About Delta Gamma
DELTA GAMMA HISTORY
Delta Gamma was founded by Anna Boyd Ellington, Eva Webb Dodd and Mary Comfort Leonard 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 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." Currently, Delta Gamma has grown to more than 140 collegiate chapters and 300 alumnae groups in North America.
- The Fraternity symbol is the anchor.
- The Fraternity flower is the cream-colored rose.
- The Fraternity colors are bronze, pink and blue.
- The crest of Delta Gamma has special meaning to its members. 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.
HISTORY OF GAMMA ZETA
The Gamma Zeta Chapter of Delta Gamma began in 1947 with the pledging of 6 LSU women. Through the efforts of local alumnae, Gamma Zeta became the 75th chapter of Delta Gamma when the chapter was formally installed on March 20, 1948. The efforts put forth by these women were tremendous. They set the foundation for Delta Gamma to take its current position as one of the largest and most highly respected sororities on the LSU campus. By the end of Gamma Zeta’s first year at LSU, the chapter had grown to 20 members. This trend continued, and in 1954, Gamma Zeta took rush quota for the first time, pledging 31 women. Delta Gamma’s reputation as a prestigious women’s fraternity grew, as well. Transfer students from other Delta Gamma chapters came to LSU to help guide the growing Gamma Zeta. Through their experience and leadership, Delta Gamma became better known around LSU as members began involving themselves in other campus organizations. In the mid ‘50s, the Gamma Zeta House Corporation was founded and began saving funds for the chapter’s new home. This dream became a reality in 1966 when the Delta Gamma house at LSU was completed. Mrs. Charles Hair, an alumna from the University of Texas, served as House Corporation President at this time. In her honor, the patio and garden located on the side of the Gamma Zeta house were erected.
Since Gamma Zeta’s colonization in 1947, Delta Gammas at LSU have continued to strive for excellence in all that we do. Our chapter had the honor of performing the model initiation ceremony at the 1994 Delta Gamma convention in New Orleans. In addition, Gamma Zeta and the Baton Rouge Alumnae Chapter brought home several national awards, including the Patricia Peterson Danielson Award, the Roberta Abernathy Award, and the Collumnae Award. Our trophy case holds evidence of Gamma Zeta’s many accomplishments at LSU, Convention, and the Province Leadership Seminar. In June 2008 at the Delta Gamma Convention in Palm Desert, CA, Gamma Zeta chapter received the Most Outstanding Chapter Award, as well as the PPD Award, and Most Honorable Chapter Runner-Up. They won the following Regional Awards: Most Outstanding Programming, Most Outstanding Chapter Finances, gave special recognition to Chapter Operations Advisor Janet Vidrine, and Most Outstanding House Corporation Secretary to Bettsie Miller. Gamma Zeta women continue to shine, maintaining the high ideals which our fraternity was founded on so many years ago.
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