Delta Gamma was founded in 1873 in Oxford, Mississippi, at the Lewis School for Girls near the University of Mississippi. Our founders were: Anna Boyd Ellington, Eva Webb Dodd, and Mary Comfort Leonard (pictured at left). 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 offers to women of all ages a rich heritage; continuity based on sound and tested principals of personal integrity, personal responsibility and intellectual honesty.

The objects of this Fraternity shall be to foster high ideals of friendship among college 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.

Delta Gamma’s primary purpose is to create an environment for its members in which lasting friendships are established and in which members find the processes, the experiences and the disciplines that will stimulate clear thought. Its aim is to foster an atmosphere in which women will develop a deeper love and consideration for mankind, a more profound understanding of the purpose of life and a basic wisdom upon which to build their lives.

Delta Gamma’s purpose is accomplished through planned collegiate and alumnae programs that provide intellectual motivation, the opportunity for graciousness in daily living, and community awareness which will enrich the lives of members and instill in them a respect for the enduring values to be gained from the Fraternity. (Article II)

The Delta Gamma Foundation offers opportunities that enable its members to contribute on community, national and international levels through philanthropies of Aid to the Blind and Service for Sight; Scholarship, Fellowship and Loans; and Educational Programming.

The anchor is the most widely-recognized symbol of the Delta Gamma Fraternity. The original badge of our Founders was the letter “H”. This symbolized Hope, which was our Founders’ watchword. In 1877, the “H” badge changed to an anchor, which is the traditional symbol for hope.

The official badge of the Fraternity, which is traditionally worn over the heart.

The new member pin bears the Greek letters Pi Alpha. The Pi Alpha pin is given to those persons who have joined Delta Gamma, but have not yet been initiated. A new member receives the pin during the Pi Alpha ceremony and returns it to the chapter prior to her initiation.

The crest (coat-of-arms) of Delta Gamma Fraternity appears frequently on items. Only initiated members of the Fraternity may use items bearing the crest. The colors of the crest are cream for the rose at the apex of the crest; gold for the three, five-pointed stars on the shield, the rope around the shield and outline of the scroll ribbon; burnt maize for the flanking ornaments of the rose and the Greek letters, Tau Delta Eta; blue for the lower two-thirds of the shield; green for the upper third and center section of the shield and the leaves of the rose; and rose for the Greek letters Delta Gamma which appear on the center section.

The Fraternity flower is the cream-colored rose. Early Delta Gammas chose the golden-cream Marechal Niel as the original rose. In 1976, a Texas rose grower proposed that a newly-developed, lighter cream-colored rose be registered with the American Rose Society as the “Delta Gamma.” The Delta Gamma rose was presented in person at the 1978 Convention in Dearborn.

The Fraternity colors are bronze, pink, and blue.

Our mascot is Hannah. The original was a pigtailed blond wearing a short skirt and a sailor blouse. No one knows when the Raggedy Ann doll became the symbol for Hannah.