (actress, singer)
- Ann Coulter (political pundit)
- Cheryl Crawford (Broadway actress; founder of Group Theater and Actor's Studio)
- Maggie Crowely (Olympic speed skater)
- Jo Ann Emerson (U.S. Congresswoman from Missouri)
- Mary Frann (actress, most notably from the television show Newhart.)
- Melissa Hart (U.S. Congresswoman from Pennsylvania)
- Patricia Heaton (actress)
- E.D. Hill (co-host of Fox and Friends on the Fox News Channel)
- Judge Sarah Tilghman Hughes (swore in President Lyndon B. Johnson on the day of President John F. Kennedy's assassination)
- Christine Lahti (actress)
- Mary Landrieu (United States Senator for the state of Louisiana)
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Emmy Award winning actress)
- Joan Lunden (former host of "Good Morning America")
- Donna Mills (actress)
- Terry Murphy (Emmy Award-winning journalist)
- Susan Nattrass (first woman shooter in the 1976 Olympics)
- Kyra Phillips (anchor on CNN)
- Rachael Ray (Host of 30 Minute Meals on the Food Network Channel)
- Eva Marie Saint (actress)
- Julia Sweeney (actress and comedian from "Saturday Night Live")
- Lizz Winstead (creator of Comedy Central's The Daily Show)
- Suzanne Marquez (news reporter for Fox 11 Los Angeles)
[edit] Trivia
- 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.
- Initiation fees pay for a member's lifetime subscription to the Delta Gamma publication Anchora.
- Delta Gamma has 145 chapters and one colony.
- Delta Gamma has 267 alumnae groups.
- Delta Gamma has 14,000 collegians.
- The oldest existing chapter is at The University of Akron - Eta
- The largest Delta Gamma chapters are:
- University of Mississippi - Alpha Psi
- Louisiana State University - Gamma Zeta
- University of Oklahoma - Alpha Iota
- University of Missouri - Mu
- University of Southern California - Alpha Nu
- As of April 2006, the newest Delta Gamma Chapter is University of Texas at Tyler - Eta Xi
- As of 2005, Delta Gamma has:
- 2,037 25-year members
- 1,097 50-year members
- 646 60-year members
- 67 75-year members
- Delta Gamma women were featured on the show "Happy Days"
- Delta Gamma is featured in the book "Legally Blonde." In the movie, the name of the sorority is changed to "Delta Nu," but the crest of the chapter remains the same.
- Northwestern University's Sigma chapter of Delta Gamma appears on the "Evanston: Northwestern University" episode of TLC's show Trading Spaces.
- Delta Gamma was mentioned in "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," Christine Lahti from the show was also a Delta Gamma.
