Delta Gamma 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 145 collegiate chapters and more than 220 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

Here are some defining moments in the Delta Gamma story:

Christmas 1873 in Oxford, Mississippi: Anna Boyd, Mary Comfort and Eva Webb spent the holidays at The Lewis School for Girls and formed the Delta Gamma Club.
1881 - First Delta Gamma Convention was held in Oxford, Mississippi.
1902 - Delta Gamma joined six other fraternal organizations in establishing the National Panhellenic Conference.
1913 - Delta Gamma's first Canadian chapter was installed: Alpha Gamma-Toronto.
1936 - Aiding the Blind was adopted as the Fraternity Service Project, it was changed to "Sight Conservation & Aiding the Blind" in 1942. In 1995, it was changed to "Service for Sight."
1951 - Delta Gamma became the first women's fraternal group to establish an independent philanthropic Foundation.
1989 - Delta Gamma established the Fraternity Housing Corporation to assist local house corporations.